EU ‘must conquer trade barriers to boost e-commerce’

A new report is calling for trade restrictions to be resolved in order to boost online retailing across the EU.

The study entitled Barriers to e-commerce finds that internet shopping is growing in popularity across the EU but its progress is restricted by various obstacles.

Linguistic, practical, regulatory and trust issues are all to blame for holding back the development of e-commerce in the eurozone, the report argues.

Presenting the findings, EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva said: “Consumers have everything to gain from the internet. It expands the size of the market they operate in and gives them access to more providers and more choice.”

She called for the regulatory barriers and trust issues to be resolved in order to boost the industry.

Meanwhile, an industry insider has suggested that online represents a particularly attractive advertising medium during a recession.

Tsafrir Peles, co-chief executive officer at DSNR Media Group, hailed the levels of usability and efficiency offered by the web.