13. 2. 87 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 43/51 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 12 December 1986 relating to a proceeding under Article 85 of the EEC Treaty (IV/31.356 — ABI) (Only the Italian text is authentic) (87/103/EEC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Council Regulation No 17 of 6 February 1962, First Regulation implementing Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty (!), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal and in particular Articles 2, 4, 6 and 8 thereof, Having regard to the application for negative clearance and the notification made on 11 October 1984 by the Associazione Bancaria Italiana, piazza del Gesi, 49 Roma concerning agreements and recommendations relating to the activities of the banks that are members of the Associ- azione, Having regard to the summary of the application and of the notification published (?) pursuant to Article 19 (3) of Regulation No 17, After consulting the Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions, Whereas : THE FACTS L. THE NOTIFICATION A. The Associazione Bancaria Italiana (1) 'The Associazione Bancaria Italiana (hereinafter called the ABI) is a non-profit-making association () OJ No 13, 21. 2. 1962, p. 204/62. () OJ No C 251, 8. 10. 1986, p. 2. @ &) “ comprising banks and financial and credit institu- tions and their associations. Its objects are to defend its members’ interests and study and discuss matters of concern to the banking and financial sector. In order to achieve these objects, the ABI: (a) represents the collective interests of members ; (b) cooperates with the public authorities and with economic and social organizations in solving problems connected with the banking and financial sectors ; (c) informs and assists members ; (d) promotes studies and research into banking and financial matters ; (e) promotes exchanges of information and agree- ments between members on points of common interest. The ABI has three categories of members : (a) active members: financial and credit institu- tions established in Italy; {(b) corresponding members : the foreign subsidia- ries of Italian banks; (c) de jure members : the professional associations of the various categories of credit institutions. Corresponding members and de jure members have no right to vote at meetings. Practically all credit institutions (banks, savings banks, agricultural credit institutions and coopera- tive banks, finance and leasing companies, etc.) are members of the ABL. On 31 December 1984, 1 096 credit institutions were doing business in Italy, with a total of 12965 branches.