L 9434 Official Journal of the European Union 1.4.2006 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 19 January 2005 on the State aid which Italy is planning to implement for Societa Consortile De Tomaso srl and UAZ Europa srl, both part of the De Tomaso group (notified under document number C(2005) 40) (Only the Italian version is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2006/260EC) 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 those provisions ('), Whereas: 1 4 I. PROCEDURE By letter dated 18 December 2002 the Italian authorities notified to the Commission a plan to grant regional aid to Societa Consortile De Tomaso stl and UAZ Europa stl. The Commission requested further information on 4 February 2003. After requesting extensions of the deadline for replying on 12 March and 22 April 2003, the Italian authorities provided the information by letter dated 26 May 2003. By letter dated 24 July 2003, the Commission informed Italy that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the aid. The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Union (2). The Commission called on interested parties to submit their comments. The Commission received no comments from interested parties. () O] C 227, 23.9.2003, p. 2. () See footnote 1. () Italy submitted its comments in response to the decision opening proceedings on 13 October 2003. On 6 February 2004, the Commission requested clarifications from Italy. On 17 February 2004 a meeting took place between Commission officials, the Italian authorities and representatives of the company. Italy sent further infor- mation by letter dated 23 April 2004. On 30 April 2004, the Italian Minister for Production Activities addressed a letter to the Commission asking for an early decision on the case. The Commission replied to this letter on 18 June 2004. II. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE AID The planned aid would be granted to Societa Consortile De Tomaso stl and UAZ Europa stl, which form part of the De Tomaso group (De Tomaso). De Tomaso is currently active in the production of a very limited number of high performance sports cars. According to Italy, De Tomaso qualifies as a small or medium-sized enterprise under the definition given in Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to state aid to small and medium-sized enterprises (%) (‘the SME Regulation’). The project De Tomaso plans to set up a new greenfield production plant that when completed will have an installed capacity for: L 10, 13.1.2001, p. 33. Regulation last amende Regulation ) O 0 001, p. 3 gul 1 ded by Regul (EC) No 364/2004 (O] L 63, 28.2.2004, p. 22).