20.3.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L77/29 II (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 13 November 2001 on the aid scheme which the Sardinia Region (Italy) is planning to implement for the restructuring of holdings in difficulty in the protected crops sector (notified under document number C(2001) 3445) (Only the Italian text is authentic) (2002/229/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 called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to the provision cited above, Whereas: () I. PROCEDURE (1) By letter dated 12 January 1998, recorded as received on 15 January 1998, the Italian Permanent Representation to the European Union notified the Commission in (6) accordance with Article 88(3) of the Treaty of an aid scheme for the restructuring of holdings in difficulty in the protected crops sector in Sardinia which was approved by Decision No 48/7 of 2 December 1997 of the Regional Executive. By letters dated 10 September 1998 and 16 November 1998, recorded as received on 15 September and 19 November 1998 respectively, the Italian Permanent Representation provided the Commis- sion with further information. (2) By letter of 1 February 1999, the Commission informed ) Italy that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the Treaty in respect of the aid. (3)  The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was ties (). The Commission invited interested parties to submit their comments on the aid. The Commission received no comments from interested parties. II. DESCRIPTION OF THE AID The scheme notified is the Regional plan for the restruc- turing of holdings in the protected crops sector — Decision No 48/7 of 2 December 1997 of the Regional Executive. It includes financial measures (repayment and rescheduling of debt), structural measures (investment) and technical assistance. The Region has earmarked a budget of ITL 60 billion (about EUR 30 million) for the scheme, under which individual holdings may receive up to ITL 600 million (about EUR 300 000). According to information submitted by the Region (see letter of 10 September 1998), the aid is a one-off measure, and the viability of the holdings concerned is expected to be restored within a three-year period. The duration of the various restructuring measures is, however: (a) 15 years in the case of the interest-rate subsidy in connection with debt rescheduling; (b) ‘the time required for implementation’ in the case of outright grants and investment; and (c) unlimited in the case of technical assistance. The recipients of the aid are agricultural holdings which are experiencing financial problems, in particular the holdings engaged in the primary production of protected crops, in other words floriculture and horticulture prod- ucts. published in the Official Journal of the European Communi- () O] C 187, 3.7.1999, p. 2.