27.2.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 61/13 COMMISSION DECISION of 9 July 2003 on aid which France intends to grant for the restructuring of the Société Nationale Maritime Corse-Méditerranée (SNCM) (notified under document number C(2003) 2153) (Only the French text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2004/166/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 invited the interested parties to submit their comments in accordance with the said Articles (1), and having regard to those comments, Whereas: 1. PROCEDURE 1.1. Procedural overview (1) By letter of 18 February 2002, the French Government notified a plan to grant aid for the restructuring of the Société Nationale Maritime Corse-Méditerranée (SNCM). This case was registered as N 118/2002. The notification was supplemented by letters from the French authorities dated 3 July 2002 (3. () On 19 August 2002, the Commission decided to initiate the formal investigation procedure provided for in Article 6 of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the Treaty (*); the case was registered as C 58/2002. (3) By fax of 11 September 2002, the French authorities asked for the correction of a number of factual errors in the decision of 19 August 2002. () O] C 308, 11.12.2002, p. 29. (3) Registered as TREN A/61846. () OJ L 83,27.3.1999, p. 1. By letter of 11 September 2002, registered as TREN A[65862, the French authorities asked for extra time to submit  their comments to the decision of 19 August 2002. By letter of 17 September 2002, the Commission granted France an additional month to prepare its reply. By letter of 8 October 2002, sent on 15 October with annexes and registered as SG(2002) A[10050, the French authorities submitted to the Commission observations on the decision of 19 August 2002 opening the procedure, stressing the need for progress in implementing the restructuring plan. By letter of 15 October 2002, registered as SG(2002) A[10252, the French authorities emphasised that it was a matter of urgency that the decision opening the formal investigation procedure be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities. By fax of 19 November 2002, the French authorities transmitted a copy of cash advance agreements between SNCM and the Compagnie Générale Maritime et Financiére (CGMF) and proof of refunds of the advance by CGMF to SNCM through two bank transfers of 13 May and 14 June 2002. On 27 November 2002, the Commission adopted a decision amending the decision of 19 August 2002, which it transmitted to the Permanent Representation of France to the European Union by letter of 29 November 2002. Following this, the Commission’s decision to initiate the formal investigation procedure in this case