21.8.2003 Official Journal of the European Union L 211/63 COMMISSION DECISION of 3 June 2003 on loans for the purchase of fishing quotas in the Shetland Islands (United Kingdom) (notified under document number C(2003) 1687) (Only the English text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2003/612/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), Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty (!), and in particular Article 14 thereof, Having invited interested parties to submit their comments, in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty, Whereas: I. PROCEDURE (1) In February 1999 the Commission was informed by a Member of the European Parliament of a scheme, hereinafter the Scheme, related to the purchase of fishing quotas in which the authorities of the Shetland Islands were involved. By letter of 25 March 1999 the Commission requested the United Kingdom authorities to provide information about the Scheme. Following a reminder, the United Kingdom authorities provided a response by letter dated 9 August 1999. (2)  The Commission requested further information by letters of 1 September 1999, 12 April 2000 and 22 June 2000. The United Kingdom authorities sent information by letters of 6 March 2000, 16 May 2000, 17 October 2000 and 8 December 2000. (3)  The Commission informed the United Kingdom by letter of 28 November 2001 of the Decision to initiate, in relation to the Scheme, the formal investigation procedure provided for in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty. Following mutual agreement to extend the deadline for a response, confirmed to the United Kingdom authorities by Commission letter of 20 December 2001, the United Kingdom provided its comments on the case by letters of 6 February and 8 March 2002. (4)  The Commission Decision to initiate the formal investigation procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 12 February 2002 (3). The Commission invited any interested parties to provide their observations on the case. Comments were received from the Scottish Fisher- men's Organisation Ltd (letters of 27 February and 18 March 2002), Mrs Sheryll Murray of Torpoint, Cornwall, (letter of 7 March 2002), the Aberdeen Fish Producers' Organisation Ltd (letter of 11 March 2002) and the Shetland Development Trust (letter of 12 March 2002). In accordance with Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999, all the comments received were forwarded to the United Kingdom authorities to enable them to inform the Commission of their own comments on those observations. The United Kingdom authorities replied by letter of 3 May 2002, saying in substance that the issues raised had already been dealt with in the previous replies. 3,27.3.1999, p. 1. 8,12.2.2002, p. 7.