The European Parliament adopted a Written Declaration put forward by Caroline LUCAS (Greens/ALE, UK), Gyula HEGYI (PES, HU), Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI (UEN, PL), Harlem DESIR (PES, FR) et Hélène FLAUTRE (Greens/ALE, FR) on investigating and remedying abuse of power by large supermarkets operating in the European Union.

Members consider that, throughout the EU, retailing is increasingly dominated by a small number of supermarket chains. These retailers are fast becoming "gatekeepers", controlling farmers’ and other suppliers’ only real access to EU consumers. Evidence from across the EU suggests large supermarkets are abusing their buying power to force down prices paid to suppliers (based both within and outside the EU) to unsustainable levels and impose unfair conditions upon them. Parliament feels that such squeezes on suppliers have negative knock-on effects on both quality of employment and environmental protection. Consumers potentially face a loss in diversity of products, cultural heritage and retail outlets. Parliament notes that some Member States have introduced legislation attempting to limit such abuse, yet large supermarkets increasingly operate across national borders, making EU legislation desirable.

Parliament goes on to do the following ;

it calls on DG Competition to investigate the impact that the concentration of the EU supermarket sector is having on small businesses, suppliers, workers and consumers and, in particular, to assess any abuses of buying power which may follow from such concentration; it requests the Commission to propose appropriate measures, including regulation, to protect consumers, workers and producers from any abuse of a dominant position or other negative impact identified in the course of this investigation.