C 214/4
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
16.6.2023
Tuesday 17 January 2023
I.
whereas it is often very difficult for SMEs to maintain a competitive position against a backdrop of globalisation of the entire retail value chain led by large companies; whereas collateral consequences include standardisation of the commercial offer and of the urban landscape, emptying of urban centres, increased of ecological footprints and the impact on working conditions; whereas strengthening local trade could help address these consequences;
J.
whereas with the rapid development of e-commerce, the retail sector is currently undergoing a dramatic transformation, while multi-channel retail, combining offline and online sales, brings both new opportunities and challenges for the sector;
K.
whereas euro area inflation is continuing to soar; whereas energy and fuel prices continue to rise at a rate considerably exceeding average inflation, remain highly volatile and are one of the main reasons for SME closures; whereas these factors make retail sector SMEs and microenterprises particularly vulnerable;
L.
whereas small traders are often affected by large sales platforms that offer lower prices because they have shifted their production costs to third countries;
M. whereas in order to ensure an equal and fair retail trade across the European Union, it is essential to install high-capacity digital networks to all regions of the EU; whereas according to the European Court of Auditors there are still serious shortcomings in the deployment of these networks in the EU, which can deepen the digital divide and jeopardise the sustainability of local shops located in sparsely populated areas compared to those located in big cities; N.
whereas the Commission communication entitled ‘A European retail sector fit for the 21st century’ aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the retail sector;
O.
whereas the Revitalise Retail initiative presented by the Commission supports digitalisation and modernisation of retail SMEs; whereas supporting small retailers’ capacity to adapt to these changes is one of the most important steps for EU policy makers;
P.
whereas the Commission has welcomed the petitioners’ proposal to create a European Capital of Local Trade and Retail and will consider the options for addressing the specific issues raised therein: whereas, given the priority of ensuring that the Commission’s support programmes have an impact, the Commission will, in particular, consider the importance of moving beyond awareness-raising, and contribute directly to solving challenges faced by retail SMEs and generating positive impact for them;
Q.
whereas the proposal could reinforce the ongoing work in cities in the framework of industry and SME policy, in particular the Intelligent Cities Challenge, which brings together an active community of 136 cities from 21 countries to leverage cutting-edge technologies and to drive a green and digital transformation and social resilience;
R.
whereas the building of a robust retail community can be very useful for those looking to modernise and improve their competitive position;
S.
whereas complying with administrative formalities affects SMEs more than bigger companies due to their limited financial and human resources;
T.
whereas the task of regulating the retail sector lies primarily with Member States. whereas any assessment of the barriers faced by the retail sector should be based, among other things, on the experiences and perceptions of businesses, workers and consumers; whereas Member States should ensure that existing regulations do not disproportionally affect SMEs and microenterprises and hinder their activities;
U.
whereas retail is a sector that makes a significant fiscal contribution that helps to pay for public spending on public services for all citizens;
V.
whereas the objective of this proposal is to promote local retail and contribute to collective awareness of its economic and social importance;