30. 11. 84 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 312/27 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 12 September 1984 on the Belgian Government’s proposal to prolong the textile and clothing industry aid scheme (Only the Dutch and French texts are authentic) (84/564/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 the said Article 93, and having regard to those comments, Whereas : I By letter dated 2 December 1983, the Belgian Govern- ment notified the Commission, pursuant to Article 93 (3) of the EEC Treaty, of its intention to grant aid to the textile and clothing industry under a sectoral aid system during 1984. By telex of 22 December 1983 additional information, in particular as to the total aid budget and the imple- menting rules, was requested from the Belgian autho- rities. This information was provided by letter of 28 December 1983. Under the proposed aid system, which would replace and extend previous programmes which had been in force in 1982 and 1983, investments for the extension, modernization and conversion of textile and clothing companies would be eligible for subsidies covering up to 7 % of the interest on loans advanced on market terms for 75 % of total investment cost and with a duration of five years or cash grants equivalent to the above interest subsidy, if the investment were under- taken with the firm’s own funds. The total budget earmarked for the scheme was Bfrs 1 300 million. Following an initial scrutiny, the Commission consi- dered that the aim of restructuring the companies in question, cited by the Belgian Government as the reason for.the proposed aid, had largely been achieved after Belgium had provided assistance in the two previous years. The Commission also considered that the companies’ economic development — being parti- cularly favourable in comparison to the trends expe- rienced by its Community counterparts — had led to a situation where a prolongation for a third year of the aid systems which existed previously would not promote a development which is in the interest of the Community. In addition, the Commission took the view that the programme notified by the Belgian Government did not meet certain conditions and criteria defined in respect of aids to the textile and clothing industry. Therefore, the Commission considered that the programme notified to it would be likely to affect trade between Member States and would, thus, be incompatible with the common market, particularly in a situation where the textile and clothing industry in most Member States is faced with serious difficulties.