----

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

(2005/C 146/02)

Aid No: XA No 62/04

Member State: Italy

Region: Region of Marche

Title of aid scheme: Award of grants to agricultural and livestock holdings damaged by the earthquake on 26 September 1997 with a view to bringing temporary stables converted into permanent fixtures into line with health and hygiene requirements.

Legal basis: Art. 2 Legge regionale n. 21 del 10 dicembre 2003‘Trasformazione in costruzioni a carattere permanente degli alloggi prefabbricati temporanei installati a seguito degli eventi sismici iniziati il 26 settembre 1997’. Delibera giunta regionale n 789 del 13/7/2004

Annual expenditure planned: The total expenditure planned for 2004 and 2005 amounts to EUR 1 000 000.

Maximum aid intensity: The aid scheme provides for capital grants to undertake the infrastructural investment needed to convert small-scale permanent constructions.

The grant is equivalent to 50 % of the expenditure incurred on the eligible investments, calculated using prices not exceeding those in the official Marche Region price-list for public works, and in any event within the following agreed expenditure limits:

EUR 135,00 per square metre in the case of health and hygiene improvements; The following further amount(s) will be added to the above:

EUR 6,00 per square metre for technical expenditure on health and hygiene improvements.

The relevant taxes and contributions (VAT, national insurance contributions, etc), if not recoverable, can be added to the amount of the aid sum as calculated.

As the stables in question are located in municipalities defined as less-favoured areas under Directive 75/268/EEC as supplemented and amended, the upper aid rate of 50 % will be applied. These same areas have been listed in Annexes 3 and/or 12 to Decree No 196/04 of the Official Responsible for Rural and Agricultural Development on the common annexes relating to tenders for implementing RDP measures.

Date of implementation: From 2004, but no earlier than 10 working days after the submission of this form, as required by Article 19(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004.

Duration of scheme: The aid may be granted up to 31 December 2005.

Objective of aid: The aid is intended for small and medium-sized farm enterprises and associations thereof which satisfy the profitability requirements established in the RSP for the Region of Marche, approved by the Commission by Decision C(2000) 2726 DEF of 26 September 2000 and is based on Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004.

In accordance with the abovementioned Article 4, the objectives are to improve and convert production and to protect and improve the environment and the health and welfare conditions of livestock.

One specific objective of the Regional Law mentioned in the legal basis is to preserve the region's heritage in stables and barns needed for agricultural production, so avoiding the significant environmental impact caused by the replacement of wooden structures with new ones in reinforced concrete.

Eligible expenditure: Eligible expenses, in accordance with Article 4(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 are those incurred on upgrading stables to comply with the health and hygiene legislation in place, including the construction of the relevant manure-pits.

The eligibility of the expenditure begins to run from the date on which the aid is granted.

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to small and medium-sized enterprises involved in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products.

Name and address of the granting authority: Region of Marche — Centro operativo di Muccia e Fabriano

Other information: The aid will be granted exclusively to small and medium-sized enterprises in the agricultural sector whose financial viability can be demonstrated for products with normal outlets now or in the future, provided the investments do not result in an increase of more than 20 % in the production capacity of the small and medium-sized enterprises, to be calculated in livestock units in the case of livestock production and as area cultivated in the case of plant production.

The criteria and procedures governing the evaluations and measures for verifying compliance with the above requirements (provided for in Article 4(5), (6) and (8)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004) will be those laid down in the RSP for the Region of Marche, referred to in Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999, approved by the Commission by Decision C(2000) 2726 DEF of 26 September 2000 and published on the Internet at the following address: www.agri.marche.it

Aid No: XA 1/05

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: Lancashire (including the unitary authority areas of Blackpool and Blackburn) and the districts of Wigan, Bolton, Bury, Rochdale and Oldham.

Title of Aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Rural Business Facilitation Service (Lancashire and North Manchester)

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

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The total budget of the scheme will be GBP 3 490 068. This will be split over 4 financial years:

Maximum aid intensity: 100 % for initial consultancy provided by the Rural Business Facilitation Service.

50 % for in depth consultancy provided by external consultants.

Date of implementation: The scheme will open on 31 January 2005.

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The scheme will remain open until 30 June 2007.

Objective of aid: Sectoral development — the scheme will aid the long term development of Lancashire's rural economy through the provision of advice and technical support to farmers and agricultural businesses aimed at improving business performance and efficiency.

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

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to all agricultural businesses, including production, processing and marketing. The scheme is open to all subsectors.

Name and address of the granting authority: 

Web-address: www.defra.gov.uk/farm/state-aid/setup/exist-exempt.htm. Click on ‘Rural Business Facilitation Service (Lancashire and North Manchester)’. Alternatively, you can go direct to http://defraweb/farm/state-aid/setup/schemes/rbfs.pdf.

Other information: The scheme will provide a first contact point for any rural business in Lancashire and North Manchester seeking initial advice to improve and develop their business. More detailed consultancy will then be made available to take ideas forward. Where subsidised consultancy is already available through other Government-funded advice schemes, applicants will be directed to those other schemes. Where advice is not available elsewhere, RBFS staff will provide consultancy or will refer applicants to external consultants. Where external consultants are involved, the aid intensity is reduced to 50 % from 100 % (see above).

The scheme will be made available to all rural businesses, not just agricultural businesses. Aid to non-agricultural businesses will be paid with regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 69/2001 on de minimis aid.

Aid No: XA No 02/05

Member State: Italy

Region: Umbria

Title of aid scheme: Implementation of support measures for investment in the food industry

Legal basis: 

Il regime di aiuti in argomento, avviato a far data dalla pubblicazione del bando pubblico (4 novembre 2004), è da considerarsi come riapertura dei termini di presentazione delle domande di aiuto a valere delle Misure 1.1.1. (a), 1.2.1 (g) e 1.2.2.(m) del PSR della Regione Umbria la cui copertura finanziaria è assicurata con risorse regionali, qualora non si rendessero disponibili risorse nazionali aggiuntive sulla dotazione del Piano di Sviluppo Rurale dell'Umbria.

Annual expenditure planned: EUR 50 million (estimated)

Maximum aid intensity: Variable depending upon the type of eligible investment:

40 % of the cost of real estate and plant by destination (investment in agricultural holdings and in the agricultural product processing and marketing sector),

20 % of the cost of purchasing machinery and equipment (investment in agricultural holdings),

up to 50 % of the cost of introducing business quality control systems to ISO 9000 standards, up to EUR 100 000 per holding,

up to 50 % of the cost of introducing environmental quality systems to ISO 14000 standards, up to EUR 100 000 per holding,

up to 50 % for agri-food enterprises and 80 % for agricultural enterprises of the cost of implementing hygiene and health own checks plans according to the HACCP model up to EUR 100 000 per holding,

up to 60 % for agri-food enterprises and 80 % for agricultural enterprises of the cost of introducing checking procedures on the retraceability of food products and introducing certification of the food chain,

up to 80 % of eligible costs for planning and implementing marketing projects for quality agricultural products,

up to 50 % of eligible costs for preparing quality specifications and technical studies on feasibility and design for the identification and/or standardisation of product properties and for the presentation of quality products.

Date of implementation: 

Duration of scheme: Annual

Objective of aid: Strengthening integration between the various parties involved in the agri-food sector. Articles used: 4, 7, 13.

Eligible costs: 

Aid for production (Article 4)

Processing and marketing (Article 7):

Aid to encourage the production and marketing of quality agricultural products (Article 13):

Sectors concerned: The scheme applies to production, processing and/or marketing of agricultural products as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004. In all cases, investments are ineligible if they increase production capabilities in sectors for which specific limitations exist in terms of Common Market Organisations as adequate market outlets are not guaranteed for these.

Name and address of the granting authority: Regione Umbria — Direzione Attività Produttive

Centro Direzionale Fontivegge — 06100 Perugia

E-mail: fgarofalo@regione.umbria.it: Web address: www.regione.umbria.it

Aid No: XA 03/05

Member State: Spain

Region: Castile-Leon

Title of aid scheme: Aid to promote the cooperative movement in the Autonomous Community of Castile-Leon

Legal basis: Orden AYG.../2005, de ... febrero, de la Consejería de Agricultura y Ganadería, por la que se regulan y convocan ayudas destinadas a la promoción del movimiento cooperativo en la comunidad autónoma de Castilla y León.

This aid scheme falls within the scope of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 of 23 December 2003 and complies with Articles 10, 13 and 14 thereof concerning, respectively, aid for producer groups, aid to promote the production and marketing of quality products and technical assistance in agriculture.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The planned aid amounts to EUR 1 200 000 for 2005.

Maximum aid intensity: 

Date of application: The aid scheme is due to enter into force in March 2005

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

Aim of the aid: 

General objective: To strengthen agricultural cooperatives in Castile-Leon

Secondary objectives: 

Articles used: 

Eligible costs: 

Sector(s) concerned: Agriculture in general, and cooperative associations in particular

Note:Cooperatives which have been recently approved but which have not yet undertaken any actions or provided any services at the date of entry into force of this aid scheme may be considered newly created cooperatives.

Name and address of the granting authority: The aid will be granted by the Castile-Leon Government, and administered by the Directorate-General for agricultural industrialisation and modernisation of the Ministry for Agriculture and Livestock Farming.

C/ Rigoberto Cortejoso, 14 — 47014 Valladolid (Spain).

Website: The full text of the aid scheme will be published on the website of the Castile-Leon Government at http://www.jcyl.es/agrocomercializacion.

Other information: Management of the aid will be subject to the Order and must comply with Article 18 of the Regulation as regards cumulation.

Aid No: XA 04/05

Member State: Spain

Region: The entire territory

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Grants to holders of dairy farms to offset the cost of milk inspection

Legal base: 

Real Decreto por el que se regula el control oficial del rendimiento lechero para la evaluación genética en las especies bovina, ovina y caprina

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 2 500 000

Maximum aid intensity: Up to 70 % of the cost of milk inspection

Date of application: 2005

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

Aim of the aid: Grants to holders of dairy farms to encourage action in breeding, preserving and promoting livestock breeds. The grants fall within the scope of the following Articles of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 on State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products: Article 15(b): aid at a rate of up to 70 % of the costs of tests performed by or on behalf of third parties, to determine the genetic quality or yield of livestock.

Sector(s) concerned: holders of dairy farms with cattle, sheep and goats of breeds entered in the herd books

Name and address of the granting authority: Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Directorate-General for Livestock Farming, Alfonso XII, 62, 28014 Madrid

Website: http://www.mapa.es-Sección Ganadería

Aid No: XA 05/05

Member State: France

Region: Département de la Manche

Title of aid scheme: Aid for sheds for co-operatives for the pooled use of agricultural equipment

Legal basis: 

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: EUR 54 000 annual aid (maximum)

Maximum aid intensity: 30 % of investments, subject to an aid ceiling of EUR 13 500 per investment.

Date of implementation: On receiving the acknowledgement of receipt by the European Commission in 2005.

Duration of scheme: Until 31 December 2007 at the latest.

Objective of aid: To encourage group investment and lower production costs by facilitating the construction, purchase, modernisation, conversion and extension of sheds designed to house co-operatives' shared agricultural equipment.

Nature of operations eligible for aid: The following investments are eligible for aid under Article 4 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 of 23 December 2003: the construction, purchase, modernisation, conversion and extension of sheds.

Sector(s) concerned: All sectors of agricultural production

Name and address of the granting authority: 

Web-address: http: //www.cg50.fr/le guide des aides

Aid No: XA 06/05

Member State: Hungary

Region: Hungary

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Agricultural development loan programme

Three sub-programmes:

Legal basis: 

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The total budget available for the loan programme is HUF 40 billion. In accordance with the National Budget Act, exchange rate guarantee is provided by the Government for this amount in order to offer loans at interest rates lower than the current market rates.

The amount of aid included in the loans will be calculated according to the formula below:

where:  and

TT aid amount

Q loan amount

I reference rate

i' preferential interest rate

P maturity (including grace period)

F grace period

rP r to the power of P

rF r to the power of F

Guarantee by credit guarantee institutions with a 70 % State counter-guarantee may also be associated with the loan programme. The method of calculating the aid amount of the credit guarantees was submitted for inclusion in the list of existing agricultural State aids for the Commission of the European Union on 31 August 2004. (Notification No: 82-83)

Maximum aid intensity: For each subprogramme, maximum aid intensity must not exceed:

In the case of aid cumulation, Article 18(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 applies.

The maximum aid amount may not exceed EUR 6 million, or in the case of young farmers, HUF 6 375 000 (EUR 25 000).

Date of implementation: Contracts may be awarded under the loan programme from the date of entry into force of the Government Decree on the loan programme until 31 December 2006

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Maximum 15 years (December 2021)

Objective of aid: 

During the implementation of the agricultural development loan programme, Hungarian Development Bank Inc. will apply the relevant Articles of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004. Sub-programmes A, B and C are based on Articles 4, 7 and 8 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004.

Eligible costs are determined according to the conditions laid down in the abovementioned articles of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004. Detailed information on the eligible costs can be found in the programme description of the bank also available at the Internet address specified below.

Sector(s) concerned: Agriculture

This programme applies to the production and first-stage processing of agricultural products and to services related to agricultural products.

Name and address of the granting authority: Magyar Fejlesztési Bank Részvénytársaság (Hungarian Development Bank Inc.) Nádor u. 31., H-1051 Budapest, Hungary

Website: http://www.fvm.hu/main.php?folderID=1569

Other information: Contact person: Szilvia Németh

mail to: NemethS@posta.fvm.hu

Aid number: XA 7/05

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: Dorset (including Bournemouth and Poole unitary authority areas)

Title of Aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Dorset Agricultural Advisory Service

Legal basis: Local Government Act 2000 (Part one)

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

Maximum aid intensity: The aid intensity is 100 %.

Date of implementation: Farmers and land based owners will be able to obtain advice and on or after 10 February 2005.

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The scheme will close on 22 June 2007. Aid will be paid until 30 June 2007.

Objective of aid: The objective of the aid is sectoral development for land based business sector. The aid is being implemented under Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004. The eligible costs are consultancy services.

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme will apply to businesses involved in agricultural production and to the businesses processing and marketing their own agricultural produce.

Name and address of the granting authority: 

The organisation operating the scheme is

Web-address: www.defra.gov.uk/farm/state-aid/setup/exist-exempt.htm. Click on Dorset Agricultural Advisory Services. Alternatively, you can go direct to www.defra.gov.uk/farm/state-aid/setup/schemes/dorset.pdf.

Other information: The scheme will be made available to non-agricultural land based businesses as well as agricultural businesses. Aid to non-agricultural businesses will be paid with regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 69/2001 on de minimis aid.

Under this scheme beneficiaries will not be able to choose their own service provider. The service provider will be the Royal Bath & West of England Society and was chosen on the basis of market principles in line with Article 14(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004.

Signed and dated on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (UK competent authority):

Graham Collins

Agricultural State Aid Adviser

Defra

8E, 9 Millbank

c/o Nobel House

17 Smith Square

London

SW1P 3JR

United Kingdom

----

(1)  a kormányrendelet szövege megtalálható a megadott Internet címen

----