L 109/24 Official Journal of the European Communities 27.4.1999 COMMISSION DECISION of 9 December 1998 relating to a proceeding pursuant to Article 85 of the EC Treaty (IV/34466 — Greek Ferries) (notified under document number C(1998) 3792) (Only the Greek and Italian texts are authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (1999/271/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 4056/86 of 22 December 1986 laying down detailed rules for the application of Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty to maritime transport (), as amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, and in particular Articles 11 and 19 thereof, Having regard to the Commission decision of 21 February 1997 to open a proceeding in this case, Having given the parties the opportunity to make known their views on the objections raised by the Commission in accordance with Article 23 of Regulation (EEC) No 4056/86, and with Commission Regulation (EEC) No  4260/88(%) on the communication, complaints and applications and the hearings provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 4056/86, as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, After consulting the Advisory Committee on Agreements and Dominant Positions in the field of Maritime Transport, Whereas: PART I THE FACTS A. The background to this Decision (1) This Decision arises from a complaint made to the Commission by a member of the public on Yy OJ L 378, 31.12.1986, p. 4. (3) OJ L 376, 31.12.1988, p. 1. 23 August 1992 that ferry prices were very similar on routes between Greece and Italy. The Commission, acting pursuant to Article 18(3) of Regulation (EEC) No 4056/86, carried out investigations at the offices of six ferry operators, five in Greece and one in Italy. During the investigations the Commission discovered documentary evidence showing that a number of ferry operators had been agreeing on prices for several years. Requests for information, pursuant to Article 16 of Regulation (EEC) No 4056/86 were sent later to Minoan Line, Strintzis Lines, and Anek asking for further details concerning the documents found  during the investigations.  The Commission opened formal proceedings on 21 February 1997 by sending a statement of objections to the seven addressees of this Decision as well as to Med Link and Hellenic Mediterranean Lines. An oral hearing was held on 13 and 14 May 1997. B. The undertakings The undertakings involved in this procedure are roll-on roll-off ferry operators, who provide passenger and freight services on a number of routes between Greece and Italy, namely: Minoan Lines, of Iraklio, Crete, Greece (hereinafter referred to as ‘Minoan’) Strintzis Lines, of Piraeus, Greece (hereinafter ‘Strintzis’, Anek Lines, of Hania, Crete, Greece (hereinafter ‘Anek’), Marlines SA, of Piraeus, Greece (hereinafter ‘Marlines’), Karageorgis Lines, of Piraeus, Greece (hereinafter ‘Karageorgis’), Ventouris Group Enterprises SA, of Piraeus, Greece (hereinafter ‘Ventouris Ferries’), and Adriatica di Navigazione SpA, of Venice, Italy (hereinafter ‘Adriatica’).