No L 34/38 Official Journal of the European Communities 13. 2. 96 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 26 July 1995 on the measures decided by France as a result of the blockade of the French road network in 1992 (Only the French text is authentic) (96/148/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 93 (2) thereof, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1035/72 of 18 May 1972 on the common organization of the market in fruit and vegetables (*), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2753/94 (%), and in particular Article 31 thereof, Having given notice to the parties concerned to submit their comments, in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 93 (2) of the Treaty, and in the light of those comments, Whereas : I 1. By letter dated 12 January 1993 and in accordance with Article 93 (3) of the Treaty, the French Permanent Representive to the European Communities notified the Commission of the measures to benefit the fruit and vegetables sector. The French authorities sent the Commission additional information in letters dated 7 July, 20 October and 29 December 1993. By letter dated 17 February 19594, the Commission informed France of its decision to initiate the procedure provided for in Article 93 (2) of the Treaty in respect of those measures, which appeared to be operating aid ineli- gible for any of the derogations laid down in Article 92 of the Treaty and therefore deemed incompatible with the common market. 2. The measures in question consist of partial relief on the social security contributions payable by fruit and () OJ No L 118, 20. 5. 1972, p. 1. () OJ No L 292, 12. 11. 1994, p. 3. vegetable growers who suffered as a result of the 1992 road blockade, and payment of compensation to them. The first measure involves a sliding-scale reduction in, and the payment for one or two months of, employers’ social security contributions, having regard to the percen- tage turnover lost on a range of seasonal agricultural products (peaches, apricots, nectarines, small fruits, straw- berries, plums, cherries, Guyot pears, melons, courgettes, aubergines, carrots, onions, tomatoes, lettuce and cucum- bers), for up to 15 salaried workers per holding (or 20 salaried workers per holding in the case of specialized producers in particular difficulties) ; it also takes the form of an extension without penalty for paying the social welfare contributions of the non-salaried operators. The total budget amounted to FF 48 million. Based on the information available to the Commission when the procedure was initiated, the arrangements for applying the second measure were the same as for the first ; the overall budget had been fixed at FF 150 million. II 1. As part of the above procedure, the Commission notified France to submit its comments. France did so by means of letters dated 29 April 1994 and 12 April 1995. The Commission informed the other Member States and interested parties of its decision to initiate the procedure pursuant to Article 93 (2) of the Treaty by means of a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Commaunities (°), and gave notice to them to submit their comments. The Commission received comments from interested third parties by letter dated 24 May 1994. These comments were forwarded to the French authorities by letter dated 1 December 1994. () OJ No C 115, 26. 4. 1994, p. 6.