Europe’s Day in Commerce: gloom and a few moments of happiness

Europe’s Day in Commerce has been organised for the 10th time. The initiative of Brussels-seated EuroCommerce became one of the biggest feasts in the sector in Hungary, organised by the National Association of Entrepreneurs and Employers’ (VOSZ) in close cooperation with partner associations (ÁFEOSZ-COOP Association, MKIK, KISOSZ, MBSZ, OKSZ). The day’s main objective is to raise awareness of the sector, which produces 12 percent of the GDP in Hungary (and 11 percent in Europe) and employs 530,000 people (30 million in Europe). On behalf of the Minister of National Economy, state secretary Judit Gondos told that they would like to continue the dialogue with the sector and expressed her hope that they would be able to reach a compromise in the problematic fields. VOSZ executive president Sándor Demján said in his speech that the retail sector is the biggest VAT contributor. About the possible mandatory shop closing on Sundays he told that no difference can be made between stores based on floor space. Referring to the food chain supervision fee, he added that no tax burden can be made 60 times bigger from one day to another in a country where competition is supposed to be fair. The only truly happy moments at Europe’s Day in Commerce were when the Gábor Klauzál Prize and the For Hungarian Retail Grand Prize were presented to winners.