Skip to main content
European Commission logo
en
Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

European Capitals of Small Retail exchange programme

Winning and shortlisted cities will participate in a European exchange programme designed to encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing. 

The European Small Retail exchange programme will bring cities together through in-person exchanges, where cities will either send or host a delegation from another city.

The delegation will be composed of 

  • representative(s) of the city (e.g. city council officials)
  • representative(s) of the local business community (e.g. local chamber of commerce, retail associations)
  • retail/district/city centre managers
  • a number of small retailers

Programmes will combine interactive workshops and site visits, integrating local businesses and community stakeholders. 

Key themes of the exchanges

The exchanges will be organised around 4 key pillars

  1. Sustainability
  2. Entrepreneurship support and community engagement
  3. Digitalisation
  4. City attractiveness and vitality

What an exchange looks like

Programmes will combine interactive workshops and site visits, integrating local businesses and community stakeholders. A typical exchange may include

  • a policy/strategy session presenting the host city’s approach
  • field visit(s) to markets, commercial streets or regenerated districts
  • meetings with local retailers, traders’ associations or market managers
  • project showcases of flagship initiatives such as digital tools, events or vacancy management
  • peer discussions
  • networking

Cultural and experiential elements will also be included, highlighting the identity of the host city and the role of small retail in its social fabric. Delegations will also have guided free time to experience local retail independently. 

The programme will include evaluation and follow-up exchanges, using feedback and key takeaways to identify practical solutions that can be applied in each city. 

Travel and accommodation costs are covered.

Contact us

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the ECoSR secretariat team.

  • infoateusmallretailcapitals [dot] eu (info[at]eusmallretailcapitals[dot]eu)

Exchange visits

1-3 June 2026 – Makarska visited by Silla

The ECoSR Exchange Programme officially kicked off this June, with Silla (Spain) visiting Makarska (Croatia) from 1-3 June, as part of the first of nine planned exchanges. The visit brought together municipal representatives, development agencies, business associations, entrepreneurs and local stakeholders to explore practical approaches to supporting small retail, revitalising city centres and strengthening local identity. 

Participants visited Hepicentar and took part in a World Café workshop on digitalisation, culture and governance, where a key takeaway was the importance of policies designed together with retailers. The programme also included a visit to Makarska's historic centre and the Lokale u Kale initiative, highlighting how public-space improvements, financial incentives and cultural programming can support retail revitalisation. 

The exchange identified several transferable practices, including municipal market revitalisation, storytelling routes, networking initiatives for entrepreneurs, heritage-based tourism products and creative-hub models. Both delegations expressed a clear intention to continue cooperation beyond the exchange visit.