L 236/14 Official Journal of the European Union 13.9.2005 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 20 October 2004 on the aid scheme ‘Invest Northern Ireland Venture 2003’ which the United Kingdom is planning to implement for SMEs in Northern Ireland (notified under document number C(2004) 3917) (Only the English text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2005/644[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 those provisions () and having regard to their comments, Whereas: I. PROCEDURE By letter dated 20 March 2003, registered at the Commission on 26 March 2003, the United Kingdom authorities notified the Invest Northern Ireland Venture 2003 scheme to the Commission. By letter D/53203 dated 15 May 2003 and by letter D/55504 dated 29 August 2003, the Commission requested further information concerning the notified measure. () O] C 33, 6.2.2004, p. 2. () By letter dated 24 June 2003 and by letter dated 30 September 2003, registered at the Commission on 1 July 2003 and 1 October 2003 respectively, the United Kingdom authorities ~submitted the information requested. By letter dated 26 November 2003, the Commission informed the United Kingdom that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the measure. The Commission’s decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Union (%). The Commission called on interested parties to submit their comments. By letter dated 6 January 2004, registered at the Commission on 9 January 2004, the United Kingdom submitted a response to the Commission’s decision to initiate the procedure. By letters dated 25 February 2004, 27 February 2004, 1 March 2004, 2 March 2004, 3 March 2004, 4 March 2004, and 5 March 2004, registered at the Commission on 2 March 2004, 3 March 2004, 4 March 2004, 8 March 2004, and 10 March 2004, the Commission received observations from 11 interested parties. () See footnote 1.