Official Journal of the European Communities No L 268/27 9. 10. 84 - . AN 11 (Acts whose publication is not obZigatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION. of 16 May 1984 on the extension until 30 June 1983 of the regional aid supplemeht provided for in Article 2 (b) of the Belgian Economic Expansion Act of 30 December 1970 (Only the French and Dutch texts are authentic), (84/472/EEC) \ THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, : ' Having régard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 93 (2) thereof; Having given notice to the .parties ' concerned to submit their comments (') in accordance with the abovementioned provision, and having regard to those comments, Wheréas : 1 Article 2 (b) of the Belgian Economic Expansion Act of 30 December 1970 introduced a ‘regional aid supplement’ in the form of an extra two percentage points of interest subsidy above the basic rate of inte- rest subsidy available for investment in development areas. The supplement could be granted in develop- ment areas ‘whenever the level of economic activity makes this desirable’. By letter dated 19 November 1981 informing the Belgian Government that it has decided to open the procedure provided for in Article 93 (2) of the EEC Treaty in respect of certain provisions of the Economic Expansion Act of 30 December 1970, the () OJ No C 122, 7. 5. 1983, p. 4. Commission advised the Government that the award of such aid of an anti-cyclical nature on a regional basis could only be justified in relation to Articles 92 et seq. of the Treaty where the difficulties resulting from cyclical fluctuations in economic activity in a Member State were more severe in the assisted areas than in the rest of the country. L On 8 September 1982 the Commission informed the Belgian Government by letter that, in view of the Government’s assurances that the legislation was shortly to be amended, it has decided on 2 September to allow the supplement to continue to be granted under certain conditions in all Belgian development areas until 31 December 1982 at the-latest. On 23 November 1982 the Belgian Government nevertheless notified to the Commission by letter, in accordance with Article 93 (3) of the Treaty, a proposal to further extend the regional aid supplement in all Belgian development areas until 30 june 1983. b - The extension proposal failed to produce ’any economic or social data to show that any or all of the Belgian development areas had been harder hit by the downturn in economic activity than the rest of the country. - The transitional period.allowed for 1982 expired on 31 December 1982. It had been made clear that this would be the final date for ending the scheme.