Brussels, 21/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has authorised aid for German paper manufacturer LEIPA Georg Leinfelder for the construction of two new sites for the production of graphic paper. One site will be based in Schwedt (Brandenburg) and the other at Schrobenhausen (Bavaria). The EUR 92 million aid will take the form of direct grants and a loan guarantee. In November 2002 Germany notified subsequent to the existing Multisectoral Framework on regional aid for large investment projects - aid to finance the extension of the company's production site in Schwedt, for new installations for the production of wood-containing graphic paper (magazine and offset), essentially made from waste paper. The EUR 92 million aid is 26.17% of the total investment. The regional aid ceiling in Brandenburg is 35%. The project will lead to the creation of 227 direct jobs and more than 134 other jobs in the region, which was taken into account in the Commission's analysis of the aid. The Commission's investigation revealed that the market for wood-containing magazine paper has grown faster than the overall manufacturing industry over the last years and decided to authorise the aid.