10.10.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L 272/25 I (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 9 April 2002 on the aid schemes C 74/2001 (ex NN76/2001) implemented by Belgium and which Belgium is planning to implement for the diamond industry (notified under document number C(2002) 1345) (Only the Dutch and French texts are authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2002/778[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 called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to the provisions cited above (*) and having regard to their comments, Whereas: I. PROCEDURE In July 1999 the Commission received a complaint from the Belgian association of traders in rough diamonds (Vereniging van handelaars in ruwe diamant/Association des commergants de diamant brut) concerning the diamond industry's internal compensation fund (hereinafter the ‘compensation fund’). Following the complaint, it asked Belgium to provide further information by letter dated 15 November 1999 (D/64713). By letter dated 6 December 1999 (registered as received on the same day under A[39442), the Belgian authorities asked to be given until 31 January 2000 to provide the information; the Commission gave its agreement by letter dated 8 December 1999 (D/65127). By letter dated 27 January 2000 (registered as received on 28 January under No A[30751), Belgium requested an additional extension until 29 February 2000. It provided further information by letter dated 28 February 2000 (registered as received on 1 March under A/31802). A meeting between Belgium and the Commission took place on 3 February 2000; a second meeting was held on 25 April 2000. The complainant itself sent the Commission several letters containing further information. On 13 March 2000 the Council of State annulled for procedural reasons the decree amending the provisions on which the compensation fund was based. Withdrawals and payments were suspended. Belgium found itself involved in various sets of legal proceedings to recover amounts paid in error. () OJ C 363, 19.12.2001, p. 11.