L 248/20 Official Journal of the European Communities 11. 9. 97 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 2 April 1997 on aid to the sheepmeat industry (promotional aid) (Only the French text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (97/611/EQ) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 93 (2) thereof, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3013/89 of 25 September 1989 on the common organization of the market in sheepmeat and goatmeat ('), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1589/96 (%), and in par- ticular Article 27 thereof, Having given the interested parties notice, pursuant to the first subparagraph of Article 93 (2) of the Treaty, to submit their comments (*) and having regard to those comments, Whereas: By letter of 12 August 1994, recorded as received on 16 August 1994, the French Permanent Representative to the European Union notified the Commission of the measures under discussion, in response to the Commis- sion’s request of 27 June 1994 for such notification. By letter of 22 February 1995, recorded as received on 23 February 1995, the French authorities provided additional OJ L 289, 7. 10. 1989, p. 1. ] L 206, 16. 8. 1996, p. 25. OJ C 289, 31. 10. 1995, p. 12. information in response to the Commission’s request of 25 August 1994. On the basis of the information in its possession, the Commission therefore undertook a preliminary examina- tion of three sets of measures for the sheepmeat industry, namely two ‘production guidance’ programmes entailing technical support and investment aid, and some promo- tional measures. The Commission had no objections to raise pursuant to Articles 92 and 93 of the EC Treaty with regard to the aid for technical support and investment in the sheepmeat industry. However, the Commission initiated the procedure provided for in Article 93 (2) of the Treaty in respect of the promotional measures by letter No SG(95) D/3878 of 29 March 1995, giving the French Government notice to submit its comments. The other Member States and inter- ested parties were given notice to submit their comments in a notice published in Official Journal of the European Communities C 289 of 31 October 1995. By letter of 14 July 1995 the French authorities provided the information requested in the course of the said pro- cedure. Third parties also submitted comments by letter of 18 December 1995. These were forwarded to the French authorities by letter of 28 January 1997. They have not dispelled the Commission’s doubts as to the compatibility of the measures in question, for the reasonis set out in the recitals of the draft decision.