17.9.2005 Official Journal of the European Union L 241/59 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 8 September 2004 on the aid scheme implemented by Italy providing for tax credits for investments (notified under document number C(2004) 2638) (Only the Italian text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2005/655/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 the provisions cited above (1), Whereas: I. PROCEDURE In April 2003 the Italian authorities notified the Commission, pursuant to Article 88(3) of the Treaty, of an aid scheme for investments in selected areas. As the entry into force of the scheme was not made subject to prior approval by the Commission, it was registered as illegal aid under number NN 53/03. Additional information was submitted by the Italian authorities on 4 July 2003. On 17 September 2003 the Commission decided to initiate the formal investi- gation procedure pursuant to Article 88(2) of the Treaty (the decision initiating the procedure) and requested Italy to provide all the necessary information for assessing the measure. The Commission decision was published in the Official Journal of the European Union (2). No comments were received from interested parties or from Italy. () O] C 300, 11.12.2003, p. 2. () See footnote 1. (3) On 16 December 2003 the Commission again invited Italy to provide information, indicating that, in the absence of a reply, it was empowered to adopt an infor- mation injunction pursuant to Article 10(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty (). No information was received from Italy. By decision of 22 April 2004, the Commission enjoined Italy to submit all the relevant information necessary for the complete assessment of the measure within one month. No information was received from Italy within the deadline. (4 On 26 May 2004 Italy requested an extension of 15 working days in order to reply to the information injunction. The Commission, while informing Italy that the deadline set by Commission decision had expired, acknowledged Italy’s intention to submit information by 17 June 2004. (5) By letter dated 17 June 2004 (registered on 22 June 2004), Italy submitted additional information. II. DESCRIPTION OF THE AID (6)  The legal basis for the aid scheme is Article 94(14) of Law No 289 of 27 December 2002 (Finance Act for 2003). (7 The aim of the aid scheme is to promote investments in specific areas of the Italian territory, for regional devel- opment objectives. The scheme is to last until 31 December 2006 and the annual budget for 2003, 2004 and 2005 is EUR 2 million. () OJ L 83, 27.3.1999, p. 1. Regulation as amended by 2003 Act of Accession.