L 310/56 Official Journal of the European Communities 4.12.1999 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 28 July 1999 on state aid granted by the Federal Republic of Germany to Everts Erfurt GmbH (notified under document number C(1999) 3024) (Only the German text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (1999/787[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) thereof, Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 62(1)(a) thereof, Having given notice to the parties concerned to submit their comments in accordance with the aforementioned provisions and having regard to those comments, Whereas: By letter of 23 July 1996, registered as incoming mail on 25 July, Germany notified the Commission under Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty of two guarantees to be granted by the Land of Thuringia to Everts Erfurt GmbH (Everts). The measure was entered in the Commission's register of state aid measures under No 593/96. The Commission asked a number of questions which were answered by letter of 19 September 1996, registered as incoming mail on the same day. The Commission put further questions by letter of 15 October 1996, and these were answered by letters of 26 November 1996, registered as incoming on 27 November 1996, and 3 December 1996, registered as incoming on 9 December. By letter of 12 December 1996, registered as incoming on the same day, Germany then notified a dormant equity holding which the Land held in the company. The Commission sought additional information by letter of 10 January 1997, and a reply was sent by letter of 7 February 1997, registered as incoming on the same day. At the time of the notifilcation, one guarantee was with- drawn and the parent company was declared bankrupt. Further financing aimed at preventing the ensuing insol- vency of the recipient was notified by letter of 14 May 1997, registered as incoming on 16 May 1997. On 2 July 1997, on the basis of the information before it, the Commission decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) as it doubted whether the aid measures were compatible with the common market. Attached to the letter informing Germany that the procedure had been initiated were 12 questions which Germany was asked to answer. The German authorities were informed of the decision to initiate proceedings and of the grounds for doing so by letter of 24 July 1997, ref. D[6183; this letter was published in the Official Journal of the European Communi- ties (). The case was renumbered C 42/97. Interested parties were asked to submit any observations within a month of pubtication of the letter. In response to the initiation of proceedings on 24 July, Germany submitted comments in two letters both dated 17 November, and both registered as incoming mail on 18 November, under Nos A/39220 and A/[39221. Germany supplied further information by letters of 20 May 1998, registered as incoming on the same day, and 26 June 1998, registered as incoming on 1 July. () O] C 37, 421998, p. 8.