Ref. Ares(2016)5579867Ref. Ares(2016)2923675 - 27/09/2016- 23/06/2016 Commissioner Hogan European Commission Rue de la Lot 200 1049 Brussels Belgium Brussels, 23 June 2016 Dear Commissioner Hogan, The French Retail Federation f FCD) is organising a business meeting with the leaders of the largest French and international retail companies, in Brussels on Thursday 20th October 2016. The FCD represents over 100 French retailers, whose members include companies such as Carrefour, Casino, Auchan, Systeme U, Lidi or Aldi. Two key issues in which retailers have been in the spotlight this past year are the agricultural crisis and the recently voted Czesak report, which saw the European Parliament calling for action on unfair trading practices. For a while now various assertions have been made about the relationship between the farming crisis and commercial dealings in the supply chain, however we have examples of good practices and of retailers providing help and support to farmers in France. We are convinced that solutions can be found without imposing burdensome new laws. It is in this context that we wish to Invite you to meet with us and our members to exchange views and discuss how retailers can be key actors in the “Food supply chain of tomorrow" and how fair competition and innovative partnerships can help boost the agricultural sector in the EU. The FCD therefore invites you to discuss these with 12 leaders from both European and international retail companies - of which the following have confirmed their attendance: GROUPE LOUIS DELHAIZE Мг the FCD AUCHAN Mr. BOULANGER Mr GROUPE CARREFOUR Мг GROUPE CASINO Mr DARTY GROUPE M (Darty France) FRANCAP DISTRIBUTION/ DIAPAR M LIDL Mr METRO Cash & Carry France Mr 1 RALLYE S.A/ Go Sport Mr SYSTEME U Mr (Système U East) FC0 Mr Members of the FCD combined, can be represented by the following figures: • a turnover of 194.5 billion euros (19% of EU retail turnover^; • 1 992 hypermarkets, 5,702 supermarkets, 4,605 maxi-discount stores and 17,950 convenience stores, in other words - around 30 000 shopping outlets in total; and • 750,000jobs (3.5% of private sector jobs in France) Our delegation will be in Brussels on the morning of Thursday 20th October. However we could also be available to meet with you on Wednesday 19th October. The FCD team in Brussels is available to your cabinet to help find the best available timing suitable in order to organise this meeting together. We look forward to meeting with you. Yours sincerely, French Retail Federation Fédération du Commerce et de la Distribution 45 Rue de Trêves -1040 Brussels - Belgium Direct: +32 (2) 486 02 93 - Mobile: +32 (0) 477 393 400 Website: www.fcd.fr - Twitter: @FCD_EU.