19.10.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L2821 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 21 December 2000 on the State aid granted by the Federal Republic of Germany to Zeuro Mobelwerk GmbH, Thuringia (notified under document number C(2000) 4401) (Only the German text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2002/779/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, 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 called on the interested parties to submit their com- ments pursuant to the provisions cited above (1), Whereas: 1. PROCEDURE By letter dated 8 July 1996, received on 9 July 1996, Germany informed the Commission of the restructuring of Zeuro Mébelwerk GmbH. By letters of 30 July 1996, 7 October 1996 and 2 April 1997 the Commission requested additional information, which was supplied by letters of 11 September 1996, 17 February 1997 and 15 May 1997, this last received on 23 May 1997. On 7 April 1997 the Commission received an amendment to the initial notification. The case was discussed at a meeting with the German authorities on 3 February 1997. At the time of the notification the aid had already been granted, so that Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty had been infringed. The Commission accordingly entered the aid in the register of non-notified aid measures. (1) O] C 25,24.1.1998, p. 2. ) By letter dated 12 August 1997, the Commission informed the German authorities that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) in respect of the aid. The Commission decision to initiate that procedure was announced in the Official Journal of the European Communities (2). The Commission there called on interest- ed parties to submit their comments. The Commission received no comments from interested parties. On 22 September 1997, after the procedure had been initiated, a meeting took place between the German authorities and the Commission. By letter of 14 Novem- ber 1997, received on 19 November 1997, the German authorities supplied further information. On 15 October 1998 and 22 September 1999 the German authorities and the Commission discussed the case again. On 5 October 1999 the Commission asked for information on some outstanding points, which the German auth- orities supplied on 4 November 1999. (2) See footnote 1.