COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 4064/89 of 21 December 1989 on the control of concentrations between undertakings

Ir-Regolament tal-Kunsill (KEE) Nru 4064/89

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

tal-21 ta' Diċembru 1989

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Articles 87 and 235 thereof,

dwar il-kontroll ta' konċentrazzjonijiet bejn impriżi

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

IL-KUNSILL TAL-KOMUNITAJIET EWROPEJ,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),

Wara li kkunsidra t-Trattat li jistabbilixxi l-Komunità Ekonomika Ewropea, u b'mod partikolari l-Artikoli 87 u 235 tiegħu,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),

Wara li kkunsidra l-proposta mill-Kummissjoni [1],

Whereas, for the achievement of the aims of the

Wara li kkunsidra l-opinjoni tal-Parlament Ewropew [2],

Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Wara li kkunsidra l-opinjoni tal-Kumitat Ekonomiku u Soċjali [3],

Article 3

Billi, biex jinkisbu l-għanijiet tat-Trattat li jistabbilixxi l-Komunità Ekonomika Ewropea, l-Artikolu 3(f) jagħti lill-Komunità l-għan li tistitwixxi "sistema li tiżgura li l-kompetittività fis-suq komuni ma tiġix distorta";

(f) gives the Community the objective of instituting 'a system ensuring that competition in the common market is not distorted';

Billi din is-sistema hi essenzjali biex jinkiseb is-suq intern sa l-1992 u l-iżvilupp aktar tiegħu;

Whereas this system is essential for the achievement of the internal market by 1992 and its further development;

Billi t-tneħħija ta' fruntieri interni qed tirriżulta u se tibqa' tirriżulta f'riorganizzazzjonijiet maġġuri korporati fil-Komunità, b'mod partikolari fl-għamla ta' konċentrazzjonijiet;

Whereas the dismantling of internal frontiers is resulting and will continue to result in major corporate re-organizations in the Community, particularly in the form of concentrations;

Billi żvilupp bħal dan għandu jintlaqa' bħala wieħed konformi mal-ħtiġijiet ta' kompetizzjoni dinamika u kapaċi jkattar il-kompetittività ta' l-industrija Ewropea, u hekk jitjiebu l-kondizzjonijiet għal tkabbir u t-titjib ta' l-istandard tal-ħajja fil-Komunità;

Whereas such a development must be welcomed as being in line with the requirements of dynamic competition and capable of increasing the competitiveness of European industry, improving the conditions of growth and raising the standard of living in the Community;

Billi, madankollu, irid ikun żgurat li l-proċess ta' riorganizzazzjoni ma jirriżultax fi ħsara fit-tul għall-kompetizzjoni; billi l-liġi tal-Komunità għandha għalhekk tinkludi disposizzjonijiet li jirregolaw dawk il-konċentrazzjonijiet li jistgħu jfixklu serjament il-kompetizzjoni effettiva fis-suq komuni jew f'xi parti sinifikanti tiegħu;

Whereas, however, it must be ensured that the process of re-organization does not result in lasting damage to

Billi l-Artikoli 85 u 86, meta applikabbli, skond il-ġurisprudenza tal-Qorti tal-Ġustizzja għal ċerti konċentrazzjonijiet, mhumiex madankollu biżżejjed biex ikopru l-operazzjonijiet kollha li jistgħu jirriżultaw mhux kompatibbli mas-sistema ta' kompetizzjoni mhux distorta kif maħsub fit-Trattat;

Billi għalhekk għandu jinħoloq strument ġdid legali fl-għamla ta' Regolament biex ikun jista' jsir kontroll effettiv tal-konċentrazzjonijiet kollha mill-aspett ta' l-effett tagħhom fuq l-istruttura ta' kompetizzjoni fil-Komunità u biex ikun l-uniku strument applikabbli għal konċentrazzjonijiet bħal dawn;

competition; whereas Community law must therefore include provisions governing those concentrations which may significantly impede effective competition in the common market or in a substantial part of it;

Billi dan ir-Regolament għandu għalhekk ikun bażat mhux biss fuq l-Artikolu 87 imma, l-aktar fuq l-Artikolu 235 tat-Trattat, li bis-saħħa tiegħu l-Komunità tista' tagħti lilha nnifisha setgħat ta' azzjoni addizzjonali meħtieġa għall-kisba ta' l-għanijiet tagħha, u anke dwar konċentrazzjonijiet tas-swieq ta' prodotti agrikoli elenkati fl-Anness II tat-Trattat;

Whereas Articles 85 and 86, while applicable, according to the case-law of the Court of Justice, to certain concentrations, are not, however, sufficient to cover all operations which may prove to be incompatible with the system of undistorted competition envisaged in the Treaty;

Billi d-disposizzjonijiet li għandhom jiġu adottati f'dan ir-Regolament għandhom japplikaw għal tibdiliet li l-impatt tagħhom fuq is-suq imur lil hinn mill-fruntieri nazzjonali ta' xi Stat Membru wieħed;

Whereas a new legal instrument should therefore be created in the form of a Regulation to permit effective monitoring of all concentrations from the point of view of their effect on the structure of competition in the Community and to be the only instrument applicable to such concentrations;

Billi l-iskop ta' l-applikazzjoni ta' dan ir-Regolament għandu għalhekk jiġi definit skond iż-żona ġeografika ta' attività ta' l-impriżi konċernati u jkun limitat għall-għetiebi kwantitattivi biex ikopri dawk il-konċentrazzjonijiet li għandhom dimensjoni Komunitarja; billi, fl-aħħar ta' fażi inizjali ta' l-applikazzjoni ta' dan ir-Regolament, dawn l-għetiebi għandhom jiġu riveduti fid-dawl ta' l-esperjenza miksuba;

Whereas this Regulation should therefore be based not only on Article 87 but, principally, on Article 235 of the Treaty, under which the Community may give itself the additional powers of action necessary for the attainment of its objectives, and also with regard to concentrations on the markets for agricultural products listed in Annex II to the Treaty;

Billi konċentrazzjoni b'dimensjoni Komunitarja tkun teżisti meta l-valur tal-bejgħ medju ta' l-impriżi konċernati jkun aktar minn livelli partikolari globali u fil- Komunità kollha u meta mill-inqas tnejn mill-impriżi konċernati jkollhom l-attività waħdanija jew l-oqsma ewlenin ta' l-attivitajiet tagħhom fi Stati Membri differenti jew meta, għalkemm l-impriżi in kwistjoni joperaw prinċipalment fl-istess Stat Membru, mill-inqas wieħed minnhom ikollu attivitajiet sostanzjali mill-inqas fi Stat Membru ieħor; billi dan ukoll ikun il-każ meta l-konċentrazzjonijiet ikunu affettwati minn impriżi li ma jkollhomx l-oqsma ewlenin ta' attivitajiet fil-Komunità imma jkollhom xogħlijiet sostanzjali hemmhekk:

Whereas the provisions to be adopted in this Regulation should apply to significant structural changes the impact of which on the market goes beyond the national borders of any one Member State;

Billi l-arranġamenti li għandhom jidħlu dwar il-kontroll ta' konċentrazzjonijiet għandhom, bla ħsara għall-Artikolu 90(2) tat-Trattat, iħarsu l-prinċipju li m'għandux ikun hemm diskriminazzjoni bejn il-pubbliku u s-setturi privati; billi, fis-settur pubbliku, kalkolu tal-bejgħ ta' impriża konċernata f'konċentrazzjoni għandu għalhekk iqis impriżi li jiffurmaw unità ekonomika b'setgħa indipendenti ta' deċiżjoni, irrispettivament mill-mod ta' kif qiegħed il-kapital tagħhom jew mir-regoli ta' sorveljanza amministrattiva applikabbli għalihom;

Whereas the scope of application of this Regulation should therefore be defined according to the geographical area of activity of the undertakings concerned and be limited by quantitative thresholds in order to cover those concentrations which have a Community dimension; whereas, at the end of an initial phase of the implementation of this Regulation, these thresholds should be reviewed in the light of the experience gained;

Billi hu meħtieġ li jiġi stabbilit jekk konċentrazzjonijiet b'dimensjoni Komunitarja humiex kompatibbli jew le mas-suq komuni mill-aspett tal-ħtieġa li tinżamm u tiġi żviluppata kompetizzjoni effettiva fis-suq komuni; billi, meta tagħmel dan, il-Kummissjoni trid tqiegħed l-istima tagħha fil-qafas ġenerali tal-kisba ta' l-għanijiet fundamentali msemmija fl-Artikolu 2 tat-Trattat, inkluż dak tat-tisħiħ ta' l-adeżjoni ekonomika u soċjali tal-Komunità, imsemmija fl-Artikolu 130a;

Whereas a concentration with a Community dimension exists where the aggregate turnover of the undertakings concerned exceeds given levels worldwide and throughout

Billi dan ir-Regolament għandu jistabbilixxi l-prinċipju li konċentrazzjoni b'dimensjoni Komunitarja li toħloq jew issaħħaħ posizzjoni li b'riżultat tagħha l-kompetizzjoni effettiva fis-suq komuni jew f'xi parti sostanzjali tiegħu tiġi mfixkla sew għandha tiġi dikjarata inkompatibbli fis-suq komuni;

the Community and where at least two of the undertakings concerned have their sole or main fields of activities in different Member States or where, although the undertakings in question act mainly in one and the same Member State, at least one of them has substantial operations in at least one other Member State; whereas that is also the case where the concentrations are effected by undertakings which do not have their principal fields of activities in the Community but which have substantial operations there;

Billi konċentrazzjonijiet illi, minħabba s-sehem limitat tas-suq ta' l-impriżi konċernati, x'aktarx ma jfixklux il-kompetizzjoni effettiva jistgħu jitqiesu bħala kompatibbli mas-suq komuni billi, bla ħsara għall-Artikoli 85 u 86 tat-trattat, indikazzjoni f'dan is-sens teżisti, b'mod partikolari meta s-sehem tas-suq ta' l-impriżi konċernati ma jkunx aktar minn 25 % la fis-suq komuni u lanqas f'xi parti sostanzjali tiegħu;

Whereas the arrangements to be introduced for the control of concentrations should, without prejudice to Article 90 (2) of the Treaty, respect the principle of non-discrimination between the public and the private sectors; whereas, in the public sector, calculation of the turnover of an undertaking concerned in a concentration needs, therefore, to take account of undertakings making up an economic unit with an independent power of decision, irrespective of the way in which their capital is held or of the rules of administrative supervision applicable to them;

Billi l-Kummissjoni għandu jkollha l-kompitu tat-teħid tad-deċiżjonijiet kollha meħtieġa biex jiġi stabbilit jekk il-konċentrazzjonijiet b'dimensjoni Komunitarja humiex kompatibbli jew le mas-suq komuni, kif ukoll deċiżjonijiet bl-għan li jerġgħu idaħħlu kompetizzjoni effettiva;

Whereas it is necessary to establish whether concentrations with a Community dimension are compatible or not with the common market from the point of view of the need to preserve and develop effective competition in the common market; whereas, in so doing, the Commission must place its appraisal within the general framework of the achievement of the fundamental objectives referred to in Article 2 of the Treaty, including that of strengthening the Community's economic and social cohesion, referred to in Article 130a;

Billi biex jiġi żgurat kontroll effettiv impriżi għandhom ikunu mġiegħla jagħtu notifikazzjoni minn qabel dwar konċentrazzjonijiet b'dimensjoni Komunitarja u tidħol disposizzjoni għas-sospensjoni ta' konċentrazzjonijiet għal perjodu limitat, u għall-possibbiltà li sospensjoni tiġi mtawla jew titħassar meta meħtieġ; billi fl-interess taċ-ċertezza ġuridika l-validità ta' transazzjonijiet għandha xorta tiġi mħarsa kemm jista' jkun;

Whereas this Regulation should establish the principle that a concentration with a Community dimension which creates or strengthens a position as result of which effective competition in the common market or in a substantial part of it is significantly impeded is to be declared incompatible with the common market;

Billi għandu jiġi stabbilit perjodu li fih il-Kummissjoni trid tibda proċediment dwar xi konċentrazzjoni notifikata u perjodu li fih għandha tieħu deċiżjoni dwar il-kompatibbiltà jew inkompatibbiltà mas-suq komuni ta' xi konċentrazzjoni notifikata;

Whereas concentrations which, by reason of the limited market share of the undertakings concerned, are not liable to impede effective competition may be presumed to be compatible with the common market; whereas, without prejudice to Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty, an indication to this effect exists, in particular, where the market share of the undertakings concerned does not exceed 25 % either in the common market or in a substantial part of it;

Billi l-impriżi konċernati għandhom jingħataw id-dritt li jinstemgħu mill-Kummissjoni malli jinbeda xi proċediment; billi l-membri ta' organi amministrattivi u ta' sorveljanza u r-rappreżentanti magħrufa tal-ħaddiema fl-impriżi konċernati, flimkien ma' partijiet terzi li juru interess leġittimu, għandhom ukoll jingħataw l-opportunità li jinstemgħu

Whereas the Commission should have the task of taking all the decisions necessary to establish whether or not concentrations of a Community dimension are compatible with the common market, as well as decisions designed to restore effective competition;

Billi l-Kummissjoni għandha taġixxi b'koperazzjoni mill-qrib u l-ħin kollu ma' l-awtoritajiet kompetenti ta' l-Istati Membri li minn għandhom tirċievi l-kummenti u l-informazzjoni:

Whereas to ensure effective control undertakings should be obliged to give prior notification of concentrations with a Community dimension and provision should be made for the suspension of concentrations for a limited period, and for the possibility of extending or waiving a suspension where necessary; whereas in the interests of legal certainty the validity of transactions must nevertheless be protected as much as necessary;

Billi, għall-finijiet ta' dan ir-Regolament, u skond il-ġurisprudenza tal-Qorti tal-Ġustizzja, il-Kummissjoni għandha tingħata l-għajnuna ta' l-Istati Membri u għandu anke jkollha s-setgħa li tingħatalha informazzjoni u li tagħmel investigazzjonijiet biex tassessja konċentrazzjonijiet:

Whereas a period within which the Commission must initiate a proceeding in respect of a notified concentration and a period within which it must give a final decision on the compatibility or incompatibility with the common market of a notified concentration should be laid down;

Billi konformità ma' dan ir-Regolament tista' tiġi nfurzata permezz ta' multi u pagamenti ta' penali perjodikament; billi l-Qorti tal-Ġustizzja għandha tingħata ġurisdizzjoni bla limitu f'dak ir-rigward skond l-Artikolu 172 tat-Trattat:

Whereas the undertakings concerned must be accorded the right to be heard by the Commission as soon as a proceeding has been initiated; whereas the members of management and supervisory organs and recognized workers' representatives in the undertakings concerned, together with third parties showing a legitimate interest, must also be given the opportunity to be heard;

Billi huwa xieraq li wieħed ifisser il-kunċett ta' konċentrazzjoni b'mod li jkopri biss operazzjonijiet li jikkaġunaw bidla fit-tul ta' l-istruttura ta' l-impriżi konċernati; billi huwa għalhekk meħtieġ li jitħallew barra mill-iskop ta' dan ir-Regolament dawk l-operazzjonijiet li jkollhom bħala l-għan jew effett tagħhom il-kordinazzjoni ta' mġiba kompetittiva ta' impriżi indipendenti, ladarba dawn l-operazzjonijiet iridu jiġu eżaminati skond id-disposizzjonijiet approprjati ta' Regolamenti li jimplimentaw l-Artikolu 85 u l-Artikolu 86 tat-Trattat; billi huwa xieraq li ssir din id-distinzjoni speċifikament fil-każ tal-ħolqien ta' intrapriżi konġunti:

Whereas the Commission should act in close and constant liaison with the competent authorities of the Member States from which it obtains comments and information;

Billi m'hemmx kordinazzjoni ta' mġiba kompetittiva fit-tifsira ta' dan ir-Regolament meta żewġ impriżi jew aktar jiftiehmu biex jiksbu kontroll bejniethom ta' impriża jew impriżi bil-għan u l-effett li jaqsmu bejniethom dawn l-impriżi jew l-assi tagħhom:

Whereas, for the purposes of this Regulation, and in accordance with the case-law of the Court of Justice, the Commission must be afforded the assistance of the Member States and must also be empowered to require information to be given and to carry out the necessary investigations in order to appraise concentrations;

Billi dan ir-Regolament għandu jibqa' japplika meta l-impriżi konċernati jaċċettaw restrizzjonijiet direttament relatati u meħtieġa għall-implimentazzjoni tal-konċentrazzjoni;

Whereas compliance with this Regulation must be enforceable by means of fines and periodic penalty payments; whereas the Court of Justice should be given unlimited jurisdiction in that regard pursuant to Article 172 of the Treaty;

Billi l-Kummissjoni għandha tingħata kompetenza esklussiva biex tapplika dan ir-Regolament, bla ħsara għal reviżjoni mill-Qorti tal-Ġustizzja;

Whereas it is appropriate to define the concept of concentration in such a manner as to cover only operations bringing about a durable change in the structure of the undertakings concerned; whereas it is therefore necessary to exclude from the scope of this Regulation those operations which have as their object or effect the coordination of the competitive behaviour of independent undertakings, since such operations fall to be examined under the appropriate provisions of Regulations implementing Article 85

Billi l-Istati Membri ma jistgħux japplikaw il-leġislazzjoni nazzjonali tagħhom dwar kompetizzjoni għal konċentrazzjonijet b'dimensjoni Komunitarja, sakemm ir-Regolament ma jiddisponix għal dan; billi l-poteri rilevanti ta' awtoritajiet nazzjonali għandhom ikunu limitati għal każi fejn, fin-nuqqas ta' intervent mill-Kummissjoni, kompetizzjoni effettiva x'aktarx se tiġi mfixkla fit-territorju ta' Stat Membru u meta l-interessi tal-kompetizzjoni f'dak l-Istat Membru ma jistgħux jitħarsu biżżejjed ħlief b'dan ir-Regolament; billi l-Istati Membri konċernati għandhom jieħdu azzjoni mill-ewwel f'każi bħal dawn; billi dan ir-Regolament ma jistax, minħabba d-diversità tal-liġi nazzjonali, jiffissa żmien għall-adozzjoni ta' rimedji

or Article 86 of the Treaty; whereas it is appropriate to make this distinction specifically in the case of the creation of joint ventures;

Billi, barra dan, l-applikazzjoni esklussiva ta' dan ir-Regolament għal konċentrazzjonijiet b'dimensjoni Komunitarja hi bla ħsara għall-Artikolu 223 tat-Trattat, u ma żżommx lill-Istati Membri milli jieħdu miżuri xierqa għall-ħarsien ta' interessi leġittimi għajr dawk fil-mira ta' dan ir-Regolament, basta li miżuri bħal dawn ikunu jaqblu mal-prinċipji u disposizzjonijiet oħra tal-liġi tal-Komunità;

Whereas there is no coordination of competitive behaviour within the meaning of this Regulation where two or more undertakings agree to acquire jointly control of one or more

Billi konċentrazzjonijiet mhux koperti b'dan ir-Regolament jaqgħu, fil-prinċipju, fil-ġurisdizzjoni ta' l-Istati Membri; billi, madankollu, il-Kummissjoni għandu jkollha s-setgħa li tieħu azzjoni, fuq it-talba ta' Stat Membru konċernat, f'każi fejn il-kompetizzjoni effettiva tkun se tiġi mfixkla sew fit-territorju ta' l-Istat Membru;

other undertakings with the object and effect of sharing amongst themselves such undertakings or their assets;

(30) Billi l-kondizzjonijiet li fihom konċentrazzjonijiet li jinvolvu impriżi tal-Komunità jitwettqu f'pajjiżi mhux membri għandhom jiġu mħarsa, u għandha tidħol disposizzjoni għall-possibbiltà li l-Kunsill jagħti lill-Kummissjoni mandat xieraq għal negozjar bil-ħsieb li jikseb trattament mhux diskriminatorju għal impriżi tal-Komunità;

Whereas the application of this Regulation is not excluded where the undertakings concerned accept restrictions directly related and necessary to the implementation of the concentration;

Billi dan ir-Regolament bl-ebda mod ma jnaqqas mid-drittijiet kollettivi tal-ħaddiema kif magħrufa fl-impriżi konċernati,

Whereas the Commission should be given exclusive competence to apply this Regulation, subject to review by the Court of Justice;

ADOTTA DAN IR-REGOLAMENT:

Whereas the Member States may not apply their national legislation on competition to concentrations with a Community dimension, unless the Regulation makes provision therefor; whereas the relevant powers of national authorities should be limited to cases where, failing intervention by the Commission, effective competition is likely to be significantly impeded within the territory of a Member State and where the competition interests of that Member State cannot be sufficiently protected otherwise than by this Regulation; whereas the Member States concerned must act promptly in such cases; whereas this Regulation cannot, because of the diversity of national law, fix a single deadline for the adoption of remedies;

Artikolu 1

Whereas, furthermore, the exclusive application of this Regulation to concentrations with a Community dimension is without prejudice to Article 223 of the Treaty, and does not prevent the Member States' taking appropriate measures to protect legitimate interests other than those pursued by this Regulation, provided that such measures are compatible with the general principles and other provisions of Community law;

Skop

Whereas concentrations not referred to in this Regulation come, in principle, within the jurisdiction of the Member States; whereas, however, the Commission should have the power to act, at the request of a Member State concerned, in cases where effective competition would be significantly impeded within that Member State's territory;

1. Bla ħsara għall-Artikolu 22 dan ir-Regolament għandu japplika għall-konċentrazzjonijiet kollha b'dimensjoni Komunitarja kif imfisser fil-paragrafu 2.

Whereas the conditions in which concentrations involving Community undertakings are carried out in non-member countries should be observed, and provision should be made for the possibility of the Council's giving the Commission an appropriate mandate for negotiation with a view to obtaining non-discriminatory treatment for Community undertakings;

2. Għall-finijiet ta' dan ir-Regolament, konċentrazzjoni jkollha dimensjoni Komunitarja meta:

Whereas this Regulation in no way detracts from the collective rights of workers as recognized in the undertakings concerned,

(a) il-valur totali tal-bejgħ globali ta' l-impriżi kollha konċernati jkun aktar minn ECU 5000 miljuni, u

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

(b) il-valur totali tal-bejgħ fil-Komunità kollha ta' kull wieħed minn għall-inqas żewġ impriżi konċernati jkun aktar minn ECU 250 miljuni,

Article 1

kemm-il darba kull waħda mill-impriżi konċernati tagħmel aktar minn żewġ terzi tal-bejgħ totali tagħha fil-Komunità fi Stat Membru wieħed.

Scope

3. L-għetiebi stabbiliti fil-paragrafu 2 għandhom jiġu riveduti qabel l-aħħar tar-raba' sena wara dik li fiha dan ir-Regolament ikun ġie adottat mill-Kunsill li jaġixxi b'maġġoranza kwalifikata fuq proposta tal-Kummissjoni.

1. Without prejudice to Article 22 this Regulation shall apply to all concentrations with a Community dimension as defined in paragraph 2.

Artikolu 2

2. For the purposes of this Regulation, a concentration has a Community dimension where;

Assessjar ta' konċentrazzjonijiet

(a) the aggregate worldwide turnover of all the undertakings concerned is more than ECU 5 000 million, and

1. Konċentrazzjonijiet fl-ambitu ta' dan ir-Regolament għandhom jiġu assessjati skond id-disposizzjonijiet li ġejjin bil-ħsieb li jkun stabbilit jekk kienux kompatibbli mas-suq komuni.

(b) the aggregate Community-wide turnover of each of at least two of the undertakings concerned is more than ECU 250 million,

Meta tagħmel dan l-assessjar, il-Kummissjoni għandha tqis:

unless each of the undertakings concerned achieves more than two-thirds of its aggregate Community-wide turnover within one and the same Member State.

(a) il-bżonn li tippriserva u tiżviluppa kompetizzjoni effettiva fis-suq komuni bil-ħsieb, fost affarijiet oħra, ta' l-istruttura tas-swieq kollha konċernati u l-kompetizzjoni attwali jew potenzjali minn impriżi oħra fil-Komunità jew barra mill-Komunità;

3. The thresholds laid down in paragraph 2 will be reviewed before the end of the fourth year following that of the adoption of this Regulation by the Council acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission.

(b) il-posizzjoni fis-suq ta' l-impriżi konċernati u l-qawwa ekonomika u finanzjarja tagħhom, l-alternattivi disponibbli għall-fornituri u l-utenti tagħhom, l-aċċess tagħhom għal provvisti u swieq, kull ostakli ġuridiċi jew impedimenti oħra għal xejriet ta' dħul, provvista u domanda għall-oġġetti jew servizzi rilevanti, l-interessi tal-konsumaturi intermedjarji u finali, u l-iżvilupp ta' progress tekniku u ekonomiku basta li jkun ta' vantaġġ għall-konsumatur u ma joħloqx tfixkil għall-kompetizzjoni.

Article 2

2. Konċentrazzjoni li ma toħloqx jew li ma ssaħħaħx posizzjoni dominanti li b'riżultat ta' dan tiġi mfixkla sew il-kompetizzjoni effettiva fis-suq komuni jew f'xi parti sostanzjali tiegħu tiġi dikjarata kompatibbli mas-suq komuni.

Appraisal of concentrations

3. Konċentrazzjoni li toħloq jew issaħħaħ posizzjoni dominanti li b'riżultat tagħha l-kompetizzjoni effettiva tiġi mfixkla sew fis-suq komuni jew f'xi parti kbira minnu għandha tiġi dikjarata mhix kompatibbli mas-suq komuni.

1. Concentrations within the scope of this Regulation shall be appraised in accordance with the following provisions with a view to establishing whether or not they are compatible with the common market.

Artikolu 3

In making this appraisal, the Commission shall take into account:

Tifsira ta' konċentrazzjoni

(a) the need to preserve and develop effective competition within the common market in view of, among other things, the structure of all the markets concerned and the actual or potential competition from undertakings located either within or without the Community;

1. Konċentrazzjoni għandha tiġi meqjusa li teżisti meta:

(b) the market position of the undertakings concerned and their economic and financial power, the opportunities available to suppliers and users, their access to supplies or markets, any legal or other barriers to entry, supply and demand trends for the relevant goods and services, the interests of the intermediate and ultimate consumers, and the development of technical and economic progress provided that it is to consumers' advantage and does not form an obstacle to competition.

(a) - żewġ impriżi jew aktar li qabel kienu indipendenti jingħaqdu, jew

2. A concentration which does not create or strengthen a dominant position as a result of which effective competition would be significantly impeded in the common market or in a substantial part of it shall be declared compatible with the common market.

(b) - persuna jew persuni li jkunu diġà qed jikkontrollaw mill-inqas impriża waħda, jew

3. A concentration which creates or strengthens a dominant position as a result of which effective competition would be significantly impeded in the common market or in a substantial part of it shall be declared incompatible with the common market.

- impriża jew impriżi

Article 3

jiksbu, kemm jekk b'xiri ta' titoli jew assi, b'kuntratt jew b'xi mezz ieħor, kontroll dirett jew indirett ta' impriża waħda jew aktar jew xi partijiet minn dawn l-impriżi.

Definition of concentration

2. Biċċa xogħol, inkluża l-ħolqien ta' xi intrapriża bejn tnejn jew aktar, li jkollha bħala l-għan jew effett tagħha l-kordinazzjoni ta' l-imġiba kompetittiva ta' impriżi li jibqgħu indipendenti m'għandhiex tikkostitwixxi konċentrazzjoni fis-sens tal-paragrafu 1 (b).

1. A concentration shall be deemed to arise where:

Il-ħolqien ta' intrapriża bejn tnejn jew aktar li tħaddem fuq bażi fit-tul il-funzjonijiet kollha ta' entità ekonomika awtonoma, li ma toħloqx kordinazzjoni ta' mġiba kompetittiva bejn l-istess partijiet jew bejniethom u l-intrapriża, tikkostitwixxi konċentrazzjoni fis-sens tal-paragrafu 1 (b).

(a) two or more previously independent undertakings merge, or

3. Għall-finijiet ta' dan ir-Regolament, kontroll għandu jkun magħmul minn drittijiet, kuntratti jew kull mezzi oħra li, jew separatament jew flimkien u f'kunsiderazzjoni tal-fatti jew tal-liġi involuta, jagħtu l-possibbiltà ta' tħaddim ta' influwenza deċisiva lil xi impriża, b'mod partikolari permezz ta':

(b) one or more persons already controlling at least one undertaking, or

(a) il-pussess jew id-dritt għall-użu ta' l-assi kollha jew ta' xi parti minnhom ta' l-impriża;

- one or more undertakings

(b) drittijiet jew kuntratti li jagħtu influwenza deċisiva lill-komposizzjoni, votazzjoni jew deċiżjonijiet ta' l-organi ta' impriża.

acquire, whether by purchase of securities or assets, by contract or by any other means, direct or indirect control of the whole or parts of one or more other undertakings.

4. Kontroll jinkiseb minn persuni jew impriżi li:

2. An operation, including the creation of a joint venture, which has as its object or effect the coordination of the competitive behaviour of undertakings which remain independent shall not constitute a concentration within the meaning of paragraph 1 (b).

(a) ikollhom id-drittijiet jew ikunu intitolati għal drittijiet skond il-kuntratti konċernati

The creation of a joint venture performing on a lasting basis all the functions of an autonomous economic entity, which does not give rise to coordination of the competitive behaviour of the parties amongst themselves or between them and the joint venture, shall constitute a concentration within the meaning of paragraph 1 (b).

(b) waqt li ma jkollhomx drittijiet bħal dawn jew li ma jkunux intitolati għal drittijiet skond dawn il-kuntratti, għandhom is-setgħa jeżerċitaw id-drittijiet li joħorġu minnhom Ma jistax ikun ikkunsidrat li teżisti konċentrazzjoni meta:

3. For the purposes of this Regulation, control shall be constituted by rights, contracts or any other means which, either separately or jointly and having regard to the considerations of fact or law involved, confer the possibility of exercising decisive influence on an undertaking, in particular by:

5. Konċentrazzjoni n'għandiex tingale neta:

(a) ownership or the right to use all or part of the assets of an undertaking;

(a) istituzzjonijiet ta' kreditu jew istituzzjonijiet finanzjarji oħra jew kumpaniji ta' assigurazzjoni, li l-attivitajiet normali tagħhom jinkludu transazzjonijiet u negozju ta' titoli akkont tagħhom jew akkont ta' oħrajn, ikollhom f'idejhom fuq bażi temporanja titoli li jkunu kisbu f'impriża bil-ħsieb li jerġgħu jinbiegħu, bil-kondizzjoni li ma jeżerċitawx id-dritt tal-vot tagħhom fir-rigward ta' dawk it-titoli bil-ħsieb li tkun determinata l-imġiba kompetittiva ta' dik l-impriża jew bil-kondizzjoni li jeżerċitaw dawk id-drittijiet għall-vot biss biex iħejju l-bejgħ ta' l-impriża jew ta' xi parti minnha jew ta' l-assi tagħha jew il-bejgħ ta' dawk it-titoli u li kull bejgħ bħal dan isir fi żmien sena mill-akkwist; dak il-perjodu jista' jiġi mtawwal mill-Kummissjoni fuq talba meta istituzzjonijiet jew kumpaniji bħal dawn jiġġustifikaw il-fatt li l-bejgħ ma setax raġonevolment isir fiż-żmien li jkun ingħata;

(b) rights or contracts which confer decisive influence on the composition, voting or decisions of the organs of an undertaking.

(b)) il-kontroll ikun inkiseb minn persuna f'kariga uffiċjali skond il-liġi ta' l-Istat Membru dwar likwidazzjoni, għeluq ta' negozju, waqfien ta' ħlasijiet, ħlasijiet miftiehma jew proċedimenti bħal dawn:

4. Control is acquired by persons or undertakings which:

(ċ) l-operazzjonijiet imsemmija fil-paragrafu 1 (b) jitwettqu mill-kumpaniji f'kontroll ta' l-azjendi msemmija fl-Artikolu 5(3) tar-Raba' Direttiva tal-Kunsill 78/660/KEE tal-25 ta' Lulju 1978 dwar il-kontijiet ta' kull sena ta' ċerti tipi ta' kumpaniji [4] kif emendata l-aħħar bid-Direttiva 84/569/KEE [5], basta, madankollu, li d-drittijiet tal-vot fir-rigward ta' l-azjenda ikunu eżerċitati biss, partikolarment fil-ħatra ta' membri tal-korpi amministrattivi u ta' sorveljanza li fihom ikollhom ishma, biex jinżamm il-valur sħiħ ta' dawk l-investimenti u mhux biex tkun determinata direttament jew indirettament il-kondotta kompetittiva ta' dawk l-impriżi.

(a) are holders of the rights or entitled to rights under the contracts concerned, or

Artikolu 4

(b) while not being holders of such rights or entitled to rights under such contracts, have the power to exercise the rights deriving therefrom.

Notifikazzjoni minn qabel ta' konċentrazzjonijiet

5. A concentration shall not be deemed to arise where:

1. Konċentrazzjonijiet b'dimensjoni Komunitarja kif imsemmija f'dan ir-Regolament għandhom ikunu notifikati lill-Kummissjoni mhux aktar tard minn ġimgħa wara l-konklużjoni tal-ftehim, jew wara l-avviż ta' offerta pubblika, jew l-akkwist ta' interess ta' kontroll. Dik il-ġimgħa tibda meta jseħħ l-ewwel wieħed minn dawk l-avvenimenti.

(a) credit institutions or other financial institutions or insurance companies, the normal activities of which include transactions and dealing in securities for their own account or for the account of others, hold on a temporary basis securities which they have acquired in an undertaking with a view to reselling them, provided that they do not exercise voting rights in respect of those securities with a view to determining the competitive behaviour of that undertaking or provided that they exercise such voting rights only with a view to preparing the sale of all or part of that undertaking or of its assets or the sale of those securities and that any such sale takes place within one year of the date of acquisition; that period may be extended by the Commission on request where such institutions or companies justify the fact that the sale was not reasonably possible within the period set;

2. Konċentrazzjoni magħmula minn għaqda fis-sens ta' l-Artikolu 3(1)(a) jew minn akkwist ta' kontroll flimkien fis-sens ta' l-Artikolu 3(1)(b) għandha tiġi notifikata mill-partijiet flimkien li jiffurmaw l-għaqda jew minn dawk li jakkwistaw il-kontroll flimkien skond il-każ.. Fil-każi l-oħra kollha n-notifikazzjoni għandha ssir mill-persuna jew impriża li tkun akkwistat il-kontroll ta' impriża jew impriżi jew xi partijiet minnhom.

(b) control is acquired by an office holder according to the law of a Member State relating to liquidation, winding up, insolvency, cessation of payments, compositions or analogous proceedings;

3. Meta l-Kummissjoni ssib li konċentrazzjoni notifikata taqa' fl-ambitu ta' dan ir-Regolament, għandha tippubblika l-fatt ta' din in-notifikazzjoni, u fl-istess ħin tindika l-ismijiet tal-partijiet, l-għamla tal-konċentrazzjoni u s-setturi ekonomiċi involuti. Il-Kummissjoni għandha tqis l-interessi leġittimi ta' impriżi fil-ħarsien tas-sigrieti kummerċjali tagħhom.

(c) the operations referred to in paragraph 1 (b) are carried out by the financial holding companies referred to in Article 5 (3) of the Fourth Council Directive 78/660/EEC of 25 July 1978 on the annual accounts of certain types of companies (4), as last amended by Directive 84/569/EEC (5), provided however that the voting rights in respect of the holding are exercised, in particular in relation to the appointment of members of the management and supervisory bodies of the undertakings in which they have holdings, only to maintain the full value of those investments and not to determine directly or indirectly the competitive conduct of those undertakings.

Artikolu 5

Article 4

Kalkolu tal-valur tal-bejgħ

Prior notification of concentrations

1. Il-valur totali tal-bejgħ fis-sens ta' l-Artikolu 1(2) għandu jkun jikkonsisti fl-ammonti miksuba mill-impriżi konċernati fis-sena finanzjarja ta' qabel mill-bejgħ ta' prodotti u l-għoti ta' servizzi li jagħmlu parti mill-attivitajiet ordinarji ta' l-impriżi wara t-tnaqqis ta' skonti fuq bejgħ u ta' taxxa fuq valur miżjud u taxxi oħra direttament relatati mal-bejgħ. Il-valur tal-bejgħ totali ta' impriża konċernata m'għandux jinkludi l-bejgħ ta' prodotti jew l-għoti ta' servizzi bejn l-impriżi msemmija fil-paragrafu 4.

1. Concentrations with a Community dimension as referred to by this Regulation shall be notified to the Commission not more than one week after the conclusion of the agreement, or the announcement of the public bid, or the acquisition of a controlling interest. That week shall begin when the first of those events occurs.

Il-valur tal-bejgħ, fil-Komunità jew fi Stat Membru, għandu jkun magħmul minn prodotti mibjugħa u servizzi mogħtija lil impriżi jew konsumaturi, fil-Komunità jew f'dak l-Istat Membru skond il-każ.

2. A concentration which consists of a merger within the meaning of Article 3 (1) (a) or in the acquisition of joint control within the meaning of Article 3 (1) (b) shall be notified jointly by the parties to the merger or by those acquiring joint control as the case may be. In all other cases,

2. B'deroga mill-paragrafu 1, meta l-konċentrazzjoni tkun tikkonsisti fl-akkwist ta' partijiet, kemm jekk ikunu kostitwiti bħala entitajiet legali u kemm le, ta' impriża waħda jew aktar, il-valur tal-bejgħ biss li għandu x'jaqsam mal-partijiet li jkunu s-suġġett tat-transazzjoni għandu jitqies fir-rigward tal-bejjiegħ jew bejjiegħa.

Madankollu, żewġ transazzjonijiet jew aktar fis-sens ta' l-ewwel subparagrafu li jseħħu fl-ewwel perjodu ta' sentejn bejn l-istess persuni jew impriżi għandhom jitqiesu bħala l-istess konċentrazzjoni waħda li tkun inħolqot fid-data ta' l-aħħar transazzjoni.

the notification shall be effected by the person or undertaking acquiring control of the whole or parts of one or more undertakings.

3. Minflok valur tal-bejgħ għandu jintuża dan li ġej:

3. Where the Commission finds that a notified concentration falls within the scope of this Regulation, it shall publish the fact of the notification, at the same time indicating the names of the parties, the nature of the concentration and the economic sectors involved. The Commission shall take account of the legitimate interest of undertakings in the protection of their business secrets.

(a) għal istituzzjonijiet ta' kreditu jew istituzzjonijiet finanzjarji oħra, fir-rigward ta' l-Artikolu 1(2)(a), wieħed minn kull għaxra ta' l-assi totali tagħhom.

Article 5

Dwar l-Artikolu 1(2)(b) u l-aħħar parti ta' l-Artikolu 1(2), il-valur tal-bejgħ totali tal-Komunit_ kollha għandu jiġi sostitwit b'wieħed minn kull għaxra ta' l-assi kollha moltiplikat bil-proporzjon bejn is-self u l-ħlasijiet bil-quddiem lil istituzzjonijiet ta' kreditu u klijenti fi transazzjonijiet ma' residenti tal-Komunità u s-somma totali ta' dak is-self u ħlasijiet bil-quddiem.

Calculation of turnover

Dwar l-aħħar parti ta' l-Artikolu 1(2), il-valur ta' bejgħ totali fi Stat Membru wieħed għandu jiġi sostitwit b'wieħed minn kull għaxra ta' l-assi totali moltiplikat bil-proporzjon bejn is-self u l-ħlasijiet bil-quddiem lil istituzzjonijiet ta' kreditu u klijenti fi transazzjonijiet ma' residenti ta' dak l-Istat Membru u s-somma totali ta' dak is-self u l-ħlasijiet bil-quddiem;

1. Aggregate turnover within the meaning of Article 1 (2) shall comprise the amounts derived by the undertakings concerned in the preceding financial year from the sale of products and the provision of services falling within the undertakings' ordinary activities after deduction of sales rebates and of value added tax and other taxes directly related to turnover. The aggregate turnover of an undertaking concerned shall not include the sale of products or the provision of services between any of the undertakings referred to in paragraph 4.

(b) dwar impriżi ta' assigurazzjoni, il-valur gross ta' premiums miktuba li għandhom jikkonsistu fl-ammonti kollha riċevuti u li għad iridu jaslu fir-rigward ta' kuntratti ta' assigurazzjoni maħruġa minn jew f'isem impriżi ta' assigurazzjoni, inklużi wkoll ħruġ ta' premiums ta' ri-assigurazzjoni, u wara t-tnaqqis ta' taxxi u kontribuzzjonijiet parafiskali jew imposti mħallsa fuq referenza għall-ammonti ta' premiums individwali jew il-volum totali ta' premiums; dwar l-Artikolu 1(2)(b) u l-aħħar parti ta' l-Artikolu 1(2), premiums grossi li jkunu daħlu minn għand residenti tal-Komunità u minn għand residenti ta' xi Stat Membru rispettivament għandhom jitqiesu.

Turnover, in the Community or in a Member State, shall comprise products sold and services provided to undertakings or consumers, in the Community or in that Member State as the case may be.

4. Bla ħsara għall-paragrafu 2, il-valur tal-bejgħ ta' impriża konċernata fis-sens ta' l-Artikolu 1(2) għandu jiġi kalkolat billi wieħed jgħodd flimkien il-valur tal-bejgħ totali rispettiv ta' dawn li ġejjin:

2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, where the concentration consists in the acquisition of parts, whether or not constituted as legal entities, of one or more undertakings, only the turnover relating to the parts which are the subject of the transaction shall be taken into account with regard to the seller or sellers.

(a) l-impriża konċernata;

However, two or more transactions within the meaning of the first subparagraph which take place within a two-year period between the same persons or undertakings shall be treated as one and the same concentration arising on the date of the last transaction.

(b) dawk l-impriżi li fihom l-impriża konċernata, direttament jew indirettament:

3. In place of turnover the following shall be used:

- ikollha aktar min-nofs il-kapital jew l-assi tan-negozju, jew

(a) for credit institutions and other financial institutions, as regards Article 1 (2) (a), one-tenth of their total assets.

- ikollha s-setgħa li tuża aktar min-nofs id-drittijiet tal-vot, jew

As regards Article 1 (2) (b) and the final part of Article

- ikollha s-setgħa taħtar aktar min-nofs il-membri tal-bord ta' sorveljanza, tal-bord jew bordijiet amministrattivi li legalment jirrappreżentaw l-impriżi, jew

1 (2), total Community-wide turnover shall be replaced by one-tenth of total assets multiplied by the ratio between loans and advances to credit institutions and customers in transactions with Community residents and the total sum of those loans and advances.

- ikollha d-dritt tamministra l-affarijiet ta' l-impriża;

As regards the final part of Article 1 (2), total turnover within one Member State shall be replaced by one-tenth of total assets multiplied by the ratio between loans and

(ċ) dawk l-impriżi li jkollhom f'impriża konċernata id-drittijiet jew setgħat elenkati f'(b);

advances to credit institutions and customers in transactions with residents of that Member State and the total sum of those loans and advances;

(d)) dawk l-impriżi li fihom impriża kif imsemmija f'(ċ) ikollha d-drittijiet jew setgħat elenkati f'(b);

(b) for insurance undertakings, the value of gross premiums written which shall comprise all amounts received and receivable in respect of insurance contracts issued by or on behalf of the insurance undertakings, including also outgoing reinsurance premiums, and after deduction of taxes and parafiscal contributions or levies charged by reference to the amounts of individual premiums or the total volume of premiums; as regards Article 1 (2) (b) and the final part of Article 1 (2), gross premiums received from Community residents and from residents of one Member State respectively shall be taken into account.

(e) dawk l-impriżi li fihom żewġ impriżi jew aktar kif imsemmija f'(a) sa (d) flimkien għandhom id-drittijiet jew setgħat elenkati f'(b).

4. Without prejudice to paragraph 2, the turnover of an undertaking concerned within the meaning of Article 1 (2) shall be calculated by adding together the respective turnover of the following:

5. Meta impriżi konċernati bil-konċentrazzjoni flimkien ikollhom id-drittijiet jew setgħat elenkati fil-paragrafu 4 (b), fil-kalkolu tal-valur tal-bejgħ ta' l-impriżi konċernati għall-finijiet ta' l-Artikolu 1(2):

(a) the undertaking concerned;

(a) m'għandu jittieħed ebda kont tal-valur tal-bejgħ li jirriżulta minn bejgħ ta' prodotti jew l-għoti ta' servizzi bejn l-impriża konġunta u kull waħda mill-impriżi konċernati jew xi impriża oħra konnessa ma' xi waħda minnhom, kif preskritt fil-paragrafu 4 (b) sa (e);

(b) those undertakings in which the undertaking concerned, directly or indirectly;

(b) għandu jitqies il-valur tal-bejgħ li jirriżulta mill-bejgħ ta' prodotti u l-għoti ta' servizzi bejn l-impriża konġunta u kull impriżi terzi. Dan il-l-valur tal-bejgħ għandu jitqassam l-istess bejn l-impriżi konċernati.

- owns more than half the capital or business assets, or

Artikolu 6

- has the power to exercise more than half the voting rights, or

Eżami tan-notifikazzjoni u l-bidu ta' proċedimenti

- has the power to appoint more than half the members of the supervisory board, the administrative board or bodies legally representing the undertakings, or

1. Il-Kummissjoni għandha teżamina n-notifikazzjoni malli tirċeviha.

- has the right to manage the undertakings' affairs;

(a) Meta tikkonkludi li l-konċentrazzjoni notifikata ma taqax fl-ambitu ta' dan ir-Regolament, għandha tirreġistra dan permezz ta' deċiżjoni.

(c) those undertakings which have in an undertaking concerned the rights or powers listed in (b);

(b) Meta ssib li konċentrazzjoni notifikata, għalkemm taqa' fl-ambitu ta' dan ir-Regolament, ma toħloqx dubji serji dwar il-kompatibbiltà tagħha mas-suq komuni, għandha tiddeċiedi biex ma tmurx kontra tagħha u tiddikjara li hi kompatibbli mas-suq komuni.

(d) those undertakings in which an undertaking as referred to in (c) has the rights or powers listed in (b);

(ċ) Jekk, mill-banda l-oħra, issib li l-konċentrazzjoni notifikata taqa' fl-ambitu ta' dan ir-Regolament u toħloq dubji serji dwar il-kompatibbiltà tagħha mas-suq komuni, għandha tiddeċiedi li tibda l-proċedimenti.

(e) those undertakings in which two or more undertakings as referred to in (a) to (d) jointly have the rights or powers listed in (b).

2. Il-Kummissjoni għandha tinnotifika d-deċiżjoni tagħha lill-impriżi konċernati u lill-awtoritajiet kompetenti ta' l-Istati Membri bla telf ta' żmien.

5. Where undertakings concerned by the concentration jointly have the rights or powers listed in paragraph 4 (b), in calculating the turnover of the undertakings concerned for the purposes of Article 1 (2);

Artikolu 7

(a) no account shall be taken of the turnover resulting from the sale of products or the provision of services between the joint undertaking and each of the undertakings concerned or any other undertaking connected with any one of them, as set out in paragraph 4 (b) to (e);

Sospensjoni ta' konċentrazzjonijiet

(b) account shall be taken of the turnover resulting from the sale of products and the provision of services between

1. Għall-finijiet tal-paragrafu 2 konċentrazzjoni kif imfissra fl-Artikolu 1 m'għandhiex tidħol fis-seħħ qabel in-notifikazzjoni tagħha jew fi żmien tliet ġimgħat wara n-notifikazzjoni tagħha.

the joint undertaking and any third undertakings. This turnover shall be apportioned equally amongst the undertakings concerned.

2. Meta l-Kummissjoni, wara eżami preliminari tan-notifikazzjoni fil-perjodu previst fil-paragrafu 1, issib li hu meħtieġ li tiġi żgurata l-effettività ta' kull deċiżjoni meħuda aktar tard skond l-Artikolu 8(3) u (4), tista' tiddeċċiedi fuq l-inizjattiva tagħha stess li tkompli s-sospensjoni ta' konċentrazzjoni kollha kemm hi jew parti minnha sakemm tieħu deċiżjoni finali, jew li tieħu miżuri oħra temporanji għal dan il-għan.

Article 6

3. Il-paragrafi 1 u 2 m'għandhomx ifixklu l-implimentazzjoni ta' offerta pubblika li tkun notifikata lill-Kummissjoni skond l-Artikolu 4(1) sa d-data li tiġi mħabbra, basta li minn jeħodha ma jeżerċitax id-drittijiet tal-vot li jmorru mat-titoli in kwistjoni jew li dan jagħmlu biss biex jippriserva l-valur sħiħ ta' dawk l-investimenti u fuq il-bażi ta' deroga mogħtija mill-Kummissjoni skond il-paragrafu 4.

Examination of the notification and initiation of proceedings

4. Il-Kummissjoni tista', fuq talba, tagħti deroga mill-obbligi imposti fil-paragrafi 1, 2 jew 3 biex ma tħallix li ssir ħsara serja lil xi impriża jew impriżi konċernati minn xi konċentrazzjoni jew lil xi parti terza. Dik id-deroga tista' ssir bla ħsara għal xi kondizzjonijiet u obbligi biex ikunu żgurati l-kondizzjonijiet ta' kompetizzjoni effettiva. Deroga tista' tiġi mitluba jew mogħtija f'kull ħin, anke qabel in-notifikazzjoni jew wara t-transazzjoni.

1. The Commission shall examine the notification as soon as it is received.

5. Il-validità ta' kull transazzjoni mwettqa b'kontravenzjoni tal-paragrafi 1 jew 2 għandha tkun tiddependi minn deċiżjoni skond l-Artikolu 6(1)(b) jew 8 (2) jew (3) jew mis-saħħa ta' preżunzjoni stabbilita bl-Artikolu 10(6).

(a) Where it concludes that the concentration notified does not fall within the scope of this Regulation, it shall record that finding by means of a decision.

Dan l-Artikolu, madankollu, m'għandu jkollu ebda effett fuq il-validità ta' transazzjonijiet f'titoli inklużi dawk konvertibbli f'titoli oħra aċċettati għal negozju f'suq regolat u sorveljat minn awtoritajiet magħrufa minn korpi pubbliċi, li jiffunzjona regolarment u li jkun aċċessibbli direttament jew indirettament għall-pubbliku, sakemm ix-xerrej u l-bejjiegħ kienu jafu jew misshom kienu jafu li t-transazzjoni kienet imwettqa b'kontravenzjoni tal-paragrafi 1 u 2.

(b) Where it finds that the concentration notified, although falling within the scope of this Regulation, does not raise serious doubts as to its compatibility with the common market, it shall decide not to oppose it and shall declare that it is compatible with the common market.

Artikolu 8

(c) If, on the other hand, it finds that the concentration notified falls within the scope of this Regulation and raises serious doubts as to its compatibility with the common market, it shall decide to initiate proceedings.

Setgħat ta' deċiżjoni mill-Kummissjoni

2. The Commission shall notify its decision to the undertakings concerned and the competent authorities of the Member States without delay.

1. Bla ħsara għall-Artikolu 9, kull proċediment mibdi skond l-Artikolu 6(1)(ċ) għandu jingħalaq b'deċiżjoni kif previst fil-paragrafi 2 sa 5.

Article 7

2. Meta l-Kummissjoni ssib li, wara xi tibdil mill-impriżi konċernati jekk meħtieġ, konċentrazzjoni notifikata tissodisfa l-kriterju preskritt bl-Artikolu 2(2), għandha toħroġ deċiżjoni li tiddikjara l-konċentrazzjoni kompatibbli mas-suq komuni.

Suspension of concentrations

Tista' mad-deċiżjoni tagħha tehmeż kondizzjonijiet u obbligi biex tiżgura li l-impriżi konċernati jħarsu l-impenji li jkunu daħlu għalihom vis-à-vis l-Kummissjoni bil-ħsieb li jinbidel il-pjan oriġinali tal-konċentrazzjoni. Id-deċiżjoni li tiddikjara l-konċentrazzjoni kompatibbli għandha tkopri wkoll restrizzjonijiet relatati direttament ma', u meħtieġa għall-implimentazzjoni tal-konċentrazzjoni.

1. For the purposes of paragraph 2 a concentration as defined in Article 1 shall not be put into effect either before its notification or within the first three weeks following its notification.

3. Meta l-Kummissjoni ssib li konċentrazzjoni tissodisfa l-kriterji preskritti fl-Artikolu 2(3), għandha toħroġ deċiżjoni li tiddikjara li l-konċentrazzjoni hi inkompatibbli mas-suq komuni.

2. Where the Commission, following a preliminary examination of the notification within the period provided for in paragraph 1, finds it necessary in order to ensure the full effectiveness of any decision taken later pursuant to Article 8 (3) and (4), it may decide on its own initiative to continue the suspension of a concentration in whole or in part until it takes a final decision, or to take other interim measures to that effect.

4. Meta konċentrazzjoni tkun diġà implimentata, il-Kummissjoni tista', b'deċiżjoni skond il-paragrafu 3 jew b'deċiżjoni għaliha, teħtieġ li l-impriżi jew assi miġjuba flimkien jiġu separati jew li jintemm il-kontroll konġunt jew kull azzjoni oħra li tista' tkun xierqa biex jerġa' jkun hemm kondizzjonijiet ta' kompetizzjoni effettiva.

3. Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not impede the implementation of a public bid which has been notified to the Commission in accordance with Article 4 (1) by the date of its announcement, provided that the acquirer does not exercise the voting rights attached to the securities in question or does so only to maintain the full value of those investments and on the basis of a derogation granted by the Commission pursuant to paragraph 4.

5. Il-Kummissjoni tista' tħassar id-deċiżjoni li tkun ħadet skond il-paragrafu 2 meta:

4. The Commission may, on request, grant a derogation from the obligations imposed in paragraphs 1, 2 or 3 in order

(a) id-dikjarazzjoni ta' inkompatibbiltà tkun bażata fuq informazzjoni mhux korretta li għaliha kienet responsabbli waħda mill-impriżi konċernati jew li tkun inkisbet b'qerq, jew

to prevent serious damage to one or more undertakings concerned by a concentration or to a third party. That derogation may be made subject to conditions and obligations in order to ensure conditions of effective competition. A derogation may be applied for and granted at any time, even before notification or after the transaction.

(b) l-impriżi konċernati jkunu kisru xi obbligu mehmuż mad-deċiżjoni.

5. The validity of any transaction carried out in contravention of paragraph 1 or 2 shall be dependent on a decision pursuant to Article 6 (1) (b) or 8 (2) or (3) or by virtue of the presumption established by Article 10 (6).

6. Fil-każi msemmija fil-paragrafu 5, il-Kummissjoni tista' tieħu deċiżjoni skond il-paragrafu 3, mingħajr ma tkun marbuta biż-żmien imsemmi fl-Artikolu 10(3).

This Article shall, however, have no effect on the validity of transactions in securities including those convertible into other securities admitted to trading on a market which is regulated and supervised by authorities recognized by public bodies, operates regularly and is accessible directly or indirectly to the public, unless the buyer and seller knew or ought to have known that the transaction was carried out in contravention of paragraph 1 or 2.

Artikolu 9

Article 8

Referiment lejn l-awtoritajiet kompetenti ta' l-Istati Membri

Powers of decision of the Commission

1. Il-Kummissjoni tista', permezz ta' deċiżjoni notifikata bla telf ta' żmien lill-impriżi konċernati u lill-awtoritajiet kompetenti ta' l-Istati Membri l-oħra, tirreferi konċentrazzjoni notifikata lill-awtoritajiet kompetenti ta' l-Istat Membru konċernat fiċ-ċirkostanzi li ġejjin.

1. Without prejudice to Article 9, each proceeding initiated pursuant to Article 6 (1) (c) shall be closed by means of a decision as provided for in paragraphs 2 to 5.

2. Fi żmien tliet ġimgħat mid-data li tkun waslitlu l-kopja tan-notifikazzjoni Stat Membru jista' jinforma lill-Kummissjoni li għandha tinforma lill-impriżi konċernati li xi konċentrazzjoni qed thedded li toħloq jew issaħħaħ posizzjoni dominanti li b'riżultat ta' dan il-kompetizzjoni effettiva se tkun imfixkla serjament f'suq, f'dak l-Istat Membru, li għandu l-karatteristiċi kollha ta' suq għalih, kemm jekk hu parti sostanzjali tas-suq komuni kemm jekk le.

2. Where the Commission finds that, following modification by the undertakings concerned if necessary, a notified concentration fulfils the criterion laid down in Article 2 (2), it shall issue a decision declaring the concentration compatible with the common market.

3. Jekk il-Kummissjoni jidhrilha illi, wara li tkun ikkunsidrat is-suq għal prodotti jew servizzi in kwistjoni u s-suq referenzjali ġeografiku fis-sens tal-paragrafu 7, hemm dan is-suq għalih u li theddida bħal din teżisti, jew:

It may attach to its decision conditions and obligations intended to ensure that the undertakings concerned comply with the commitments they have entered into vis-à-vis the Commission with a view to modifying the original concentration plan. The decision declaring the concentration compatible shall also cover restrictions directly related and necessary to the implementation of the concentration.

(a) tittratta l-każ hi stess biex iżżomm jew iġġib lura l-kompetizzjoni effettiva fis-suq konċernat, jew

3. Where the Commission finds that a concentration fulfils the criterion laid down in Article 2 (3), it shall issue a decision declaring that the concentration is incompatible with the common market.

(b) tirreferi l-każ lill-awtoritajiet kompetenti ta' l-Istat Membru konċernat bil-ħsieb li tiġi applikata l-liġi nazzjonali ta' dak l-Istat.

4. Where a concentration has already been implemented, the Commission may, in a decision pursuant to paragraph 3 or by a separate decision, require the undertakings or assets brought together to be separated or the cessation of joint

Jekk, madankollu, il-Kummissjoni jidhrilha li suq jew theddida distinti bħal dawn ma jkunux jeżistu għandha tadotta deċiżjoni f'dak is-sens li għandha tindirizzaha lill-Istat Membru konċernat.

control or any other action that may be appropriate in order to restore conditions of effective competition.

4. Deċiżjoni biex tirreferi jew ma tirreferix skond il-paragrafu 3 għandha tittieħed meta:

5. The Commission may revoke the decision it has taken pursuant to paragraph 2 where:

(a) bħala regola ġenerali fil-perjodu ta' sitt ġimgħat previst fl-Artikolu 10(1), it-tieni subparagrafu, meta l-Kummissjoni ma tkunx bdiet proċedimenti skond l-Artikolu 6(1)(b), jew

(a) the declaration of compatibility is based on incorrect information for which one of the undertakings concerned is responsible or where it has been obtained by deceit, or

(b) fi żmien tliet xhur l-aktar min-notifikazzjoni konċernata meta l-Kummissjoni tkun bdiet proċedimenti skond l-Artikolu 6(1)(ċ), bla ma tkun ħadet il-passi ta' tħejjija biex tadotta l-miżuri meħtieġa skond l-Artikolu 8(2), it-tieni subparagrafu, (3) jew (4) biex iżżomm jew iġġib lura l-kompetizzjoni effettiva fis-suq konċernat.

(b) the undertakings concerned commit a breach of an obligation attached to the decision.

5. Jekk fiż-żmien ta' tliet xhur imsemmi fil-paragrafu 4 (b) il-Kummissjoni, minkejja nota li tfakkar mill-Istat Membru konċernat, ma tkun ħadet ebda deċiżjoni dwar referiment skond il-paragrafu 3 jew ma tkunx ħadet il-passi ta' tħejjija msemmija fil-paragrafu 4 (b), tiġi meqjusa li tkun ħadet deċiżjoni biex tirreferi l-każ lill-Istat Membru konċernat skond il-paragrafu 3 (b).

6. In the case referred to in paragraph 5, the Commission may take a decision pursuant to paragraph 3, without being bound by the deadline referred to in Article 10 (3).

6. Il-pubblikazzjoni ta' kull rapport jew it-tħabbir tas-sejbiet ta' l-eżami tal-konċentrazzjoni mill-awtoritajiet kompetenti ta' l-Istat Membru konċernat għandhom jidħlu fis-seħħ mhux aktar tard minn erba' xhur wara r-referiment tal-Kummissjoni.

Article 9

7. Is-suq referenzjali ġeografiku għandu jkun magħmul miż-żona li fiha l-impriżi konċernati jkunu involuti fil-provvista ta' prodotti jew servizzi, li fihom il-kondizzjonijiet tal-kompetizzjoni huma omoġenji biżżejjed u li jkunu distinti minn żoni ġirien minħabba, b'mod partikolari, li l-kondizzjonijiet ta' kompetizzjoni huma sostanzjalment differenti f'dawk iż-żoni. Din l-istima għandha tqis b'mod partikolari n-natura u l-karatteristiċi tal-prodotti u s-servizzi konċernati, ta' l-eżistenza ta' ostakli għad-dħul jew ta' preferenzi tal-konsumatur, ta' differenzi sostanzjali ta' l-ishma tas-suq ta' l-impriżi bejn żoni ġirien jew ta' differenzi sostanzjali fil-prezzijiet.

Referral to the competent authorities of the Member States

8. Fl-applikazzjoni tad-disposizzjonijiet ta' dan l-Artikolu, l-Istat Membru konċernat jista' jieħu biss il-miżuri strettament meħtieġa biex iħares jew iġib lura l-kompetizzjoni effettiva fis-suq konċernat.

1. The Commission may, by means of a decision notified without delay to the undertakings concerned and the competent authorities of the other Member States, refer a notified concentration to the competent authorities of the Member State concerned in the following circumstances.

9. Skond id-disposizzjonijiet rilevanti tat-Trattat, kull Stat Membru jista jagħmel appell lill-Qorti tal-Ġustizzja, u b'mod partikolari jista' jitlob għall-applikazzjoni ta' l-Artikolu 186, għall-finijiet ta' l-applikazzjoni tal-liġi tiegħu dwar kompetizzjoni nazzjonali.

2. Within three weeks of the date of receipt of the copy of the notification a Member State may inform the Commission which shall inform the undertakings concerned that a concentration threatens to create or to strengthen a dominant position as a result of which effective competition would be significantly impeded on a market, within that Member State, which presents all the characteristics of a distinct market, be it a substantial part of the common market or not.

10. Dan l-Artikolu għandu jiġi rivedut qabel l-aħħar tar-raba' sena wara dik li fiha jkun adottat dan ir-Regolament.

3. If the Commission considers that, having regard to the market for the products or services in question and the geographical reference market within the meaning of paragraph 7, there is such a distinct market and that such a threat exists either:

Artikolu 10

(a) it shall itself deal with the case in order to maintain or restore effective competition on the market concerned, or

Limiti ta' żmien dwar il-bidu ta' proċedimenti u deċiżjonijiet

(b) it shall refer the case to the competent authorities of the Member State concerned with a view to the application of that State's national competition law.

1. Id-deċiżjonijiet imsemmija fl-Artikolu 6(1) iridu jittieħdu fi żmien xahar l-aktar tard. Dak il-perjodu jibda fil-jum wara li tkun waslet in-notifikazzjoni jew, jekk l-informazzjoni mogħtija man-notifikazzjoni ma' tkunx kompleta, fil-jum wara li tkun waslet l-informazzjoni kollha.

If, however, the Commission considers that such a distinct market or threat does not exist it shall adopt a decision to that effect which it shall address to the Member State concerned.

Dak il-perjodu jiżdied b'sitt ġimgħat jekk il-Kummissjoni tirċievi talba minn għand Stat Membru skond l-Artikolu 9(2).

4. A decision to refer or not to refer pursuant to paragraph 3 shall be taken where:

2. Deċiżjonijiet skond l-Artikolu 8(2) dwar konċentrazzjonijiet notifikati għandhom jittieħdu malli jkun jidher li d-dubji serji msemmija fl-Artikolu 6(1)(ċ) ikunu tneħħew, partikolarment b'riżultat ta' tibdiliet magħmula mill-konċentrazzjonijiet konċernati, u l-aktar tard saż-żmien stabbilit fil-paragrafu 3.

(a) as a general rule within the six-week period provided for in Article 10 (1), second subparagraph, where the

3. Bla ħsara għall-Artikolu 8(6), deċiżjonijiet skond l-Artikolu 8(3) dwar konċentrazzjonijiet notifikati għandhom jittieħdu mhux aktar tard minn erba' xhur mid-data li jkunu nbdew il-proċedimenti.

Commission has not initiated proceedings pursuant to Article 6 (1) (b), or

4. Il-perjodu stabbilit fil-paragrafu 3 għandu jkun eċċezzjonalment sospiż meta, minħabba ċirkostanzi li għalihom waħda mill-konċentrazzjonijiet tkun responsabbli, il-Kummissjoni kellha titlob informazzjoni b'deċiżjoni skond l-Artikolu 11 jew tordna investigazzjoni b'deċiżjoni skond l-Artikolu 13.

(b) within three months at most of the notification of the concentration concerned where the Commission has initiated proceedings under Article 6 (1) (c), without taking the preparatory steps in order to adopt the necessary measures pursuant to Article 8 (2), second subparagraph, (3) or (4) to maintain or restore effective competition on the market concerned.

5. Meta l-Qorti tal-Ġustizzja tagħti sentenza li tħassar deċiżjoni jew xi parti minnha meħuda skond dan ir-Regolament, il-perjodu stabbilit f'dan ir-Regolament għandu jerġa' jibda mid-data tas-Sentenza.

5. If within the three months referred to in paragraph

6. Meta l-Kummissjoni ma tkunx ħadet deċiżjoni skond l-Artikolu 6(1)(b) jew (ċ) jew l-Artikolu 8(2) jew (3) fiż-żminijiet stabbiliti fil-paragrafi 1 u 3 rispettivament, il-konċentrazzjoni għandha tiġi meqjusa kompatibbli mas-suq komuni, bla ħsara għall-Artikolu 9.

4 (b) the Commission, despite a reminder from the Member State concerned, has taken no decision on referral in accordance with paragraph 3 or taken the preparatory steps referred to in paragraph 4 (b), it shall be deemed to have taken a decision to refer the case to the Member State concerned in accordance with paragraph 3 (b).

Artikolu 11

6. The publication of any report or the announcement of the findings of the examination of the concentration by the competent authority of the Member State concerned shall be effected not more than four months after the Commission's referral.

Talbiet għal informazzjoni

7. The geographical reference market shall consist of the area in which the undertakings concerned are involved in the supply of products or services, in which the conditions of competition are sufficiently homogeneous and which can be distinguished from neighbouring areas because, in particular, conditions of competition are appreciably different in those areas. This assessment should take account in particular of the nature and characteristics of the products or services concerned, of the existence of entry barriers or of consumer preferences, of appreciable differences of the undertakings' market shares between neighbouring areas or of substantial price differences.

1. Fit-twettiq tad-dmirijiet mgħoddija lilha b'dan ir-Regolament, il-Kummissjoni tista' tikseb l-informazzjoni kollha meħtieġa mill-gvernijiet u l-awtoritajiet kompetenti ta' l-Istati Membri, mill-persuni msemmija fl-Artikolu 3(1)(b), u minn konċentrazzjonijiet u assoċjazzjonijiet ta' konċentrazzjonijiet.

8. In applying the provisions of this Article, the Member State concerned may take only the measures strictly necessary to safeguard or restore effective competition on the market concerned.

2. Meta tibgħat talba għal informazzjoni lil xi persuna, impriża jew assoċjazzjoni ta' impriżi, il-Kummissjoni għandha fl-istess ħin tibgħat kopja tat-talba lill-awtorità kompetenti ta' l-Istat Membru li fit-territorju tiegħu tkun toqgħod il-persuna jew tkun tinsab is-sede ta' l-impriża jew assoċjazzjoni ta' impriżi.

9. In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Treaty, any Member State may appeal to the Court of Justice, and in particular request the application of Article 186, for the purpose of applying its national competition law.

3. Fit-talba tagħha l-Kummissjoni għandha tgħid il-bażi legali u l-għan tat-talba kif ukoll il-penali previsti fl-Artikolu 14(1)(b) meta tingħata informazzjoni mhux korretta.

10. This Article will be reviewed before the end of the fourth year following that of the adoption of this Regulation.

4. L-informazzjoni mitluba għandha tingħata, fil-każ ta' impriżi, mis-sidien jew rappreżentanti tagħhom u, fil-każ ta' persuni ġuridiċi, mill-kumpaniji jew ditti, jew minn assoċjazzjonijiet mingħajr personalità ġuridika, mill-persuni awtorizzati biex jirrappreżentawhom bil-liġi jew skond l-istatuti tagħhom.

Article 10

5. Meta persuna, impriża jew assoċjazzjoni ta' impriżi ma' jagħtux l-informazzjoni mitluba fiż-żmien stabbilit mill-Kummissjoni jew jagħtu informazzjoni mhux kompleta, il-Kummissjoni għandha, b'deċiżjoni, tordnali l-informazzjoni tingħata. Id-deċiżjoni trid tispeċifika liema informazzjoni hi meħtieġa, tiffissa perjodu xieraq li fih trid tingħata u ssemmi l-penali previsti fl-Artikoli 14(1) (b) u 15 (1) (a) u d-dritt għal reviżjoni tad-deċiżjoni mill-Qorti tal-Ġustizzja.

Time limits for initiating proceedings and for decisions

6. Fl-istess ħin il-Kummissjoni għandha tibgħat kopja tad-deċiżjoni tagħha lill-awtorità kompetenti ta' l-Istat Membru li fit-territorju tiegħu tinsab ir-residenza tal-persuna jew is-sede ta' l-impriża jew assoċjazzjoni ta' impriżi.

1. The decisions referred to in Article 6 (1) must be taken within one month at most. That period shall begin on the day following the receipt of a notification or, if the information to be supplied with the notification is incomplete, on the day following the receipt of the complete information.

Artikolu 12

That period shall be increased to six weeks if the Commission receives a request from a Member State in accordance with Article 9 (2).

Investigazz jonijiet ta' l-awtoritajiet mill-Istati Membri

2. Decisions taken pursuant to Article 8 (2) concerning notified concentrations must be taken as soon as it appears that the serious doubts referred to in Article 6 (1) (c) have been removed, particularly as a result of modifications made by the undertakings concerned, and at the latest by the deadline laid down in paragraph 3.

1. Fuq talba tal-Kummissjoni, l-awtoritajiet kompetenti ta' l-Istati Membri għandhom iwettqu l-investigazzjonijiet li l-Kummissjoni jidhrilha meħtieġa skond l-Artikolu 13(3)). L-uffiċjali ta' l-Istati Membri responsabbli biex imexxu dawk l-invstigazzjonijiet għandhom jeżerċitaw il-poteri tagħhom fuq il-preżentazzjoni ta' awtorizzazzjoni bil-miktub maħruġa mill-awtorità kompetenti ta' l-Istat Membru li fit-territorju tiegħu għandha ssir l-investigazzjoni. Din l-awtorizzazzjoni għandha tispeċifika s-suġġett u l-għan ta' l-investigazzjoni.

3. Without prejudice to Article 8 (6), decisions taken pursuant to Article 8 (3) concerning notified concentrations must be taken within not more than four months of the date on which the proceeding is initiated.

2. Jekk ikun mitlub mill-Kummissjoni jew mill-awtorità kompetenti ta' Stat Membru li fit-territorju tiegħu tkun ser issir l-investigazzjoni, uffiċjali tal-Kummissjoni jistgħu jgħinu lill-uffiċjali ta' dik l-awtorità fil-qadi tad-dmirijiet tagħhom.

4. The period set by paragraph 3 shall exceptionally be suspended where, owing to circumstances for which one of the undertakings involved in the concentration is responsible, the Commission has had to request information by decision pursuant to Article 11

Artikolu 13

or to order an investigation by decision pursuant to Article 13.

Poteri investigattivi tal-Kummissjoni

5. Where the Court of Justice gives a judgment which annuls the whole or part of a Commission decision taken under this Regulation, the periods laid down in this Regulation shall start again from the date of the judgment.

1. Fil-qadi tad-dmirijiet assenjati lilha b'dan ir-Regolament, il-Kummissjoni tista' twettaq l-investigazzjonijiet kollha meħtieġa f'impriżi jew assoċjazzjonijiet ta' impriżi.

6. Where the Commission has not taken a decision in accordance with Article 6 (1) (b) or (c) or Article 8 (2) or (3) within the deadlines set in paragraphs 1 and 3 respectively, the concentration shall be deemed declared compatible with the common market, without prejudice to Article 9.

Għal dak il-għan l-uffiċjali awtorizzati mill-Kummissjoni għandu jkollhom is-setgħa:

Article 11

(a) li jeżaminaw il-kotba u rekords oħra tan-negozju:

Requests for information

(b) li jieħdu jew jitolbu kopji ta' siltiet minn kotba u rekords tan-negozju:

1. In carrying out the duties assigned to it by this Regulation, the Commission may obtain all necessary information from the Governments and competent authorities of the Member States, from the persons referred to in Article 3 (1) (b), and from undertakings and associations of undertakings.

(ċ) li jitolbu spjegi bil-fomm fuq il-post;

2. When sending a request for information to a person, an undertaking or an association of undertakings, the Commission shall at the same time send a copy of the request

(d) li jidħlu f'bini, art jew mezzi ta' trasport ta' impriżi.

to the competent authority of the Member State within the territory of which the residence of the person or the seat of the undertaking or association of undertakings is situated.

2. L-uffiċjali tal-Kummissjoni awtorizzati biex iwettqu investigazzjonijiet għandhom jeżerċitaw is-setgħat tagħhom fuq preżentazzjoni ta' awtorizzazzjoni bil-miktub li tispeċifika s-suġġett u l-għan ta' l-investigazzjoni u l-penali previsti fl-Artikolu 14(1)(ċ) f'każi fejn il-preżentazzjoni mitluba tal-kotba jew rekords oħra tan-negozju ma tkunx kompleta. Fi żmien xieraq qabel l-investigazzjoni, il-Kummissjoni għandha tinforma, bil-miktub, lill-awtorità kompetenti ta' l-Istat Membru li fit-territorju tiegħu għandha ssir l-investigazzjoni bl-investigazzjoni u bl-identitajiet ta' l-uffiċjali awtorizzati.

3. In its request the Commission shall state the legal basis and the purpose of the request and also the penalties provided for in Article 14 (1) (b) for supplying incorrect information.

3. Impriżi u assoċjazzjonijiet ta' impriżi għandhom joqogħdu għal investigazzjonijiet ordnati b'deċiżjoni tal-Kummissjoni. Id-deċiżjoni għandha tispeċifika s-suġġett u l-għan ta' l-investigazzjoni, tiffissa d-data li fiha trid tinbeda u ssemmi l-penali previsti fl-Artikolu 14(1)(ċ) u 15 (1) (b) u d-dritt li d-deċiżjoni tiġi riveduta mill-Qorti tal-Ġustizzja.

4. The information requested shall be provided, in the case of undertakings, by their owners or their representatives and, in the case of legal persons, companies or firms, or of associations having no legal personality, by the persons authorized to represent them by law or by their statutes.

4. Il-Kummissjoni għandha fi żmien xieraq u bil-miktub tinforma lill-awtorità kompetenti ta' l-Istat Membru li fit-territorju tiegħu għandha ssir l-investigazzjoni bil-ħsieb tagħha li tieħu deċiżjoni skond il-paragrafu3.

5. Where a person, an undertaking or an association of undertakings does not provide the information requested within the period fixed by the Commission or provides incomplete information, the Commission shall by decision require the information to be provided. The decision shall specify what information is required, fix an appropriate period within which it is to be supplied and state the penalties provided for in Articles 14 (1) (b) and 15 (1) (a) and the right to have the decision reviewed by the Court of Justice.

5. Uffiċjali ta' l-awtorità kompetenti ta' l-Istat Membru li fit-territorju tiegħu għandha ssir l-investigazzjoni jistgħu, fuq talba ta' dik l-awtorità jew tal-Kummissjoni, jgħinu lill-uffiċjali tal-Kummissjoni fil-qadi ta' dmirijiethom.

6. The Commission shall at the same time send a copy of its decision to the competent authority of the Member State within the territory of which the residence of the person or the seat of the undertaking or association of undertakings is situated.

6. Meta impriża jew assoċjazzjoni ta' impriżi jopponu investigazzjoni ordnata skond dan l-Artikolu, l-Istat Membru konċernat għandu jagħti l-għajnuna meħtieġa lill-uffiċjali awtorizzati mill-Kummissjoni biex dawn ikunu jistgħu iwettqu l-investigazzjoni. Għal dan il-għan l-Istat Membru għandu, wara li jikkonsulta lill-Kummissjoni, jieħu l-miżuri meħtieġa fi żmien sena mid-dħul fis-seħħ ta' dan ir-Regolament.

Article 12

Artikolu 14

Investigations by the authorities of the Member States

Multi

1. At the request of the Commission, the competent authorities of the Member States shall undertake the investigations which the Commission considers to be necessary pursuant to Article 13 (1), or which it has ordered by decision pursuant to Article 13 (3). The officials of the competent authorities of the Member States responsible for conducting those investigations shall exercise their powers upon production of an authorization in writing issued by the competent authority of the Member State within the territory of which the investigation is to be carried out. Such authorization shall specify the subject matter and purpose of the investigation.

1. Il-Kummissjoni tista' b'deċiżjoni twaħħal lill-persuni msemmija fl-Artikolu 3(1)(b), impriżi jew assoċjazzjonijiet ta' impriżi multi minn ECU 1000 sa 50000 meta bil-ħsieb jew traskuraġni:

2. If so requested by the Commission or by the competent authority of the Member State within the territory of which the investigation is to be carried out, officials of the Commission may assist the officials of that authority in carrying out their duties.

(a) jonqsu milli jinnotifikaw konċentrazzjoni skond l-Artikolu 4;

Article 13

(b) jagħtu informazzjoni mhux korretta jew qarrieqa f'notifikazzjoni skond l-Artikolu 4;

Investigative powers of the Commission

(ċ) jagħtu informazzjoni mhux korretta bi tweġiba għal talba magħmula skond l-Artikolu 11 jew jonqsu milli jagħtu informazzjoni fiż-żmien stabbilit b'deċiżjoni meħuda skond l-Artikolu 11;

1. In carrying out the duties assigned to it by this Regulation, the Commission may undertake all necessary investigations into undertakings and associations of undertakings.

(d) jippreżentaw il-kotba jew rekords oħra tan-negozju mitluba f'għamla mhux kompleta waqt investigazzjonijiet skond l-Artikoli 12 jew 13, jew jirrifjutaw li joqogħdu għal investigazzjoni ordnata b'deċiżjoni meħuda skond l-Artikolu 13.

To that end the officials authorized by the Commission shall be empowered:

2. Il-Kummissjoni tista' b'deċiżjoni twaħħal multi ta' mhux aktar minn 10 % tal-valur tal-bejgħ kollu ta' l-impriżi konċernati fis-sens ta' l-Artikolu 5 lil persuni jew impriżi konċernati meta, jew bil-ħsieb jew bi traskuraġni, huma:

(a) to examine the books and other business records;

(a) jonqsu milli jikkonformaw ma' xi obbligu impost b'deċiżjoni skond l-Artikolu 7(4) jew 8 (2), it-tieni subparagrafu:

(b) to take or demand copies of or extracts from the books and business records;

(b) idaħħlu fis-seħħ konċentrazzjoni bi ksur ta' l-Artikolu 7(1) jew jinjoraw deċiżjoni meħuda skond l-Artikolu 7(2);

(c) to ask for oral explanations on the spot;

(ċ) idaħħlu fis-seħħ konċentrazzjoni dikjarata inkompatibbli mas-suq komuni b'deċiżjoni skond l-Artikolu 8(3) jew ma jiħdux il-miżuri ordnati b'deċiżjoni skond l-Artikolu 8(4).

(d) to enter any premises, land and means of transport of undertakings.

3. Fl-iffissar ta' l-ammont ta' multa, għandhom ikunu kkunsidrati n-natura u s-serjetà tal-ksur.

2. The officials of the Commission authorized to carry out the investigations shall exercise their powers on production of an authorization in writing specifying the subject matter and purpose of the investigation and the penalties provided for in Article 14

4. Deċiżjonijiet meħuda skond il-paragrafi 1 u 2 m'għandhomx ikunu ta' natura ta' liġi kriminali.

(1) (c) in cases where production of the required books or other business records is incomplete. In good time before the investigation, the Commission shall inform, in writing, the competent authority of the Member State within the territory of which the investigation is to be carried out of the investigation and of the identities of the authorized officials.

Artikolu 15

3. Undertakings and associations of undertakings shall submit to investigations ordered by decision of the Commission. The decision shall specify the subject matter and purpose of the investigation, appoint the date on which it shall begin and state the penalties provided for in Articles 14 (1) (c) and 15 (1) (b) and the right to have the decision reviewed by the Court of Justice.

Ħlasijiet perjodiċi ta' penali

4. The Commission shall in good time and in writing inform the competent authority of the Member State within the territory of which the investigation is to be carried out of its intention of taking a decision pursuant to paragraph 3. It shall hear the competent authority before taking its decision.

1. Il-Kummissjoni tista' b'deċiżjoni timponi fuq il-persuni msemmija fl-Artikolu 3(1)(b), impriżi jew assoċjazzjonijiet ta' impriżi konċernati ħlasijiet perjodiċi ta' penali sa ECU 25000 għal kull ġurnata ta' dewmien ikkalkolat mid-data stabbilita bid-deċiżjoni, biex iġġiegħlhom:

5. Officials of the competent authority of the Member State within the territory of which the investigation is to be carried out may, at the request of that authority or of the Commission, assist the officials of the Commission in carrying out their duties.

(a) jagħtu informazzjoni sħiħa u korretta li tkun talbet b'deċiżjoni skond l-Artikolu 11;

6. Where an undertaking or association of undertakings opposes an investigation ordered pursuant to this Article, the Member State concerned shall afford the necessary assistance to the officials authorized by the Commission to enable them to carry out their investigation. To this end the Member States shall, after consulting the Commission, take the necessary measures within one year of the entry into force of this Regulation.

(b) joqogħdu għal investigazzjoni li hi tkun ordnat skond l-Artikolu 13.

Article 14

2. Il-Kummissjoni tista' b'deċiżjoni timponi fuq il-persuni msemmija fl-Artikolu 3(1)(b) jew fuq impriżi ħlasijiet perjodiċi ta' penali sa ECU 100000 għal kull ġurnata tad-dewmien kalkolat mid-data stabbilita fid-deċiżjoni, biex iġġiegħlhom:

Fines

(a) iħarsu xi obbligu impost fuqhom b'deċiżjoni skond l-Artikolu 7(4) jew 8 (2), it-tieni subparagrafu, jew

1. The Commission may by decision impose on the persons referred to in Article 3 (1) (b), undertakings or

(b) japplikaw il-miżuri ordnati b'deċiżjoni skond l-Artikolu 8 (4).

associations of undertakings fines of from ECU 1 000 to 50 000 where intentionally or negligently:

3. Meta l-persuni msemmija fl-Artikolu 3(1)(b), impriżi jew assoċjazzjonijiet ta' impriżi ikunu ssodisfaw l-obbligu li għalih ikun ġie nfurzat il-ħlas ta' penali perjodiċi, il-Kummissjoni tista' tistabbilixxi t-total ta' l-ammont tal-ħlasijiet perjodiċi ta' penali għal ċifra li tkun inqas minn dik li tirriżulta mid-deċiżjoni oriġinali.

(a) they omit to notify a concentration in accordance with Article 4;

Artikolu 16

(b) they supply incorrect or misleading information in a notification pursuant to Article 4;

Reviżjoni mill-Qorti tal-Ġustizzja

(c) they supply incorrect information in response to a request made pursuant to Article 11 or fail to supply information within the period fixed by a decision taken pursuant to Article 11;

Il-Qorti tal-Ġustizzja għandu jkollha ġurisdizzjoni bla limiti fis-sens ta' l-Artikolu 172 tat-Trattat biex tirrevedi deċiżjonijiet li bihom il-Kummissjoni tkun stabbilixxiet multa jew ħlasijiet perjodiċi ta' penali tista' tħassar, tnaqqas jew iżżid il-multa jew il-ħlas perjodiku ta' penali imposti.

(d) they produce the required books or other business records in incomplete form during investigations pursuant to Article 12 or 13, or refuse to submit to an investigation ordered by decision taken pursuant to Article 13.

Artikolu 17

2. The Commission may by decision impose fines not exceeding 10 % of the aggregate turnover of the undertakings concerned within the meaning of Article 5 on the persons or undertakings concerned where, either intentionally or negligently, they;

Segretezza professjonali

(a) fail to comply with an obligation imposed by decision pursuant to Article 7 (4) or 8 (2), second subparagraph;

1. Informazzjoni miksuba b'riżultat ta' l-applikazzjoni ta' l-Artikoli 11, 12, 13 u 18 għandha tintuża biss għall-finijiet tat-talba, investigazzjoniji jew udjenza rilevanti.

(b) put into effect a concentration in breach of Article 7 (1) or disregard a decision taken pursuant to Article

2. Bla ħsara għall-Artikoli 4 (13), 18 u 20, il-Kummissjoni u l-awtoritajiet kompetenti ta' l-Istati Membri, l-uffiċjali tagħhom u impjegati oħra m'għandhomx jikxfu l-informazzjoni li jkunu kisbu mill-applikazzjoni ta' dan ir-Regolament tat-tip koperta mill-obbligu ta' segretezza professjonali.

7 (2);

3. Il-paragrafi 1 u 2 m'għandhomx iżommu l-pubblikazzjoni ta' informazzjoni ġenerali jew stħarriġ li ma jkunx fihom informazzjoni dwar impriżi jew assoċjazzjonijiet ta' impriżi partikolari.

(c) put into effect a concentration declared incompatible with the common market by decision pursuant to Article 8 (3) or do not take the measures ordered by decision pursuant to Article 8 (4).

Artikolu 18

3. In setting the amount of a fine, regard shall be had to the nature and gravity of the infringement.

Seduti biex jinstemgħu il-partijiet u terzi persuni

4. Decisions taken pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not be of a criminal law nature.

1. Qabel tieħu kull deċiżjoni prevista fl-Artikoli 7(2) u 8 (2), it-tieni subparagrafu, il-Kummissjoni għandha tagħti lill-persuni, impriżi jew assoċjazzjonijiet ta' impriżi konċernati l-opportunità f'kull stadju tal-proċedura sal-konsultazzjoni tal-Kumitat Konsultattiv, li jagħtu l-veduti tagħhom dwar l-oġġezzjonijiet kontra tagħhom,

Article 15

2. B'deroga mill-paragrafu 1, deċiżjoni biex titkompla s-sospensjoni ta' konċentrazzjoni jew biex tingħata deroga mis-sospensjoni kif imsemmi fl-Artikolu 7(2) jew (4) tista' tittieħed provviżjorjament, mingħajr ma l-persuni, impriżi jew assoċjazzjonijiet ta' impriżi jkunu ngħataw l-opportunità li jagħtu l-veduti tagħhom minn qabel, basta li l-Kummissjoni tagħtihom dik l-opportunità kemm jista' jkun malajr wara li tkun ħadet id-deċiżjoni tagħha.

Periodic penalty payments

3. Il-Kummissjoni għandha tibbaża d-deċiżjoni tagħha biss fuq oġġezzjonijiet li dwarhom il-partijiet setgħu jippreżentaw l-osservazzjonijiet tagħhom. Id-drittijiet ta' difiża għandhom jiġu mħarsa waqt il-proċedimenti. Aċċess għall-inkartament għandu jkun miftuħ mill-inqas għall-partijiet direttament involuti, bla ħsara għall-interess leġittimu ta' impriżi fil-ħarsien tas-sigrieti kummerċjali tagħhom.

1. The Commission may by decision impose on the persons referred to in Article 3 (1) (b), undertakings or associations of undertakings concerned periodic penalty payments of up to ECU 25 000 for each day of the delay calculated from the date set in the decision, in order to compel them:

4. Safejn il-Kummissjoni u l-awtoritajiet kompetenti ta' l-Istati Membri jidhrilhom meħtieġ, jistgħu ukoll jisimgħu persuni oħra naturali jew ġuridiċi. Persuni naturali jew ġuridiċi li juru li għandhom interess leġittimu u speċjalment membri ta' l-organi amministrattivi jew tat-tmexxija ta' l-impriżi konċernati jew rappreżentanti magħrufa tal-ħaddiema ta' dawk l-impriżi għandu jkollhom id-dritt, wara applikazzjoni, li jinstemgħu.

(a) to supply complete and correct information which it has requested by decision pursuant to Article 11;

Artikolu 19

(b) to submit to an investigation which it has ordered by decision pursuant to Article 13.

Koperazzjoni ma' l-awtoritajiet ta' l-Istati Membri

2. The Commission may by decision impose on the persons referred to in Article 3 (1) (b) or on undertakings

1. Il-Kummissjoni għandha tibgħat lill-awtoritajiet kompetenti ta' l-Istati Membri kopji tan-notifikazzjonijiet fi żmien tlett ijiem tax-xogħol u, kemm jista' jkun malajr, kopji ta' l-aktar dokumenti importanti mibgħuta lill-jew maħruġa mill-Kummissjoni skond dan ir-Regolament.

periodic penalty payments of up to ECU 100 000 for each day of the delay calculated from the date set in the decision, in order to compel them:

2. Il-Kummissjoni għandha twettaq il-proċeduri stabbiliti b'dan ir-Regolament f'koperazzjoni mill-qrib u kostanti ma' l-awtoritajiet ta' l-Istati Membri, li jistgħu jagħtu l-veduti tagħhom dwar dawk il-proċeduri. Għall-finijiet ta' l-Artikolu 9 għandha tikseb informazzjoni mill-awtorità kompetenti ta' l-Istat Membru kif imsemmi fil-paragrafu 2 ta' dak l-Artikolu u tagħtiha l-opportunità li tagħti l-veduti tagħha f'kull stadju tal-proċedura sa l-adozzjoni ta' deċiżjoni skond il-paragrafu 3 ta' dak l-Artikolu; għal dak il-għan għandha tagħti aċċess għall-inkartament.

(a) to comply with an obligation imposed by decision pursuant to Article 7 (4) or 8 (2), second subparagraph, or

3. Kumitat Konsultattiv dwar konċentrazzjonijiet għandu jiġi konsultat qabel tittieħed kull deċiżjoni skond l-Artikoli 8(2) sa (5), 14 jew 15, jew xi disposizzjonijiet adottati skond l-Artikolu 23.

(b) to apply the measures ordered by decision pursuant to Article 8 (4).

4. Il-Kumitat Konsultattiv ikun magħmul minn rappreżentanti ta' l-awtoritajiet ta' l-Istati Membri. Kull Stat Membru għandu jaħtar rappreżentant jew tnejn; jekk ma jkunux jistgħu jattendu, jistgħu jiġu sostitwiti minn rappreżentanti oħra. Għall-inqas wieħed mir-rappreżentanti ta' Stat Membru għandu jkun kompetenti f'dak li jirrigwarda prattiċi restrittivi u posizzjonijiet dominanti.

3. Where the persons referred to in Article 3 (1) (b), undertakings or associations of undertakings have satisfied the obligation which it was the purpose of the periodic penalty payment to enforce, the Commission may set the total amount of the periodic penalty payments at a lower figure than that which would arise under the original decision.

5. Konsultazzjoni għandha ssir f'laqgħa konġunta msejħa fuq stedina ta' u preseduta mill-Kummissjoni. Ġabra fil-qosor tal-każ, flimkien ma' l-aktar dokumenti importanti u abbozz preliminari tad-deċiżjoni li trid tittieħed għal kull każ li jkun qed jiġi kkunsidrat, għandhom jintbagħtu ma' l-istedina. Il-laqgħa għandha ssir mhux aktar tard minn 14-il ġurnata wara li tkun intbagħtet l-istedina. Il-Kummissjoni tista' f'każi eċċezzjonali tqassar dak il-perjodu kif xieraq biex tevita li ssir xi ħsara serja li xi impriża jew impriżi konċernati minn konċentrazzjoni.

Article 16

6. Il-Kumitat Konsultattiv għandu jagħti opinjoni dwar l-abbozz tad-deċiżjoni tal-Kummissjoni, jekk hemm bżonn billi jittieħed vot. Il-Kumitat Konsultattiv jista' jagħti opinjoni anke jekk xi membri ma jkunux preżenti u lanqas rappreżentati. L-opinjoni għandha tingħata bil-miktub u tinhemeż ma' l-abbozz tad-deċiżjoni. Il-Kummissjoni għandha tagħti l-akbar konsiderazzjoni għall-opinjoni mogħtija mill-Kumitat. Għandha tavża lill-Kumitat bil-mod li bih tkun ingħatat konsiderazzjoni ta' l-opinjoni tiegħu.

Review by the Court of Justice

7. Il-Kumitat Konsultattiv jista' jirrakkomanda l-pubblikazzjoni ta' l-opinjoni. Il-Kummissjoni tista' oħroġ din il-pubblikazzjoni. Id-deċiżjoni li tippubblika għandha tqis l-interess leġittimu ta' l-impriżi dwar il-ħarsien tas-sigrieti kummerċjali tagħhom u l-interess ta' l-impriżi konċernati fil-pubblikazzjoni li tkun qed isseħħ.

The Court of Justice shall have unlimited jurisdiction within the meaning of Article 172 of the Treaty to review decisions whereby the Commission has fixed a fine or periodic penalty payments; it may cancel, reduce or increase the fine or periodic penalty payment imposed.

Artikolu 20

Article 17

Pubblikazzjoni ta' deċiżjonijiet

Professional secrecy

1. Il-Kummissjoni għandha tippubblika d-deċiżjonijiet li tieħu skond l-Artikolu 8(2), meta kondizzjonijiet u obbligi jkunu marbutin magħhom, u skond l-Artikolu 8(2) sa (5) fil-Ġurnal Uffiċjali tal-Komunitajiet Ewropej.

1. Information acquired as a result of the application of Articles 11, 12, 13 and 18 shall be used only for the purposes of the relevant request, investigation or hearing.

2. Il-pubblikazzjoni għandha ssemmi l-ismijiet tal-partijiet u l-kontenut prinċipali tad-deċiżjoni; għandha tikkunsidra l-interess leġittimu ta' l-impriżi fil-ħarsien tas-sigrieti kummerċjali tagħhom.

2. Without prejudice to Articles 4 (3), 18 and 20, the Commission and the competent authorities of the Member States, their officials and other servants shall not disclose information they have acquired through the application of this Regulation of the kind covered by the obligation of professional secrecy.

Artikolu 21

3. Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not prevent publication of general information or of surveys which do not contain information relating to particular undertakings or associations of undertakings.

Ġurisdizzjoni

Article 18

1. Bla ħsara għal reviżjoni tal-Qorti tal-Ġustizzja, il-Kummissjoni għandu jkollha l-kompetenza esklussiva li tieħu deċiżjonijiet previsti f'dan ir-Regolament.

Hearing of the parties and of third persons

2. L-ebda Stat Membru m'għandu japplika l-liġi nazzjonali tiegħu dwar il-kompetizzjoni għal kull konċentrazzjoni li għandha dimensjoni Komunitarja.

1. Before taking any decision provided for in Article 7 (2) and (4), 8 (2), second subparagraph, and (3) to (5), 14 and 15, the Commission shall give the persons, undertakings and associations of undertakings concerned the opportunity, at

L-ewwel subparagrafu għandu jkun bla ħsara għas-setgħat ta' kull Stat Membru li jagħmel kull inkjesta meħtieġa għall-applikazzjoni ta' l-Artikolu 9(2) jew wara referiment, skond l-Artikolu 9(3), l-ewwel subparagrafu, inċiż (b), jew (5), biex jieħu miżuri strettament meħtieġa għall-applikazzjoni ta' l-Artikolu 9(8)).

every stage of the procedure up to the consultation of the Advisory Committee, of making known their views on the objections against them.

3. Minkejja l-paragrafi 1 u 2, Stati Membri jistgħu jieħdu miżuri xierqa biex iħarsu interessi leġittimi għajr dawk ikkunsidrati b'dan ir-Regolament u kompatibbli mal-prinċipji ġenerali u disposizzjonijiet oħra tal-liġi Komunitarja.

2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, a decision to continue the suspension of a concentration or to grant a derogation from suspension as referred to in Article 7 (2) or (4) may be taken provisionally, without the persons, undertakings or associations of undertakings concerned being given the opportunity to make known their views beforehand, provided that the Commission gives them that opportunity as soon as possible after having taken its decision.

Sigurtà pubblika, pluralità fil-mezzi tax-xandir u regoli prudenti għandhom jitqiesu bħala interessi leġittimi fis-sens ta' l-ewwel subparagrafu.

3. The Commission shall base its decision only on objections on which the parties have been able to submit their observations. The rights of the defence shall be fully respected in the proceedings. Access to the file shall be open at least to the parties directly involved, subject to the legitimate interest of undertakings in the protection of their business secrets.

Kull interess pubbliku ieħor għandu jiġi komunikat lill-Kummissjoni mill-Istat Membru konċernat u għandu jiġi rikonoxxut mill-Kummissjoni wara stima tal-kompatibbiltà tiegħu mal-prinċipji ġenerali u disposizzjonijiet oħra tal-liġi Komunitarja qabel jittieħdu l-miżuri msemmijin hawn fuq. Il-Kummissjoni għandha tinforma lill-Istat Membru konċernat bid-deċiżjoni tagħha fi żmien xahar minn dik il-komunikazzjoni.

4. Insofar as the Commission and the competent authorities of the Member States deem it necessary, they may also hear other natural or legal persons. Natural or legal persons showing a legitimate interest and especially members of the administrative or management organs of the undertakings concerned or recognized workers' representatives of those undertakings shall be entitled, upon application, to be heard.

Artikolu 22

Article 19

Applikazzjoni tar-Regolament

Liaison with the authorities of the Member States

1. Dan ir-Regolament biss għandu japplika għal konċentrazzjonijiet kif imfissra fl-Artikolu 3.

1. The Commission shall transmit to the competent authorities of the Member States copies of notifications within three working days and, as soon as possible, copies of the most important documents lodged with or issued by the Commission pursuant to this Regulation.

2. Ir-Regolamenti Nru 17 [6], (KEE) Nru 1017/68 [7], (KEE) Nru 4056/86 [8] u (KEE) Nru 3975/87 [9] m'għandhomx japplikaw għal konċentrazzjonijiet kif imfissra fl-Artikolu 3.

2. The Commission shall carry out the procedures set out in this Regulation in close and constant liaison with the competent authorities of the Member States, which may express their views upon those procedures. For the purposes of Article 9 it shall obtain information from the competent authority of the Member State as referred to in paragraph 2 of that Article and give it the opportunity to make known its views at every stage of the procedure up to the adoption of a decision pursuant to paragraph 3 of that Article; to that end it shall give it access to the file.

3. Jekk il-Kummissjoni ssib, fuq talba ta' Stat Membru, li konċentrazzjoni kif imfissra fl-Artikolu 3 li m'għandhiex dimensjoni Komunitarja fis-sens ta' l-Artikolu 1 toħloq jew issaħħaħ posizzjoni dominanti li b'riżultat ta' hekk il-kompetizzjoni effettiva tiġi mfixkla sew fit-territorju ta' l-Istat Membru konċernat tista', safejn il-konċentrazzjoni taffettwa l-kummerċ bejn l-Istati Membri, tadotta d-deċiżjonijiet previsti fl-Artikolu 8(2), it-tieni subparagrafu, (3) u (4).

3. An Advisory Committee on concentrations shall be consulted before any decision is taken pursuant to Articles

4. L-Artikoli 2(1)(a) u (b), 5, 6, 8, u 10 sa 20 għandhom japplikaw. Il-perjodu li fih il-proċedimenti mfissra fl-Artikolu 10(1) jistgħu jinbdew għandhom jibdew fid-data li tasal it-talba mill-Istat Membru. It-talba għandha ssir l-aktar tard fi żmien xahar mid-data li fiha l-konċentrazzjoni ġiet mgħarrfa lill-Istat Membru jew li daħlet fis-seħħ. Dan il-perjodu għandu jibda mid-data ta' l-ewwel minn dawn l-avvenimenti.

8 (2) to (5), 14 or 15, or any provisions are adopted pursuant to Article 23.

5. Skond il-paragrafu 3 il-Kummissjoni għandha tieħu biss il-miżuri meħtieġa biex tinżamm jew tinġieb lura l-kompetizzjoni [10]effettiva fit-territorju ta' l-Istat Membru li jkun talab l-intervent tagħha.

4. The Advisory Committee shall consist of representatives of the authorities of the Member States. Each Member State shall appoint one or two representatives; if

6. Il-paragrafi 3 sa 5 għandhom jibqgħu japplikaw sakemm l-għetiebi msemmija fl-Artikoli 1(2) jkunu ġew riveduti.

unable to attend, they may be replaced by other representatives. At least one of the representatives of a Member State shall be competent in matters of restrictive practices and dominant positions.

Artikolu 23

5. Consultation shall take place at a joint meeting convened at the invitation of and chaired by the Commission. A summary of the facts, together with the most important documents and a preliminary draft of the decision to be taken for each case considered, shall be sent with the invitation. The meeting shall take place not less than 14 days after the invitation has been sent. The Commission may in exceptional cases shorten that period as appropriate in order to avoid serious harm to one or more of the undertakings concerned by a concentration.

Disposizzjonijiet dwar l-implimentazzjoni

6. The Advisory Committee shall deliver an opinion on the Commission's draft decision, if necessary by taking a vote. The Advisory Committee may deliver an opinion even if some members are absent and unrepresented. The opinion shall be delivered in writing and appended to the draft decision. The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the Committee. It shall inform the Committee of the manner in which its opinion has been taken into account.

Il-Kummissjoni għandu jkollha s-setgħa tadotta d-disposizzjonijiet dwar l-implimentazzjoni li jirrigwardaw l-għamla, il-kontenut u dettalji oħra ta' notifikazzjonijiet skond l-Artikolu 4, il-perjodi ta' żmien skond l-Artikolu 10, is-seduti għal smigħ skond l-Artikolu 18.

7. The Advisory Committee may recommend publication of the opinion. The Commission may carry out such publication. The decision to publish shall take due account of the legitimate interest of undertakings in the protection of their business secrets and of the interest of the undertakings concerned in such publication taking place.

Artikolu 24

Article 20

Relazzjonijiet ma' pajjiżi mhux membri

Publication of decisions

1. L-Istati Membri għandhom jinfurmaw lill-Kummissjoni b'kull diffikultajiet ġenerali li jkunu sabu l-impriżi tagħhom ma' konċentrazzjonijiet kif imfissra fl-Artikolu 3 f'pajjiż mhux membru.

1. The Commission shall publish the decisions which it takes pursuant to Article 8 (2), where conditions and obligations are attached to them, and to Article 8 (2) to (5) in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

2. Għall-bidu mhux aktar tard minn sena wara d-dħul fis-seħħ ta' dan ir-Regolament imbagħad perjodikament il-Kummissjoni għandha tħejji rapport li jeżamina t-trattament mogħti lill-impriżi Komunitarji, fit-termini msemmija fil-paragrafi 3 u 4, dwar konċentrazzjonijiet f'pajjiżi mhux membri. Il-Kummissjoni għandha tibgħat dawn ir-rapporti lill-Kunsill, flimkien ma' rakkomandazzjonijiet oħra.

2. The publication shall state the names of the parties and the main content of the decision; it shall have regard to the legitimate interest of undertakings in the protection of their business secrets.

3. Kull meta l-Kummissjoni jkun jidhrilha, jew fuq il-bażi tar-rapporti msemmija fil-paragrafu 2 jew fuq il-bażi ta' informazzjoni oħra, li pajjiż mhux membru ma jkunx qed jagħti trattament lill-impriżi tal-Komunità paragunabbli ma' dak li l-Komunità tagħti lill-impriżi minn dak il-pajjiż mhux membru, il-Kummissjoni tista' tibgħat proposti lill-Kunsill għal mandat approprjat għal negozjar bil-ħsieb li jinkiseb trattament paragunabbli għal impriżi tal-Komunità.

Article 21 Jurisdiction

4. Miżuri meħuda skond dan l-Artikolu għandhom ikunu jaqblu ma' l-obbligi tal-Komunità jew ta' l-Istati Membri, bla ħsara għall-Artikolu 234 tat-Trattat, skond ftehim internazzjonali, kemm bilaterali kif ukoll multilaterali.

1. Subject to review by the Court of Justice, the Commission shall have sole competence to take the decisions provided for in this Regulation.

Artikolu 25

2. No Member State shall apply its national legislation on competition to any concentration that has a Community dimension.

Dħul fis-seħħ

The first subparagraph shall be without prejudice to any Member State's power to carry out any enquiries necessary for the application of Article 9 (2) or after referral, pursuant

1. Dan ir-Regolament għandu jidħol fis-seħħ fil-21 ta' Settembru 1990.

to Article 9 (3), first subparagraph, indent (b), or (5), to take the measures strictly necessary for the application of Article

2. Dan ir-Regolament m'għandux japplika għal kull konċentrazzjoni li kienet is-suġġett ta' ftehim jew dikjarazzjoni jew meta kontroll ikun inkiseb fis-sens ta' l-Artikolu 4(1) qabel id-dħul fis-seħħ ta' dan ir-Regolament u fl-ebda ċirkostanza m'għandu japplika għal xi konċentrazzjoni li dwarha jkunu nbdew proċedimenti qabel dik id-data minn xi awtorità ta' Stat Membru responsabbli għall-kompetizzjoni.

9 (8).

Dan ir-Regolament għandu jorbot fl-intier tiegħu u japplika direttament fl-Istati Membri kollha.

3. Notwithstanding paragraphs 1 and 2, Member States may take appropriate measures to protect legitimate interests other than those taken into consideration by this Regulation and compatible with the general principles and other provisions of Community law.

Public security, plurality of the media and prudential rules shall be regarded as legitimate interests within the meaning of the first subparagraph.

Magħmul fi Brussel, fil-21 ta' Diċembru 1989.

Any other public interest must be communicated to the Commission by the Member State concerned and shall be recognized by the Commission after an assessment of its compatibility with the general principles and other provisions of Community law before the measures referred to above may be taken. The Commission shall inform the Member State concerned of its decision within one month of that communication.

Għall-Kunsill

Article 22

Il-President

Application of the Regulation

E. Cresson

1. This Regulation alone shall apply to concentrations as defined in Article 3.

[1] ĠU C 130, tad-19.5.1988, pġ. 4.

2. Regulations No 17 (6), (EEC) No 1017/68 (7), (EEC) No 4056/86 (8) and (EEC) No 3975/87 (9) shall not apply to concentrations as defined in Article 3.

[2] ĠU C 309, tal-5.12.1988, pġ. 55.

3. If the Commission finds, at the request of a Member State, that a concentration as defined in Article 3 that has no Community dimension within the meaning of Article 1 creates or strengthens a dominant position as a result of which effective competition would be significantly impeded within the territory of the Member State concerned it may, insofar as the concentration affects trade between Member States, adopt the decisions provided for in Article 8 (2), second subparagraph, (3) and (4).

[3] ĠU C 208, tat-8.8.1988, pġ. 11.

4. Articles 2 (1) (a) and (b), 5, 6, 8 and 10 to 20 shall apply. The period within which the proceedings defined in Article 10 (1) may be initiated shall begin on the date of the receipt of the request from the Member State. The request must be made within one month at most of the date on which the concentration was made known to the Member State or effected. This period shall begin on the date of the first of those events.

[4] ĠU L 222, ta' l-14.8.1978, pġ. 11.

5. Pursuant to paragraph 3 the Commission shall take only the measures strictly necessary to maintain or restore

[5] ĠU L 314, ta' l-4.12.1984, pġ. 28.

[6] ĠU C 13, tal-21.2.1962, pġ. 204/62.

effective competition within the territory of the Member State at the request of which it intervenes.

[7] ĠU L 175, tat-23.7.1968, pġ. 1.

6. Paragraphs 3 to 5 shall continue to apply until the thresholds referred to in Article 1 (2) have been reviewed.

[8] ĠU L 378, tal-31.12.1986, pġ. 4.

Article 23

[9] ĠU L 374, tal-31.12.1987, pġ. 1.

Implementing provisions

[10] Nota:L-istq arrijiet tal-Kunsill relatati na' dan ir-Regolament se jiġu ppublikati iżjed tard fil-Ġurnal Uffiċjali tal-Komunitajiet Ewropej.

The Commission shall have the power to adopt implementing provisions concerning the form, content and other details of notifications pursuant to Article 4, time limits pursuant to Article 10, and hearings pursuant to Article 18.

--------------------------------------------------

Article 24

Relations with non-member countries

1. The Member States shall inform the Commission of any general difficulties encountered by their undertakings with concentrations as defined in Article 3 in a non-member country.

2. Initially not more than one year after the entry into force of this Regulation and thereafter periodically the Commission shall draw up a report examining the treatment accorded to Community undertakings, in the terms referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4, as regards concentrations in non-member countries. The Commission shall submit those reports to the Council, together with any recommendations.

3. Whenever it appears to the Commission, either on the basis of the reports referred to in paragraph 2 or on the basis of other information, that a non-member country does not grant Community undertakings treatment comparable to that granted by the Community to undertakings from that non-member country, the Commission may submit proposals to the Council for the appropriate mandate for negotiation with a view to obtaining comparable treatment for Community undertakings.

4. Measures taken pursuant to this Article shall comply with the obligations of the Community or of the Member States, without prejudice to Article 234 of the Treaty, under international agreements, whether bilateral or multilateral.

Article 25

Entry into force

1. This Regulation shall enter into force on 21 September 1990.

2. This Regulation shall not apply to any concentration which was the subject of an agreement or announcement or where control was acquired within the meaning of Article

4 (1) before the date of this Regulation's entry into force and it shall not in any circumstances apply to any concentration in respect of which proceedings were initiated before that date by a Member State's authority with responsibility for competition.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 21 December 1989.

For the Council

The President

E. CRESSON

Note:The statements entered in the Council minutes relating to this Regulation will be published later in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

(1) OJ No C 130, 19. 5. 1988, p. 4.

(2) OJ No C 309, 5. 12. 1988, p. 55.

(3) OJ No C 208, 8. 8. 1988, p. 11.(4) OJ No L 222, 14. 8. 1978, p. 11.

(5) OJ No L 314, 4. 12. 1984, p. 28.(6) OJ No 13, 21. 2. 1962, p. 204/62.

(7) OJ No L 175, 23. 7. 1968, p. 1.

(8) OJ No L 378, 31. 12. 1986, p. 4.

(9) OJ No L 374, 31. 12. 1987, p. 1.