19.3.2005 Official Journal of the European Union L 74/41 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 14 July 2004 concerning aid granted to the fisheries and aquaculture sector in Corsica from 1986 to 1999 (notified under document number C(2004) 2585) (Only the French text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2005/238EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 88(2) thereof, Having called on interested parties to submit their comments in accordance with the above provision, Whereas: (1) I. PROCEDURE A meeting was held in Brussels on 21 May 1996 between France and the Commission concerning the situation of certain economic sectors in Corsica, including the fisheries sector. The Commission learned during this meeting that public aid had been granted to the sector without it having been notified to permit its examination in accordance with Article 93 (now Article 88) of the Treaty. By letter dated 14 June 1996, the Commission asked France to provide details of this aid. By letter dated 7 July 1996, France informed the Commission that it had asked the authorities in Corsica to forward the information requested. Since the Commission did not receive this information, a first reminder was sent on 12 September 1996. 4 Subsequently, by letter dated 17 December 1996, France sent certain information concerning the aid in question. The aid was entered in the register of unnotified aid under number NN 11/97 on 6 January 1997. Having found that it did not have all the information necessary to examine the aid scheme, the Commission requested additional information by letter dated 24 April 1997. Documentation was sent by letters dated 3 December 1997 and 11 August 1998. The Commission then made a new request for further information by letter dated 11 February 1999. A meeting was then held at the Commission on 22 February 2000 with representatives of the authorities of Corsica. Following this meeting, the Commission again sent France a list of the information it needed to analyse the aid measures. After a further two reminders, a large part of the information required arrived by letter dated 11 April 2001. In addition, the Commission was informed of Report No 1077 of the French National Assembly drawn up in the name of the Committee of Inquiry into the use of public funds and the management of public services in Corsica (') (hereinafter referred to as the report of the National Assembly). The report, published in 1998, describes the aid granted to the fisheries and aquaculture sector in 1997 (see point 1.C.1.b of the report). (") Report available on the Internet site of the National Assembly: http:/[www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dossiers/corse.asp