No L 361/24 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 12. 81 COMMISSION DECISION of 23 November 1981 on a Belgian Government proposal to aid certain investments in a refinery at Antwerp ‘ (Only the Dutch and French texts are authentic) (81/984/EEC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 93 (2) thereof, Having given notice to the parties concerned to submit their comments as provided for in Article 93, Whereas : The Belgian Law of 17 July 1959, implemented by the Royal Order of 17 August 1959 (1), introduced general measures to aid the Belgian economy and in particular interest rate rebates on loans contracted to pay for investments, State guarantees covering loans contracted by undertakings with banks where certain interest rebates are given, and exemption for five years tax on income from immovable property. When examining the Belgian Law, pursuant to the procedure defined in Article 93 (1) and (2) of the EEC Treaty, the Commission pointed out that, since it contained no industrial or regional objectives and permitted aid to be given for investment by any firm in any area or industry, it constituted a general aid system which, as such, could not qualify for exemp- tion under Article 92 (3) (a) or (c). In the absence of such specific references, the Commission could not assess the scheme’s effects on trade between Member States or on competition and was, therefore, unable to form an opinion as to its compatibility with the common market. It is now the well-established policy of the Commis- sion to accept such general aid schemes subject to one of two conditions, namely that the Member State concerned informs the Commission of either a regional or sectoral plan of application or where this is felt not to be possible, that it notifies significant individual cases of application. (') Moniteur Belge of 29 August 1959. Commission Decision 75/397/EEC (%) required the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium to notify the Commission in advance and in sufficient time of significant cases of application of the Belgian Law of 17 July 1959 introducing measures to promote economic expansion and the creation of new indus- tries, so as to enable the Commission to decide on the compatibility of the proposed aids with the common market. I1 In accordance with this procedure the Belgian Govern- ment notified the Commission on 23 February 1981 of its intention of applying the aid provided for under the abovementioned Law to investments to be carried out at a refinery in Antwerp. The investment would cost Bfrs 6 670 million and mainly involve the installation of catalytic conversion equipment. The overall capacity of the refinery would not be affected but it would be able to convert heavy petroleum fractions into light refined products (motor spirits, naphtha and distillates). The State aid, to be granted in the form of interest and tax concessions, would amount to some 6 % of the investment. The refinery in question markets part of its output in Belgium, although over 50 % is exported to other Member States. 1 The refining industry in the Community is still in a difficult situation. In its communications to the Council of 17 March 1977, the Commission pointed out that the industry was facing a two-fold problem : considerable surplus refining capacity and structures relatively ill-adapted to structures of the demand trend. () O] No L 177, 8. 7. 1975, p. 13.