17.6.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L 159/1 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 1 March 2002 on the aid schemes implemented by Greece in favour of the settlement of debts by the agricultural cooperatives in 1992 and 1994 including the aids for reorganisation of the dairy cooperative AGNO (notified under document number C(2000) 686) (Only the Greek text is authentic) (2002/458/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munities, 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 (') and having regard to their comments, Whereas: I. PROCEDURE INITIAL OPENING OF THE ARTICLE 88(2) PROCEDURE (1)  On 7 June 1993, the Commission was informed by letter from the Greek Minister of Agriculture of the intention of the Greek Government to apply the pro- visions of Article 32(2) of Greek law No 2008/92 to write off the debts of several types of cooperatives to the Agricultural Bank of Greece (ABG), concerning the period 1982 to 1989. (2)  Atan early stage, the Commission considered this letter as a notification within the meaning of Article 88(3) of the Treaty. Subsequently, the Commission was informed () 0] C 100, 2.4.1998, p. 7 and O] C 107, 7.4.1998, p. 19. of the fact that aid provided for in Article 32(2) of Greek law No 2008/92 had already been granted, at least to the dairy cooperative AGNO, without previous Commission approval. Taking this into account, the Commission decided to include these legal provisions in the register of non-notified aids (NN 168/97). By letter SG (97) D/10773 dated 19 December 1997, the Commission informed Greece of its decision to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the aid measures to reimburse debts of cooperatives pursuant to Article 32(2) of Greek law No 2008/92. The file was registered under Aid C 82/ 97. SECOND OPENING OF THE ARTICLE 88(2) PROCEDURE By letter of 20 November 1995, the Commission received a complaint regarding aid to the dairy cooperat- ive AGNO in northern Greece. According to the com- plainant, the Greek authorities decided, through the ABG, to assist AGNO in paying some or all of its debts, possibly amounting to GRD 13 billion. AGNO had supposedly also benefited from fiscal concessions avail- able to cooperative companies in the agricultural sector in Greece.