EuroCommerce and GS1 in Europe have today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work more intensively together in the field of supply chain cooperation, standards, and technologies. The MoU foresees effective and regular exchanges on matters of common interest like product identification, traceability and sustainability, data capture and sharing, and supply chain management. Both organisations highlighted that a number of their respective member associations and companies are already working together at national and global level.

Speaking this morning at the World Retail Congress in Amsterdam, EuroCommerce Director-General Christian Verschueren said: “Over the next five years, the new European Parliament and Commission will need to address multiple challenges, both external and internal, for Europe. Globally, and in many of our markets we see a worrying increase in protectionism. Populist voices offer simple but wrong solutions to complex issues, and risk the welfare of the people they claim to represent. The retail and wholesale sector is a major player in building Europe for the next generation, but also uniquely vulnerable to adverse economic and policy movements. This is particularly true when we all face fundamental changes – in business models, in the way customers buy, in supply chain relations and the competitive landscape, driven by digital technology and changing consumer demand."