European Union

Written declaration on investigating and remedying the abuse of power by large supermarkets operating in the European Union (0088/2007)

PRESS CONFERENCE

Caroline Lucas, Janusz Wojciechowski, Gyula Hegyi end Hélčne Flautre Members of the European Parliament cordially invite journalists to participate in the Press Conference on the adopted Written Declaration 88/2007 “The Investigating and remedying the abuse of power by large supermarkets operating in the European Union”

On Tuesday, 19th February 2008 at 17 pm
European Parliament – LOW – Room N- -1/201
STRASBOURG

The European Parliament at the last Plenary sitting of the 31st of January 2008 adopted the Written declaration 88/2007 on investigating and remedying the abuse of power by large supermarkets operating in the European Union. The declaration was signed by 439 Members of the European Parliament, which is a majority of the Chamber.

This declaration will be announced during the next Plenary session on the 18th of February 2008 as an official document of the European Parliament.

The action of the collecting the signatures was carried out by five Members of the European Parliament CarolineLucas from the UK, Gyula Hegyi (Hungary), Janusz Wojciechowski (Poland), Harlem Désir (France), Hélčne Flautre (France), who are the authors of this document.


Written declaration no 0088/2007 has been adopted and it will be announced as the official Resolution of the EP on Monday-18th of February in Strasbourg. 438 MEPs have signed this document!

See the text of the declaration

0088/2007
Written declaration on investigating and remedying the abuse of power by large supermarkets operating in the European Union

The European Parliament,
– having regard to Rule 116 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas, throughout the EU, retailing is increasingly dominated by a small number of supermarket chains,

B. whereas these retailers are fast-becoming ‘gatekeepers’, controlling farmers’ and other suppliers’ only real access to EU consumers,

C. whereas evidence from across the EU suggests big supermarkets are abusing their buying power to force down prices paid to suppliers (based both within the EU and overseas) to unsustainable levels and impose unfair conditions upon them,

D. whereas such squeezes on suppliers have negative knock-on effects on both quality of employment and environmental protection,

E. whereas consumers potentially face a loss in diversity of products, the cultural heritage and retail outlets,

F. whereas some EU countries have introduced national legislation attempting to limit such abuse, yet large supermarkets increasingly operate across national boundaries, making harmonised EU legislation desirable,

1. Calls upon DG Competition to investigate the impacts that concentration of the EU supermarket sector is having on small businesses, suppliers, workers and consumers and, in particular, to assess any abuses of buying power which may follow from such concentration;

2. Requests the Commission to propose appropriate measures, including regulation, to protect consumers, workers and producers from any abuse of dominant position or negative impacts identified in the course of this investigation;

3. Instructs its President to forward this declaration, together with the names of the signatories, to the Commission, the Council and the parliaments of the Member States.