16.10.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities L 268/19 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 1 July 1999 on State aid which Spain is planning to implement in favour of Brilén SA (notified under document number C(1999) 2131) (Only the Spanish text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (1999/672/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 given interested parties notice, in accordance with the abovementioned Articles, to submit their comments (') and having regard to those comments, Whereas: (3) . Procedure By letter dated 2 December 1997, Spain notified the Commission of a proposal to grant aid to Brilén SA, a company located at Barbastro in the Autonomous Community of Aragon (Brilén). By letter dated 22 December 1997, the Commission requested additional information. The Spanish authorities responded by letter of 12 February 1998. By letter dated 4 May 1998 the Commission informed Spain of its decision to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the planned aid. Spain submitted its comments by letter of 10 June 1998. The Commission Decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Commu- () O] C 199, 25.6.1998, p. 12. nities (!). The Commission invited interested parties to submit their comments on the aid. The Commission received comments from interested parties. It forwarded them to Spain, which was given the opportunity to react; its comments were received by letters dated 2 October 1998 and 20 May 1999. On 27 October 1998 a meeting was held between the Commission, the Spanish authorities and representatives of the company. By letter of 29 October 1998 the Commission invited the Spanish authorities to submit further comments. The Spanish authorities responded by letter dated 19 January 1999. By letter of 4 February 1999, the Commission requested clarification on certain points. The Spanish Government replied by letter dated 9 April 1999. II. Description of the aid The recipient Brilén belongs to the Samca group, also based in Aragon and active chiefly in the mining, agriculture, chemical, textiles, construction and other sectors. The group has a total workforce of 4 000, with plants spread across the whole of Spain and in other countries including France, Italy and Argentina. Brilén has a workforce of 266 and in 1996 generated turnover of ESP 6 059 million. Brilén produces and processes polyester and, as part of its activities in the textiles sector, has two product lines: polyester textile filament yarn and PET/staple fibre. The raw material for the manufacture of these products is