EDRA and the EU

EDRA, the European DIY Retail Association, is intensifying its efforts on the political stage. Last Monday, 21 March 2011, there was a meeting in Brussels between the CEOs of leading member companies and Connie Hedegaard, the EU’s commissioner for climate action. A meeting was also held with Malcolm Harbour, Jo Leinen, Anna Maria Corrazza Bildt and Julie Girling, all members of the European parliament. Further members of EDRA, as well as the representatives of several national DIY trade associations and of the European manufacturers’ association, FEDIYMA, were also participants in this meeting. The discussions included the question of how the relationships between dealers and suppliers can be structured efficiently and fairly in the supply chain. EDRA’s political activities are coordinated by Alisdair Gray, who has been the association’s representative in Brussels since September 2010. In addition to this he gave members of the association an introduction to the initiative being planned on the subject of sustainability. This includes plans for a campaign in favour of a reduction in value-added tax on products from this area.