L 311/22 Official Journal of the European Union 26.11.2005 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 16 June 2004 on the measures implemented by Spain for Siderdrgica Afion SA (notified under document number C(2004) 1813) (Only the Spanish text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2005/827[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 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 (!), and having regard to their comments, Whereas: I. PROCEDURE Following press reports that a new company, Sidertrgica Afién SA (hereinafter Siderdrgica Afidn), had obtained a loan of EUR 9,62 million, with the backing of the regional government of Galicia, to finance the installation of a rolling mill, the Commission requested information on that measure by letter of 14 May 2001. By letter of 2 July 2001, the Commission sent a reminder of that request. By letter of 10 July 2001, the Spanish authorities informed the Commission of the existence of the loan and of a guarantee granted by the Galician Institute for Economic Development (IGAPE). By letter of 27 July 2001, the Commission requested further information on the terms of the loan and the guarantee. (") OJ C 33, 6.2.2002, p. 9 and O] C 223, 19.9.2002, p. 2. (4) Following two reminders dated 19 September and 12 October 2001, the Spanish authorities provided the information requested by letter of 25 October 2001, supplemented by letter of 12 November 2001. By letter dated 20 December 2001, the Commission notified Spain of its decision to initiate proceedings under Article 6(5) of Commission Decision No 2496/96/ECSC of 18 December 1996 establishing Community rules for state aid to the steel industry (?) (hereinafter the Steel Aid Code) in respect of the measures. The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Commu- nities (}). The Commission invited interested parties to submit their comments on the measures. At the same time the Commission issued an information injunction requesting certain information. By letter dated 1 March 2002, the Spanish authorities submitted their comments and provided some of the information requested. The missing information was submitted by letter dated 19 April 2002 and supple- mented by letter dated 7 May 2002. The Commission received comments from interested parties. It forwarded them to Spain, which was given the opportunity to react; its comments were received by letters dated 26 March 2002. () O] L 338, 28.12.1996, p. 42. () O] C 33, 6.2.2002, p. 9.