22.2.2008 Official Journal of the European Union L 48/65 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 13 November 2007 State aid C 37/2006 (ex NN 91/2005) — Fishing Vessel Modernisation Scheme implemented in the United Kingdom (notified under document number C(2007) 5395) (Only the English version is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2008/153EC) 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 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 (), and in particular Article 6(1) Article 14 thereof, Having called on interested third parties to submit their comments pursuant to the provisions cited above (3), Whereas: I. PROCEDURE (1) By letter dated 15 June 2004, the Commission was informed by a citizen of the United Kingdom that the Shetland Islands Council, the public authority in the Shetland Islands of the United Kingdom had imple- mented aid to the fisheries sector, which possibly concerned illegal state aid. By letters dated 24 August 2004, 4 February 2005, 11 May 2005 and 16 December 2005, the Commission requested the United Kingdom to provide information about such aid. By letters dated 10 December 2004, 6 April 2005, 8 September 2005 and 31 January 2006, the United Kingdom provided the Commission with further infor- mation. (2) By letter dated 13 September 2006, the Commission informed the United Kingdom that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the (') OJ L 83, 27.3.1999, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1791/2006 (OJ L 363, 20.12.2006, p. 1). () O] C 293, 2.12.2006, p. 9. EC Treaty in respect of the aid. The United Kingdom provided its comments on the aid by letters dated 16 October 2006 and 6 February 2007. (3)  The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Union (3). The Commission invited interested parties to submit their comments on the aid. (4 The Commission received no comments from interested parties. II. DETAILED DESCRIPTION (5)  The Shetland Islands Council made payments to the fisheries sector under the scope of two general aid measures, named ‘Aid to the Fish Catching and Processing Industry’ and ‘Aid to the Fish Farming Industry’, which actually consisted of several different types of aid schemes in force since the 1970’s. One such scheme was the ‘Fishing Vessel Modernisation Scheme’ (the scheme’). Under the scheme, which applied from at least the 1980’s until 14 January 2005, aid could be granted for the modernisation of fishing vessels, related to a major improvement, such as, for example, better storage of catches, replacement of the engine, improvements in working conditions or to crew safety. (6)  Aid was granted up to 10 % of the total cost of the improvement project, with a maximum amount of GBP 40 000 per vessel. Only one application per year could be considered. Improvement projects which exceeded 50 % of the costs of a new vessel of the same type were not eligible, as well as work to vessels less than five years old. The works had to meet all the required standards specified by Shetland Seafood Quality Control. () O] C 293, 2.12.2006, p. 9.