30. Supports the ongoing impact assessment which the Commission is undertaking to assess the need for legislative measures; supports the Commission's ideas regarding the transparency of pricing structures; notes that comparability difficulties can arise if several cost components are combined together in a single tariff component; questions whether it is necessary to separate "core" clearing and settlement activities and so-called "value-added" services in order to address legitimate questions regarding free competition, non-discriminatory access and risk mitigation; expects the potential Commission's proposals in this area to be pro ...[+++]portionate to problems identified in the market;

It has removed the services of storage, depot and warehousing, depending on cargo categories, and cargo consolidation, which formed part of the Commission proposal from the scope of the directive, since these services are also provided outside the port area.

The Internet protocol (IP) facilitates the bundling of different types of service, including Information Society services, and would inaugurate a new phase of convergence at service level, according to technologists.

- a directive was proposed on market access for port services in respect not only of maritime services (pilotage, towage and mooring) but also for cargo handling (stevedoring, stowage, trans-shipment and other intra-terminal transport, storage, depot and warehousing, depending on cargo categories, and cargo consolidation) and for passenger services (including embarkation and disembarkation).

There is a risk that an undertaking with significant market power may act in various ways to inhibit entry or distort competition, for example by charging excessive prices, setting predatory prices, compulsory bundling of retail services or showing undue preference to certain customers.

So when we talk about packaging services here, I think there's this fundamental difference with respect to whether or not it's conditional.