L 85/22 Official Journal of the European Union 23.3.2006 COMMISSION DECISION of 5 July 2005 on the aid scheme which Italy is planning to implement for the protection of bergamots and bergamot derivatives in Calabria (notified under document number C(2005) 1814) (Only the Italian text is authentic) (2006/218EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, (6) Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 88(2) thereof, Having called on interested parties to submit their comments 7) pursuant to that Article, Whereas: L PROCEDURE (1) By letter dated 20 January 2000, registered as received on 25 January 2000, the Italian Permanent Representation to the European Union notified the Commission, pursuant to Article 88(3) of the Treaty, of a draft law laying down standards for the protection of bergamots and bergamot derivatives. (2) By letter dated 14 March 2000, the Commission asked the Italian authorities for additional information con- cerning the aid provided for in the draft law. (3) By letter dated 15 March 2000, registered as received on 28 March 2000, the Italian Permanent Representation to the European Union sent the Commission an extract from the Gazzetta ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana showing that the draft law concerned had been published as Law (10) No 39 of 25 February 2000 (hereafter Law No 39) together with a note from the Italian authorities stating that the grant of the proposed aid was subject to Commission approval. (4) By letter dated 5 June 2000, registered as received on 9 June 2000, the Italian Permanent Representation to the European Union sent the Commission the additional information requested from the Italian authorities by letter of 14 March 2000. (5) After considering this information the Commission requested new information from the Italian authorities by letter dated 28 June 2000. @) By letter dated 17 July 2000, registered as received on 25 July 2000, the Italian Permanent Representation to the European Union forwarded to the Commission the Italian authorities’ reply to the above letter of 28 June 2000. By letter dated 6 October 2000, the Commission informed Italy of its decision to initiate the procedure pursuant to Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the aid provided for in Law No 39 (the decision itself was taken by the Commission at its meeting on 20 September 2000). The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Commu- nities (). The Commission called on interested parties to submit their comments on the aid in question. The Commission did not receive any comments from interested parties. IL DESCRIPTION Article 4 of Law No 39 provides for aid in relation to the area cultivated and the quantities of bergamots actually delivered to be granted to agricultural enterprises, individual growers or associations and other persons cultivating bergamots. Detailed rules and procedures for the grant of the aid must be laid down by Order of the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Policy, after consulting the Region of Calabria, the Bergamot Consortium, the most representative industry associa- tions, the Reggio Calabria establishment for research into citrus species and derivatives and the Acireale Citrus Research Institute. The budget earmarked for financing the aid amounts to ITL 2 billion (EUR 1 032 914). OJ C 380, 30.12.2000, p. 2.