In carrying out the tasks entrusted to it under this Chapter the Commission shall be guided by: 

a) the need to promote trade between Member States and third countries; 

b) developments in conditions of competition within the Union in so far as they lead to an improvement in the competitive capacity of undertakings; 

c) the requirements of the Union as regards the supply of raw materials and semi-finished goods; in this connection the Commission shall take care to avoid distorting conditions of competition between Member States in respect of finished goods; 

d) the need to avoid serious disturbances in the economies of Member States and to ensure rational development of production and an expansion of consumption within the Union.