The principle underlying transfer pricing is that these prices should be at "arm's length" – i.e.: the price paid within a corporate group should be the same as the price paid between two independent companies on the open market.

The timing of the notification should take into account that where the difference between the regulated rate in place at the time of entry into force of this Recommendation and the rate resulting from the NRA’s application of the recommended costing methodology is significant, the NRA should impose access prices which ensure gradually that the rate resulting from the NRA’s application of the recommended costing methodology is reached by 31 December 2016 at the latest, taking into account the impact that sudden price adjustments may have on competition.

Therefore, the fact that a broadband service becomes available, either at all or at a lower price than otherwise would have been the case, has the effect of distorting competition.

At the same time, no assessment has been made of the effect which the arrival on the market of competitors who could (thanks to the very high level of decoupled aid) upset the balance between prices and supply/demand will have on producers who currently grow other crops in such regions.

Mr Schwab underlined that the European Union is a global player and that therefore it is essential to look at the price, at the quality, and also at the research possibilities to fall in line with our global competitors.

Firstly, the competition with which we are familiar has created two air spaces: that of the major routes on which we see congestion, delays, queues and broadly inadequate consumer protection laws, although prices have, of course, fallen. And then there is the air space of the smaller routes, which is expensive and which has largely been overlooked by the market.