E1997C0320(01)

Communication from the EFTA Surveillance Authority (97/C 90/05)

The EFTA Surveillance Authority announces that pursuant to Articles 4 (2) and 4 (3) of the Act referred to in point 1b of Annex XV to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (Council Directive 90/684/EEC on aid to shipbuilding) it has decided to set the common maximum ceiling for operating aid to shipbuilding, referred to in Articles 4 (1) and 5 (1) of the Directive, at 9 % for the period from 1 January 1997 until Articles 1 to 9 of Council Regulation (EC) No 3094/95 become applicable in the European Community, but no longer than until 31 December 1997.

In view of the provisions of Article 4 (2), second subparagraph, of the Directive, the maximum level of aid permissible for the construction of small ships of a contract value of less than ECU 10 million as well as for all ship conversions covered by the Directive has at the same time been fixed at 4,5 % for the same period, except for the construction of such ships destined for national utilization in Greece.