The Commission has fined Altstoff Recycling Austria (ARA) €6 million for blocking competitors from entering the Austrian market for management of household packaging waste from 2008 to 2012, in breach of EU antitrust rules.

75. Considers that fair tax competition is one of the constitutive elements of the internal market, but that, the primary competence of the Member States notwithstanding, unfair tax competition must be prevented, for example through harmonised tax bases, exchanges of information between tax authorities, and the granting of an explicit legal right to control movements of capital if this is essential to the proper functioning of the tax system in the Union; takes the view that introducing a common corporate tax base (CCTB) would help make the system more transparent; believes that the issue of consolidation can be addressed at a later da ...[+++]te, and should not be a barrier to the swift introduction of a CCTB;

76. Considers that fair tax competition is one of the constitutive elements of the internal market, but that, the primary competence of the Member States notwithstanding, unfair tax competition must be prevented, for example through harmonised tax bases, exchanges of information between tax authorities, and the granting of an explicit legal right to control movements of capital if this is essential to the proper functioning of the tax system in the Union; takes the view that introducing a common consolidated corporate tax base (CCCTB) would help make the system more transparent; believes that the issue of consolidation can be addressed ...[+++] at a later date, and should not be a barrier to the swift introduction of a CCCTB;

26. Calls on the Commission to carefully examine developments on the EU air cargo and express services market; notes that the US operates a form of duopoly in the express market, and has in practice foreclosed the market to European competitors over the past ten years; concludes that further mergers in the sector would leave only one major European express and logistics company to compete, and that price competition on the internal market could be significantly impacted to the disadvantage of consumers;

In view of the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong, we ask the Commission to insist that social and environmental clauses be introduced to prevent unfair competition from China, especially clauses which prevent social and environmental dumping, protect workers and the environment and actually place the safeguarding of rights above the movement of goods.

7. Considers that one of the tools for safeguarding freedom of expression and information is the enforcement of the rules on free competition (prohibition of restricted practices and abuse of dominant positions). However, efficient companies are run with the aim of winning markets and must be able to secure positions of genuine market strength. Holding a dominant position is not in itself illegal if its results from the efficient running of a company. Only if a company uses its power to prevent competition does this constitute an abuse of a dominant position where action should be taken by the competent anti-trust authorities;