4.2.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L31/1 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 9 July 2003 on the aid scheme implemented by Italy for natural disasters up to 31 December 1999 (notified under document number C(2003) 2048) (Only the Italian version is authentic) (2004/89/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 called on interested parties (!) to submit their comments pursuant to the aforementioned provisions, and having regard to those comments, Whereas: 2 I. PROCEDURE By letter dated 22 February 1993, registered on 26 February 1993, the Italian Permanent Representation to the European Union notified the Commission under Article 88(3) of the Treaty of a Sicilian draft law providing for aid measures designed to help farmers affected by natural disasters and for modifications to existing aid schemes in the agriculture sector. The draft law was registered under State aid number N 126/93. Supplementary information was requested by the Commission by letter dated 17 March 1993. In the () O] C 295, 10.11.1995, p. 5. ) absence of any reply from the Italian authorities, by letter dated 15 June 1993, the Commission invited the Italian authorities to provide the information requested within fifteen days from the date of the letter. An additional reminder was sent by the Commission by letter dated 20 August 1993. In reply to the reminders above, the Italian authorities transmitted an incomplete reply by letter dated 16 September 1993, registered as received on 26 September 1993. By letter dated 14 October 1993, the Commission invited the Italian authorities to submit a complete reply to the questions requested in its letter of 17 March 1993. The Italian authorities replied by letter of 14 February 1994 registered on 22 February 1994. From the reply it emerged that the draft aid measures notified by the Italian authorities on 22 February 1993 had meanwhile been adopted as Regional Law No 6 of 12 January 1993 (%) (hereinafter Regional Law 6/93) and that the newly-adopted law also contained additional measures not initially notified to the Commision under Article 88(3) of the Treaty. The Commission therefore decided to transfer the aid on to the register of non-notified aids under number NN 31/94. ‘Norme per consentire alle aziende agricole danneggiate da eccezionali avversitd naturali I'accesso ai benefici della legge 30 gennaio 1991, n. 31. Rifinanziamento della legge regionale 25 marzo 1986 n. 13 nonché anticipazioni dell’ intervento dello Stato per le finalitd del D.M. 21 dicembre 1987, N. 524 in applicazione del Regolamento CEE n. 857/84" Gazzetta Ufficiale della Regione siciliana  del  16.1.1993. (Provisions to enable agricultural undertakings affected by exceptional weather events to benefit from the aids provided for by Law No 31 of 30 January 1991; Refinancing of regional law No 13 of 25 March 1986 as well as advanced payments on the aids to be provided by the National Government in accordance with Ministerial Decree No 524 of 21 December 1987 implementing (EEC) Regulation No 857/84).