20.4.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L 105/1 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 20 September 2000 on the part of the Italian regional aid map for the period 2000 to 2006 concerning the areas eligible for the derogation in Article 87(3)(c) of the Treaty (notified under document number C(2000) 2752) (Only the Italian text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2002/282[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 in accordance with the abovementioned provisions (!), and having regard to those comments, Whereas: L. Procedure By letter SG(98) D/1672 of 24 February 1998, the Commission called on the Italian authorities to notify to it under Article 88(3) of the Treaty and in respect of the period 2000 to 2006 the methodology for determining the regions to be assisted as from 1 January 2000, together with the list of the regions and the corresponding aid intensities and aid cumulation ceilings, by 31 March 1999 at the latest; the methodology and the aid intensities and aid cumulation ceilings laid down must be compatible with the guidelines on national regional aid (%) (the guidelines). ()) O] C 175, 24.6.2000, p. 4. () O] C 74, 10.3.1998, p. 9. @ By letter SG (98) D[12386 of 30 December 1998, it informed the Italian authorities that, under the guidelines, in particular the method described in point 3 and Annex III, and subject to the overall ceiling of 42,7 % of the Community population, the national ceiling for the population covered by the derogations in Article 87(3)(a) and (c) which the Commission deems compatible with the common market is 43,6 % for the period 2000 to 2006. In the same letter the Commission noted that some of the NUTS (nomenclature of statistical territorial units) level 1I regions in Italy corresponding to 33,6 % of the population satisfied the eligibility criteria for regional aid under Article 87(3)(a). Consequently, the coverage of regional aid under Article 87(3)(c) must not exceed 10 % of the Italian population. Following reminders dated 14 June 1999 (SG(99) D[4259) and 26 October 1999 (SG(99) D/01986) the Italian authorities, acting under Article 88(3), notified the draft regional aid map to the Commission by letter No 16497 of 16 December 1999 from their Permanent Representation, — registered as received by the Commission on 17 December 1999. A request for further information was sent to the Italian authorities on 20 January 2000. By letters dated 31 January and 1, 11 and 17 February, the Italian authorities provided additional information. Two meetings between the Italian authorities and the Commission departments took place in Brussels on 14 January and 1 February.