11.   But the decision drew criticism from rival airlines and politicians charging the EU move would unfairly distort competition between companies.

12.   He said tax-free sales distort competition and are discriminatory because they are available in airports and on planes and ferries but not trains.

13.   If, on top of that, limits on foreign players are scrapped, it would distort competition throughout Europe, defenders of the current system claim.

14.   It can veto or order changes to those it judges to unfairly distort competition.

15.   It can veto or order changes to those it judges unfairly distort competition.

16.   The Commission reviews state aids to industries and blocks those judged to distort competition.

17.   The Commission proposal stresses, however, that any aid to companies must not distort competition or be used to ease pre-existing financial problems.

18.   The European Broadcasting Union, or EBU, had distorted competition by using its extraordinary buying power to acquire exclusive sporting rights, he said.

19.   The Commission said it found that a Dow-BSL merger would not distort competition in any of the six markets where it would do business.

20.   The European Union has already expressed concerns that the Swiss move might distort fair competition in the European airline industry.