Opinion of the Advisory Committee on Concentrations given at the 67th meeting on 9 September 1999 concerning a preliminary draft decision relating to Case IV/M.1524 - Airtours/First Choice
13. 4. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 105/3 Opinion of the Advisory Committee on Concentrations given at the 67th meeting on 9 September 1999 concerning a preliminary draft decision relating to Case IV/M. 1524 - Airtours/First Choice (2000/C 105/03) 1. The Committee agrees with the Commission that Airtours’ acquisition of First Choice constitutes a concentration without the meaning of Article 31(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation. 2. A majority of the Committee agrees with the Commission that the relevant product markets are - tour operating of short-haul foreign package holidays, - travel agency services and - charter airlines seats for short-haul destinations. A minority of the Committee disagrees with the Commission. 3. The Committee agrees with the Commission that the relevant geographic markets for each of the relevant product markets are, respectively, the United Kingdom and Ireland. 4. The Committee agrees with the Commission that in Ireland the concentration will not lead to the creation of a single or collective dominant position on any of the affected markets. 5. The Committee agrees with the Commission that in the United Kingdom the concentration will not lead to the creation or reinforcement of a dominant position by a single firm. 6. A majority of the Commitee agrees with the Commission that in the United Kingdom the concen- tration will lead to a situation of collective dominance in tour operating of short-haul foreign package holidays. A minority of the Committee abstains. 7. A majority of the Commitee agrees with the Commission on the basis of the draft decision and the oral explanation of the Commission services given during the meeting that the concentration should be declared incompatible with the common market. A minority of the Committee abstains. 8. A majority of the Commitee agrees with the Commission that the undertakings proposed by the parties do not eliminate the competition concerns raised by the Commission. A minority of the time has been given for Committee reserves its position on this on the basis that considering the information provided. insufficient 9. The Committee recommends the Commission to take account of all the matters raised in the discussion. 10. The Committee agrees with the publication of the opinion