27.2.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 61/87 COMMISSION DECISION of 21 October 2003 on the research and development aid to the site at Zamudio (Basque Country) which Spain is planning to implement for the company ‘Industria de Turbo Propulsores, SA’ (ITP) (notified under document number C(2003) 3525) (Only the Spanish text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2004/170/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 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty (1), and in particular Article 7 thereof, Having called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to those provisions (2), (}) and having regard to their comments, Whereas: 1. PROCEDURE (1) By letter of 15 December 2000, registered on 18 December, the Spanish authorities, acting in accordance with Article 88(3) of the Treaty, notified a plan to grant research and development aid to the site at Zamudio (Basque Country). Further information was sent by letter of 17 April 2001, registered on 19 April. (2) By letter of 20 June 2001, the Commission informed Spain that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the Treaty in respect of the planned aid. (3)  The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (*). The Commission called on interested parties to submit their comments on the aid. () OJ L 83,27.3.1999, p. 1. () OJ C 274, 29.9.2001, p. 2. () OJ C 147, 24.6.2003, p. 6. () See footnote 2. (10) By letter of 21 August 2001, registered on 24 August, the Spanish authorities submitted their comments to the Commission. By letter of 17 October 2001, registered on 18 October, the Federation of Turbine and Heavy Energy Plant Manufacturers (Sytemel) submitted comments on the planned aid to the Commission. By letter of 29 October 2001, registered on 30 October, the Pratt & Whitney company submitted its comments to the Commission. By letter of 15 November 2001, the Commission forwarded to the Spanish authorities a copy of the comments submitted by Sytemel and Pratt & Whitney. By letter of 27 November 2001, registered on 28 November, the Spanish authorities requested the Commission to provide a Spanish translation of those comments. The Commission satisfied that request by letter of 21 December 2001. By letter of 28 January 2002, the Spanish authorities sent the Commission their response to the comments submitted by Sytemel and Pratt & Whitney. By letter of 13 December 2002, the Commission asked the Spanish authorities for further information. The Spanish authorities provided that information by letters of 16 January 2003, registered on 20 January, of 27 January 2003, registered on 29 January, and of 5 February 2003, registered on 6 February. By letter of 23 April 2003, the Commission informed Spain that it had decided to extend the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the Treaty in respect of the planned aid.