L75/54 Official Journal of the European Communities 24.3.2000 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 22 December 1999 concerning and aid scheme implemented by Spain in favour of horticultural products intended for industrial processing in Extremadura in the 1997/98 marketing year (notified under document number C(1999) 5207) (Only the Spanish text is authentic) (2000/237[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 Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables ('), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 (%), The parties concerned having been given notice, in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 88(2) of the Treaty, to submit their comments (%), Whereas: I. PROCEDURE (1) The Government of Extremadura Ministry of Agriculture and Trade Order of 8 July 1998 lays down the aid for horticultural products intended for industrial processing for the 1997/98 marketing year. The Order was published in the Diario Oficial de Extremadura (*). (2)  The Commission, not having received notification of the State aid from the Spanish authorities in accordance with Article 88(3) of the Treaty, sent a letter on 8 ] L 297, 21.11.1996, p. 1. ] L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 80. ] C 233, 14.8.1999, p. 37. February 1999 requesting confirmation of the existence of the aid and the date of its introduction. (3) By letter dated 26 February 1999, the Office of the Spanish Permanent Representative to the European Union sent the Commission the information it had requested in its letter dated 8 February 1999. (4) By letter dated 14 June 1999, the Commission informed Spain of its decision to open the procedure provided for in Article 88(2) of the Treaty with respect to the aid scheme. In its letter, the Commission gave notice to Spain to send its comments. (5)  The Commission Decision to open the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Communi- ties (°). The Commission gave notice to the interested parties to submit their comments on the aid scheme. (6)  Spain submitted its comments by letter dated 19 July 1999. (7  The Commission received comments on the scheme from the interested parties. It forwarded those comments to Spain by letter dated 17 November 1999, giving Spain the opportunity to make any observations on them. The Commission received no such observations from Spain. (%) See footnote 3.