The first step was to recruit and develop high-quality distributors.

Points out that while private, own-brand labelled products can bring increased value, choice and ‘fair trade’ products to consumers, they also represent a strategic issue in the medium- and long-term, as they introduce a horizontal dimension to competition in respect of industrial brands that had never previously been a factor and that can give an unfair and anti-competitive position to retailers, who become both customer and competitor; draws attention to the existence of a ‘risk threshold’ beyond which the market penetration of own brands in a given category of product could turn the current positive effects of own brands into negativ ...[+++]e effects, and provide a disincentive as regards the innovative efforts of many companies; insists, therefore, that the issue of private own-brands requires particular attention from the Commission and competition authorities, specifically with regard to the need to assess the potential long-term consequences for the supply chain and the position of farmers within it, while bearing in mind that consumer habits in Member States vary.

Points out that any serious analysis of UTPs must take as its starting point the new economic paradigm that has emerged over the last few years: large-scale retail in which access to sales outlets has become the subject of fierce competition under the control of the supermarkets; points out that some competition authorities have identified specific practices involving the transfer of excessive risk to suppliers which could render them less competitive; points out that those authorities have also concluded that own brands bring in an element of horizontal competition vis-à-vis industry brands that has not been given sufficient considera ...[+++]tion.

are tailored to the size of the port and to the categories of ship calling there, since larger ports tend to have greater traffic and larger ships.

The European Commission has approved regional investment aid of £25 million (ECU 38 million) to LDV Limited for a project to manufacture a new range of medium/heavy vans in a joint venture with Daewoo.

[53] (i) credit lines (or "global loans") from the EIB to the specialised banking sector for the funding of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in audiovisual creation, audiovisual technology or the performance of subcontracting in this sector; (ii) medium- and long-term funding by the EIB, in cooperation with the banking sector, of infrastructure investments by large private or public television, production or audiovisual distribution groups; (iii) financing of specialised venture capital funds via EIF holdings; and (iv) development of joint EIB Group and European Commission actions in favour of cultural creation or the develop ...[+++]ment of the film or television industry (finance training sessions, cooperation between European distributors, etc.).