17. 6. 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 145/25 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 9 March 1993 concerning the application of the national regional aid scheme in an area in the north of the Province of Madrid (Only the Spanish text is authentic) (93/353/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 the parties concerned notice to submit their comments, in accordance with Article 93, Whereas : By letter of 1 June 1987 the Commission notified the Spanish Government of its decision to accept the areas and aid ceilings under the national regional aid scheme in Spain. By letter of 1 September 1987 and telex message of " 14 March 1988 the Commission notified the Spanish Government of its decision to accept the other terms of the scheme, including the form of aid and the types of eligible investment. On the basis of these decisions, the national regional aid scheme (Law 50/1985 and Royal Decree 1535/1987) was gradually established by the Spanish Government, by royal decrees determining the various assisted areas. In an area situated in the north of the Province of Madrid, the Sierra Norte, the Commission, taking into account Protocol No 12 to the Act of Accession of Spain to the European Communities, decided to permit, as an excep- tion and for a period of three years followed by a review, the grant of regional aid with an intensity ceiling of 45 % net grand equivalent (nge). By letter of 7 June 1990 from its Permanent Representa- tive, the Spanish Government requested the Commission to permit the validity of the ceiling in this area to be extended for an unspecified time. After reviewing the case for maintaining the ceiling in this -area, the Commision decided to initiate the proce- dure provided for in Article 93 (2) of the Treaty in respect of the grant of aid under the national regional aid scheme with an intensity ceiling of 45 % nge in the Sietra Norte, in the north of the Province of Madrid. By letter dated 3 August 1990 the Commission gave the Spanish Government formal notice to submit its comments. The other Member States and interested third parties were also given notice to submit their comments ('). 11 The Spanish Government submitted its comments by letter dated 3 October and 10 October 1990. In its letters, the Spanish Government requested that the extension of the right to grant regional aid with an intensity ceiling of .45 % nge be reviewed, bearing in mind the following comments in particular: () OJ No C 32, 7. 2. 1991, pp. § and 6.