L 93/48 Official Journal of the European Communities 3.4.2001 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 31 January 2001 on the State-aid scheme proposed by Greece for fruit and vegetable growers (notified under document number C(2001) 323) (Only the Greek text is authentic) (2001/259/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, After having given the parties concerned the opportunity to submit their comments, in accordance with the first subpara- graph of Article 88(2) of the Treaty, and in view of those comments, Whereas: I Procedure (1) By letter dated 16 February 1998, recorded as received on 23 February 1998, the Greek authorities notified an aid scheme under which Greece intended granting aid to fruit and vegetable growers whose crops had been damaged by field mice in the summer of 1997. Requests for further information were sent on 25 March and 7 August 1998. The Greek authorities replied by letters of 9 June and 8 September 1998. The Commission initiated the procedure provided for in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the aid concerned by letter SG(98) D/9449 of 10 November 1998. The Decision initiating the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities ('). The Commission invited the other Member States and parties concerned to submit their comments on the aid in ques- tion. The Commission has not received any comments from the parties concerned. The Greek authorities sent their comments by letter of 16 December 1998. () O] C 396, 19.12.1998, p. 2. Description The measure notified concerned a draft interministerial decision approving financial aid for growers in the prefecture of Thessaloniki whose watermelon and melon crops had been damaged by field mice during the summer of 1997. The recipients were to be full-time growers, 30 % or more of whose crops had been damaged. The percentage was calculated by comparing their output in 1997 with their average output over the three previous years. The aid was to amount to 30 % of the value of the lost production. Recipients were to be selected on the basis of the damage they had suffered individually. Compensa- tion would be granted for 1998 and 1999 and the cost of the measure was to total GRD 90 million (around EUR 265 000). According to the Greek authorities, the damage caused by field mice to the watermelon and melon crops in one municipality and three communes in the prefecture of Thessaloniki in the summer of 1997 was considerable (50 % to 70 %). A larger than usual population of field mice had taken up residence in standing cereal crops and reproduced there. The field mice had not been detected in time and action had not been taken speedily enough. Once it became apparent that considerable damage had been done, the area was declared infested and control measures were taken, but it was not possible to contain the damage. Around 65 % of the area in question is given over to cerealgrowing. The cereal crops provided the field mice with a place of refuge and feeding and did not suffer any serious damage. After harvesting had taken place the field mice attacked the watermelon and melon crops.