L 47/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 23.2.1999 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 13 May 1998 on State aid granted by Italy by way of tax relief under Law No 549/95 to firms in the motor vehicle, shipbuilding and synthetic fibres industries and to steel firms covered by the ECSC Treaty (notified under document number C(1998) 1434) (Only the Italian text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (1999/148/EC, ECSC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 92 and 93 thereof, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, Having regard to Commission Decision No 2496/96/ ECSC of 18 December 1996 establishing Community rules for State aid to the steel industry ('), and in particular Atrticle 6(5) thereof, Having given interested parties notice to submit their comments (¥, and having regard to those comments, Whereas: By letter dated 5 March 1996 from the Office of the Italian Permanent Representative to the European Union, the Italian authorities notified the Commission of Law No 549 of 28 December 1995 (hereinafter ‘the Law’), which, inter alia, grants tax relief to certain firms. 338, 28. 12. 1996, p. 42. 268, 4. 9. 1997, p. 4. or The Law provides for investment aid in the form of tax exemptions on reinvested profits. The scheme applies to all firms in Objective 1, 2 or 5(b) areas and to microen- terprises outside such areas. Microenterprises are defined as firms which, in the tax period following that in progress on 12 June 1994, generated a turnover of less than ITL 5 billion and which have a workforce of not more than 20. Under the Law, 50 % of reinvested profits are exempt from tax. Eligibility for this relief is restricted to profits intended for the financing of investment carried out in 1996 that exceeds the average amount of investment carried out in the previous five years. Eligible investment is investment in new plant, investment for the extension and modernisation of an existing establishment and investment in the purchase of new capital goods, including capital goods acquired through leasing contracts. A ministerial circular dated 14 February 1997 spelled out the provisions of the Law with regard to the definition of eligible firms, the aid intensities allowed, the methods for calculating the aid, and eligible expenditure.