17.10.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L 279/35 (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 Vizcaya (Spain) (notified under document number C(2001) 1763) (Only the Spanish text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2002/806EC) 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 63(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 collected in the context of the procedures initiated following 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 the Province of Alava, consisting of tax incentives in the form of a reduction of the tax base for certain newly established firms. It also received informal information that similar measures existed in the Province of Vizcaya, since that territory has the same tax autonomy as the Province of Alava. (2) By letter dated 29 September 1999, SG(99) D/7813, the Commission informed Spain of its decision to initiate in 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 (") 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). 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 (4). It thereby invited interested parties to submit their comments on the aid within one month of the date of publication of the notice. (5)  The Commission received comments from the following interested parties: the Autonomous Community of Castile-Leon on 17 March 2000: Rioja Regional Govern- ment on 24 March 2000; the Bilbao Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation (Cdmara de Comercio, Industria y Navegacion de Bilbao — Bilboko Erkataritza Ganbera) on 27 March 2000; and the Basque Business Confederation (Confederacion ~Empresarial Vasca — Euskal Entrepresarien Konfederakuntza or Confebask) on 27 March 2000. After the deadline, addi- tional comments were received from the Basque Econo- mists Association (Colegio Vasco de Economistas — Ekonomilarien Euskal Elkargoa), by letter of 29 December 2000, registered on 3 January 2001; the Basque Business Circle (Circulo de Empresarios Vascos), on 27 March 2000, and the Professional Association of Tax Advisers of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country (Asociacion Profesional de Asesores Fiscales de la Comunidad del Pais Vasco), on 28 March 2000. The Commission forwarded these comments by letter D/52998 dated 17 May 2000 to Spain, thereby giving it the opportunity to put forward its own comments. However, it has received none. (*) See footnote 1.