L 79/60 Official Journal of the European Communities 24.3.1999 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 619/1999 of 23 March 1999 imposing a provisional countervailing duty on imports of stainless steel wire having a diameter of less than 1 mm originating in India and the Republic of Korea THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2026/97 of 6 October 1997 on protection against subsidized imports from countries not members of the European Community (') and in particular Article 12 thereof, After consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROCEDURE (1)  In June 1998 the Commission announced by a notice (hereafter ‘notice of initiation’) published in the Official Journal of the European Commu- nities(*) the initiation of an anti-subsidy proceeding with regard to imports into the Community of stainless steel fine wire having a diameter of less than 1 mm originating in India and the Republic of Korea (hereinafter ‘Korea’) and commenced an investigation. (20  The proceeding was initiated as a result of a complaint lodged by the European Confederation of Iron and Steel Industries (EUROFER) on behalf of Community producers representing a major proportion of the Community production of SSW. The complaint contained evidence of subsidization of the said product, and of material injury resulting therefrom, which was considered sufficient to justify the initiation of a proceeding. Prior to the initiation of the proceeding and in accordance with Article 10(9) of Council Regula- tion (EC) No 2026/97 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Basic Regulation’), the Commission notified the Governments of India and Korea that it had received a properly documented complaint alleging that subsidized imports of SSW originating in India and Korea are causing material injury to the Community industry. Both Governments were invited for consultations with the aim of clarifying the situation as regards its contents and arriving at a mutually agreed solution. The Government of Korea accepted the offer of consultations which were held with the responsible Commission () OJ L 288, 21. 10. 1997, p. 1. O] C 199, 25. 6. 1998, p. 3. services on 12 June 1998 in Brussels. Due note was taken of the comments made by the Government of Korea in regard to the allegations contained in the complaint regarding subsidised imports and material injury being suffered by the Community industry. The Commission officially advised the Community producers, exporting producers and importers known to be concerned, the representatives of the exporting countries and the complainant of the initiation of the proceeding; it gave the parties concerned the opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing. The Government of India (hereinafter ‘GOT’) and Korea (hereinafter ‘GOK’), a number of exporting producers in India and Korea as well as some producers, importers and suppliers in the Community made their views known in writing. All parties who so requested within the time limits set in the notice of initiation were granted a hearing. The Commission sent questionnaires to all parties known to be concerned and received replies from the Governments of India and Korea and a number of companies in the Community, India and Korea. The Commission sought and verified all the infor- mation it deemed necessary for the purpose of a preliminary determination of subsidization and injury, and carried out investigations at the prem- ises of the following companies: (a) Community producers — AB Sandvik Steel, Sandviken, Sweden — Bekaert N.V.,, Zwevegem, Belgium — Gusab Stainless, Mjolby, Sweden — Sprint-Metal, Paris, France — Sprint Metal Edelstahlzieherein GmbH, Hemer, Germany — Rigby-Maryland Stainless Ltd., Sheffield, United Kingdom — Rodacciai S.p.a and Rodasider S.r.l, Bosisio Parrini, Italy — Societa Italiana Kanthal S.p.a, Cinisello Balsamo, Italy