L76/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 25.3.2000 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 22 December 1999 concerning an aid scheme implemented by Spain to finance operating capital in the agricultural sector in Extremadura (notified under document number C(1999) 5201) (Only the Spanish text is authentic) (2000/240/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, The parties concerned having been given notice, in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 88(2) of the Treaty, to submit their comments ('), Whereas: I. PROCEDURE Government of Extremadura Decree No 35/1993 of 13 April 1993 on the financing of operating capital in the agricultural sector in Extremadura was published in the Diario Oficial de Extremadura (%). The Commission, not having received notification of the State aid from the Spanish authorities in accordance with Article 88(3) of the Treaty, sent a letter on 8 February 1999 requesting confirmation of the existence of the aid and its entry into force. By letter dated 26 February 1999, the Spanish Perma- nent Representation to the European Union sent the Commission the information it had requested in its letter dated 8 February 1999. By letter dated 4 June 1999, the Commission informed Spain of its decision to open the procedure provided for in Article 88(2) of the Treaty with respect to the aid () O] C 225, 7.8.1999, p. 6. (*) Diario Oficial de Extremadura No 45, 15.4.1993, p. 1027. (10) scheme. In its letter, the Commission gave notice to Spain to send its comments. The Commission Decision to open the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Communi- ties (°). The Commission gave notice to interested parties to submit their comments on the aid scheme. Spain submitted its comments by letter dated 19 July 1999. The Commission received no comments on the scheme from interested parties. II. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE AID MEASURE Decree No 35/1993 provides for financing to meet capital requirements for a single marketing year in order to develop agriculture and food processing in Extrema- dura. The beneficiaries are farmers, agricultural cooperatives and other associations in Extremadura and processing undertakings in Extremadura signing contracts with agri- cultural and livestock holdings in the Autonomous Community for raw materials for industrial processing. The aid takes the form of an interest-rate rebate for loans lasting less than one year, the amount of which varies depending on the beneficiary. () See footnote 1.