No L 74/84 Official Journal of the European Communities 27. 3. 93 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 23 December 1992 on the AIMA national programme on aid to agricultural operators for the export of citrus fruit to the USSR and the east European countries (Only the Italian text is authentic) (93/175/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 regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1035/72 of 18 May 1972 on the common organization of the market in fruit and vegetables ('), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1754/92(3, and in particular Article 31 thereof, After giving notice (), in accordance with Article 93 (2) of the Treaty, to those concerned to submit their comments, Whereas : 1.  The Italian Permanent Representation to-the Euro- pean Communities notified the Commission by letter No 3857 of 3 April 1991, recorded as received on 18 April 1991, of the aid measures in question pursuant to Article 93 (3) of the EEC Treaty. 2. The aid measures in question were drawn up on the basis of the CIPE (Comitato Interministeriale per la Programmazione Economica) decision of 24 May 1990. 3. The aid measures provide for aid of Lit 150 per kilo- gram of citrus fruit exported in respect of a total quantity of 200 000 quintals. o L 118, 20. 5. 1972, p. 1. o L 180, 1. 7. 1992, p. 23. o C 251, 26. 9. 1991, p. 3. A 222 The recipients are individual and associated agricultural operators. The aid was introduced to facilitate the marketing of higher-quality citrus fruit in the east European countries and the USSR. 11 1. By letter No SG(91) D/12651 of 3 July 1991 the Commission notified the Italian Government that it had decided to initiate the procedure provided for in Article 93 (2) of the Treaty in respect of the aid. 2. By that letter the Commission informed the Italian authorities that it considered the aid to be operating aid, which it has consistently regarded as incompatible with the common market pursuant to Articles 92, 93 and 94 of the Treaty; such aid has the direct effect of artificially lowering cost prices and improving production conditions and market outlets for the producers concermed as compared with producers in other Member States not in receipt of comparable aid. As the products concerned are the subject of intra- Community trade (see point V), the aid is consequently liable to distort competition and affect trade between the Member States ; it meets the criteria in Article 92 (1) of the Treaty without being eligible under any of the excep- tions set out in Article 92 (2) and (3) thereof. The Commission also pointed out that the Community rules on the market organization for fruit and vegetables (Regulation (EEC) No 1035/72) form a complete and comprehensive system which ‘precludes the possibility of Member States’ taking further measures independently.