L 223/32 Official Journal of the European Union 5.9.2003 COMMISSION DECISION of 27 November 2002 on the aid scheme implemented by Germany — Thuringia loan programme for small and medium-sized enterprises (notified under document number C(2002) 4358) (Only the German text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2003/626EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, 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 Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty, Whereas: 1. PROCEDURE The rules governing the Thuringia loan programme for small and medium-sized enterprises (hereinafter referred to as the rules) entered into force on 16 January 1996 for an unlimited period of time (2). In the opinion of the Land authorities, the rules complied with the de minimis provision introduced in the Community’s 1992 guide- lines on state aid for small and medium-sized enter- prises () (hereinafter referred to as the SME guidelines), and so were not notified under Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty. By letter dated 1 February 1999 (ref. SG(99) D/760), the Commission informed Germany that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the aid scheme. (%) Thiringer Staatsanzeiger No 7/1996, p. 390. (39 O] C213,19.8.1992,p. 2. The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (). The Commission called on interested parties to submit their comments on the scheme but did not receive any comments from interested parties. By letter dated 2 March 1999, Germany requested an extension of the deadline for submitting its comments, which the Commission granted by letter dated 11 March 1999. By letter of 8 March 1999, the Commission asked for clarification of information submitted by the German authorities in the proceedings concerning aid to Korn Fahrzeuge und Technik GmbH (C 36/99, ex NN 29/ 98) (4. Germany’s comments were sent by letters dated 29 March, 19 August and 26 August 1999. By letter dated 15 March 2001, the Commission request- ed further statistical data on the application of the rules after 1998. Germany provided the data by letter of 19 April 2001, in which it informed the Commission that the rules had been replaced by a new set of rules on 1 June 1999. The new state aid scheme is not concerned by this assessment. Discussions took place between representatives of the Commission and Germany on 24 April 2001 in Brussels. Germany submitted its final comments by letter of 1 February 2002. () O] C108,17.4.1999, p. 29. (*) Aloan had been granted to Korn Fahrzeuge und Technik GmbH under the rules at issue in this case.