30.9.2003 Official Journal of the European Union L 248/1 I (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 24 July 2002 declaring a concentration to be compatible with the common market and the functioning of the EEA Agreement Case No COMP/M.2706 — Carnival Corporation/P&O Princess p (notified under document number C(2002) 2851) (Only the English text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2003/667/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 and in particular Article 57 thereof, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 406489 of 21 December 1989 on the control of concen- trations between undertakings (), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/97 (3, and in particular Article 8(2) thereof, Having regard to the Commission Decision of 11 April 2002 to initiate proceedings in this case, Having given the undertakings concerned the opportunity to make known their views on the objections raised by the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the Advisory Committee on Concentrations (), Having regard to the final report of the Hearing Officer in this case (%), Whereas: I. INTRODUCTION (1) On 27 February 2002, the Commission received notification pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regu- lation (EEC) No 4064/89 (the Merger Regulation) of a proposed concentration by which the United States-based undertaking Carnival Corporation (Carnival) intends to acquire control within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation of the British undertaking P&O Princess plc (POPC) by way of a public bid announced on 16 December 2001. (") OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 1; corrigendum OJ L 257, 21.9.1990, p. 13. () OJ L 180, 9.7.1997, p. 1. () OJ C 233,30.9.2003. () OJ C 233,30.9.2003.