10.10.2000 Official Journal of the European Communities L 256/21 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 10 November 1999 conditionally approving the aid granted by Italy to the public banks Banco di Sicilia and Sicilcassa (notified under document number C(1999) 3865) (Only the Italian text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2000/600/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 87 and 88 thereof; Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Articles 61 and 62 thereof, Having given interested parties notice to submit their comments in accordance with the abovementioned Articles (1), Whereas: 1. PROCEDURE (1) By letter of 24 July 1997 the Commission asked the Italian authorities for information concerning the proposal to remedy the crisis affecting Sicilian public-sector banks and to set up a regional banking unit under the aegis of the public-sector bank Banco di Sicilia (BS), suitably reinforced, and Mediocredito Centrale (MC), a specialised bank controlled by the Treasury. The Italian authorities replied by letters dated 1 and 11 September 1997, which contained both the documents requested by the Commission and a general explanation of the plan to rescue public-sector banking in Sicily. (2)  The measures involved the liquidation of the savings bank Sicilcassa (SC), placed under compulsory administration, and the transfer of its assets and liabilities to BS with support from Banca d'Italia, and Fondo Interbancario di Tutela dei Depositi (FITD). In order to determine whether the recovery plan contained State Aid, the Commission asked for further details by letter dated 8 October 1997, to which the Italian authorities replied by letter of 3 December 1997. (3)  The package of measures in support of the transfer included a contribution from FITD to absorb up to ITL 1 000 billion of the losses incurred by SC and assistance from Banca d'Italia in accordance with the Treasury Decree of 27 September 1974. The latter measure was not quantifiable at that stage as there was no precise figure for the deficit resulting from the liquidation of SC. It was also planned that MC would become the majority shareholder of BS through a subscription to its capital () O] C 297, 25.9.1998, p. 3.