L 226/16 Official Journal of the European Union 18.8.2006 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 23 November 2005 on the aid scheme ‘Real Estate Transfer Tax Exemption for Housing Companies in the Neue Linder’ with regard to the labour market region Berlin (notified under document number C(2005) 4434) (Only the German text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2006/566EC) 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 (1) and having regard to their comments, Whereas: 1. PROCEDURE By letter dated 16 January 2004, registered as received by the Commission on 19 January 2004, Germany notified the Commission of the aid scheme entitled ‘Real Estate Transfer Tax Exemption for Mergers between Housing Companies and Housing Associations in the Neue Lander. By letter dated 17 February 2004, the Commission requested additional information. By letter dated 17 March 2004, registered as received by the Commission on 19 March 2004, additional information was () By letter dated 26 April 2004 and further to a meeting held on 10 April 2004, in which Germany announced that it would provide supplementary information on the scheme, Germany requested an extension of the deadline. This extension was granted by letter dated 10 May 2004. By letter dated 14 May 2004, registered as received by the Commission on the same day, Germany submitted further information. By letters dated 30 June 2004 and 14 September 2004, the Commission requested addi- tional information concerning the scheme. This infor- mation was submitted by Germany by letters dated 29 July 2004 and 6 October 2004, registered as received by the Commission on 29 July 2004 and on 15 October 2004. By letter dated 1 December 2004, the Commission informed Germany that it had decided to raise no objections to those parts of the scheme that were restricted to the new German Linder which are assisted areas under Article 87(3)(a) (3). In the same letter the Commission informed Germany that it had decided to initiate the formal investigation procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty as regards Berlin and those parts of Brandenburg that belong to the labour market region of Berlin and are assisted areas under Article 87(3)(c) of the EC Treaty (3). (%) Brandenburg (except areas belonging to the labour market region of Berlin), Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia. () See list of German assisted areas, State aid N 195/99, C 47/99, and N 641/02. submitted by Germany. () O] C 53, 3.3.2005, p. 18.