30.5.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L 144/23 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 13 February 2001 on the aid scheme ‘Viridian Growth Fund’ notified by the United Kingdom (notified under document number C(2001) 334) (Only the English text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2001/406/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 the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 62(1)(a) thereof, Having called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to the provisions cited above ('), Whereas: I. PROCEDURE By letter dated 14 September 1999 the United Kingdom authorities notified aid linked to the setting up and operation of the Viridian Growth Fund, a venture capital fund. The Commission asked for additional information on 12 November 1999 and sent a reminder on 22 December 1999. The United Kingdom authorities replied by letter dated 14 January 2000. However, they still did not supply all the information asked for on 12 November 1999. The Commission therefore sent a second reminder on 10 March 2000 to which the United Kingdom authorities replied by letter dated 28 March 2000. The Commission requested further additional information on 12 May 2000. The United Kingdom authorities replied by letter dated 14 June 2000. () OJ C 266, 16.9.2000, p. 9. () By letter of 8 August 2000 (3, the Commission informed the United Kingdom authorities of its decision to initiate the procedure pursuant to Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in relation to the Viridian Growth Fund. The decision to open the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (). The Commission invited interested parties to present comments on the aid scheme concerned. The Commission did not receive comments from inter- ested parties. The official response of the United Kingdom authorities arrived by letter dated 8 September 2000. On 19 September 2000, the Commission sent a request for certain clarifications and a meeting discussing the Commission queries was held between the services of the Commission and the United Kingdom authorities on 8 November 2000. The United Kingdom authorities formally replied to the Commission queries on 15 December 2000. II. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SCHEME The objective of the scheme The objective of the scheme as notified and as amended by the United Kingdom authorities under the procedure is to address perceived gaps in the provision of venture capital funding for small enterprises (SEs) in Northern (¥ Reference: SG (2000) D/106067. () O] C 266, 16.9.2000, p. 9.