9. 1. 87 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 7/27 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 11 December 1986 relating to a proceeding under Article 85 of the EEC Treaty (IV/261-A — Belgische Vereniging der Banken/Association Belge des Banques) (Only the French and Dutch texts are authentic) (87/13/EEC) k 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 6 and 8 thereof, Having regard to the notification and application for negative clearance submitted on 31 October 1962 by the Belgische Vereniging der Banken / Association Belge des Banques concerning conventions, agreements and recom- mendations relating to the activity of virtually all banks established in Belgium, Having regard to the summary 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 : I. THE FACTS . (1)  On 31 October 1962, the Belgische Vereniging der Banken/Association Belge des Banques — herei- nafter referred to as the BVB/ABB — notified to () OJ No 13, 21. 2. 1962, p. 204/62. () O] No C 199, 8. 8. 1986, p. 2. @ @) the Commission in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation No 17, a series of restrictive practices entered into by its members within the association, with a view to obtaining negative clearance in respect of the applciation to them of Article 85 (1) of the EEC Treaty or, failing that, an exemption under Article 85 (3) from the prohibition contained in paragraph 1 of that Article. A. The Belgische Vereniging der Banken/ Association Belge des Banques The BVB/ABB, which has its registered office in Brussels, was set up on 1 December 1936. As provided for in Article 3 of its statutes, its objects are to represent the Banking profession and to protect its interests, to promote the latter, to deal .with social matters and to study any issue of inte- rest to its members. With this in mind, it endea- vours, among other matters, to establish permanent contacts between its members, to define and express the banking profession’s views on banking matters and to promote agreed standards intended to facilitate the organization and exercise of the profession. ‘ Membership of the BVB/ABB is open to banks established in Belgium, including subsidiaries and branches of foreign banks and banks appearing on the list published by the Banking Commission, the body responsible for supervising banks in Belgium. Admission to membership of the BVB/ABB is decided by its Management Committee. On 1 June 1986, of the 86 banks on the list, 84 were members " of the BVB/ABB.