EuroCommerce addresses EU leaders at Tripartite Social Summit

EuroCommerce President Juan Manuel Morales addressed EU leaders at the Tripartite Social Summit in Brussels on 14 October, highlighting the essential role of retail and wholesale as Europe’s largest private employer. He called on EU leaders to deliver the right conditions for the sector to invest €600 billion by 2030 in digitalisation, sustainability and skills, while continuing to provide quality jobs in communities across Europe. 

Morales urged policymakers to avoid unnecessary new regulations, remove territorial supply constraints so businesses can source freely across the Single Market and pass savings on to consumers, and ensure that EU rules on unfair trading practices deliver targeted support for farmers and small processors. His message was clear: competitive companies and quality jobs go hand in hand, and a stronger Single Market is vital for investment, jobs and affordability. 

“Quality jobs and competitive companies go hand in hand. Give retailers and wholesalers the conditions to invest, and we will continue to deliver jobs and affordability across Europe,” said Juan Manuel Morales, President of EuroCommerce. 

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Photo: Juan Manuel Morales, President of EuroCommerce, with António Costa, President of the European Council. 

Background 

Link to Speech of Juan Manuel Morales, EuroCommerce President: 

Speech Tripartite Social Summit 2026, Brussels - 14 October 2026 - EuroCommerce

The Tripartite Social Summit (TSS) is a high-level forum for dialogue between EU institutions and European social partners. Co-chaired by the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, it brings together EU leaders and representatives of employers and workers to discuss Europe’s economic and social priorities, also to prepare the European Council meeting taking place the next day.