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I Information

Commission

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Euro exchange rates (1)

24 March 2006

(2006/C 73/01)

1 euro= 

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(1)

Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

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Order revising the maximum fares on air routes subject to public service obligations between the Canary Islands

(2006/C 73/02)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Cost increases due to the effect of fuel price changes, the change in the Consumer Price Index and aviation fees and fares have prompted airlines to request an increase in the maximum fares stipulated in the Council of Ministers' Agreement of 10 July 1998 applying public service obligations to Canary Island air routes.

The annex to the abovementioned Agreement provides for the Minister for Internal Development to change the maximum fares in proportion to the rise in costs if the price of costs affecting the operation of these air services rise and at the proposal of the airlines, using the specific procedure in the Annex.

By virtue of and in accordance with the Agreement, it is hereby decided that:

The maximum fare set in paragraph 2(1) of the Annex to the Council of Minister's Agreement of 10 July 1998 for each route, on the outward journey, shall be as follows:

This revision is to be notified to all carriers using these services.

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Summary information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 of 23 December 2003 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products.

(2006/C 73/03)

Aid No: XA 65/05

Member State: Kingdom of Spain

Region: Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid.: Granting aid for 2005 in order to implement projects and carry out studies and audits on energy saving, efficiency and diversification

Legal basis: Orden de 28 de julio de 2005 de la Consejería de Industria y Medio Ambiente, de modificación de la Orden de 20 de enero de 2005, de la Consejería de Economía, Industria e Innovación, por la que se establecen las bases y la convocatoria para la concesión de ayudas para el año 2005 con destino a la ejecución de proyectos y realización de estudios y auditorias en materia de ahorro, eficiencia y diversificación energética

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: For firms: EUR 485 000

Maximum aid intensity: 40 % gross grant equivalent of eligible costs

Date of implementation: As soon as this Order is published in the Official Gazette of the Region of Murcia

Duration of aid scheme or individual aid: December 2005

Objective of aid: 

Sector(s) concerned: Processing and marketing of agricultural products

Name and address of the granting authority: 

Web address: www.carm.es (Consejería de Industria y Medio Ambiente/ Ayudas y subvenciones:

http://www.carm.es/ceii/subv_detalle_ini.asp?S=TODOS)

Aid No: XA 69/05

Member State: Federal Republic of Germany

Title of aid scheme: Guidelines of the Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture (BMVEL) on use of the Federal Government's special-purpose fund, held with the Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank, subsection 2(2), Introduction onto the market and practical delivery

Legal basis: § 2 Abs. 1 des Gesetzes über das Zweckvermögen des Bundes bei der Landwirtschaftlichen Rentenbank vom 12. August 2005 (BGBl. I, S. 2363)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: EUR 5 million as a soft loan, of which EUR 1 million is covered by guarantee

Maximum aid intensity: 40 %.

Date of implementation: From the day following publication of the above guidelines in the Federal Gazette. The process of publication in the Federal Gazette has begun. Publication will take place no earlier than 10 working days after the Commission notifies the aid number

Duration of scheme: 

Objective of aid: Support for SMEs to introduce innovations onto the market and deliver them in practice, by promoting investment in agriculture and horticulture (Articles 4 and 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004)

Economic sector(s) concerned: Agriculture and horticulture

Name and address of the granting authority: Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank, Hochstr. 2, 60313 Frankfurt am Main.

Internet address: http://www.rentenbank.de/d/Kredite/Richtlinie_Zweckvermoegen.pdf

Aid No: XA 70/05

Member State: Italy

Region: Lombardy

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Technical assistance to agricultural holdings to enable them to take advantage of the aids available under agricultural policies

Legal basis: 

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 775 000 for 2005

In subsequent years, expenditure will depend on the regional budget but will not exceed EUR 1 000 000 per year

Maximum aid intensity: In accordance with Article 14(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004, the aid will not exceed EUR 100 000,00 per holding

The first payment of aid, expressed as grant equivalent, can be EUR 8,00 per agricultural holding

Date of implementation: From the date of fulfilment of the requirements of Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Five years

Objective of aid: The purpose of the aid scheme is to provide information to farmers in Lombardy on the opportunities offered by the new Community programmes for the period 2007-13.

The technical assistance measures concerning the use of Community funding do not fully inform farmers of the new opportunities provided under Community and national aid schemes.

Adequate support must be provided to enable other qualified bodies, representing the agricultural sector, to provide technical assistance and information to supplement official measures, in terms of both quantity and quality, adapting them to the needs arising from the opening of the markets and the globalisation of the rural economy.

The management of the aid will be assigned, in accordance with the above regional legislation, to the most representative agricultural trade bodies in Lombardy, which must have a large membership spread throughout the region and a sufficiently extensive network of offices and must be adequately represented in the various agricultural and food sectors in the Region of Lombardy.

The managing bodies will be selected by means of an invitation to tender, which will stipulate the selection criteria and the procedure for granting technical assistance to agricultural SMEs.

In accordance with Community rules, the final beneficiaries of the assistance are agricultural SMEs as defined in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 operating in the Region of Lombardy.

This aid scheme is implemented under Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 to cover the cost of technical consultancy services

Sector(s) concerned: Small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises active in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products

Name and address of the granting authority: 

Website: www.regione.lombardia.it

www.agricoltura.regione.lombardia.it

Aid No: XA 71/05

Member State: Latvia

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Aid scheme: ‘Aid to promote initial recognition and start-up activities of new fruit and vegetable grower groups’

Legal basis: Ministru kabineta 2005. gada 25. janvāra noteikumi Nr. 70 “Noteikumi par valsts atbalstu lauksaimniecībai 2005. gadā un tā piešķiršanas kārtība” 7. pielikuma 4. nodaļa.

Annual expenditure planned or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The total amount of aid under the scheme for 2005 is LVL 26 000 (EUR 36 995)

Maximum aid intensity: Aid at a rate of 30 % of justified expenditure, i.e. rental of office premises, IT hardware and software, administrative staffing costs

Date of implementation: October 2005

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 

Objective of aid: The objective of the aid is to promote the creation and operation of fruit and vegetable grower groups

Sectors concerned: Aid is intended for small and medium-sized enterprises involved in agricultural activities.

Aid for the fruit and vegetable sectors.

Name and address of the granting authority: 

Web address: www.zm.gov.lv

Aid No: XA 72/05

Member State: Latvia

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Aid scheme: ‘Aid for agricultural investments’

Legal basis: Ministru kabineta 2005. gada 25. janvāra noteikumi Nr. 70 “Noteikumi par valsts atbalstu lauksaimniecībai 2005. gadā un tā piešķiršanas kārtība” 13. pielikums.

Annual expenditure planned or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The total amount of aid under the scheme for 2005 is LVL 3 579 426 (EUR 5 093 064)

Maximum aid intensity: Aid is granted at a rate of 30 % of expenditure for the following measures: acquisition, reconstruction or renovation of buildings, or the acquisition of essential construction materials for facilities for the pre-processing and storage of grain, oleaginous crops and fibre crops (including the acquisition and installation of automated weighing equipment and the acquisition of laboratory equipment); construction of asphalt or concrete areas adjacent to pre-processing sites not exceeding LVL 20 per square metre; acquisition of flax harvesting machinery; reconstruction or renovation of manufacturing buildings and/or the acquisition of essential construction materials for livestock products (honey, milk); acquisition of dairy cow farming facilities. The total amount of aid granted may not exceed LVL 30 000 for each individual applicant, or LVL 100 000 for each accredited agricultural services cooperative. Expenditure figures used to calculate aid shall be determined in accordance with initial costs as stated on proof-of-purchase documents (not including VAT). Transport costs are not included in subsidy calculations

Date of implementation: October 2005

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 

Objective of aid: The objective of the aid is to support agricultural investments for the purposes of increasing the added value of production and improving the quality of agricultural production.

Sectors concerned: Aid is intended for small and medium-sized enterprises involved in agricultural activities.

Aid is intended for the livestock and crop-farming branches of the sector

Name and address of the granting authority: 

Web address: www.zm.gov.lv

Other information: The aid scheme XA 29/05 is repealed upon entry into force of this aid scheme.

Aid number: XA 73/05

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: North West England

Title of Aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Collaborative Advisory Service (North West England)

Legal Basis: Section 5 of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998

Expenditure planned under the scheme: Total value of GBP 280 000 over 20 months. The funding is provided from three financial years listed below:

Maximum aid intensity: The aid intensity is 100 %

Date of implementation: 

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The scheme will close on 31 March 2007. Aid will continue to be paid until 30 June 2007

Objective of aid: Sectoral development. The scheme will provide an advice service for farmers, farmer controlled businesses (FCBs) and other collaborative ventures within the agricultural supply chain in the North West of England. The scheme will provide advice, to help improve farm business performance and efficiency through collaboration and supply chain efficiency.

The aid will be paid in line with Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 and the eligible costs will be consultancy services

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme is aimed primarily at businesses active in the production of agricultural products. However, some businesses in other parts of the wider agricultural supply chain (including processing and marketing) may also be eligible to take part. The scheme is open to businesses producing (or processing or marketing) any type of agricultural product

Name and address of the granting authority: 

Web-Address: www.effp.org.uk/intradoc-cgi/idc_cgi_isapi.dll?IdcService=GET_DOC_PAGE&Action=GetTemplatePage&Page=EFFP_NORTH_WEST_PAGE. Click on Collaborative Advisory Service (North West England).

Alternatively, you can access information on this scheme via the UK's central web listing for exempted agricultural State aid schemes (www.defra.gov.uk/farm/state-aid/setup/exist-exempt.htm).

Other information: The scheme will be made available to all businesses active in the wider supply chain for agricultural products. Accordingly, some of the businesses might not be active in the production, processing or marketing of Annex 1 products (e.g., businesses which process Annex 1 into non-Annex 1 products). Aid to non-agricultural businesses will be paid with regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 69/2001 on de minimis aid.

Beneficiaries will not be able to choose the service provider. The service provider will be English Farming and Food Partnerships who were selected by a tendering exercise on the basis of market principles in line with Article 14(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004

Aid No: XA 74/2005

Member State: Italy

Region: Giunta Regionale della CAMPANIA — Assessorato all'Agricoltura ed Attività Produttive — Area Generale di Coordinamento Sviluppo Attività Settore Primario — Settore Interventi per la Produzione Agricola, Produzione Agro Alimentare, Mercati Agricoli, Consulenza Mercantile

Title of aid scheme: Incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products to produce and use renewable energy sources and to improve energy efficiency in the agricultural sector

Legal basis: 

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: The planned budget is EUR 1 990 941,22, allocated by the Ministry of Agricultural and Forestry Policy to the Region of Campania by means of Ministerial Decree No 156409 of 8 November 2001 for the implementation of measures intended to achieve the objectives laid down in Article 1(3) and (4) of Legislative Decree No 173/98 and that comply with the implementation criteria laid down in Ministerial Decree No 401/99.

The maximum permitted expenditure on individual aid granted under this scheme will not exceed the sum laid down in Article 1(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 for holdings active in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products

Maximum aid intensity: The gross aid intensity may not exceed 40 % of eligible costs or 50 % for enterprises in less-favoured areas as defined in Article 17 of Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999.

In the case of investments by young farmers within five years of setting up, the maximum aid intensity may be increased to 50 % or 60 % in less favoured areas. By ‘young farmer’ is meant producers of agricultural products as defined in Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999

Date of implementation: Implementation of the aid scheme will begin on the thirtieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the Region of Campania (BURC) but not less than ten working days following the submission of this document, as provided for in Article 19(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The scheme will be open until the budget has been used up, but not beyond the period of validity of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004

Objective of aid: The aid scheme is intended for single or associated small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises as defined in Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 that are economically viable on the basis of the criteria laid down in Regional Decree No 183 of 5 April 2005, issued on the basis of the coordinated text of the Programming Complement to the Regional Operational Programme (ROP) for the Region of Campania for the years 2000-06, approved by Regional Government Decree No 1855 of 22 October 2004, and the amendments made to that document by Regional Government Decree No 846/2005.

The purpose of the aid is to encourage investments in the production and use of renewable energy sources by the above agricultural enterprises where such investments (renewable energy sources and reduction of energy costs during production) are subsidiary to the main agricultural or food-processing activities and are exclusively intended to supply the holding's own energy needs.

The measure provides for incentives to use agricultural and forestry products and/or by-products thereof and processing waste, with the exception of domestic waste, for heat production for exclusive use on holdings and aid for measures to save energy and to reduce the use of fossil fuels in production on holdings by replacing them with renewable energy sources

Specific reference to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1/2004

The aid scheme is based on Article 4 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 of 23 December 2003 concerning small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products (Italian Official Journal No L 001 of 3 January 2004)

Eligible expenditure

The following expenditure is eligible

Sector(s) concerned: The aid scheme applies to agricultural and food production in the Region of Campania. The scheme covers all subsectors of livestock and plant production

Name and address of the granting authority: 

Website: www.regione.campania.it

Aid No: XA 75/2005

Member State: Netherlands

Region: Province of Overijssel

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Implementing Decree on Grants in Overijssel in 2005, paragraph 4.2 ‘Development of agriculture with good future prospects’

Legal basis: Algemene Wet Bestuursrecht; Algemene Subsidieverordening Overijssel 2005

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 721 000 per year

Maximum aid intensity: 

Date of implementation: The Implementing Decree on Grants in Overijssel in 2005 enters into force on 1 October 2005

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: As it currently stands, the Section of the Implementing Decree on Grants in Overijssel in 2005 concerning ‘Development of agriculture with good future prospects’ will apply until 31 December 2006.

Objective of aid: The objective of granting aid on the basis of the Section of the Implementing Decree on Grants in Overijssel concerning ‘Development of agriculture with good future prospects’ is to:

improve the spatial structure of soil-based agriculture;

improve and reinforce the economic base of agriculture by promoting future-oriented enterprise and innovation.

In order to achieve this objective, grants can be awarded for:

For this purpose, the following articles of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 are being applied:

Article 4: investment in agricultural holdings;

Article 14: technical support in the agricultural sector

Sector(s) concerned: The Section of the Implementing Decree on Grants in Overijssel in 2005 concerning ‘Development of agriculture with good future prospects’ applies to agri-clusters (production, processing and marketing) in soil-based livestock farming (cattle, herbivores, goats, sheep), intensive livestock farming (poultry, pigs and calves), arable farming, open-air horticulture and horticulture under glass

Name and address of the granting authority: Gedeputeerde Staten van Overijssel

Website: www.prv-overijssel.nl

Aid No: XA 76/05

Member State: Latvia

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Aid scheme: ‘Aid for the reconstruction of land drainage systems’

Legal basis: Ministru kabineta 2005. gada 25. janvāra noteikumi Nr. 70 “Noteikumi par valsts atbalstu lauksaimniecībai 2005. gadā un tā piešķiršanas kārtība” 7. pielikuma 1. nodaļa.

Annual expenditure planned or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The total amount of aid under the scheme for 2005 is LVL 500 000

Maximum aid intensity: Aid is intended for the reconstruction of land drainage systems: renewal of drainage channels, replacement of drain systems with drainage ditches, installation of additional drainage branches. Subject to the provision of aid at a rate of 40 % of the costs of construction work on drainage systems. The amount of aid is increased by 10 % if a holding is located in a less-favoured area, as defined in the Regulation on rural development, and by 5 % for applicants up to the age 40 years.

Date of implementation: 

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 

Objective of Aid: To improve the humidity of soil.

Sectors concerned: Aid is intended for small and medium-sized enterprises involved in agricultural activities

Name and address of the granting authority: 

Website: www.zm.gov.lv

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Summary information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 of 23 December 2003 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products

(2006/C 73/04)

Aid No: XA 77/2005

Member State: Italy.

Region: Piedmont.

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Aid for investments in technological innovation and environmental protection, for modernising organisation and marketing and for improving safety at work

Legal basis: Deliberazione della Giunta Regionale n. 17-881 del 26 settembre 2005 (B.U.R.P n. 39, Supplemento, del 29 settembre 2005) «Funzioni delegate alla Regione in materia di incentivi alle imprese. Prescrizioni per l'accesso agli incentivi di cui alla L. 28.11.1965 n. 1329 ed all'art. 11 comma 2 lett. b) L. 27.10.1994 n. 598 e s.m.i.» modificativa della L. 598/84-art. 11 e s.m.i già approvata dalla Commissione con Lettera D/53877 del 17 luglio 2000 — Aiuto N/487/95

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 25 million

Maximum aid intensity: Interest subsidy.

Funding may cover up to 100 % of an investment programme for a period of up to seven years, including a grace period of no more than two years.

The rate of contribution is 100 % of the reference rate, laid down and updated by decree of the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Craft Trades (as provided for in Article 2(2) of Legislative Decree No 123/98), applicable on the date the financing contract is concluded, in accordance with the aid intensities permitted under EU rules

Date of implementation: 27 September 2005: the first grant of aid will not be made until the Commission has notified an identification number after receiving the summary information

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: To 31 December 2006

Objective of aid: Articles 4 and 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004. Permitted type of investments and expenditure: aid for investments in technological innovation and environmental protection, for modernising organisation and marketing and for improving safety at work in accordance with Articles 4 and 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme covers small and medium-sized enterprises active in the processing and marketing of agricultural products listed in Annex I to the EC Treaty

Name and address of the granting authority: 

Website: www.regione.piemonte.it/industria/index.htm

Other information: The annual expenditure referred to above is the total expenditure under both of the laws referred to under ‘Legal basis’ and under the scheme with the same legal basis covering SMEs not falling within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 but falling within that of Regulation (EC) No 70/2001

Aid No: XA 78/2005

Member State: Netherlands

Region: Zeeuws-Vlaanderen (province of Zeeland)

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Flax processing undertaking P.A. van Looij en Zn. B.V., Sint-Jansteen

Legal basis: Europees Fonds voor Regionale Ontwikkeling (EFRO), programma Doelstelling 5B-phasing out voor de regio Zeeuwsch-Vlaanderen (7,5 % subsidie), alsmede provinciale co-financiering Vitaal Platteland Zeeland (eveneens 7,5 %)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The total grant amounts to EUR 33 525

Maximum aid intensity: In accordance with EU standards (programme complement under SPD Objective 5b phasing out programme), the maximum aid amounts to 15 %. This corresponds to the actual percentage of aid granted to P.A. van Looij en Zn. B.V., i.e. 15 %

Date of implementation: The aid will be definitively granted and implemented ten days after the present summary information is sent (anticipated in December 2005)

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The entire amount of the individual aid will be paid in a single instalment

Objective of aid: Aid for investment in an agricultural holding (Article 4). By means of the aid, an amount is granted for investment in innovative equipment so that the agricultural holding may be operated in a more environmentally-friendly manner. There is no question of an increase in production or of investment aid limited to specific agricultural products

Sector(s): Processing of flax

Name and address of the granting authority: 

Website: www.zeeland.nl

Aid No: XA 79/2005

Member State: Netherlands

Region: Zeeuws-Vlaanderen (province of Zeeland).

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Flax processing undertaking J. van Gremberghe & Zn, Koewacht

Legal basis: Europees Fonds voor Regionale Ontwikkeling (EFRO), programma Doelstelling 5B-phasing out voor de regio Zeeuwsch-Vlaanderen (7,5 % subsidie), alsmede provinciale co-financiering Vitaal Platteland Zeeland (eveneens 7,5 %)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The total grant amounts to EUR 27 000

Maximum aid intensity: In accordance with EU standards (programme complement under SPD Objective 5b phasing out programme), the maximum aid amounts to 15 %. This corresponds to the actual percentage of aid granted to J. van Gremberghe & Zn., i.e. 15 %

Date of implementation: The aid will be definitively granted and implemented ten days after the present summary information is sent (anticipated in December 2005)

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The entire amount of the individual aid will be paid in a single instalment.

Objective of aid: Aid for investment in an agricultural holding (Article 4). By means of the aid, an amount is granted for investment in innovative equipment so that the agricultural holding may be operated in a more environmentally-friendly manner. There is no question of an increase in production or of investment aid limited to specific agricultural products

Sector(s) concerned: Processing of flax

Name and address of the granting authority: 

Website: www.zeeland.nl

Aid No: XA 80/05

Member State: France

Region: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Title of aid scheme: Investment aid for the construction of agricultural storage sheds for CUMAs (cooperatives for the use of agricultural equipment)

Legal basis: 

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: EUR 200 000

Maximum aid intensity: The aid will take the form of a grant at a rate of 20 % of the eligible investments, exclusive of tax, up to a ceiling of EUR 40 000 of eligible expenditure. It is intended for CUMAs

Date of implementation: From the time of registration and acknowledgement of receipt by the Commission

Duration of scheme: Until 31 December 2006.

Objective of aid: This measure, which falls within the scope of Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 of 23 December 2003, is aimed at encouraging investment in premises facilitating the maintenance and safe storage of CUMA equipment, and is to benefit of all members of such CUMAs

The aid will make it possible to cover part of the cost of CUMA investments in the construction of agricultural storage sheds (in chipboard, wood or sheet metal: walls and roof structure) and the requisite connections (electricity, water, drainage). The aim is to encourage the storage of equipment within CUMAs.

Sectors concerned: The agricultural production sector and, more specifically, cooperatives for the use of agricultural equipment. CUMAs group together agricultural holdings.

Aid may be applied for only by CUMAs which own the site of the future storage sheds or are holders of a long-term lease of 25 years' duration, if the site belongs to an authority, or 50 years' duration, if the site belongs to a private individual. CUMAs must comprise at least four members if the long-term lease is concluded with a local authority and at least six members if the long-term lease is concluded with an individual

Name and address of the granting authority: 

Address of website: www.cr-paca.fr

Aid No: XA 81/05

Member State: Spain

Region: Principality of Asturias

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: ‘Aid for implementing innovation projects’. [‘Ayudas a la realización de proyectos de innovación’.]

Legal basis: Resolución del Presidente del Instituto de Desarrollo Económico del Principado de Asturias, por la que se establecen ayudas a empresas en el marco del programa INNOVA EMPRESAS

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 3 000 100, over the period 2005 to 2007 (planned annual expenditure for 2005: EUR 1 000 000) (planned annual expenditure for 2006: EUR 1 000 050) (planned annual expenditure for 2007: EUR 1 000 050)

Maximum aid intensity: EUR 100 000 per beneficiary over a period of 3 years

Date of implementation: From the official date of publication of the aid scheme

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 

Objective of aid: The purpose of the aid is to encourage SMEs to carry out innovation projects, with the aim of contributing to improvements in the firm's competitiveness, under Article 14 of the current Regulation. The subcontracting of outside expertise to carry out the project will be regarded as eligible expenditure

Sector(s) concerned: Sectors relating to the processing of products listed in Annex I to the Treaty, except fishery and aquaculture products

Name and address of the granting authority: 

Web address: www.idepa.es

No of the aid: XA 83/2005

Member State: Netherlands

Name of organisation receiving the aid: Central Food Trade Office (CBL), the trade association for Dutch supermarkets

Legal basis: Subsidiebeschikking op basis van de Kaderwet LNV-subsidies

Annual expenditure planned on the basis of the aid granted to the association: 2005: maximum EUR 100 000

2006: maximum EUR 100 000

2007: maximum EUR 100 000

Maximum aid intensity: 50 %

Date of implementation: End of 2005

Duration of scheme: 3 years

Objective of aid: to raise livestock and arable farmers' awareness of supermarkets' supply criteria (i.e. EurepGAP), partly in connection with the new legislation on foodstuff hygiene (the ‘hygiene package’) and other quality (guarantee) systems, such as Integrated Chain Management (ICM) for meat and those of the dairy industry and British Retail Consortium (BRC).

The project is compatible with the common market and with the exemption provided for in Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 (technical support in the agricultural sector), and includes information and training for farmers

Sector(s) concerned: primary producers (farmers), processors of agricultural products, traders and supermarkets

Name and address of the granting authority: 

Website: www.minlnv.nl/loket.

Supplementary information: The primary target group comprises the 50 000 or so stock and arable farmers in the Netherlands

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Communication in accordance with Article 12(5)(a) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992, on the information provided by the customs authorities of the Member States concerning the classification of goods in the customs nomenclature

(2006/C 73/05)

Binding Tariff Information ceases to be valid from this day if it becomes incompatible with the interpretation of the customs nomenclature as a result of the following international tariff measures:

Amendments to the Harmonized System Explanatory Notes and the Compendium of Classification Opinions, approved by the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC doc. NC0892, NC0938 — reports of the 34th and 35th Sessions of the HS Committee):

AMENDMENTS TO THE EXPLANATORY NOTES TO BE DONE UNDER ARTICLE 8 PROCEDURE OF THE HS CONVENTION AND CLASSIFICATION OPINIONS EDITED BY THE HS COMMITTEE OF THE WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANIZATION

(34th SESSION OF THE HSC IN SEPTEMBER 2004, 35th SESSION OF THE HSC IN MARCH 2005)

DOC. NC0892, NC0938

Amendments of the Explanatory Notes of the Nomenclature annexed to the HS Convention

HSC/35 — March 2005

Classification Opinions approved by the HS Committee

HSC/34 — September 2004

HSC/35 — March 2005

Information regarding the contents of these measures can be obtained from the Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union of the European Commission (rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200, B-1049 Brussels) or can be downloaded from the internet site of this Directorate-General:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/taxation_customs/customs/customs_duties/tariff_aspects/harmonised_system/index_en.htm

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ADMINISTRATIVE AGREEMENT

BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN

(2006/C 73/06)

The European Commission, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Spain, of the other part,

Having regard to the conclusions adopted by the ‘General affairs and external relations’ Council of the European Union, meeting on 13 June 2005, with regard to the official use of additional languages in the Council and, where appropriate, in other institutions and bodies of the European Union,

Whereas:

AGREE to conclude this ADMINISTRATIVE AGREEMENT to allow the official use in the European Union of, in addition to Spanish or Castilian, the other languages which in Spain enjoy a status recognised by the Spanish Constitution of 1978.

Article 1

Spanish citizens, or any other natural or legal person residing or established in Spain, shall be entitled, under the terms of Spanish law and in accordance with the conclusions of the Council of 13 June 2005, to address their written communications to the European Commission in any of the languages which, under the Spanish Constitution, have official status within Spanish territory.

Article 2

The Spanish Government shall bear the European Commission's direct or indirect costs arising from the application of this administrative agreement.

Once a year, the competent departments of the Commission shall apply to the Spanish authorities for reimbursement of the expenditure incurred, calculated as a lump sum, on the basis of the number of pages translated by them in accordance with the procedure provided for in this agreement.

Final provision

This agreement shall enter into force once the Spanish Government has notified the Secretariat-General of the Commission of the bodies designated by Spanish law as the competent bodies for making the translations referred to in Article 1.

Brussels, 21 December 2005.

The Commission of the European Communities and the Kingdom of Spain

Carlos BASTARRECHE

Ambassador

Permanent Representative

Catherine DAY

Secretary-General

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Information procedure — Technical rules

(2006/C 73/07)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Directive 98/34/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations and of rules on Information Society services. (OJ L 204, 21.7.1998, p. 37; OJ L 217, 5.8.1998, p.18).

Notifications of draft national technical rules received by the Commission

The Commission draws attention to the judgement delivered on 30 April 1996 in the ‘CIA Security’ case (C-194/94 — ECR I, p. 2201), in which the Court of Justice ruled that Articles 8 and 9 of Directive 98/34/EC (formerly 83/189/EEC) are to be interpreted as meaning that individuals may rely on them before national courts which must decline to apply a national technical regulation which has not been notified in accordance with the Directive.

This judgement confirms the Commission's communication of 1 October 1986 (OJ C 245, 1.10.1986, p. 4).

Accordingly, breach of the obligation to notify renders the technical regulations concerned inapplicable, and consequently unenforceable against individuals.

For more information on the notification procedure, please write to:

Also consult the website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/tris/

If you require any further information on these notifications, please contact the national departments listed below:

LIST OF NATIONAL DEPARTMENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF DIRECTIVE 98/34/EC

BELGIUM

CZECH REPUBLIC

DENMARK

GERMANY

ESTONIA

GREECE

SPAIN

FRANCE

IRELAND

ITALY

CYPRUS

LATVIA

LITHUANIA

LUXEMBURG

HUNGARY

MALTA

NETHERLANDS

AUSTRIA

POLAND

PORTUGAL

SLOVENIA

SLOVAKIA

FINLAND

SWEDEN

UNITED KINGDOM

EFTA — ESA

TURKEY

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(1)  Year — registration number — Member State of origin.

(2)  Period during which the draft may not be adopted.

(3)  No standstill period since the Commission accepts the grounds of urgent adoption invoked by the notifying Member State.

(4)  No standstill period since the measure concerns technical specifications or other requirements or rules on services linked to fiscal or financial measures, pursuant to the third indent of the second paragraph of Article 1(11) of Directive 98/34/EC.

(5)  Information procedure closed.

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European Central Bank

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AGREEMENT

of 16 March 2006

between the European Central Bank and the national central banks of the Member States outside the euro area laying down the operating procedures for an exchange rate mechanism in stage three of Economic and Monetary Union

(2006/C 73/08)

THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK (ECB) AND THE NATIONAL CENTRAL BANKS OF THE MEMBER STATES THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE EURO AREA ON 16 MARCH 2006 (HEREINAFTER THE ‘NON-EURO AREA NCBs’),

Whereas:

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

I.   CENTRAL RATES AND FLUCTUATION BANDS

Article 1

Bilateral central rates and intervention rates between the euro and the participating non-euro area currencies

II.   INTERVENTION

Article 2

General provisions

Article 3

Intervention at the margins

Article 4

Coordinated intramarginal intervention

The ECB and participating non-euro area NCBs may agree to co-ordinated intramarginal intervention.

Article 5

Procedures for intervention and other transactions

III.   VERY SHORT-TERM FINANCING FACILITY

Article 6

General provisions

Article 7

Financing of intervention at the margins

Article 8

Financing of intramarginal intervention

For the purpose of intramarginal intervention, the very short-term financing facility may, with the agreement of the central bank issuing the intervention currency, be made available subject to the following conditions:

Article 9

Remuneration

Article 10

Automatic renewal

At the request of the debtor central bank, the initial maturity for a financing operation may be extended for a period of three months.

However:

Article 11

Renewal by mutual agreement

Article 12

Advance repayment

Any debtor balance recorded in accordance with Articles 6, 10 and 11 of this Agreement may be settled at any time in advance at the request of the debtor central bank.

Article 13

Netting-out of mutual claims and liabilities

Mutual claims and liabilities between the ECB and a participating non-euro area NCB arising from the operations provided for in Articles 6 to 12 of this Agreement may be netted out against each other by mutual agreement between the two parties involved.

Article 14

Means of settlement

IV.   CLOSER EXCHANGE RATE COOPERATION

Article 15

Closer exchange rate cooperation

V.   MONITORING THE FUNCTION OF THE SYSTEM

Article 16

Tasks of the General Council of the ECB

Article 17

Reconsideration of central rates and participation in narrower fluctuation bands

VI.   NON-PARTICIPATION

Article 18

Applicability

The provisions of Article 1, 2.1, 3, 4, 6 to 15 and 17 of this Agreement shall not apply to non-euro area NCBs which do not participate in ERM II.

Article 19

Cooperation in the concertation

Non-euro area NCBs not participating in ERM II shall cooperate with the ECB and the participating non-euro area NCBs in the concertation and/or the other exchanges of information necessary for the proper functioning of ERM II.

VII.   FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 20

Final provisions

Done at Frankfurt am Main, on 16 March 2006.

For and on behalf of

The European Central Bank

For and on behalf of

Česká národní banka

For and on behalf of

Danmarks Nationalbank

For and on behalf of

Eesti Pank

For and on behalf of

Central Bank of Cyprus

For and on behalf of

Latvijas Banka

For and on behalf of

Lietuvos bankas

For and on behalf of

Magyar Nemzeti Bank

For and on behalf of

Central Bank of Malta

For and on behalf of

Narodowy Bank Polski

For and on behalf of

Banka Slovenije

For and on behalf of

Národná banka Slovenska

For and on behalf of

Sveriges Riksbank

For and on behalf of

The Bank of England

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(1)OJ C 345, 13.11.1998, p. 6. Agreement as last amended by the Agreement of 16 September 2004 (OJ C 281, 18.11.2004, p. 3).

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ANNEX I

QUOTATION CONVENTION FOR CURRENCIES PARTICIPATING IN ERM II AND THE PAYMENT AFTER PAYMENT PROCEDURE IN THE EVENT OF INTERVENTION AT THE MARGINS

A.   Quotation convention

For all the currencies of the non-euro area Member States participating in ERM II, the exchange rate for the bilateral central rate vis-à-vis the euro shall be quoted using the euro as the base currency. The exchange rate shall be expressed as the value of E1 using six significant digits for all currencies.

The same convention shall be applied for quoting the upper and lower intervention rates vis-à-vis the euro of the currencies of the non-euro area Member States participating in ERM II. The intervention rates shall be determined by adding or subtracting the agreed bandwidth, expressed as a percentage, to or from the bilateral central rates. The resulting rates shall be rounded to six significant digits.

B.   Payment after payment procedure

A payment after payment procedure shall be applied by both the ECB and the euro area NCBs in the event of intervention at the margins. The non-euro area NCBs participating in ERM II shall apply the payment after payment procedure when acting as correspondents of the euro area NCBs and the ECB in accordance with this Annex; the non-euro area NCBs participating in ERM II may, at their discretion, adopt the same payment after payment procedure when settling intervention at the margins that such NCBs have carried out on their own behalf.

(i)   General principles

(ii)   Deadline for the receipt of funds from counterparties

Counterparties shall pay intervention amounts at the latest by 1 p.m. ECB (CET) time on value date.

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(1)OJ L 207, 17.8.2000, p. 24. Guideline as last amended by Guideline ECB/2005/15 (OJ L 345, 28.12.2005, p. 33).

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ANNEX II

CEILINGS ON ACCESS TO THE VERY SHORT-TERM FINANCING FACILITY REFERRED TO IN ARTICLES 8, 10 AND 11 OF THE CENTRAL BANK AGREEMENT

with effect from 1 May 2004

(in millions of EUR)

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(1)  The amounts indicated are notional for central banks which do not participate in ERM II.

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