13.5.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L 126/1 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 25 April 2001 on the aid granted by Italy to Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato and its subsidiaries (Notified under document number C(2001) 1177) (Only the Italian text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2002/345[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) thereof, Having called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to the provisions cited above (!) and having regard to their comments, Whereas: I. PROCEDURE By letter dated 4 August 1998, the Commission informed Italy of its decision to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the aid granted to Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato (hereinafter ‘Poligrafico’) and to some of the companies controlled by it. The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities The Commission called on interested parties to submit their comments on the aid in question. () OJ C133,13.5.1999, p. 1; OJ C 272, 23.9.2000, p. 17. ) The Commission received comments from three interested parties. It forwarded them to Italy, which was given the opportunity to react. The Italian authorities submitted their observations by letter of 1 February 1999. The Commission requested additional information by letters of 9 February and 27 August 1999. The TItalian authorities provided the requested information by letters of 26 March, 27 May, 20 August and 29 November 1999 and by letter of 13 March 2000. Meetings were held with the Italian authorities on several occasions. In particular, detailed information was provided during the meeting held in Rome on 21 January 2000. During the course of the procedure, the Commission was informed of a new aid measure granted by Italy in the context of a larger restructuring plan. On 3 May 2000 it decided to extend the procedure to this new aid measure. This decision was communicated to Italy by letter of 5 July 2000. The Commission decision to extend the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities. The Commission called on interested parties to submit their comments on the aid in question.