L 272/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 22.10.1999 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 3 February 1999 on State aid which Germany is planning to introduce for Graphischer Maschinenbau GmbH, Berlin (notified under document number C(1999) 327) (Only the German text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (1999/690/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Communities, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 93(2) thereof, Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 62(1)(a) thereof, Having called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to those provisions, Whereas: 1. Procedure By letter dated 21 January 1998, Germany notified the Commission of restructuring aid for Graphischer Maschi- nenbau GmbH, Berlin (GMB). By letters dated 17 March, 30 April and 18 June 1998, it provided the Commission with further information. By letter dated 17 August 1998, the Commission informed Germany that it had decided to initiate proceedings under Article 93(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the aid. The Commission decision to initiate proceedings was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities ('). The Commission called on interested parties to submit their comments on the aid. () O] C 336, 4.11.1998, p. 13. The Commission has received no comments from interested parties. 2. Detailed description of the measures The Land of Berlin is offering restructuring aid to GMB in the form of a grant of DEM 9,31 million (EUR 4,76 million) spread over the period from 1998 to 2000. The estimated total costs of the restructuring process amount to DEM 22,93 million (EUR 11,72 million) and include measures relating to skills, the restructuring of production layout and organisation, a change in the product range and an increase in the vertical range of manufacture as well as the losses so far incurred, and those expected in the coming years. GMB is a manufacturer of newspaper printing machinery parts and is based in Berlin-Spandau (West), an area eligible for regional assistance under Article 92(3)(c). The workforce currently numbers 99 (as against 144 in 1996). GMB is a subsidiary of Koenig & Bauer-Albert AG, Wiirzburg (KBA), which is primarily a manufacturer of printing machinery. KBA is a large firm within the meaning of the Commission recom- mendation of 3 April 1996 concerning the definition of small and medium-sized enterprises (?). For this reason, GMB must also be deemed to be a large firm, since it does not meet the independence criterion set out in Article 1(3) of the Annex to the recommendation. () OJ L 107, 30.4.1996, p. 4.