20.10.2007 Official Journal of the European Union L 277/25 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 4 April 2007 on State aid N 575/04 implemented by France for Ernault and measure C 32/05 (ex N 250/05), the subject of proceedings under Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty (notified under document number C(2007) 1405) (Only the French text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2007/674[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 called on interested parties to submit their comments (') pursuant to the provisions cited above and having regard to their comments, Whereas: 1. PROCEDURE By decision of 20 January 2005 (3, the Commission authorised France to grant rescue aid to Ernault. The aid took the form of a loan of EUR 2 million at an interest rate of 4,43 % for a maximum period of six months from the first payment of amounts loaned to the undertaking. According to information provided by the French authorities, this aid was implemented on 14 February 2005. By letter of 19 May 2005, registered as received by the Commission on 23 May, France notified the European Commission that it intended to grant EUR 2 million in restructuring aid to Ernault. The case was registered () O] C 324, 21.12.2005, p. 23. () O] C 16, 21.1.2006, p. 21. Case N 575/04 — Rescue aid for Ernault. under number N 250/05. By letter of 2 June 2005, the Commission asked additional questions about the notifi- cation which France answered by letter of 12 July. By letter of 6 September 2005, the Commission informed France that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the Treaty in respect of the measure referred to in paragraph 2. The decision was published in the Official Journal of the European Union (}). The Commission invited interested parties to submit their comments. The Commission received comments from the French authorities, registered as received on 16 November 2005, 16 May 2006, 29 June 2006, 24 July 2006 and 21 September 2006. Meetings were held between the French authorities and Commission staff on 3 July and 26 October 2006. By letter of 13 December 2006, registered as received by the Commission on 14 December, the French authorities informed the Commission that Ernault was in recei- vership and that they were withdrawing the notification of restructuring aid. By letter of 2 March 2007, registered as received by the Commission on 5 March, the French authorities informed the Commission that on 13 September 2006 they had registered their claim for the rescue aid with the official receiver in charge of the Ernault case. (%) See footnote 1.