24.5.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L 140/65 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 17 January 2001 on the State aid which the United Kingdom is planning to implement for Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd (notified under document number C(2001) 164) (Only the English text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2001/398/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 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 (1), Having called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to those provisions, Whereas: Procedure (1) By letter dated 25 July 2000, the United Kingdom noti- fied the proposed aid to the Commission, pursuant to Article 88(3) of the Treaty. A pre-notification meeting was held between the United Kingdom authorities, representatives of Nissan, Renault and the Commission's services on 19 July 2000. (20  On 20 September 2000, the Commission decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the Treaty in respect of the aid. The United Kingdom was informed of this decision by letter dated 29 September 2000. (3)  The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Communi- () O] L 83, 27.3.1999, p. 1. ties (). The Commission called on interested parties to submit their comments. (4 The Commission received no comments from interested parties. (5) By letter dated 25 October 2000, the United Kingdom submitted its comments and provided information, which it considered necessary to assess the aid. Following a visit by Commission representatives on 8 and 9 November 2000 on site in Sunderland and Flins (France), the Commission raised additional questions, which were answered by the United Kingdom in a letter dated 23 November 2000. Detailed description of the proposed aid (6)  The recipient of the aid would be Nissan Motor Manu- facturing (UK) Ltd (hereinafter referred to as ‘NMUK). The NMUK plant is situated in Sunderland. NMUK is wholly owned by Nissan Motor Co.,Ltd (Japan) (herein- after referred to as ‘Nissan Motor). The turnover of NMUK in 1999 was GBP 1 813,5 million and the net profit GBP 8,3 million. NMUK's Sunderland plant produced 271 000 vehicles (157 000 Micra and 114 000 Primera) in 1999. (7)  Renault has taken a 36,8 % equity stake in Nissan Motor, a 22,5 % in Nissan Diesel and 100 % of the capital of Nissan's European sales financial subsidiaries. Renault and Nissan signed an alliance agreement on 27 March 1999, involving the joint development of plat- forms, a global joint purchasing policy, joint develop- ment and use of engines and gearboxes as well as close cooperation in other areas. () O] C 310, 28.10.2000, p. 6.