The internationalised business environment with increasingly interlinked value chains puts further pressure on them.

Greater competitive pressure, leading to incentives to differentiate, plus greater scale advantages, greater regulatory predictability, and a better environment for mass distribution of innovative services, should all in due course improve the investment environment.

103. Expresses its concern at the rebel offensive in N'Djamena, the capital of Chad, at the beginning of February 2008; highlights the importance of EU involvement in increasing diplomatic pressure for a ceasefire in Chad to protect beleaguered civilians and in supporting discussions aimed at peace and national reconciliation in that country; condemns the crackdown on political opponents in N'Djamena by the Chadian government after February's coup attempt; urges the Council to do its utmost to ensure freedom of the political opposition in Chad; underscores the gravity of the crisis concerning refugees and internally displaced persons ...[+++] (IDPs) in eastern Chad, where over 400 000 refugees and IDPs are being hosted in 12 camps along Chad's eastern border; welcomes the establishment of the peace-keeping mission European Union Force in the Republic of Chad and the Central African Republic (EUFOR TCHAD/RCA) and its vital objective of protecting refugees, IDPs and humanitarian personnel in this crisis region;

103. Expresses its concern at the rebel offensive in N'Djamena in Chad at the beginning of February 2008; highlights the importance of EU involvement in increasing diplomatic pressure for a ceasefire in Chad to protect beleaguered civilians and in supporting discussions aimed at peace and national reconciliation in that country; condemns the crackdown on political opponents in the capital N'Djamena by the Chadian government after February's coup attempt; urges the Council to do its utmost to ensure freedom of the political opposition in Chad; underscores the gravity of the crisis concerning refugees and internally displaced persons ( ...[+++]IDPs) in eastern Chad, where over 400 000 refugees and IDPs are being hosted in 12 camps along Chad's eastern border; welcomes the establishment of the EU peace-keeping mission EUFOR TCHAD/RCA and its vital objective of protecting refugees, IDPs and humanitarian personnel in this crisis region;

P. whereas the Green Paper under consideration is part of a comprehensive EU initiative designed to combat the factors which are most harmful to health ( including poor eating habits and lack of physical activity) and which - along with smoking and excessive alcohol consumption - are the root cause of cardiovascular diseases (which are the primary cause of death amongst men and women in the European Union), certain types of cancer, respiratory disease, osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes, which increase the demand on national health systems,

P. whereas the Green Paper under consideration is part of a comprehensive EU initiative designed to combat the factors which are most harmful to health ( including poor eating habits and lack of physical activity) and which - along with smoking and excessive alcohol consumption - are the root cause of cardiovascular diseases (which are the primary cause of death amongst men and women in the European Union), certain types of cancer, respiratory disease, osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes, which increase the demand on national health systems,