OF COCKERILL , WHICH HAS A MARKET SHARE OF 6 % , RANKING SIXTH AMONG COMMUNITY PRODUCERS OF STAINLESS STEEL SHEET AND PLATE .
23 . THE INTERPRETATION OF THE ABOVE FIGURES MUST REFLECT THE FACT THAT THEY REFER TO THE CUMULATIVE OUTPUT OF THE FIRMS INVOLVED . WHILE COMPETITION AT THE PRODUCTION STAGE HAS BEEN LIMITED BY THE AGREEMENT , IT WILL CONTINUE TO EXIST AT THE DISTRIBUTION STAGE ; THE COMMISSION WILL THEREFORE ENSURE THAT THE PARTIES DO NOT COORDINATE THEIR DISTRIBUTION ACTIVITIES .
24 . THE AGREEMENT IS ACCORDINGLY NOT LIABLE TO GIVE THE FIRMS CONCERNED THE POWER TO DETERMINE THE PRICES , OR TO CONTROL OR RESTRICT THE PRODUCTION OR MARKETING , OF A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF THE WIRE ROD AND STAINLESS STEEL SHEET AND PLATE WITHIN THE COMMON MARKET , OR TO SHIELD THEM AGAINST EFFECTIVE COMPETITION FROM OTHER FIRMS WITHIN THE COMMON MARKET .
25 . THE AGREEMENT THEREFORE SATISFIES THE TESTS OF ARTICLE 65 ( 2 ) ( C ).
V
26 . TO ENSURE THAT THE PARTIES ' FREEDOM OF ACTION ON THE MARKET IS NOT AFFECTED , AUTHORIZATION OF THIS AGREEMENT MUST BE MADE SUBJECT TO THE CONDITION THAT THE FIRMS DO NOT COORDINATE THEIR DISTRIBUTION ACTIVITIES .
27 . THE COMMISSION MUST ENSURE THAT ALL MEASURES TAKEN BY THE FIRMS CONCERNED ON THE BASIS OF THE AGREEMENT EXAMINED HERE ARE CONSONANT WITH THE AUTHORIZATION HEREBY GIVEN . TO THAT END THE PARTIES WILL BE REQUIRED TO INFORM THE COMMISSION OF ALL AMENDMENTS OR ADDITIONS TO THE AGREEMENT , WHICH MAY THEN BE PUT INTO EFFECT ONLY WHEN THE COMMISSION HAS DECLARED THEM COMPATIBLE WITH ARTICLES 65 AND 66 OF THE TREATY .
28 . IT IS COMMISSION POLICY TO ALLOW INTERLOCKING DIRECTORATES AND SHARE HOLDINGS OR CONTRACTUAL LINKS BETWEEN LARGE FIRMS ONLY IN EXCEPTIONAL CASES , AND THEN ONLY IF NORMAL COMPETITION IS NOT AFFECTED . THE STEEL MARKET IS AT PRESENT SUFFERING FROM A STRUCTURAL CRISIS WITH CONSIDERABLE EXCESS CAPACITY AND VERY KEEN COMPETITION , AND SPECIFIC COOPERATION BETWEEN FIRMS IN CERTAIN FIELDS , SUCH AS THAT BETWEEN COCKERILL , ESTEL AND KLOCKNER , MAY PROVIDE A MEANS OF RESTORING COMMUNITY FIRMS TO PROFITABILITY . IT IS , HOWEVER , ESSENTIAL FOR SUCH FORMS OF COOPERATION TO BE REGULARLY REVIEWED IN THE LIGHT OF MARKET TRENDS AND OF RESTRUCTURING OPERATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY STEEL INDUSTRY . PROVISIONS MUST THEREFORE BE MADE FOR THE COMMISSION TO REVIEW ITS AUTHORIZATION AFTER A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME , TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE EFFECTS OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND OF THE MARKET SITUATION ; CONSEQUENTLY THIS AUTHORIZATION WILL BE GRANTED FOR A LIMITED PERIOD , EXPIRING ON 31 DECEMBER 1983 .
29 . SUBJECT TO THE ATTACHED CONDITION , THE AGREEMENT SATISFIES THE TESTS OF ARTICLE 65 ( 2 ) OF THE TREATY AND MAY THEREFORE BE AUTHORIZED ,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION :
ARTICLE 1
THE AGREEMENT MADE ON 28 MARCH 1978 BETWEEN SA COCKERILL-OUGREE-PROVIDENCE ET ESPERANCE-LONGDOZ , SERAING ,