11.11.98 Official Journal of the European Communities L 300/25 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 30 October 1998 on the application of Article 9 of Council Directive 96/67/EC to Stuttgart airport (Flughafen Stuttgart GmbH) (notified under document number C(1998) 3335) (Only the German text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (98/630/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 96/67/EC of 15 October 1996 on access to the groundhandling market at Community airports ('), and in particular Article 9(5) thereof, Having regard to the request for approval of the decision of the German authorities of 30 July 1998 and after consultation of those authorities, After consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: I. SCOPE OF THE EXEMPTION NOTIFIED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY 1. The notification presented by the German authorities By letter of 30 July 1998, received by the Commission on 3 August 1998, the German authorities notified a request to approve the decision of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany of 23 July 1998 to grant to Stuttgart airport (Flughafen Stuttgart GmbH) an exemption to: — ban self-handling for the categories of services listed under point 4, with regard to the physical handling of freight and mail, whether incoming, outgoing or () OJ L 272, 25. 10. 1996, p. 36. being transferred, between the air terminal and the aircraft, and points 5.4 (excluding the transport of crew), 5.5 and 5.6 of the Annex to the Directive. This exemption is granted, on the basis of Article 9(1)(d) of the Directive, until 31 December 2000. Pursuant to Article 9(3) of the Directive, the Commission published an extract from the said notification in the Official Journal of the European Communities(?) and invited interested parties to submit comments. In accordance with Article 9(5) of the Directive, the German Government was consulted by the Commission on the Commission’s draft evaluation on 24 September 1998. The German authorities responded to this consulta- tion with written comments forwarded by a letter dated 1 October 1998. Basis of the exemption The general rules for access to the groundhandling services market are set out in Articles 6 and 7 of the Directive. These rules clearly state the principle that most categories of groundhandling services should be opened up to the maximum possible extent. For an airport with a volume of traffic like that of Stuttgart the Directive provides for recognition of the right to self-handle as from 1 January 1998 and opens up the handling market to third parties as from 1 January 1999. However, because of the specific situation and role of an airport, and in () OJ C 267, 26. 8. 1998, p. 11.