9.12.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 362/17 I (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 7 April 2004 relating to a proceeding pursuant to Article 81 of the EC Treaty concerning case COMP/A.38284/D2 Société Air France/Alitalia Linee Aeree Italiane SpA (1) (notified under document number C(2004) 1307) (Only the English text is authentic) (2004/841EC) On 7 April 2004, the Commission adopted a decision which grants an individual exemption under Article 81 (3) of the Treaty to a cooperation agreement between Air France and Alitalia. A public version of this decision is available in English, French and German (only the English text is authentic) on DG COMP’s website at http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/index_en.html 1. SUMMARY OF THE PROCEEDINGS operations for the routes at issue, provided that barriers to entry are removed through adequate remedies. (1) On 12 November 2001, Air France (AF) and Alitalia (AZ) notified to the Commission a number of coop- eration agreements and applied for negative clearance under Article 3(2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3975/87 andfor exemption under Article 5 of the same Regulation (3). (3) A letter of serious doubts was notified by the Commission to the Parties on 1 July 2002, informing them that their cooperation agreements could not be approved in their current form. (2)  On 8 May 2002, a summary of the notified agreements was published in the Official Journal of the European Union inviting interested third parties to send their comments within 30 days in accordance with Article 5(2) of Regu- lation (EEC) No 3975/87 (). In response to this publi- cation, several airlines expressed their interest in starting (!) Report for the hearing published in O] C 305, 9.12.2004. (3 Council Regulation (EEC) No 3975/87 of 14 December 1987 laying down the procedure for the application of the rules on competition in the air transport sector (O] L 374, 31.12.1987, p. 1). Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 (OJ L 1, 4.1.2003, p. 1). () 0] C 111, 8.5.2002, p. 7. On the basis of the reservations expressed by the Commission and after intensive discussions, the Parties proposed commitments which were published for comment in the Official Journal on 9 December 2003 in a notice pursuant to Article 16(3) of Regulation (EC) No 3975/87 (*. In the light of the comments received, the Parties accepted to improve further their commitments. () O] C 297, 9.12.2003, p. 10.