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I Information

Commission

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Euro exchange rates (1)

11 November 2005

(2005/C 280/01)

1 euro= 

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(1)

Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

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STATE AID — THE NETHERLANDS

State aid No C 30/2005 (ex N 78/2004) — Restructuring aid to KG Holding N.V.

Invitation to submit comments pursuant to Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty

(2005/C 280/02)

(Text with EEA relevance)

By means of the letter dated 5 August 2005 reproduced in the authentic language on the pages following this summary, the Commission notified the Netherlands of its decision to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the granting of restructuring aid to KG Holding N.V.

Interested parties may submit their comments on the measure in respect of which the Commission is initiating the procedure within one month of the date of publication of this summary and the following letter, to:

These comments will be communicated to the Netherlands. Confidential treatment of the identity of the interested party submitting the comments may be requested in writing, stating the reasons for the request.

TEXT OF SUMMARY

TEXT OF LETTER

‘1.   PROCEDURE

2.   GEDETAILLEERDE BESCHRIJVING VAN DE STEUNMAATREGEL

2.1.   Achtergrond

2.2.   De onderneming

2.3.   De relevante markten

2.4.   Het herstructureringsplan

3.   STAND VAN ZAKEN BIJ DE UITVOERING VAN HET HERSTRUCTURERINGSPLAN

4.   BEOORDELING

4.1.   Bestaan van steun

4.2.   Verenigbaarheid van de steun met de gemeenschappelijke markt

4.2.1.   Voorwaarden voor de onderneming om voor steun in aanmerking te komen

4.2.2.   Herstel van de levensvatbaarheid

4.2.3.   Overwegingen met betrekking tot de reddingslening

5.   CONCLUSIE

6.   BESCHIKKING

Gelet op de bovenstaande overwegingen heeft de Commissie besloten de procedure van artikel 88, lid 2, van het EG-Verdrag in te leiden ten aanzien van de steun die Nederland voornemens is te verlenen voor de herstructurering van KG Holding NV.

De Commissie maant Nederland aan, haar binnen een maand na de datum van ontvangst van dit schrijven, alle bescheiden, inlichtingen en gegevens te verstrekken die noodzakelijk zijn om de verenigbaarheid van de steunmaatregel te beoordelen. Bij uitblijven van een reactie zal de Commissie een beslissing nemen aan de hand van de gegevens waarover zij beschikt. Zij verzoekt uw autoriteiten onverwijld een afschrift van deze brief aan de potentiële begunstigden van de steunmaatregel te doen toekomen.

De Commissie wijst Nederland op de schorsende werking van artikel 88, lid 3, van het EG-Verdrag. Zij verwijst naar artikel 14 van Verordening (EG) nr. 659/1999 van de Raad, volgens hetwelk alle onrechtmatige steun van de begunstigde kan worden teruggevorderd.

Voorts deelt de Commissie Nederland mee dat zij de belanghebbenden door de bekendmaking van dit schrijven en van een samenvatting ervan in het Publicatieblad van de Europese Unie in kennis zal stellen. Tevens zal zij de belanghebbenden in de lidstaten van de EVA die partij zijn bij de EER-Overeenkomst door de bekendmaking van een mededeling in het EER-Supplement van het Publicatieblad in kennis stellen, alsmede de Toezichthoudende Autoriteit van de EVA door haar een afschrift van dit schrijven toe te zenden. Alle bovengenoemde belanghebbenden zal worden verzocht hun opmerkingen te maken binnen één maand vanaf de datum van deze bekendmaking.

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(1)OJ C 288, 9.10.2002, p. 2.

(2)  In order to perform this task, under the restructuring plan NK took over the assets, liabilities and part of the staff of OK whilst acquiring the outstanding reintegration contracts.

(3)  Confidential information.

(4)  Idem footnote 1.

(5)PB C 288 van 9.10.1999, blz. 2. Aangezien de steunmaatregel vóór 10.10.2004 werd aangemeld, blijven deze richtsnoeren van toepassing krachtens het bepaalde in punt 103 van de nieuwe communautaire richtsnoeren inzake reddings- en herstructureringssteun aan ondernemingen in moeilijkheden (PB C 244 van 1.10.2004, blz. 2).

(6)  Het bedrijf werd opgericht onder de naam NV Kliq, welke in de tweede helft van 2003 werd veranderd in KG Holding NV.

(7)PB C 33 van 6.2.2004, blz. 8.

(8)  Met het oog hierop nam NK in het kader van het herstructureringsplan de activa, passiva en een deel van het personeel van OK over, terwijl de lopende reïntegratiecontracten door haar werden gekocht.

(9)  Zakengeheim.

(10)  In de aanmelding betoogden de Nederlandse autoriteiten dat een herstructurering die via NK zou verlopen, de voordeligste constructie zou zijn.

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BIJLAGE

Table — Overview of restructuring aid measures in favour of KG Holding NV

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(1)  Provisional estimates.»

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Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2005/C 280/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Date of adoption of the decision: 

Member State: France

Aid No: E 20/2004

Title: The fiscal provisions applicable to mutual sickness and insurance companies and personal protection institutions

Objective: The abolition of tax exemption with regard to insurance contracts concluded by ‘mutuelles et institutions de prévoyance’

Legal basis: Articles 995-2 et 999-2 du Code général des Impôts

Duration: Unlimited

Other information: Pursuant to Article 88(1) of the EC Treaty, the Commission has decided to propose appropriate measures in respect of aid scheme No E 20/2004 — France: Dispositions fiscales applicables aux mutuelles et institutions de prévoyance. France has accepted these measures.

Date of acceptance by the Member State: 

The authentic text of the decision, from which all confidential material has been removed, can be found at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/droit_com/index_en.htm#aides

Date of adoption of the decision: 

Member State: Denmark

Aid No: N 5/2005

Title: Tax reduction on donations to cultural institutions

Objective: culture and heritage conservation

Legal basis: Lov nr. 1389 af 20.12.2004»Lov om ændring af afskrivningsloven, ligningsloven og skattekontrolloven (Fradrag for gaver til kulturinstitutioner og udvidelse af reglerne for afskrivning på kunstkøb)«

Budget: foregone tax revenue estimated at DKK 35 million per year (EUR 4,7 million)

Aid intensity or amount: measure not constituting aid

Duration: as of 1.1.2005, unlimited

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

Date of adoption of the decision: 

Member State: Belgium

Aid No: N 249/2004

Title: Aid scheme for combined transport

Legal basis: Loi relative à la promotion du transport ferroviaire combiné de marchandises; Arrêté royal portant exécution de la loi relative à la promotion du transport ferroviaire combiné de marchandises.

Wet betreffende de bevordering van het gecombineerd goederenvervoer per spoor; koninklijk besluit houdende toepassing van de wet betreffende de bevordering van het gecombineerd goederenvervoer per spoor

Objective: The purpose of the aid scheme is to develop combined rail transport for routes of 51 kilometres or more within Belgium. The aim is to help maintain existing rail traffic levels of 300 000 ITU (intermodal transport units), rather than lose it to the roads, and to increase the level of rail traffic by 20 % over a period of three years

Budget: EUR 30 million per year (EUR 15 million in 2005)

Duration: The period covered by the aid scheme is from 1.1.2005 to 31.12.2007

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4010 — Fresenius/Helios)

(2005/C 280/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

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(1)OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3981 — Fives-Lille/Landis)

(2005/C 280/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

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(1)OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3905 — Tesco/Carrefour (Czech Republic and Slovakia))

(2005/C 280/06)

(Text with EEA relevance)

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(1)OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4023 — Industri Kapital/GUS Holland Holding)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2005/C 280/07)

(Text with EEA relevance)

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(1)OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

(2)OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3966 — Pirelli RE/Banca Intesa/IFIL/Marcegaglia/SI/IT)

(2005/C 280/08)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 28 October 2005, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the common market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. The full text of the decision is available only in Italian and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3988 — BC Funds/Fitness First)

(2005/C 280/09)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 27 October 2005, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the common market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

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III Notices

Commission

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CALL FOR PROPOSALS — DG INFSO No 09/05

MEDIA PLUS

Support for the development of production projects (‘MEDIA New Talent’, single projects and slate funding)

(2005/C 280/10)

1.   Objectives and description

The aim of MEDIA Plus (Development) is to support the development of production projects for the European and international markets in the following genres: fiction, creative documentaries, animation and multimedia.

2.   Eligible applicants

Only independent companies whose main activity is audiovisual and/or multimedia production are eligible for support. Applicant companies must be established in one of the following countries:

Applicant companies must also provide evidence that they have the previous experience of audiovisual production required in accordance with the guidelines.

3.   Budget

The total budget earmarked for the cofinancing of projects is estimated at EUR 17 million. Financial assistance from the Commission cannot exceed 50 % of the total eligible costs (60 % for projects highlighting Europe's cultural diversity). The maximum subsidy in the case of slate funding is EUR 150 000. For single projects it varies between EUR 10 000 and 80 000 depending on the genre.

4.   Deadline

Applications must be sent to the Commission between 14 November 2005 and

5.   Detailed information

The complete guidelines together with the application forms are available on the website http://europa.eu.int/comm/avpolicy/media/index_en.html. Applications must comply with the requirements set out in the guidelines and be submitted using the form provided.

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