29.11.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L3125 II (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 18 July 2001 on the State aid implemented by Italy in favour of the port sector (notified under document number C(2001) 2346) (Only the Italian text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2001/834/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 (!), and in particular Article 14 thereof, Having called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to the provisions cited above (3 and having regard to their comments, Whereas: I. PROCEDURE (1) The transformation of the Italian port sector has been an ongoing process since 1983. It has required in-depth structural reform following the abolition of the old regime based on exclusive rights granted to dock-work companies and to port undertakings formed exclusively of Italian national workers, which the Court of Justice judged, by preliminary ruling, to be incompatible with the EC Treaty in its judgment of 10 December 1991 (}), known as the ‘Port of Genoa Judgment'. (2)  Following that judgment the Italian authorities have adopted a series of legislative measures designed to bring the regime into line with Community law. Compliance of these measures with Articles 82 and 86 of the Treaty has been examined by the Commission under infringement procedure 99/2048 (formerly infringement procedure 92/2221) (4. () O] L 83, 27.3.1999, p. 1. () O] C 281, 19.10.1993, p. 10 and O] C 339, 12.11.1996, p. 6, for Case C-27/93; OJ C 108, 17.4.1999, p. 2, for Case C-81/98. () Judgment /of the Court of 10 December 1991, Case C-179/90 Merci convenzionali porto di Genova SpA v Siderurgica Gabriclli SpA [1991] ECR 1-5889. (*) Commission Decision (97/744[EC) of 21 October 1997 pursuant to Article 90(3) of the EC Treaty on the provisions of Italian ports legislation relating to employment (O] L 301, 5.11.1997, p. 17).