Article 4
This Decision is addressed to the Italian Republic. Done at Brussels, 28 March 2001. For the Commission Mario Monti Member of the Commission (1) OJ L 338, 28.12.1996, p. 42. (2) OJ C 288, 9.10.1999, p. 39, and OJ C 315, 4.11.2000, p. 4. (3) Article 15(1) of the Law provides that the regional authorities may grant aid of up to 20 % gross grant equivalent of eligible costs to firms in operation for at least two years, that intend to introduce or modify production installations and processes aimed at reducing not only the quantity and danger of residuals, waste and emissions produced but also noise levels or securing a qualitative improvement of the working environment in line with new standards established by sectoral laws. (4) OJ C 288, 9.10.1999, p. 39. (5) OJ C 315, 4.11.2000, p. 4. (6) See Commission Decision 89/515/EEC of 2 August 1989 relating to a proceeding under Article 85 of the EEC Treaty (IV/31.533 - Welded steel mesh) (OJ L 260, 6.9.1989, p. 1). (7) The new plant is located in an industrial area of its own, with its own entrances for the incoming raw material (coiled steel rod) and the outgoing finished product (electrowelded wire mesh). (8) Resolution of the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council of 1 February 1993, on a Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development. A European Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development (OJ C 138, 17.5.1993, p. 1). (9) Council Directive 86/188/EEC of 12 May 1986 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to noise at work (OJ L 137, 24.5.1986, p. 28). (10) OJ L 292, 13.11.1999, p. 27, paragraph 33. (11) The accounting separation referred to by the firm (see point 13) relates only to investments. (12) Contrary to the company's contentions in its letter of 10 November 2000 (see point 14), no specific legal limits exist for this kind of plant. (13) OJ C 37, 3.2.2001, p. 3. They are applicable to the present case by virtue of point 82. (14) These criteria do not differ from those in paragraph 3.2 of the Community guidelines on State aid for environmental protection in force when the Commission decided to initiate proceedings, which excluded from their scope aid ostensibly intended for environmental protection measures but which is in fact for general investment (OJ C 72, 10.3.1994). (15) Point 6 of the current Community guidelines on State aid for environmental products.