20. 7. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 188/55 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 21 February 1990 amending German aid schemes for the ‘motor vehicle industry: (Only the German text is authentic) (90/381/EEC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN- COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular the first subpara- graph of Article 93 (2) thereof, Having given notice in accordance with the abovemen- tioned Article to :interested parties to submit -their comments, Whereas : By letter dated 31 December 1988, the Commission informed the Member States of its decision of 22 December 1988 to implement, on the basis of Article 93 (1) of the EEC Treaty, a Community framework on State aid to the motor vehicle industry (). The questions of necessity and scope, the rules of notification, assessment guidelines and standard. ferms of notification and repor- ting were explained in this letter. The framework, which requires prior notification of all State aid measures granted _within . the scope of approved aid schemes to motor vehicle manufacturers where the project cost exceeds ECU 12 million, entered into force on 1 January 1989 and is valid for two years. The Commission’s objective was in- particular to secure P the modification -of all existing aid schemes applicable in the motor vehicle sector and to make it compulsory to () OJ No C 123, 18. 5. 1989, p. 3. give prior notification of individual awards in accordance with the criteria laid down in the framework, especially the criterion concerning project costs exceeding ECU 12 million. By note dated 25 January 1989 the German Government requested an extension of the reply deadline to the end of February and-a further extension to 15 March 1989 by note dated 28 February 1989. ' By note dated 3 March 1989 to the Secretariat General and by letter dated 10 March 1989 from the Minister for the Economy to Sir Leon Brittan, the German Govern- ment formally informed the Commission of its decision not to .apply the Community framework and communi-- cated the reasons that led to this refusal. The German Government’s refusal was based for the most part on the view that the framework pursues sectoral industrial policy objectives. which it does-not share, and which would endanger the effectiveness of regional aids by interfering with their continuity and predictability. In the German- Government’s view, German aid schemes are neutral in terms of sectoral impact and do not appreciably distort intra-Community trade. By letter of 4 April 1989, the Commission informed the German Government that it did ‘not consider that the arguments put forward were sufficient to justify non-- application of the framework in Germany. In its letter, the ‘Commission commented on-the -arguments of the German authorities and invited them to reconsider their position. If they failed to do so, it would be forced to initiate the Article 93 (2) procedure in respect of all aid schemes in operation in Germany for the benefit of the