Retail alliances
23.5.2023
Question for written answer E-001623/2023
to the Commission
Rule 138
Irène Tolleret (Renew), Álvaro Amaro (PPE), Karen Melchior (Renew), Carmen Avram (S&D), Pierre Larrouturou (S&D), Sarah Wiener (Verts/ALE), Anne Sander (PPE), Eric Andrieu (S&D), Salima Yenbou (Renew), Katarína Roth Neveďalová (S&D), Fabienne Keller (Renew), Michaela Šojdrová (PPE), Pär Holmgren (Verts/ALE), Herbert Dorfmann (PPE), Eugenia Rodríguez Palop (The Left), Atidzhe Alieva-Veli (Renew), Klemen Grošelj (Renew), Stéphanie Yon-Courtin (Renew), Emmanuel Maurel (The Left)
Since 2015, MEPs from all political groups and countries have expressed concern about the significant alliances undertaken by the retail sector at national and European level (see question E-003761/2016 and the European Parliament resolutions of 9 June 2021 on competition policy – annual report 2020 and of 5 May 2022 on competition policy – annual report 2021). The considerable market power exercised by these retail coalitions may lead to anti-competitive, unlawful, or unfair practices, sometimes by circumventing mandatory national laws. These practices are detrimental to all other players in the value chain. They undermine fair remuneration for farmers and compromise the transition to more environmentally friendly production and manufacturing processes. Consumers want products that are as cheap as possible, but at a fair and sustainable price for food chain operators, in order to ensure a lasting and sustainable balance.
- 1.Does the new network of enforcement authorities created by the European directive on unfair trading practices in the food chain monitor the activities of these alliances?
- 2.Is the Commission considering extending the scope of the UTP directive in the context of its revision in 2025 to ensure that it covers the activities of retail alliances?
- 3.Could it provide more details about DG COMP investigations of ‘three international alliances in the retail sector’, mentioned in its Report on Competition Policy 2022?
Submitted: 23.5.2023