Commission adopts Green Paper on Commerce On 21 November 1996, the European Commission adopted, on the initiative on Mr. Christos Papoutsis, Commissioner responsible for enterprise policy and commerce, a Green Paper on Commerce which examines the structure and development of commerce in the European Union and underlin... On 21 November 1996, the European Commission adopted, on the initiative on Mr. Christos Papoutsis, Commissioner responsible for enterprise policy and commerce, a Green Paper on Commerce which examines the structure and development of commerce in the European Union and underlines its importance to the economy. The Green Paper identifies the challenges facing the commercial sector in Europe on the eve of the 21st century, raising a number of questions requiring public consultation. The European Commission aims to launch a wide ranging debate and consultation. This debate should lead to the identification of actions which will assist the sector in meeting these challenges while remaining competitive and contributing to employment and social cohesion. The challenges identified in the Green Paper include: - The development of the Information Society and, in particular, electronic commerce; - The need to ensure the effectiveness and better functioning of the Single Market; - The introduction of the EURO single currency; - The need to respond to the consumers' concerns; - The need for a simplified and less costly enterprise environment; - Addressing the question of employment, competitiveness and cohesion in both the rural and the urban environment. The European Commission believes that the public debate initiated by this Paper will supply decision-makers, at all levels, with a set of options which will allow for the necessary initiatives to be taken in time to meet the challenges faced.
