L 149/18 Official Journal of the European Union 17.6.2003 I (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 21 January 2003 on the aid scheme ‘Stamp duty exemption for non-residential properties in disadvantaged areas’ notified by the United Kingdom (notified under document number C(2003) 41) (Only the English text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2003/433[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)(a) thereof, Having called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to the provisions cited above (*) and after taking those comments into account, Whereas: I. PROCEDURE (1) By letter dated 21 December 2001, and registered by the Commission on 9 January 2002, the United Kingdom authorities notified a scheme proposing to exempt transfers of non-residential property in disadvantaged areas from stamp duty. (2) By letter of 27 February 2002, the Commission informed the United Kingdom authorities of its deci- sion to initiate the procedure of Article 88(2) in relation to the stamp duty exemption scheme. (3)  The decision to open the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 27 April 2002. The Commission invited interested parties to submit their comments on the aid scheme (?). (4) By letter of 9 April 2002, the United Kingdom authorities requested the Commission an extension of the deadline to submit comments. The Commission granted the extension, and the official response from the authorities was sent on 6 May 2002, registered by the Commission one day later. A second letter providing supplementary information was sent to the Commission on 13 November 2002, registered by the Commission on 27 November 2002. A final letter was sent on 26 November 2002, registered by the Commission on 2 December 2002. (5)  In addition, several meetings took place between the United Kingdom authorities and the Commis- sion on the following dates: 1 August 2002, 10 September 2002, 25 September 2002, 15 October 2002 and 11 November 2002. () O] C 102, 27.4.2002, p. 22. () See footnote 1.