Overview

As the EU enters a new phase of regulatory and economic stewardship under the 2024–2029 von der Leyen Commission, the 12th European Retail Innovation Summit 2025 serves as a premier forum for debating the future of one of the major engines of European economic growth. Against the backdrop of a drive for greater competitiveness, this high-level event brings together policymakers, industry leaders, consumer advocates, and NGOs to explore the critical themes shaping the retail and e-commerce sectors.

The Summit will dive into key priorities such as evolving consumer rules and digital fairness, strengthening enforcement mechanisms to support a thriving and competitive single market, and advancing the sustainability agenda. Participants will gain insights into how innovative policies and practices can drive sustainable growth, protect consumers, and enable businesses to flourish in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Key Themes

Designing the future of consumer policy
Digital transformation and innovative retail
Enhancing product safety
The sustainability agenda

Designing the future of consumer policy

Digital transformation and innovative retail

Enhancing product safety

The sustainability agenda

Keynote Speaker

Michael McGrath

Michael McGrath

Commissioner for Democracy, Justice,
the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection

European Commission

Agenda

Registration
09:00 – 09:30
Keynote Speech – Delivering Fair Competition in Online Retail
09:40 – 10:00
Ensuring a Level Playing Field in European Retail
10:00 – 11:00

The European retail and e-commerce landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by new digital and sustainability regulations. Ensuring a level playing field is essential to foster fair competition, protect consumers, and enable businesses of all sizes to thrive. This session will delve into the complexities of achieving this level playing field, focusing on the enforcement of key regulations such as the Digital Services Act (DSA), Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Regulation, and the implementation and enforcement of the General Product Safety Regulation.

Refreshment Break
11:00 – 11:30
Future of Retail and AI – Leveraging Innovation for Growth
11:30 – 12:30

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies is transforming the retail sector. From personalised shopping experiences to supply chain optimisation, AI offers both opportunities and challenges for businesses and regulators alike. This session will examine how AI and other digital tools can be leveraged to drive innovation and economic growth in the retail sector.

Lunch
12:30 – 13:30
Keynote Speech – Ensuring Consumer Trust in European Retail
13:30 – 13:50
Digital Fairness and Consumer Trust
13:50 – 14:50

For several years, the European Commission has been working on analysing its consumer rules and their fitness for the digital age. 2025 will prove to be pivotal in this regard, with the expected Digital Fairness Act proposals due. Ensuring digital fairness—from transparent pricing and ethical AI use to data protection and algorithmic accountability—is a key priority for the new European Commission. This session will assess how consumer rights can be safeguarded in an evolving digital retail environment, and examine how consumer trust in retail in central to its ability to contribute to economic growth.

Refreshment Break
14:50 – 15:00
Sustainability in Retail – Towards a Competitive Circular Single Market in Europe
15:00 – 16:00

The EU’s Green Deal and Circular Economy initiatives have placed sustainability at the forefront of policy discussions. This session will explore how the retail sector can contribute to these ambitious goals by adopting sustainable practices, reducing waste, and driving innovation in circular economy models. Discussions will include the potential of ecodesign regulations to reshape the market, the challenges of creating a single market for waste, and strategies for fostering consumer and business cooperation in the green transition. Panellists will share insights on balancing environmental sustainability and maintaining a competitive retail sector, ensuring that businesses can thrive while meeting sustainability standards.

Closing Remarks
16:00 – 16:10
Cocktail Reception
16:10 – 18:00

Speakers

Partners

ECOMMERCE EUROPE
EuroCommerce

Details

Venue

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This event will take place in person only on 10 April 2025, with places free of charge.

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