No L 268/48 Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 9. 83 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 20 July 1983 concerning two aid schemes in favour of the textile and clothing sector in France funded by means of parafiscal charges (Only the French text is authentic) (83/486/EEC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard 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 as provided for in Article 93, having regard to those comments, Whereas : 1 On 13 January 1983, the French Government notified to the Commission two decrees amending and exten- ding for the period 1983 to 1985 two aid schemes, one for the textile industry and the other for the clothing industry, funded by two parafiscal charges levied under the same procedure as value added tax on sales in France of textile and clothing products. By decrees No 82/1242 and No 82/1243 published in the Official Journal of the French Republic No 10 of 13 January 1983, these two aid schemes entered into force on 1 January 1983 ; the French Government thereby failed to comply with its obligations under Article 93 (3). Under these decrees the aid schemes, whereby the textile and clothing industry is allocated an amount of about FF 240 million annually, are extended until 31 December 1985. About 40 % of this amount is earmarked for joint research projects carried out for the most part by technical institutes serving the sector. The remaining proceeds from the parafiscal charges are allocated to individual aid measures for textile and clothing firms. These aids consist of the grant of sub- sidies of 10 to 15 % of modernization and renewal investments. The two schemes have been in force, with extensions and amendments, since 1965 and 1969 respectively. As regards the joint research projects, the Commission has no objection to the support granted to them if they form part of measures carried out at Community level. The Commission considered after its first scrutiny, however, that the schemes in question were not compatible in other respects with the common market and consequently decided to initiate the procedure provided for in the first subparagraph of Article 93 (2) of the EEC Treaty ; the Commission gave the French Government notice to submit its comments, by letter dated 18 March 1983. I1 In its reply dated 31 May 1983, the French Govern- ment states that a substantial proportion of the aids is’ allocated to joint research projects, pointing out that the Commission had already stated in its letter of 18 March that it had no objection to those measures in so far as they actually concerned research in the sector concerned.