This Decision is addressed to:
1. Fédération nationale des syndicats d'exploitants agricoles, 11, rue de la Baume, F-75008 Paris;
2. Fédération nationale bovine, 149, rue de Bercy, F-75012 Paris;
3. Fédération nationale des producteurs de lait, 42, rue de Châteaudun, F-75014 Paris;
4. Jeunes agriculteurs, 14, rue La Boétie, F-75008 Paris;
5. Fédération nationale de l'industrie et des commerces en gros des viandes, 17, place des vins de France, F-75012 Paris;
6. Fédération nationale de la coopération bétail et viande, 49, avenue de la Grande-armée, F-75116 Paris.
This Decision shall be enforceable under Article 256 of the Treaty.
Done at Brussels, 2 April 2003.
For the Commission
Mario Monti
Member of the Commission
(1) OJ 13, 21.2.1962, p. 204/62.
(2) OJ L 1, 4.1.2003, p. 1.
(3) OJ 30, 20.4.1962, p. 993/62.
(4) OJ 53, 1.7.1962, p. 1571/62.
(5) OJ L 354, 30.12.1998, p. 18.
(6) OJ C 195, 19.8.2003.
(7) Document 38.279/107. See also the statistics available on the website of the Office national interprofessionnel des viandes, de l'élevage et de l'aviculture (OFIVAL), www.ofival.fr.
(8) "La filière bovine en France", report available on the OFIVAL website, www.ofival.fr/doctech/sial/bov02-t.pdf.
(9) Information available on the OFIVAL website, citing as its source "French customs (2001)".
(10) Case C-1/00 Commission v France [2001] ECR I-9989.
(11) See document 38.279/162 and 163.
(12) All the weekly price figures from January 1999 to mid-November 2001 are set out in document 38.279/109 to 111.
(13) The Community rules have established a grading scale for adult cattle carcases based on the combined use of two criteria. The first (conformation) is divided into six categories represented by the letters SEUROP (the letter S stands for "superior", E for "excellent" and so on to letter P, which stands for "poor"). The second criterion is the degree of fat cover; it is subdivided into five categories, from 1 (low) to 5 (very high). A third-level subdivision (identified by the signs "+", "-" and "=") is also possible (see Council Regulation (EEC) No 1208/81 of 28 April 1981 determining the Community scale for the classification of carcases of adult bovine animals (OJ L 123, 7.5.1981, p. 3), as last amended by Council Regulation (EEC) No 1026/91 (OJ L 106, 26.4.1991, p. 2)).
(14) Document 38.279/109.
(15) An FNSEA memo of 30 August 2001 states that "the additional cost imposed by the new BSE crisis on the production and sale of 1 kilo of minced steak" (le surcoût lié à la nouvelle crise ESB sur la fabrication et la vente d'un kilo de steak haché) may be put at "14 % of the industrial selling price to large retailers" (14 %, prix de vente industriel à la grande distribution) (document 38.279/534).
(16) See footnote 13.
(17) OJ L 68, 16.3.2000, p. 22.
(18) Council Regulation (EC) No 1512/2001 amending the basic Regulation (OJ L 201, 26.7.2001, p. 1).
(19) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1209/2001 of 20 June 2001 derogating from Regulation (EC) No 562/2000 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 as regards the buying-in of beef (OJ L 165, 21.6.2001, p. 15). The maximum weight allowed for intervention was raised once again by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1496/2001 (OJ L 197, 21.7.2001, p. 3).
(20) Most recently by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2579/2001 (OJ L 344, 28.12.2001, p. 68).
(21) OJ L 321, 19.12.2000, p. 47.
(22) OJ L 95, 5.4.2001, p. 8.
(23) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2595/2001 (OJ L 345, 29.12.2001, p. 33).
(24) Document 38.279/631.
(25) OJ C 247, 5.9.2001, p. 10. The full text of the Decision can be found on the Commission's Internet site, in French, at the following address (aid measure No NN 46/01): http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/ secretariat_general/ sgb/state_aids/agriculture_2001.htm.
(26) OJ C 110, 7.5.2002, p. 7.
(27) See, for example, the press review attached to the FNICGV's reply of 23 November 2001 to the Commission's request for information (document 38.279/187 to 304).
(28) Ibid. See also document 38.279/719 and 720.
(29) Document 38.279/613 and 614. See also document 38.279/615, confirming the existence of the scale. The file also shows that discussions on such a price scale had already taken place in the weeks leading up to this, for example, at a meeting held on 2 October 2001 (document 38.279/950 and 951).
(30) Document 38.279/614. This sector (restauration hors domicile) covers hotels and restaurants, but especially staff restaurants, hospitals, military bodies and canteens.
(31) See in particular document 38.279/612.
(32) A press article published on 25 October 2001 reported on discussions on a planned price scale for weanlings and stated that "last week, the FNB distributed a minimum slaughterhouse entry price scale for cull cows to cattle markets and processing firms" (la semaine dernière, la FNB a diffusé une grille de prix minimum des vaches de réforme entrée abattoir, auprès des marchés aux bestiaux et des entreprises de transformation) (document 38.279/201).
(33) Document 38.279/615. See also document 38.279/614.
(34) Document 38.279/615.
(35) Document 38.279/200.
(36) For example, with regard to an agreement signed by a slaughterhouse in the Vendée region following a blockade by farmers, the General Secretary of the local FDSEA stated: "the operators have solemnly undertaken to stop importing foreign meat until 1 January and to apply the union price scale" (les opérateurs se sont engagés solennellement à stopper les importations de viande d'origine étrangère jusqu'au 1er janvier et à appliquer la grille des prix syndicale) (reported in Le Maine Libre on 19 October 2001, document 38.279/221). See also extracts from the daily newspaper Ouest France published on 19 October 2001 (document 38.279/223 and 224).
(37) See the record of the coordination meeting, document 38.279/620.
(38) Document 38.279/1159. See also document 38.279/981.
(39) Document 38.279/1159.
(40) Document 38.279/1156.
(41) Document 38.279/1011.
(42) Document 38.279/309 and 310.
(43) Document 38.279/889.
(44) Document 38.279/195.
(45) Document 38.279/410.
(46) Document 38.279/1121.
(47) Document 38.279/893.
(48) Document 38.279/1025. See also document 38.279/1038: "scope imports: only cows? definition vague, because crisis agreement!" (portée imports: que sur les vaches? définition floue, car accord dans la crise!).
(49) An FNB document dated 26 October 2001 gives a number of additional explanations on price calculation methods (document 38.279/618). Document 38.279/631 (FNSEA memo preparatory to the meeting with the French Prime Minister on 8 November 2001) states: "for O and P cows, prices have been calculated in such a way as to be able to maintain special purchase for these categories" (pour les vaches O et P les prix ont été établis de façon à pouvoir maintenir l'achat spécial sur ces catégories).
(50) See document 38.279/802 and 38.279/803.
(51) Document 38.279/109 and document 38.279/198.
(52) Document 38.279/310, full report on parliamentary debates, first sitting of Wednesday, 24 October 2001, Journal officiel de la République française.
(53) Document 38.279/893.
(54) Document 38.279/1023.
(55) Document 38.279/423.
(56) Document 38.279/1146. Reference may also be made to an article in No 566, the November 2001 edition, of the Revue Jeunes Agriculteurs, which states: "this price scale, which entered into force on 29 October, will be revised on 1 December" (mise en application le 29 octobre, cette grille sera révisée le 1er décembre).
(57) Document 38.279/424. See also document 38.279/428.
(58) Document 38.279/873.
(59) Document 38.279/519. The date should of course be read as 30 November.
(60) Document 38.279/203.
(61) Document 38.279/88.
(62) Document 38.279/195. The initials DGCCRF refer to the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumption and Fraud Prevention (Direction générale de la concurrence, de la consommation et de la répression des fraudes).
(63) Document 38.279/1200 (individual firm, document of 26 October 2001) and document 38.279/1201 (Rungis meat dealers and wholesalers union, which is a member of the FNICGV, document of 26 October).
(64) Document 38.279/94.
(65) This was probably the same delegation as that met by the FNICGV President, referred to in footnote 64.
(66) Document 38.279/914 to 917.
(67) Document 38.279/917.
(68) See, for German farmers, the letter sent by the Deutscher Bauernverband President to the FNSEA President on 30 October 2001 (document 38.279/387); for British farmers, the letter sent by the NFU President to the FNSEA President on 13 November 2001 (document 38.279/391); for Belgian farmers, the letter sent by the Boerenbond President to the FNSEA President on 19 November 2001 (document 38.279/394); for Dutch farmers, the LTO memo of 15 November 2001 (document 38.279/683); for Spanish farmers, the letter sent by the President of the l'Asociación española de criadores de vacuno de carne to the FNB President on 7 November 2001 (document 38.279/1125). In a memo drawn up by the FNSEA in preparation for a meeting with the French Prime Minister to be held on 8 November 2001, it is stated that "the undertakings have agreed to temporarily suspend imports, which will inevitably create problems with our German and Dutch partners" (les entreprises se sont engagées à suspendre provisoirement les importations, ce qui ne va pas sans poser de problèmes avec nos partenaires allemands et néerlandais) (document 38.279/632).
(69) Document 38.279/1059 and 1060.
(70) See, for example, the letter sent by the General Secretary of the European Livestock and Meat Trading Union to Mr Fischler, the Member of the Commission responsible for agriculture, as early as 29 October 2001 (document 38.279/1253 and 1254). See also the reaction of the President of the Fédération des marchés de bétail vif (FMBV) and the President of the Fédération française des commerçants en bestiaux (FFCB) as reported in the press (document 38.279/197 and document 38.279/201).
(71) Document 38.279/103.
(72) Document 38.279/105.
(73) The notes are not dated, but, given their context, they must have been written between 18 and 20 November 2001.
(74) Documents 38.279/1054 and 1055. The initials "JB-PDL" refer to two persons belonging to the FNSEA.
(75) Document 38.279/1065.
(76) Document 38.279/1075. The letters "pb" probably stand for "problem".
(77) Document 38.279/1106.
(78) Document 38.279/1098.
(79) Document 38.279/164.
(80) Document 38.279/360.
(81) Document 38.279/736.
(82) Document 38.279/737.
(83) These could be the JA representative at a coordination meeting on the beef crisis (see document 38.279/620) and one of the JA representatives at the round table discussion on beef held on 5 December 2001 (document 38.279/580).
(84) "The price scale has been of great value: return hope and industrial peace => continue what has been started, with proper information" (document 38.279/738); "the market naturally follows the price scale, let us continue" (ibid.).
(85) Document 38.279/738.
(86) Document 38.279/739 (underlining removed).
(87) Document 38.279/740.
(88) Document 38.279/750.
(89) Document 38.279/1150.
(90) For example, document 38.279/748: "how does it work? At what price?" (comment ça marche? À quel prix?).
(91) Document 38.279/1118.
(92) Document 38.279/750.
(93) Document 38.279/368.
(94) Document 38.279/366.
(95) Document 38.279/474.
(96) Document 38.279/401a.
(97) Document 38.279/487.
(98) Document 38.279/489.
(99) Document 38.279/751 to 756.
(100) RHD stands for "restauration hors domicile", or restaurants and catering. This sector is the main consumer of imported beef (document 38.279/751).
(101) Document 38.279/751 (underlining removed).
(102) Document 38.279/754.
(103) Document 38.279/756.
(104) Document 38.279/1221.
(105) Document 38.279/1121.
(106) Document 38.279/88 and 89.
(107) Document 38.279/181.
(108) Document 38.279/1204.
(109) See, for example, documents 38.279/584, 617 and 1152.
(110) Many documents provide evidence of this: for example, documents 38.279/187 and 237.
(111) Document 38.279/237.
(112) Document 38.279/204 (Charolles agreement), document 38.279/279 (Moselle agreement), document 38.279/280 (Vendée agreements) or document 38.279/822 (Loire-et-Cher agreements). See also the agreement between the FRSEA Lower Normandy and slaughterers in that region concluded at the beginning of November 2001 (document 38.279/823).
(113) For example, document 38.279/1123.
(114) See, for instance, document 38.279/826 and 827 (department of Loire); document 38.279/834 (department of Oise); document 38.279/837 and 839 (two agreements in the department of Corrèze); document 38.279/841 and 845 (department of Allier). A number of documents also refer to verbal commitments to comply with the price scale (document 38.279/852, 19 November 2001). See also the FNB director's handwritten notes, document 38.279/911. See also the FRSEA Brittany's fax reviewing the agreements obtained from slaughterers, by department in that region, as at 29 October 2001.
(115) See, for example, document 38.279/882 and 883, document 38.279/420: "the price scale is on the whole being complied with, even if occasionally union action proves necessary" (cette grille est dans l'ensemble respectée, même si parfois l'action syndicale se révèle nécessaire).
(116) See the case of the Tour du Pin abattoir, which refused to conclude the local agreement (document 38.279/1272), and was blockaded from 20 to 23 November 2001 (document 38.279/868 to 871 and document 38.279/1268 et seq.), before obtaining an order from the Bourgoin Jallieux court of first instance (document 38.279/1255 to 1267).
(117) Thus, the standard agreement drawn up by the FDSEA and the CDJA in Isère on 13 November 2001 still contained a commitment on the suspension of imports (document 38.279/885); even so, this type of agreement was signed on that date by a number of slaughterers (document 38.279/882). See also document 38.279/1287.
(118) Document 38.279/825 to 827, in the department of Loire.
(119) On the contrary, see the letter sent by the FNCBV President to the FNSEA President on 9 November 2001 (document 38.279/410). Document 38.279/617 refers to contacts entered into by the FNB with the federation representing hypermarkets and supermarkets, but makes no mention of any result achieved.
(120) Document 38.279/08.
(121) Document 38.279/356 to 359. The figures for the last five days in October were not supplied.
(122) The figures, also produced in the table, for the period October 2000 to December 2000 are not representative in this respect, given the crisis which began in October 2000. The figures for the period from October 1999 to December 1999, which appear stable, do not confirm the cyclical explanation.
(123) See, for example, documents 38.279/882, 885 and 1285.
(124) Document 38.279/318.
(125) Document 38.279/322.
(126) Document 38.279/823.
(127) Document 38.279/822.
(128) Document 38.279/849. See also document 38.279/1228.
(129) Document 38.279/117.
(130) See the press review attached as an annex to the FNICGV's reply to the Commission's request for information. See also, for example, document 38.279/584.
(131) Document 38.279/277.
(132) Document 38.279/422. The letters stand for meat categories under EC regulations (see footnote 13).
(133) Document 38.279/420.
(134) Document 38.279/424: the memo mentions the Commission's request for information of 9 November 2001 and the draft reply thereto (the final reply was drawn up on 15 November 2001).
(135) Document 38.279/851.
(136) Document 38.279/852.
(137) Document 38.279/856.
(138) Document 38.279/1098.
(139) Document 38.279/1106.
(140) The date of the meeting does not appear in the handwritten notes. Given the context, it must be the meeting held on 21 November 2001, the invitation to which is contained in document 38.279/716.
(141) Document 38.279/1069.
(142) Document 38.279/1075.
(143) Document 38.279/746.
(144) See the article published in Union Paysanne on 14 December 2001 (document 38.279/1178). The article reports that, "after a few price adjustments, the price scale must be taken today as a union recommendation, a recommended selling price for farmers" (après quelques ajustements de prix, la grille est aujourd'hui à prendre comme une recommandation syndicale, un prix de vente conseillé aux éleveurs).
(145) Document 38.279/492. See also the memo issued by the FNB, documents 38.279/509 and 510, and the joint memo issued by the four agricultural federations, document 38.279/522, calling for mobilisation.
(146) Document 38.279/849.
(147) Documents 38.279/1222 to 1229.
(148) Document 38.279/812.
(149) Document 38.279/1198.
(150) Document 38.279/829.
(151) Document 38.279/1168. See also the record of a coordination meeting between the FNSEA, the JA, the FNPL and the FNB on 16 October 2001, which once again cites the "inspections on the origin of meat, particularly in the restaurant and catering sector" (contrôle de l'origine des viandes, notamment en RHD) as the first item in the strategy "to succeed in imposing [the] price scale" (pour parvenir à imposer [la] grille) (document 38.279/620).
(152) Comments in reply to the statement of objections, p. 24.
(153) Comments in reply to the statement of objections, p. 24.
(154) Comments in reply to the statement of objections, p. 26.
(155) Comments in reply to the statement of objections, p. 26.
(156) Comments in reply to the statement of objections, p. 29.
(157) Comments in reply to the statement of objections, p. 7.
(158) See for example Court of First Instance in Case T-513/93 Consiglio Nazionale degli Spedizionieri Doganali v Commission (2000) ECR II-1807, paragraph 36, with further references.
(159) Commission Decision 76/29/EEC of 2 December 1975 relating to a proceeding under Article 85 of the EEC Treaty (IV/26.949 - AOIP/Beyrard) (OJ L 6, 13.1.1976, p. 8), point II(2).
(160) See for example the judgment cited in footnote 158.
(161) Court of First Instance in Case T-61/89 Dansk Pelsdyravlerforening v Commission (1992) ECR II-1931, paragraph 50.
(162) Case C-35/96 Commission v Italy (1998) ECR I-3851, paragraph 40, and Case 123/83 Clair (1985) ECR 391, paragraph 17.
(163) Court of Justice in Case 71/74 Frubo v Commission (1975) ECR 563, paragraph 30; Joined Cases 209 to 215 and 218/78 van Landewyck and Others v Commission (1980) ECR 3125, paragraph 88; and Joined Cases 96 to 102, 104, 105, 108 and 110/82 IAZ and Others v Commission (1983) ECR 3369, paragraph 20.
(164) OJ C 364, 18.12.2000, p. 1. Article 12(1) of the Charter states that "Everyone has the right to (...) freedom of association at all levels, in particular in political, trade union and civic matters".
(165) Since the setting up of the Competition Board (Conseil de la concurrence), every one of its annual reports has given examples of the application of the competition rules to trade unions or federations (see in particular the reports for 1987 and 1997). For examples of formal decisions concerning farmers' unions see the following Competition Board decisions:
- Decision No 00-D-01 of 22 February 2000 on practices in the fruit and vegetables trade (this decision was annulled on 17 October 2000 by the Paris Court of Appeal on separate grounds to do with an error in the identification of the addressee of the decision);
- Decision No 96-D-60 of 15 October 1996 on competition in seed potatoes;
- Decision No 96-D-59 of 8 October 1996 on practices observed in the Champagne wine trade;
- Decision No 95-D-77 of 5 December 1995 on competition on the market in honey;
- Decision No 94-D-61 of 29 November 1994 on practices observed in the production and marketing of veal;
- Decision No 94-D-23 of 5 April 1994 on practices observed in the olive oil trade.
(166) Document 38.279/892.
(167) Document 38.279/893.
(168) Document 38.279/901.
(169) It may also be worth referring to an article that appeared in the magazine Les Marchés on 26 October 2001, the day after the formal signature of the agreement, which states that "According to the FNSEA, the Ministry of Agriculture has made no objection to the agreement, but some sources already suspect that it does not comply with the rules on competition" (selon la FNSEA, le ministère de l'agriculture n'aurait pas émis de réserve sur cet accord, que certains soupçonnent cependant déjà de ne pas être conforme à la réglementation sur la concurrence, document 38.279/198).
(170) Of those already cited, see the judgment of the Court of First Instance in Consiglio Nazionale degli Spedizionieri Doganali v Commission (see footnote 158), or the judgment of the Court of Justice in Clair (see footnote 162).
(171) See for example Court of Justice in Frubo (see footnote 163) and Clair (see footnote 162), paragraph 20.
(172) Court of First Instance in Case T-41/96 Bayer v Commission (2000) ECR II-3383, paragraph 68, and Court of Justice in Case C-277/87 Sandoz v Commission (1990) ECR I-45, paragraph 13.
(173) Court of First Instance in Case T-149/89 Sotralentz v Commission (1995) ECR II-1127, paragraph 53, and Case T-308/94 Cascades v Commission (1998) ECR II-925, paragraph 122.
(174) See in particular Court of First Instance in Case T-317/94 Moritz J. Weig v Commission (1998) ECR II-1235, paragraph 134.
(175) See for example Court of First Instance in Case T-305/94 etc. LVM and Others v Commission (1999) ECR II-931, paragraph 741.
(176) See French Ministry of Agriculture memo of 17 October 2001 (document 38.279/621).
(177) Documents 38.279/614 and 615 in particular.
(178) Court of Justice in Joined Cases C-238/99 P, C-244/99 P, C-245/99 P, C-247/99 P, C-250/99 P to C-252/99 P and C-254/99 P LVM and Others v Commission, 16 October 2002, not yet reported, paragraph 487.
(179) Ibid., paragraph 488.
(180) See for example Court of First Instance in Case T-86/95 Compagnie générale maritime and Others v Commission (2002) ECR II-1011, paragraph 349.
(181) See for example Court of Justice in Case 42/84 Remia and Others v Commission (1985) ECR 2545, paragraph 22.
(182) Court of Justice in Case C-309/99 Wouters, 19 February 2002, not yet reported, paragraph 95. In a judgment delivered on the same day in Case C-35/99 Arduino, not yet reported, the Court held that a tariff fixing minimum and maximum fees for members of a profession that "extends to the whole of the territory of a Member State (...) may affect trade between Member States" (paragraph 33).
(183) Court of Justice in Case 246/86 Belasco v Commission (1989) ECR 2117, paragraph 34: "since the market concerned is susceptible to imports, the members of a national price cartel can retain their market share only if they defend themselves against foreign competition."
(184) Court of Justice in Case C-399/93 Oude Luttikhuis and Others (1995) ECR I-4515, paragraph 23, and Court of First Instance in Joined Cases T-70/92 and T-71/92 Florimex and VGB v Commission (1997) ECR II-693, paragraph 152. See also e.g. Commission Decision 1999/6/EC of 14 December 1998 relating to a proceeding under Article 85 of the Treaty (IV/35.280 - Sicasov) (OJ L 4, 8.1.1999, p. 27), recital 68.
(185) Frubo, paragraphs 22 to 27 (see footnote 163); Oude Luttikhuis, paragraph 25 (see footnote 184); Court of Justice in Case C-265/97 P VBA and Others v Commission (2000) ECR I-2061, paragraph 94.
(186) VBA, paragraph 94 (see footnote 185).
(187) For example, an FNSEA memo dated 6 November 2001 on the adoption of the agricultural budget by the lower house of the French parliament says "the Minister pointed out that it was not enough to write cheques for livestock farmers, supply and demand had also to be brought into line" (le ministre a rappelé que faire des chèques aux éleveurs ne suffirait pas, il faudra aussi équilibrer l'offre et la demande, document 38.279/400). See also an interview with the President of the FNSEA in the newspaper Le Figaro Économie, 17 October 2001 (document 38.279/312), or a memo from the FDSEA of Loire, dated 31 October 2001, according to which "everyone agreed that the only lasting solution was for consumption to increase again, and that a sustainable future for the trade depended on it" (tout le monde a convenu que la seule planche de salut durable était une remontée de la consommation, et que ceci conditionnait l'avenir durable de la filière, document 38.279/825).
(188) Court of First Instance in Joined Cases T-70/92 and T-71/92 Florimex and VGB v Commission (1997) ECR II-693, paragraphs 148 and 149, and opinion of Advocate-General Tesauro in Oude Luttikhuis (see footnote 184) (1997) ECR 4471, paragraph 14. For examples of recent practice in Commission decisions see Sicasov (see footnote 184), paragraph 68, and Decision 1999/210/EC of 14 October 1998 relating to a proceeding pursuant to Article 85 of the EC Treaty (British Sugar plc, Tate & Lyle plc, Napier Brown & Company Ltd and James Budgett Sugars Ltd) (OJ L 76, 22.3.1999, p. 1), recital 187.
(189) See for example Court of Justice in Joined Cases C-359/95 P and C-379/95 P Commission and France v Ladbroke Racing (1997) ECR I-6265, paragraph 33, and Court of First Instance in Consiglio Nazionale degli Spedizionieri Doganali v Commission (see footnote 158), paragraphs 58 and 59.
(190) Comments of FNICGV, p. 7, last paragraph ("The Minister for Agriculture strongly encouraged farmers and slaughterers to reach agreement" (le Ministre de l'agriculture a fortement incité les éleveurs et les abatteurs à s'entendre)), and comments of FNSEA, p. 23, penultimate paragraph ("The Minister for Agriculture himself publicly encouraged the conclusion of an agreement which he considered indispensable" (le Ministre de l'agriculture lui-même a incité publiquement à la signature d'un accord jugé comme indispensable)).
(191) Comments in reply to the statement of objections, p. 15, last line.
(192) Comments in reply to the statement of objections, p. 23, penultimate paragraph.
(193) OJ C 9, 14.1.1998, p. 3.
(194) Statistics regularly updated on OFIVAL's Internet site, www.ofival.fr.
(195) See for example the recitals to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1922/2001 (OJ L 261, 29.9.2001, p. 52) and Commission Regulation (EC) No 2579/2001 (OJ L 344, 28.12.2001, p. 68).
(196) See the decisions on State aid referred to in footnotes 24 and 25 to this Decision.
