CHAPTER IINOTIFICATIONS
Article 2Notification forms
Supplementary information needed for the assessment of the measure in accordance with regulations, guidelines, frameworks and other texts applicable to State aid shall be provided on the supplementary information sheets set out in Part III of Annex I.
Whenever the relevant guidelines or frameworks are modified or replaced, the Commission shall adapt the corresponding forms and information sheets.
Article 3Transmission of notifications
1.
The notification shall be transmitted to the Commission by the Permanent Representative of the Member State concerned. It shall be addressed to the Secretary — General of the Commission.
If the Member State intends to avail itself of a specific procedure laid down in any regulations, guidelines, frameworks and other texts applicable to State aid, a copy of the notification shall be addressed to the Director-General responsible. The Secretary — General and the Directors — General may designate contact points for the receipt of notifications.
2.
All subsequent correspondence shall be addressed to the Director — General responsible or to the contact point designated by the Director — General.
3.
The Commission shall address its correspondence to the Permanent Representative of the Member State concerned, or to any other address designated by that Member State.
4.
Until 31 December 2005 notifications shall be transmitted by the Member State on paper. Whenever possible an electronic copy of the notification shall also be transmitted.
With effect from 1 January 2006 notifications shall be transmitted electronically, unless otherwise agreed by the Commission and the notifying Member State.
All correspondence in connection with a notification which has been submitted after 1 January 2006 shall be transmitted electronically.
5.
The date of transmission by fax to the number designated by the receiving party shall be considered to be the date of transmission on paper, if the signed original is received no later than ten days thereafter.
6.
By 30 September 2005 at the latest, after consulting Member States, the Commission shall publish in the Official Journal of the European Union details of the arrangements for the electronic transmission of notifications, including addresses together with any necessary arrangements for the protection of confidential information.
Article 4Simplified notification procedure for certain alterations to existing aid
1.
For the purposes of Article 1(c) of Regulation (EC) No 659/1999, an alteration to existing aid shall mean any change, other than modifications of a purely formal or administrative nature which cannot affect the evaluation of the compatibility of the aid measure with the common market. However an increase in the original budget of an existing aid scheme by up to 20 % shall not be considered an alteration to existing aid.
2.
The following alterations to existing aid shall be notified on the simplified notification form set out in Annex II:
(a)
increases in the budget of an authorised aid scheme exceeding 20 %;
(b)
prolongation of an existing authorised aid scheme by up to six years, with or without an increase in the budget;
(c)
tightening of the criteria for the application of an authorised aid scheme, a reduction of aid intensity or a reduction of eligible expenses;
The Commission shall use its best endeavours to take a decision on any aid notified on the simplified notification form within a period of one month.
3.
The simplified notification procedure shall not be used to notify alterations to aid schemes in respect of which Member States have not submitted annual reports in accordance with Article 5, 6, and 7, unless the annual reports for the years in which the aid has been granted are submitted at the same time as the notification.