28.11.2003 Official Journal of the European Union L 314/1 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 21 March 2000 declaring a concentration compatible with the common market and the EEA Agreement (Case No IV/M.1636 - MMS/DASA/Astrium) (notified under document number C(2000) 693) (Only the English text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2003/813/EQ) 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, and in particular Article 57 thereof, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 of 21 December 1989 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (1), as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1310/97 (3, and in particular Article 8(2) thereof, Having regard to the Commission decision of 3 December 1999 to initiate proceedings in this case, Having regard to the opinion of the Advisory Committee on Concentrations (%), Whereas: (1) On 29 October 1999, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (the Merger Regulation) by which Matra Marconi Space NV (MMS) and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (DASA), via its subsidiary DASA Dornier Raumfahrt Holding GmbH L) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 1; corrigendum: O] L 257, 21.9.1990, p. 13. () OJ L 180, 9.7.1997, p. 1. (%) O] C 285, 28.11.2003. (DDRH), acquire joint control of Astrium, a newly created company active in the space sector, to which all of MMS’s and most of DASA’s activities relative to space systems will be transferred. By decision dated 3 December 1999, the Commission found that the notified operation raised serious doubts as to its compatibility with the common market. The Commission accordingly initiated proceedings in this case pursuant to Article 6(1)(c) of the Merger Regulation. I. THE PARTIES AND THE OPERATION MMS is jointly controlled by Matra Hautes Technologies SAS (MHT) and by Marconi Electronic Systems Limited (Marconi). The principal activities of MMS are the manufacture and supply of space systems, including satellites and their payloads, subsystems for launchers and manned space flight vehicles, ground stations and various subsystems and technologies. MHT is part of Aérospatiale-Matra, a French company primarily engaged in commercial and military aerospace, guided  weapons, information  and telecommunications. In the space sector, and in addition to its stake in MMS, Aérospatiale-Matra owns, notably,