No L 285/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 18. 10. 83 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 20 July 1983 under Article 93 (2) of the EEC Treaty, on a proposal of the Belgian Government to aid an undertaking (No 156) in the textile and clothing industry (Only the Dutch and French texts are authentic) (83/507/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, in accordance with the above- mentioned provision, to the parties concerned to submit their comments and having regard to those comments, Whereas : By letter dated 6 December 1982 the Belgian Govern- ment informed the Commission of a plan to aid a firm involved in carpet manufacturing, a sector of the Belgian textile and clothing industry that is regarded as highly competitive. The aid, of Bfrs 144 900 000, was to be awarded by the Belgian Government under the textile and clothing industry aid scheme to a firm with a staff of 576. The majority would go on investment in new plant and machinery — some of it replacement investment — to boost the quality of the firm’s products. The Commission opened the procedure provided for in Article 93 (2) of the EEC Treaty in respect of the plan and, by letter dated 28 January 1983, gave the Belgian Government notice to submit its comments. The Commission felt that the planned award did not fulfil the requirements of the industry aid scheme, - which had been approved by the Commission on 18 November 1981 and had been in operation since 1 January 1982. II The Belgian Government did not reply to the Commission’s letter of formal notice or supply any other information after the opening of the Article 93 (2) procedure. Three other Member States and two trade associations replied to the Commission’s invitation to comment. They pointed out, in particular, that Belgian carpet exports to other EEC countries were on the increase and that any aid given to a firm in the industry, which was already highly competitive, would have an im- mediate effect on competition. III The proposed aid award is liable to affect trade between Member States and to distort competition