The new European association for online retailers, Ecommerce Europe, is operational. The website, ecommerce-europe.eu, is now online and the first members and business partners have already registered. Proposed members of the Executive Committee Annette Falberg, Wijnand Jongen and Marc Lolivier: “We are ready and waiting. It was high time that the interests of online retailers were represented at the European level.”
Lobby groups from seven different European countries (Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden) have united to form Ecommerce Europe. Marc Lolivier, director of the French e-commerce association FEVAD: “It was about time the voice of European online retailers was heard at the European level. Until now, there has been no structured collaboration directly involving e-commerce businesses. After all, online sales are not bound by geographic borders. The European market is open and offers plenty of opportunities for online retailers. The cross-border online sale of both products and services is already taking place on a large scale. There is a clear need for the branch to have a strong and coherent voice in Brussels and with respect to the stakeholders.”
Focus Ecommerce Europe
Comprehensive information about Ecommerce Europe can be found on the organisation's brand-new website. Annette Falberg is director of the Danish e-commerce association FDIH: “In the next few months we will be focussing on three issues. The first of these is lobbying on European laws and legislation. We will be paying particular attention to privacy legislation. The second field of focus is e-logistics. We will be drawing up an inventory of what is needed for European logistics to function efficiently. The third focal point is e-payments; we must shift towards European standards. Payment transaction systems in Europe are currently far too fragmented.”
First members and business partners
Wijnand Jongen, director of the Dutch e-commerce association Thuiswinkel.org, is enthusiastic about the initial reactions of European companies. “The first members and business partners of Ecommerce Europe have already registered. Dozens of applications for membership have been received. Businesses that operate in several European countries can become full members. Leading enterprises in the e-commerce sector are welcome as business partners.” Furthermore, organisations that feel they have an affinity with the European e-commerce industry can register as associative partners.
Global E-commerce Summit
The Global E-commerce Summit, to be held in Barcelona between 4 and 6 June 2012, will be an important moment for Ecommerce Europe. The association will organise three important pre-conferences on e logistics, e-payments and e-privacy in advance of the congress. The first General Members' Meeting will also take place in Barcelona, prior to the Summit. Wijnand Jongen: “It will be an important event for meeting people from the sector and hearing about what is taking place in the farthest corners of Europe.” You can register to attend the pre conferences at
www.ecommerce-europe.eu or
www.e-commercesummit.com.