L 133/62 Official Journal of the European Communities 28.5.1999 COMMISSION DECISION of 27 May 1999 terminating the countervailing duty proceeding on imports of polypropylene binder or baler twine originating in Saudi Arabia (notified under document number C(1999) 1356) (1999/351/EC) 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 subsidised imports from countries not members of the European Community, and in particular Article 14 thereof, After consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROCEDURE 1. Initiation Following a complaint lodged on 12 June 1998 by Eurocord on behalf of producers representing a major proportion of the Community production of polypropylene binder or baler twine, the Commis- sion initiated an  anti-subsidy proceeding concerning imports of these products originating in Saudi Arabia (?). The complaint contained evidence of subsidisation of the said product, and of material injury resulting therefrom, which was considered sufficient to justify the initiation of a proceeding. 2. Investigation The Commission officially advised the exporting producers and importers known to it, the Govern- ment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the complainant Community producers of the initia- tion of the proceeding. Interested parties were given the opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing. All parties who so requested were granted a hearing. The Commission sent questionnaires to the government of the exporting country, all known exporting producers and importers, as well as to the complainant Community producers. The Commission sought and verified all the in- formation it deemed necessary, and carried out L 288, 21.10.1997, p. 1. C 233, 25.7.1998, p. 25. verification visits at the premises of the following companies: (a) Complainant Community producers — Teufelberger, Linz, Austria — Ostend Stores, Oostende, Belgium — Cordex, Esmoriz, Portugal — Cotesi, Carvalhos, Portugal — Exporplas, Cortegaca, Portugal — Sicor, Cortegaca, Portugal — Pippo Tuote Oy, Outokumpu, Finland — Irish Ropes, Kildare, Ireland (b) Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia submitted a completed questionnaire response which was verified in Riyadh. The ministries/agencies involved were: — Ministry of Finance and National Economy — Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency — Department of Zakat and Income Tax — Ministry of Industry and Electricity — Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources — Saudi Industrial Development Fund — Ministry of Commerce — Ministry of Planning — Saudi Airlines — General Ports Corporation (c) Exporting producer Saudi Yarn and Knitting Technology Factory (Synthec), a division of NAFA Enterprises Ltd, Riyadh. The investigation period for the determination of subsidization was from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 1997. The examination of injury covered the period from January 1994 to the end of the investigation period. Both periods coincide with the same periods used to carry out the investigation concerning the anti-dumping proceeding of imports of polypropylene binder or baler twine originating in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Saudi Arabia (see Section C below).