4.7.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L 174[31 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 11 July 2001 on the State aid scheme applied by Spain to certain newly established firms in Guiptizcoa (Spain) (notified under document number C(2001) 1761) (Only the Spanish text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2002/540(EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, 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)(a) thereof, Having, in accordance with the abovementioned Articles, called on interested parties to submit their comments (!), and having regard to those comments, Whereas: I. PROCEDURE (1)  As a result in particular of the information received in response to the procedures initiated following the complaints about the State aid granted to Daewoo Elec- tronics Manufacturing Espafia SA (}), Ramondin SA and Ramondin Cépsulas SA (°), the Commission learned of the existence of a scheme of non-notified investment aid in Spain, in Alava, consisting of tax incentives in the form of a reduction of the tax base for certain newly established firms. It also received unofficial information that similar measures existed in Guipdzcoa, since that territory has the same tax autonomy as Alava. (2) By letter dated 29 September 1999, SG(99) D/7813, the Commission informed Spain of its decision to initiate in (") OJ C55,26.2.2000, p. 2. () Commission Decision 1999/718/EC (O] L 292, 13.11.1999, p. 1). (*) Commission Decision 2000/795/EC (O] L 318, 16.12.2000, p. 36). respect of this aid the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the Treaty. (3) By letter from the Permanent Representation dated 2 December 1999, registered on 6 December 1999, the Spanish authorities submitted their comments under the abovementioned procedure. (4)  The Commission’s decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Commu- nities. (*) The Commission invited interested parties to submit their comments on the aid within one month of the date of publication. (5 Comments were received from: the Comunidad Aut6- noma de Castilla y Leén on 17 March 2000; the Gobierno de La Rioja on 24 March 2000; the Confedera- cién Empresarial Vasca/Euskal Entrepresarien Konfedera- kuntza (hereinafter CONFEBASK) on 27 March 2000, plus, outside the time limit, supplementary comments by letter dated 29 December 2000, registered on 3 January 2001; the Colegio Vasco de Economistas/Ekonomilarien Euskal Elkargoa on 27 March 2000; the Circulo de Empresarios Vascos on 27 March 2000; and the Asocia- cién Profesional de Asesores Fiscales de la Comunidad del Pais Vasco on 28 March 2000. By letter dated 17 May 2000 (D/52998), the Commission sent these comments to Spain, asking for observations; it has not received any. (*) See footnote 1.