22.11.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L 318/17 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 24 July 2002 relating to a proceeding under Article 81 of the EC Treaty and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement (Case No COMP[29.373 — Visa International — Multilateral Interchange Fee) (notified under document number C(2002) 2698) (Only the English text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2002/914[EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, Having regard to Council Regulation No 17 of 6 February 1962, First Regulation implementing Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty (), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1216/ 1999 (3, and in particular Article 6 and Article 8(1) thereof, Having regard to the application for negative clearance and the notification with a view to an exemption submitted by Visa International on 31 January 1977 pursuant, respectively, to Articles 2 and 4 of Regulation No 17, Having regard to the complaint lodged by EuroCommerce on 23 May 1997 pursuant to Article 3(2)(b) of Regulation No 17, Having regard to the Commission decision of 6 May 1999 to initiate proceedings in this case, () O] 13, 21.2.1962, p. 204. () OJ L 148, 15.6.1999, p. 5. Having given the parties concerned the opportunity of being heard on the matters to which the Commission has taken objection, in accordance with Article 19(1) of Regulation No 17 and with Commission Regulation (EC) No 2842/98 of 22 December 1998, on the hearing of parties in certain proceed- ings under Articles 85 and 86 of the EC Treaty (%), Having consulted the Advisory Committee on Restrictive Prac- tices and Dominant Positions, Having regard to the final report of the Hearing Officer in this case (¥, Whereas: I. THE FACTS 1. INTRODUCTION (1) On 31 January 1977 Ibanco Ltd, since 1979 known as Visa International, notified various rules and regulations governing the Visa association and its members to the Commission, applying for negative clearance under Article 81(1) or, in the alternative, an exemption under Article 81(3) (). () OJ L 354, 30.12.1998, p. 18. () O] C 286, 22.11.2002. () In its letter of 23 March 1994 Visa International requested the Commission to extend its existing notification to Article 53(1) and (3) EEA.