Commerce plays a unique role in the European economy. Commerce serves over a billion times a day as the link between manufacturers and the 493 million consumers across Europe. It is a dynamic and labour-intensive sector, generating 11% of the EU's GDP. One company out of three in Europe is active in the commerce sector. Over 95% of the 6 million companies in commerce are small & medium-sized enterprises. The sector is a major source of employment creation: over 30 million Europeans work in commerce and the sector is one the few sectors steadily creating employment across Europe. It also supports millions of dependent jobs throughout the supply chain from small local suppliers to international businesses.