L77/54 Official Journal of the European Union 13.3.2004 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 11 June 2003 on the State aid implemented by Spain for Volkswagen Navarra SA (notified under document number C(2003) 1745) (Only the Spanish text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2004/244[EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 88(2) thereof, Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 62(1)(a) thereof, Having called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to the provisions cited above ('), Whereas: I. PROCEDURE By letter dated 2 February 2001, the Spanish authorities notified a plan to grant regional aid to Volkswagen Navarra SA (hereinafter referred to as ‘VW Navarra’). The Commission requested further information on 2 April 2001. After requesting an extension of the deadline for reply on 10 April and on 29 May 2001, the Spanish authorities submitted additional information by letter dated 31 August 2001. The Commission requested on site visits to the chosen site of Arazuri (near Pamplona, in the Navarre region), and the alternative site of Bratislava. The Spanish autho- rities proposed no date for the visit to the Bratislava site. A visit to the Arazuri site agreed for 8 November 2001 was cancelled by the Spanish authorities by letter dated 5 November 2001. The Commission addressed new questions to Spain by letter dated 8 November 2001, to which Spain responded on 11 December 2001. () OJ C 161, 5.7.2002, p. 9. 3) By letter dated 19 December 2001, the Commission requested anew for an on-site visit to the plant in Arazuri, and the Spanish authorities agreed to the date of 31 January 2002, by e-mail of 17 January 2002. After the visit, a further request for information was sent on 13 February 2002, to which Spain responded on 20 March 2002. The Commission decided on 22 May 2002 to initiate proceedings pursuant to Article 88(2) of the Treaty, deci- sion to open the formal investigation procedure, as it found that doubts were raised as to the compatibility of the aid with the common market. Spain submitted its comments to the opening of proceedings on 26 June 2002. The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Commu- nities (3), with an invitation to interested parties to submit their comments on the aid. The Commission did not receive any comments from interested parties. An ons-site visit to the Bratislava plant took place on 11 October 2002, after which the Commission addressed a new request of information to Spain on 22 October. After requesting an extension of the deadline for reply on 13 December 2002, the Spanish authorities submitted additional information by letter dated 20 December 2002. On 13 March 2003, the Commission requested further information, that was provided by Spain with a letter dated 31 March 2003. () See footnote 1.