20.9.2006 Official Journal of the European Union L2571 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 7 May 2004 on State Aid which Italy (Sicily) is planning for the agricultural sector (notified under document number C(2004) 1633) (Only the Italian version is authentic) (2006/620/EC) 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 called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to the provision cited above (!) and having regard to their comments, Whereas: L PROCEDURE In accordance with Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty, Italy notified the Commission, by letter dated 2 March 2001, recorded as received on 5 March 2001, of the aids provided in Sicilian Regional Law No 27/2000 on Urgent Measures to compensate farmers for the harm caused by the strike of road hauliers (hereinafter Regional Law No 27/2000). In response to Commission telexes Nos AGR 009603 of 20 April 2001 and AGR 034235 of 18 December 2001, Italy sent supplementary information by letter of 7 November 2001, recorded as received on 13 November 2001, and by letter of 31 July 2002, recorded as received on 5 August 2002. By telex AGR 022152 of 20 September 2002 the Commission asked for additional clarification and informa- tion. Having received no reply, the Commission sent the Italian authorities telex AGR 30656 of 20 December 2002, asking them to reply within one month. 0OJ C 127, 29.5.2003. () ) After failing to receive a reply, the Commission informed the competent authorities by telex AGR 07156 of 7 March 2003 that the notification had to be considered withdrawn in accordance with Article 5(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 6591999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty (?). On the same day the Commission departments concerned received from Italy a letter dated 5 March 2003, recorded as received on 6 March 2003, which, in accordance with Article 5(3) of Regulation (EC) No 659/1999, informed the Commission that the notification was to be regarded as complete because the information requested was not available and asked the Commission to adopt a decision pursuant to Article 4(5) of Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 on the basis of the information already provided. By telex AGRI 09066 of 27 March 2003 the Commission departments concerned informed the competent authorities that they would accede to their request and that, in the light of the information available, they would probably propose that the Commission initiate the procedure provided for in Article 88(2) of the Treaty. By letter dated 25 April 2003 (SG(2003)D/229510), the Commission informed Italy that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the Treaty in respect of the aid measures provided for in Regional Law No 27/2000. OJ L 83, 27.3.1999, p. 1; Regulation amended by Act of Accession of 2003.