Brussels, 17/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission should authorise next Tuesday, 21 March, the creation of Astrium, resulting from the merger of the space activities of the French group Matra Marconi Space and the German Daimler Chrysler Aerospace (Dasa). Community sources indicated this Friday that it would be with the participation of the British Marconi Electronic Systems (BAE Systems). With a accumulated turnover of EUR 2.25 million, Astrium will become the largest European Company in the space sector (ahead of the French group Alcatel Space and the Italian Alenia Aerospazi) and the third largest company in the world in terms of sales. The Commission opened an in-depth investigation last December, as it feared the abuse of their dominant position in the institutional market of space systems in Europe (see EUROPE of 6/7 December 1999, p.13). The companies have made undertakings concerning satellite components and technological licences that to have satisfied the European Competition services. Due to this the Commission proposed, at the beginning of the month, to the committee, made up of experts from the Member States, to approve the joint venture without sending a complaint to the parties, notes a Community source.