European retail & wholesale congratulates President von der Leyen on her re-election.

Ursula von der Leyen has won sufficient support in today’s secret European Parliament ballot to lead the European Commission through its next mandate.

We congratulate President von der Leyen on this significant achievement, and we wish her every success in building a stronger, more resilient Union, between now and 2030.

Today, we welcome President von der Leyen’s new plan for Europe’s sustainable prosperity and competitiveness as well as her call to action to European citizens to help shape and build their own future for Europe in the world.

As the President announced her priorities for the coming five years, we pledge our support to work together to co-create the conditions for a more competitive, empowered, sustainable, innovative and skilled EU.

As the largest private employer across the member states, employing 26 million people, generating 10% of GDP and representing 5 million businesses, more than 99% of whom are SMEs, we are well placed to help.

The single market remains one of the EU’s greatest assets and is the bedrock for our future competitiveness.

We therefore call upon President von der Leyen to ensure that the recommendations from Enrico Letta’s report and those from the forthcoming report on competitiveness by Mario Draghi, are converted into concrete, implementable actions and supportive, practicable policy.

Our ongoing focus on delivering sustainable, digital and skills transformation is making a key contribution to the EU’s transition goals. In partnership with our employees, customers and consumers we are investing and developing increasingly sustainable business models, year-on-year. We will continue delivering on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, while adapting, constantly, responding to the changing needs and demands of our customers.

We look forward to working together in partnership with the President and her college of Commissioners to foster innovation and investment and to build a stronger more resilient continent that provides affordable, safe, healthy and sustainable products and services for all.

Juan Manuel Morales                                                                                 Christel Delberghe

President                                                                                                       Director General