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I Information

Commission

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Euro exchange rates (1)

29 July 2005

(2005/C 187/01)

1 euro= 

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(1)

Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3899 — Danaher/Leica MS)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2005/C 187/02)

(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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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3906 — 3i Group/PIHL)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2005/C 187/03)

(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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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M. 3886 — Aster 2/Flint Ink)

(2005/C 187/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

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

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3841 — Valoriza Gestion/Aguas de las Palmas)

(2005/C 187/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 22 July 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 Spanish 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.3578 — BP/Nova Chemicals/JV)

(2005/C 187/06)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 1 July 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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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3804 — Continental/Xtra Print)

(2005/C 187/07)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 4 July 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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Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises

(2005/C 187/08)

(Text with EEA relevance)

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Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises, as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 364/2004 of 25 February 2004

(2005/C 187/09)

(Text with EEA relevance)

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Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises

(2005/C 187/10)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Aid No: XS 34/01

Member State: Italy

Region: Apulia

Title of aid scheme: Combinations of aid from different schemes or different sources of funding. XS/34/2001

Legal basis: 

Legge regionale 4 gennaio 2001 n. 3/01 modificata dalla legge regionale n. 23/01

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: 2001: EUR 25 million

2002: EUR 25 million

2003: EUR 25 million

2004: EUR 25 million

2005: EUR 25 million

2006: EUR 25 million

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum aid intensity for Apulia on the European regional aid map (35 % nge + 15 % gge)

Date of implementation: 12 September 2001 (date on which the aid schemes were notified to the Commission)

Duration of scheme: Until 31 December 2006

Objective of aid: The aid is intended to promote complex investment programmes through various forms of incentive brought together into a single expenditure commitment via negotiated procedures. The following costs are eligible:

Economic sector(s) concerned: The aid is intended for SMEs operating in the craft sector, industry, tourism, the distributive trades and services. The following economic activities are excluded:

iron and steel;

shipbuilding;

fisheries;

transport;

farming;

production, processing or marketing of the products listed in Annex I to the EC Treaty (see Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No 70/2001);

export-related activities (see Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No 70/2001);

manufacture of synthetic and artificial fibres.

Name and address of granting authority: 

Aid No: XS 73/03

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: North East of England

Title of aid scheme or name of Company receiving individual aid: Business Support Fund

Legal basis: Local Government and Housing Act 1989

Local Government Act 2000

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: 2003 — GBP 630 000

2004 — GBP 504 000

2005 — GBP 504 000

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum aid intensity will be 30 % (assisted area 20 % for North Tyneside under Article 87(3)(c) + 10 % to reach the maximum aid intensity of 30 %)

Date of implementation: 

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 1 March 2003 — 31 December 2005

Objective of aid: The project will provide grant assistance to new and existing businesses (in existence for less than 36 months) to help bridge funding gaps so as to encourage investment in improved performance and competitiveness. The aid will be calculated on the basis of the costs of specific investments in land, buildings, machinery and equipment.

Research has shown that 96 % of businesses need financial support to undertake investment projects. Without this, projects would not go ahead or would be delayed. The grant will enable a funding package to be put together and unlock the potential of private-sector finance where limited collateral is available or if a project is considered to present a higher-than-normal level of commercial risk.

Economic sector(s) concerned: All eligible industry sectors, without prejudice to special rules concerning State aid in certain sectors — Art. 1(2) of SME Block Exemption Regulations

Name and address of granting authority: ERDF Contact:

Neil McGuinness

European Programmes Secretariat

Government Office North East

Wellbar House

Gallowgate

Newcastle Upon Tyne

Tyne and Wear NE1 4TD

Sponsor Contact:

Michael Halsey

Head of Development

North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council

105 Howard Street

North Shields

Tyne and Wear NE 30 1NA

Aid No: XS 89/02

Member State: Italy

Region: Molise

Title of aid scheme: Law No 1329/65 (the ‘Sabatini Law’): grants for the acquisition or leasing of new machine tools or production equipment

Legal basis: Legge 28.11.1965, n. 1329;

Legge 19.12.1983, n. 696, art. 3;

Legge 16.2.1987, n. 44;

Decreto del Ministro dell'Industria, del Commercio e dell'Artigianato del 21.02.1973;

Decreto del Ministro del Tesoro del 30.4.1987;

Legge 17.5.1999, n. 144;

Decreto legislativo 31.03.1998, n. 112, art. 19;

Decreto legislativo 31.03.1998, n. 123;

Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 of 12 January 2001;

Delibera di Giunta della Regione Molise del 5 giugno 2001, n. 653;

Delibera di Giunta Regione Molise dell'8 luglio 2002, n. 953.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: EUR 2 471 000 (until 2006)

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum aid intensity in the areas eligible for exemption under Article 87(3)(c) of the EC Treaty is 20 % nge plus 10 % gge. In all the other areas of the region which do not qualify under Article 87(3)(c) the aid intensity will be 15 % gge for small firms and 7,5 % gge for medium-sized firms.

Date of implementation: 7 August 2002 (no aid will be granted in any event before this summary has been notified to the Commission)

Duration of scheme: Until 31 December 2006

Objective of aid: The aid is intended to facilitate the purchase or leasing of new machine tools or manufacturing equipment made in Italy or abroad, for a unit or total cost in excess of EUR 500 000, including machine systems, ancillary equipment, accessories, fixed or self-propelled machinery and equipment for handling, transporting and lifting materials (cranes and overhead travelling cranes, trolleys, belt conveyors, etc.) in the factory or yard, and air-conditioning equipment.

The machine tools and production equipment must form part of the logistical structure of production units located in Molise and registered with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Crafts and Agriculture (CCIAA) and should not be invoiced prior to the date on which the contract is concluded, where the equipment is purchased outright, or the handover document signed, where the equipment is leased.

Vehicles, vessels and aircraft entered in public registers are not covered.

Economic sector(s) concerned: SMEs operating in the extractive and manufacturing industries (Sections C and D in the 1991 Italian Statistical Office (ISTAT) classification of economic activities), with the exclusions and restrictions laid down in the Community rules for the steel, shipbuilding, synthetic fibres, motor vehicle and transport industries.

The scheme does not apply to activities linked to the production, processing or marketing of products listed in Annex I to the Treaty.

Name and address of granting authority: 

Other information: This aid scheme does not apply to investments that reach one of the following two thresholds:

The aid scheme does not apply to export-related activities, i.e. aid directly linked to the quantities exported, to the establishment and operation of a distribution network or to other current expenditure linked to the export activity, and aid contingent upon the use of domestic over imported goods.

Only expenditure incurred since the date on which the aid application was submitted is eligible.

Aid No: XS 116/02

Member State: Italy

Region: Lombardy

Title of aid scheme: Priority 1 ‘Improving the competitiveness of the economic system in Lombardy’

Measure 1.10 ‘Support for internationalisation of firms’

Submeasure B ‘Assistance in penetrating foreign markets’

Legal basis: Docup Obiettivo 2 2000-2006 Lombardia

Approvato con decisione C (2878) del 10.12.2001

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: 

Maximum aid intensity: Small firms: 15 %

Medium-sized firms: 7,5 %

Plus 10 % in areas qualifying for exemption under Article 87(3)(c) of the EC Treaty.

Total assistance must not exceed 30 % of costs.

Date of implementation: 

Duration of scheme: Until 31 December 2006

Objective of aid: The aid is intended to strengthen the competitiveness of firms on foreign markets.

The aid scheme does not apply to export-related activities, i.e. aid directly linked to the quantities exported, to the establishment and operation of a distribution network or to other current expenditure linked to the export activity, and aid contingent upon the use of domestic over imported goods.

The measures envisaged under the scheme are defined in accordance with Articles 2 and 5 of Regulation (EC) No 70/2001.

Economic sector(s) concerned: All sectors

Name and address of granting authority: 

Aid No: XS 142/03

Member State: Italy

Region: Liguria

Title of aid scheme: Objective 2 single programming document (SPD) for the Liguria Region (2000-2006) — Measure 2.1 ‘Waste cycle management and support for environmental protection’:

submeasure B ‘environmental protection’;

submeasure C ‘safety at work’.

Legal basis: 

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: EUR 9 602 653

Maximum aid intensity: 

Date of implementation: 

Duration of scheme: 

Objective of aid: The submeasures in question are intended to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to invest in environmental protection or improvement, as well to improve safety in the workplace.

Economic sector(s) concerned: Production and production services

Name and address of granting authority: 

Aid No: XS 144/03

Member State: Italy

Region: Lombardy

Title of aid scheme: Grants to haulage businesses in Brescia for the installation of security systems and satellite monitoring — 2003/04

Legal basis: Articolo 12 Legge 7 agosto 1990, n. 241, deliberazioni camerali n. 240 del 10.12.2002 e n. 185 del 29.9.2003.

Determinazione dirigenziale n. 93/AV del 9.10.2003.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: EUR 50 000

Maximum aid intensity: 

Purchase of central server and necessary software:

Purchase of peripheral equipment:

Cost of external consultancy for satellite navigation system:

Date of implementation: 

Duration of scheme: From 20 October 2003 to 19 October 2004

Objective of aid: To promote the installation of security systems and satellite monitoring in businesses in Brescia

Economic sector(s) concerned: Transport

Name and address of granting authority: 

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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 187/11)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Date of decision: 

Member State: Greece

Aid No: N 67/2005

Title: Amendment of the R&D aid scheme N 329/2002

Legal basis: Π. Δ. 274/2000

Objective(s): Aid for R&D

Budget: EUR 25 000 000,00

Duration: From to 31.12.2006

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: Italy

Aid No: N 91/05

Title: Rescue Aid in favour of Computer Manufacturing Services S.p.A.

Objective: Rescue aid

Legal basis: 

Legge 3 aprile 1979 n.95 — Conversione in legge, con modificazioni, del decreto-legge 30 gennaio 1979 n. 26 recante ‘provvedimenti urgenti per l'amministrazione straordinaria delle grandi imprese in crisi’ (art. 2 bis). Decreto Legislativo 8 luglio 1999, n. 270 — ‘Nuova disciplina dell'amministrazione straordinaria delle grandi impresi in stato di insolvenza, a norma dell'articolo 1 della legge 30 luglio 1998, n. 274’ pubblicato nella Gazzetta Ufficiale n. 185 del 9 agosto 1999 (Artt. 55, 58 e 109)

Aid amount: EUR 2 500 000

Duration: 6 months

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: 

Member States: Lithuania

Aid No: N 584/2004

Title: Aid to AB Vingriai, debt waiver

Objective: Restructuring

Legal basis: Lietuvos Respublikos Valstybes Skolos Įstatymas, Valstybes Žinios, 1996, Nr. 86-2045, 2004, Nr. 4-31.

Lietuvos Respublikos Valstybinio Socialinio Draudimo Įstatymas, Valstybes Žinios, 1991, Nr. 17-447

Aid intensity or amount: LTL 7 000 000 (EUR 2 000 000)

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: 

Member States: United Kingdom

Aid No: NN 42/05

Title: Aid to MG Rover, loan

Objective: Rescue

Legal basis: Industrial Development Act 1982 Section 7

Aid intensity or amount: GBP 6 500 000

Duration: 7 days

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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Final report of the Hearing Officer in Case COMP/37.784 — Fine Art Auction Houses

(pursuant to Article 15 of Commission Decision 2001/462/EC, ECSC of 23 May 2001 on the terms of reference of Hearing Officers in certain competition proceedings — OJ L 162, 19.6.2001, p. 21)

(2005/C 187/12)

In connection with the draft decision, the following observations can be made on the right to be heard.

In the light of the above, it can be said that the rights of the defence have been fully respected.

Brussels, 29 October 2002.

Serge DURANDE

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Opinion of the Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions given at its 345th meeting on 18 October 2002 concerning a preliminary draft decision in Case COMP/37.784 — Fine Art Auction Houses

(2005/C 187/13)

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Opinion of the Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions given at its 346th meeting on 28 October 2002 concerning a preliminary draft decision on Case COMP/37.784 — Fine Art Auction Houses

(2005/C 187/14)

The Advisory Committee asks the Commission to take into account all the other points raised during the discussion.

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