21. 1. 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 14/3§ (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 11 June 1991 requiring France to suspend the implementation of the aid described below in favour of the Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU), introduced in breach of Article 93 (3) of the EEC Treaty (Only the French text is authentic) (92/35/EEC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard. to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 93 (2) and (3) thereof, Whereas : M @ @) “) By letter dated 27 July 1989, the Commission requested the French authorities to comment on alleged State aids granted in favour of the Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU) and to provide all relevant information to enable the Commission to assess the measures pursuant to Articles 92 and 93 of the EEC Treaty and reminded the French authorities of * their obligation pursuant to Article 93 (3) of the EEC Treaty to inform the Commission in sufficient time to enable ‘it to submit its comments, of any plans to grant or alter aid. By letter dated 23 August 1989, the French authori- ties requested the Commission to extend the dead- line for response by one month to which the Commission agreed by telex of 29 August 1989. The French authorities replied by letter dated 11 October 1989 and a meeting to discuss the measures took place between the Commission and the French authorities on 6 November 1990. By letter dated 11 January 1991, the Commission informed the French authorities that it had decided to initiate the Article 92 (3) procedure in respect of ) © ) seven aid measures granted in favour of the PMU. The Commission requested the French Govern- ment to comment on the measures within a period of two months, and also requested all necessary information to enable the Commission to calculate the precise amount of these aids and the periods during which they had been provided. " The French authorities replied by letter dated 12 April 1991. The reply did not contain all the necessary information to establish the precise amount of aid and the period during which it was being granted, as well as sufficient information to enable the Commission to access the compatibility of the measures with the internal market. On the basis of the information currently at its disposal, the Commission understands that three of the seven aid measures were only granted in the past but that the other four have an ongoing character. Of these four, the exemption from corporation tax has no financial effect at the present time because of the deficit nature of the financial position of the PMU and its members. The Commission understands the three remaining ongoing aid measures to be as follows : Treasury facilities The financial resources of the PMU have been swelled to the detriment of the State by allowing it to defer on a temporary basis the payment to the