L 229/24 Official Journal of the European Union 13.9.2003 COMMISSION DECISION of 27 May 2003 on the State aid which Austria is planning to implement for BMW Motoren GmbH in Steyr (notified under document number C(2003) 1664) (Only the German text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2003/647[EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, (3) The Commission Decision to initiate the procedure was Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 88(2) thereof, Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 62(1)(a) thereof, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty (), Having called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to those provisions, Whereas: PROCEDURE (1) Austria notified the aid proposal to the Commission pursuant to Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty by letters dated 26 April 2002 and 7 May 2002. The Commission asked for additional information by letter dated 4 July 2002. Austria answered by letter dated 2 August 2002. (2) By letter dated 4 October 2002, the Commission informed Austria that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the aid. () OJL 83, 27.3.1999, p. 1. published in the Official Journal of the European Commu- nities (). The Commission called on interested parties to submit their comments. The Commission received no comments from interested parties. (4)  The Commission carried out a visit on site on 12 and 13 December 2003. By letters dated 7 November 2002 and 25 February 2003, Austria submitted comments on the initiation of the investigation procedure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The beneficiary (5)  The beneficiary of the aid is BMW Motoren GmbH (hereinafter ‘BMW’), which is a subsidiary of BMW AG, Munich. The engine plant in Steyr is the largest engine plant in the BMW group. It produces 4- and 6-cylinder petrol/diesel engines and develops diesel engines and diesel engine technology. In 2001, the plant produced 630 000 engines (47 % diesel and 53 % petrol engines) and employed around 2 500 persons. (6)  Five distinct measures, relating to regional aid, training aid, innovation aid, research and development aid and environmental aid, are planned for BMW. The total planned aid, which is to be granted under Article 51 of the Labour market promotion act, amounts to EUR 40,25 million. () OJ C 308, 11.12.2002, p. 19.