30.10.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities L 280/87 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 20 July 1999 on the state aid implemented by the Netherlands for 633 Dutch service stations located near the German border (notified under document number C(1999) 2539) (Only the Dutch version is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (1999/705EC) 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 letter of 14 August 1997, registered as received on 18 August, the Dutch authorities notified the Commis- sion of their intention to grant aid to 633 Dutch service stations located near the German border. The Commis- sion requested further information by letter of 22 September, to which the Dutch authorities replied by letter of 30 October, registered as received on 31 October. By letter dated 17 December, the Commission requested clarifications in respect of those questions which had not been answered satisfactorily. On 15 January 1998 the Dutch authorities asked for the dead- line to be extended. On 22 January the Commission set () O] C 307, 7.10.1998, p. 10. a new deadline of 10 February. On 16 February it sent a reminder to the Dutch authorities. On 17 February the Dutch authorities supplied some of the information requested. Given that, after a considerable delay, the Dutch author- ities' replies were still contradictory and insufficient, the Commission decided to initiate the Article 88(2) pro- cedure on 2 April 1998. At the Dutch authorities' request, however, initiation of the procedure was post- poned. At a meeting on 13 May, the Dutch authorities again requested a postponement and undertook to provide the necessary information. The request was rejected however in view of the considerable time that had elapsed since notification. On 3 June 1998 the Commission decided to initiate the Article 88(2) procedure. This decision was commun- icated by letter SG(98) D/6545 of 29 July, which requested the Dutch authorities to submit their observa- tions within one month, ie. by 29 August. By letter of 2 September, registered as received on 4 September, the Dutch authorities requested a further one-month delay, ie. until 29 September. This was granted by the Commission on 9 September. By letter of 25 September, registered as received on 29 September, the Dutch authorities requested another two months