L 64/4 Official Journal of the European Union 10.3.2009 I (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is not obligatory) DECISIONS COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 16 July 2008 on a State aid scheme implemented by Italy to remunerate current accounts held by Poste Italiane with the State Treasury (C 42/06 (ex NN 52/06)) (notified under document number C(2008) 3492) (Only the Italian text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2009/178[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 (1) and having regard to their comments, Whereas: 1. PROCEDURE (1) By letter dated 30 December 2005, Associazione Bancaria Italiana (ABI) complained to the Commission against various measures which it alleged benefited the banking activities of Poste Italiane SpA (PI). In particular, it claimed that Italy paid an interest rate of around 4 % on funds that were collected in postal current accounts and deposited in a current account held with the State Treasury, while the postal current accounts themselves were remunerated at a rate of around 1 %. PI's spread between deposit and loan rates (%) was greater than the ‘market’ spread, and thus constituted State aid. (2) By letter dated 7 February 2006, the Commission put several questions to the Italian authorities. After requesting an extension of the deadline for an answer, Italy replied to the questions by letter dated 21 April (1) OJ C 290, 29.11.2006, p. 8. (%) The loan rate is the interest rate PI receives from the Treasury for the funds deposited with the latter. The deposit rate is the interest rate PI pays to postal current account holders. 2006. A meeting took place with the Italian authorities and representatives of PI on 30 March 2006. By letter dated 26 September 2006, the Commission informed Italy that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the measure. The Commission’s 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. The Italian authorities submitted comments by letters of 31 October 2006 and 29 December 2006, and ABI submitted comments by letter of 27 December 2006. To give the Italian authorities an opportunity to reply the Commission forwarded ABI's comments, by letter of 15 January 2007. The Italian authorities commented by letter dated 16 February 2007. By letter of 21 February 2007 the Commission requested additional information. Italy replied by letters dated 30 March 2007, 2 April 2007 and 1 June 2007. On 28 June 2007 and 24 October 2007, two meetings were held with the Italian authorities and representatives of PL Following the latter meeting the Commission requested  additional  information, by letter  of 25 October 2007, to which Italy replied on 27 November 2007. () See footnote 1.