1 Brussels, 24 september EESC Position of EURO COOP -EESC hearing on retail industry- Thomas van Zwol Co-operative Enterprises Policy Officer

Brussels, 24 september EESC 2 Presentation outline  Consumer co-operatives in Europe  Euro Coop’s view on the current retailers-suppliers controversy  Euro Coop’s position on a code of conduct

Brussels, 24 september EESC 3

4

5 More than points of sale

Brussels, 24 september EESC 6 Take the supply chain as a whole!  The consumers should not be left behind  The legitimate interests of every actor along the supply chain should be taken into account

Brussels, 24 september EESC 7 Suppliers-retailers: the need for a balanced view  No pre-judgement against retailers should be made  Abuses, if they exist, need to be clearly demonstrated  The supply chain is not a jungle: market rules exist  Consumers need to be taken into account

Brussels, 24 september EESC 8 The code of conduct  If the need is clearly demonstrated, Euro Coop would welcome a code of conduct, depending on the content  Benefits should outweigh the costs

Brussels, 24 september EESC 9 Consumer co-operation in the food chain  Consumers & producers should be as close as possible  Co-operative values & principles: a strong basis for sustainable development, from farm to fork

Brussels, 24 september EESC 10 In conclusion  European consumer co-operatives, as responsible retailers, do not reject the idea of a code of conduct  However, its necessity must be clearly demonstrated  Without making retailers the scapegoats