No L 222/26 Official Journal of the European Communities 12. 8. 97 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 18 December 1996 on tax exemptions for biofuels in France (Only the French text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (97/542/EC) 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 No 136/66/EEC of 22 September 1996 on the establishment of a common organization of the market in oils and fats ('), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 3290/94 (3, and in par- ticular Article 33 thereof, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1785/81 of 30 June 1981 on the common organization of the markets in the sugar sector (%), as last amended by Regula- tion (EC) No 1101/95(%), and in particular Article 44 thereof, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 of 30 June 1992 establishing a support system for produ- cers of certain arable crops (%), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1664/95 (%), Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 of 30 June 1992 on the common organization of the 0J No 172, 30. 9. 1966, p. 3025/66. O] No L 349, 31. 12. 1994, p. 105. OJ No L 177, 1. 7. 1981, p. 4. 0] No L 110, 17. 5. 1995, p. 1. OJ No L 181, 1. 7. 1992, p. 12. OJ No L 158, 8. 7. 1995, p. 13. market in cereals (), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 3290/94 (%), and in particular Article 19 thereof, Having given the interested parties notice, pursuant to Article 93 (2) of the Treaty, to submit their comments (°), and having regard to those comments, Whereas: (1) By letter of 19 March 1992, the French Permanent Representative to the European Communities noti- fied the Commission of provisions relating to exemption from the domestic tax on petroleum products (taxe intérieure sur les produits pétroliers: TIPP) for biofuels of agricultural origin. The French authorities sent further information to the Commis- sion in letters dated 19 November 1992 and 20 July 1993. By letter dated 19 May 1994, the French Permanent Representative to the European Union notified the Commission of two ‘technical progress’ agreements for biofuels, linked to that exemption. The French authorities sent further information to the Commis- sion in a letter dated 6 September 1994, By letter of 12 December 1994, the Commission informed France of its decision to initiate the pro- cedure provided for in Article 93 (2) of the Treaty in respect of the aid schemes, which seemed to be operating aid schemes not eligible for any of the exemptions under the State aid rules and thus incompatible with the common market. () OJ No L 181, 1. 7. 1992, p. 21. () OJ No L 349, 31. 12. 1994, p. 105. () O No C 143, 9. 6. 1995, p. 8.