30.3.2007 Official Journal of the European Union L 90/73 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 6 December 2006 on the aid scheme for research and development in the aircraft industry implemented by Belgium (notified under document number C(2006) 5792) (Only the French and Dutch versions are authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2007/199/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 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 ('), and in particular Article 7 thereof, Having regard to the Commission Decision of 22 June 2006 (?) initiating the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of aid C 27/2006 (ex NN 22/2004), Having called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to that Article, Whereas: 1. PROCEDURE (1) By letter of 13 February 2004, registered as received by the Commission on 18 February, Belgium notified the Commission of an aid scheme for research and devel- opment (R &D) in the aircraft industry. By letters of 23 December 2004 and 1 July 2005, registered as received by the Commission on 3 January and 5 July 2005 respectively, it provided the Commission with further information. (') OJ L 83, 27.3.1999, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1791/2006 (OJ L 363, 20.12.2006, p. 1). (® O] C 196, 19.8.2006, p. 7. (2) By letter of 22 June 2006, the Commission informed Belgium that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of this aid. (3) By letter of 11 September 2006, registered as received on the same date, Belgium submitted its comments to the Commission. (4 By letter of 2 October 2006, the Commission asked Belgium for additional information which was provided by letters of 23 and 24 November 2006, registered as received on the same dates. (5)  The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Union (3). The Commission invited interested parties to submit their comments. (6)  The Commission received no comments from interested parties. 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE AID 2.1. Objective, legal basis, duration and budget (7)  The aim of the scheme is to boost the technological capabilities of Belgian enterprises taking part in a civil aircraft development programme and to safeguard and create jobs in this industry. The Belgian authorities believe that the scheme may lead to the creation of between 2 500 and 3 000 new jobs over the next 20 years. () See footnote 2.