L 91/38 Official Journal of the European Union 8.4.2003 COMMISSION DECISION of 16 October 2002 on the aid scheme by which Italy plans to reduce the energy costs of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Region of Sardinia (notified under document number C(2002) 3715) (Only the Italian text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2003/228/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 regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 88 of the EC Treaty (1), Having called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to the provisions cited above (), Whereas: I. PROCEDURE (1) By letter No 13305 of 30 October 2001, the Italian authorities notified, pursuant to Article 88(3) of the Treaty, a draft scheme of aid for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Region of Sardinia. (2)  The scheme was to enter into force only after prior authorisation under Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty, and it was accordingly entered in the register of notified aid measures under number N 759/2001. (3)  The Commission requested additional information by letter dated 30 November 2001. After a reminder was sent to them on 24 January 2002, the Italian authorities replied by letter No 2236 of 20 February 2002. () OJ L 83, 27.3.1999, p. 1. (3) O] C 132, 4.6.2002, p. 6. (4 By letter dated 26 April 2002, the Commission informed Italy that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the aid. (5)  The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (}). The Commission invited interested parties to submit their comments on the aid. (6)  The Commission received no comments from interested parties. II. DESCRIPTION Object (7)  Because there is no natural gas distribution network in Sardinia, firms on the island have to pay more for energy than firms in other parts of Italy where there is such a network. (8)  In order to compensate SMEs in Sardinia for the extra cost of using more expensive energy sources, the scheme would provide for the grant of aid in the form of tax credits. (9)  The scheme is designed to meet regional development objectives. Legal basis (10)  The legal basis is Article 145(9) of Law No 388/2000 of 23 December 2000 and the draft interministerial decree of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Production Activities concerning the conditions and procedures for granting tax aid to SMEs in the Region (%) See footnote 2.