As the European Parliament’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Committee convenes to examine the drivers of rising consumer prices, Europe’s consumer goods manufacturers are sounding the alarm on a critical oversight: the near-total absence of upstream voices in the debate. With only retail and consumer organisations invited to speak, AIM — the European Brands Association — urges policymakers to ensure a fact-based and inclusive conversation that reflects the full complexity of the supply chain.
Manufacturers represent Europe’s third-largest industrial sector and play a vital role in shaping the internal market. Their absence from this hearing risks overlooking key realities in price formation and supply chain dynamics.
From locally rooted SMEs to globally recognised brands, Europe’s consumer goods manufacturers reflect a rich diversity of production models tailored to varied tastes and consumer preferences — all while supporting jobs, innovation, and communities across the continent. Simplistic narratives that exclude these upstream voices risk overlooking this complexity, distorting the policy debate, and undermining the very ecosystems that help drive Europe’s economy.
AIM is calling on EU institutions to uphold a balanced, evidence-led policy process that includes all stakeholders — and warns against one-sided narratives that could mislead consumers and policymakers alike.
