L 24/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 29.1.2003 I (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 18 September 2002 on the State aid which the United Kingdom is planning to implement for Vauxhall Motors (UK) Ltd (notified under document number C(2002) 3340) (Only the English text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2003/62[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 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 (), Having called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to those provisions, Whereas: Procedure (1) By letter dated 23 August 2001 the United Kingdom authorities notified the proposed aid to the Commission, pursuant to Article 88(3) of the Treaty. On 23 October 2001 the Commission asked additional questions, to which the United Kingdom replied by letter dated 16 November 2001. (2) By letter dated 28 January 2002, the Commission informed the United Kingdom that it had decided to initiate the procedure provided for in Article 88(2) of the Treaty in respect of the aid. (3)  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. The Commission received no comments from interested parties. () OJL 83, 27.3.1999, p. 1. (4) By letter dated 1 March 2002, the United Kingdom submitted comments on the opening of the investigation procedure. The United Kingdom sent additional informa- tion on 9 July 2002. Detailed description of the proposed aid The recipient of the aid would be Vauxhall Motors (UK) Ltd, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the General Motors Corporation. The aid in question is regional investment aid for the transformation of the Ellesmere Port car plant from a single-model production facility to a two-model plant capable of switching production between the two models according to demand. After the investment, the plant would be able to produce a mix of Astras and of the new replacement Vectra passenger car models. According to the information provided by the United Kingdom in the notification, the project would safeguard 771 jobs at Vauxhall Motors and create approximately 530 jobs in the supply chain. General Motors Europe considered two alternative sites for the project, Ellesmere Port and Antwerp. The final decision in favour of Ellesmere Port was part of a major restructuring within General Motors Europe, with the objective of returning that company to profitability. As part of that plan, passenger car production in Luton was to cease at the end of the life of the current Vectra