L 285/8 Official Journal of the European Union 29.10.2013 DECISIONS COMMISSION DECISION of 16 September 2013 on the compensations under the manure decree C 75/98 (ex NN 45/98) implemented by Belgium (Flanders) (notified under document C(2013) 5818) (Only the Dutch and the French texts are authentic) (2013/530/EU) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 108(2) thereof, Having called on interested parties to submit their comments (1), Whereas: [. PROCEDURE (1)  Following receipt of a complaint that the Flemish Government was paying illegal aids to farmers in respect of their use of fertilisers and manure (hereinafter ‘the measure’), the services of the European Commission, by letter of 4 February 1998, requested the Belgian auth- orities to supply information about the implementation of the decision of 20 December 1995 of the Flemish Government on compensation payable to farmers for obligations under the legislation on fertilisers (hereinafter ‘manure decree). (2)  The Commission received this information by a letter of the Flemish Minister for the Environment and Employment of 18 March 1998, and by a letter from the Permanent Representation of Belgium of 31 March 1998. (3) A meeting between the representatives of the competent Belgian authorities and the services of the European Commission took place on 15 April 1998. (4) By telex of 10 July 1998 the Commission requested additional information from the Belgian authorities to which an answer from the Belgian authorities was received by letter of 7 August 1998, registered on 10 August 1998. (1) Invitation to submit comments pursuant to Article 93(2) of the EC Treaty, concerning the aid/measure C 75/98 (ex NN 45/98) — Belgium (Flanders) — Compensations under the manure decree, O] C 108, 17.4.1999, p. 12. (5)  According to information from the Belgian authorities, payments have been made in 1996. Still, the measure had not been notified to the Commission in accordance with Article 93(3) EC (now Article 108(3) TFEU). For this reason, the file was entered in the register of non-notified aids under the number NN 45/98. However, although the scheme was in force in the years 1996 and 1997 the Commission noted the undertaking of the Belgian auth- orities in their letter of 7 August 1998 not to pay aid for 1997 until the Commission had reached a decision on the compatibility of the aid with the common market. The Belgian authorities informed the Commission that it was the Flemish Government's intention to incorporate this compensation scheme into the Flemish aid programme under Council Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92 (). (6) By letter dated 21 January 1999, the Commission informed Belgium that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 108(2) TFEU in respect of the measure. (7  The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was published on 17 April 1999 in the Official Journal (?). (8)  The Commission invited interested parties to submit their comments on the measure. (9)  The Commission received no comments from interested parties. (10) Notifications concerning other Flemish manure cases (C12/1999, N105/1999, N311/99) were withdrawn by the Belgian authorities. (3) Council Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92 of 30 June 1992 on agri- cultural production methods compatible with the requirements of the protection of the environment and the maintenance of the countryside OJ L 215, 30.7.1992, p. 85. (%) Cited above in footnote 1.