6.5.2000 Official Journal of the European Communities L 110/17 COMMISSION DECISION of 22 December1999 on the State aid scheme implemented by Italy for the production, processing and marketing of products listed in Annex I to the EC Treaty (Sicilian Regional Law No 68 of 27 September 1995) (Notified under document number C(1999) 5202) (Only the Italian text is authentic) (2000/319/EC) 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 pursuant to the provision cited above (!) and having regard to their comments, Whereas: ey I. PROCEDURE By letter dated 8 August 1995 the Italian Permanent Representation to the European Union notified the Commission on Sicily's behalf, and in accordance with Article 88(3) of the Treaty, of a draft regional law, subsequently adopted as Sicilian Regional Law No 68 of 27 September 1995 on the ‘Establishment of a guarantee fund to consolidate the debts of industrial and commercial undertakings and a fund to consolidate the debts of small businesses. Aid for commercial operators’ (hereinafter referred to as Regional Law No 68/95). Examination of the measure was split into two parts as follows: Under aid N 750/A[95, the Commission examined and authorised under Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty (Commission letter SG(96) D[8236 of 24 September 1996) the measures in the Law applying to sectors other than agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture. Application of the measures in the Law as they related to agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture were examined by the Commission as aid N 750/B/95. () OJ C 86, 21.3.1998, p. 3. (3) The Commission asked for more information on 2 October 1995 (telex No 36342), on 13 March 1996 (telex No 11717) and on 2 September 1996 (telex No 33700). Some of the information sought was provided by the Italian Permanent Representation in its letters of 18 July and 6 November 1996. On 3 December 1996 (telex No 46422), the Italian authorities were asked for specific detailed information on the sectors covered by Regional Law No 68/95. By letter dated 15 September 1997, the Italian authorities sent some information on Article 6 of the Regional Law. The other information requested was never provided. In reply to a reminder from the Commission dated 22 October 1997 the Italian authorities told the Commission by letter dated 28 October 1997 that they had no more information to offer. On 24 September 1997, the Commission approved aid N 750/A[95 (letter to the Italian Government SG(96) D[8236). In the light of the information supplied by the Italian authorities, Articles 6 and 7 of Regional Law No 68/95 certainly apply to the production, processing and marketing of the products listed in Annex I to the EC Treaty. As regards the Law's other provisions, the Italian authorities have not replied to the Commission's question regarding the sectors covered by the aid schemes provided for in Articles 1, 3 an 5 of the Law (question posed in a telex dated 3 December 1996). By letter dated 13 February 1998 (SG(98) D[1223), the Commission notified Italy that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the aid as it applied to agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture.