Since the written declaration of the European Parliament on supermarket dominance (February 2008) and the Commission Communication on food prices in Europe (December 2008) were published, the debate about the relations among food supply chain operators, and, in particular, between retailers and suppliers, has become a key issue at European level. Indeed, different actors are involved in the food supply chain, affecting many areas of action of the EU and national legislation systems.

In a context where society and operators felt the need of more clarity to be made, the Commission released in October 2009 a Communication on a better functioning food supply chain. Areas of action and related objectives are identified in it: from the preparation of sets of standard contracts to the development of a European food prices monitoring tool, from a review of environmental and origin labelling schemes to the enlargement of the High Level Group on the competitiveness of the Agro-food industry.

Against this background, EURO COOP, the European association of consumer cooperatives, is gathering all relevant stakeholders to take part in the debate about what steps should be next.

Half-way between the Communication release and the report on actions foreseen in November 2010, this conference aims at providing a clearer view on the positions of different partners of the food chain and the way they can contribute to reaching the objectives lied down in the Communication.

Members of the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee will intervene, together with representatives of agricultural cooperatives, consumer cooperatives, the agro-food industry and private retailers, therefore ensuring a balanced and hopefully fruitful debate.

European Economic and Social Committee
99 Rue Belliard - 1040 Brussels
ROOM JDE63

Please note that seats available are limited. You are therefore advised to register as soon as possible.

English/French/Italian simultaneous interpretation will be provided. Possibility to speak in Spanish and Hungarian.