21. 6. 84 Official Journal of the European Communities ' No L 163/37 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 28 May 1984 authorizing specialization agreements between Arbed and Cockerill-Sambre concerning flat and long steel products (Only the French text is authentic) (84/317/ECSC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, A Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, and in particular Article 65 thereof, Having regard to the joint application made on 3 February 1984 on behalf of Arbed and Cockerill- Sambre, Whereas : (1) Arbed SA (Luxembourg) is a steel-producing undertaking covered by Article 80 of the Treaty, which also controls, alone or jointly inter alia the following undertakings : — Sidmar NV (Gent), — SA Meétallurgique et Miniére de Rodange- Athus (MMR-A) (Rodange), — Arbed Saarstahl GmbH (Vélklingen), — Lech-Stahlwerke GmbH (Meitlingen), — Galvalange Sarl (Dudelange) — 50 % holding, — Tradearbed Arbed SA (Luxembourg). | () (3) Cockerill-Sambre SA (Seraing) is a steel producing undertaking, which also controls, alone or jointly inter alia the following undertakings: — SA Carlam (Couillet), — SC Valfil (Seraing), — SA Phénix-Works (Flémalle-Haute), — SA Galvameuse (C(;ntrisson), : — Galvalange Sarl (Dudelange) — 50 % holding, — SA Laminoirs du Ruau (Monceau-sur-Sambre), — ‘PUM’ SA (Reims), — Frere Bourgeois Commerciale SA (Charleroi). Arbed and Cockerill-Sambre have applied to the Commission, pursuant to Article 65 (2), for autho- rization of a protocol of agreement dated 24 January 1984 and a framework agreement dated 24 January 1984, providing for cooperation and specialization between the two groups concerned in Belgium and Luxembourg. The contracting parties draw attention to the exis- tence of serious excess capacity in the European steel industry, which must adapt itself to new production requirements and conditions of competition. The stated object of the agreements is to improve the competitiveness of the parties and to preserve the place of the Belgian- Luxembourg steel industry in Europe. This object is to be achieved by cooperation between the parties on production, investment and (in a form still to be defined) in the commercial field. At the