27.9.2006 Official Journal of the European Union L 268/37 COMMISSION DECISION of 4 April 2006 on the State Aid which the United Kingdom is planning to implement for the establishment of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (notified under document number C(2006) 650) (Only the English text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2006/643[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 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 provision(s) cited above (!) and having regard to their comments, Whereas: 1. PROCEDURE (1) By letter dated 19 December 2003, registered by the Commission on 22 December 2003, the United Kingdom notified the Commission of the State aid implications of the draft law setting up the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), hereinafter ‘the Measure’. (2) By letter D/51248 of 20 February 2004, the Commission asked questions on the Measure. The United Kingdom replied by letter dated 29 March 2004, registered by the Commission on 15 April 2004. (3) By letter D/54319 of 16 June 2004, the Commission asked further questions on the Measure. The United Kingdom replied by letter dated 14 July 2004, registered by the Commission on 19 July 2004. (4)  The United Kingdom submitted additional information on the Measure by letter dated 10 September 2004, registered by the Commission on 14 September 2004, and by letter dated 14 October 2004, registered by the Commission on 19 October 2004. (5) By letter dated 1 December 2004, the Commission informed the United Kingdom that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the aid. O] C 315, 21.12.2004, p. 4. — ~ (6) (10) The Commission decision to initiate the procedure (here- after ‘the Opening of Procedure’) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union (%). The Commission called upon interested parties to submit their comments. The United Kingdom provided the Commission with its comments on the Opening of Procedure by letter dated 31 January 2005, registered by the Commission on the same day. The Commission received comments from interested parties. It forwarded them to the United Kingdom, which was given the opportunity to react. The United Kingdom’s comments were received by letter dated 4 March 2005, registered by the Commission on 7 March 2005. Meetings between the United Kingdom authorities and the Commission took place on 20 April, 25 August and 11 October 2005. The United Kingdom submitted additional information on the Measure by letter dated 23 January 2006, registered by the Commission on the same day. An amendment to this letter was sent by letter of 1 February 2006, registered by the Commission on the same day. Further additional information on the Measure was submitted by the United Kingdom by letter of 7 February 2006, registered by the Commission on the same day. Further additional informa- tion was submitted by the United Kingdom by letter of 7 February 2006, registered by the Commission on 10 February 2006. Further additional information was submitted by the United Kingdom by letter dated 29 March 2006, registered by the Commission on 30 March 2006. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE AID The United Kingdom was one of the first countries worldwide to engage in nuclear technologies, both for civil and military purposes. () See footnote 1.