# Official Journal C 245/2006

| | ISSN 1725-2423 |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 245 |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 4912 October 2006 |

ISSN 1725-2423

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 245

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 4912 October 2006

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| Notice No | Contents | page |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | I   Information |
| | Council |
| 2006/C 245/1 | List of appointments made by the Council — July, August and September 2006 (social field) | 1 |
| | Commission |
| 2006/C 245/2 | Euro exchange rates | 4 |
| 2006/C 245/3 | Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys | 5 |
| 2006/C 245/4 | Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 68/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to training aid (
  1
  ) | 9 |

Notice No

Contents

page

I   Information

Council

2006/C 245/1

List of appointments made by the Council — July, August and September 2006 (social field)

1

Commission

2006/C 245/2

Euro exchange rates

4

2006/C 245/3

Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys

5

2006/C 245/4

Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 68/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to training aid (
  1
  )

1

9

| | |
| --- | --- |
| | (1)   Text with EEA relevance |

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(1)   Text with EEA relevance

1

| EN | |
| --- | --- |

EN

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I Information

Council

| 12.10.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 245/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

12.10.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 245/1

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List of appointments made by the Council

July, August and September 2006 (social field)

(2006/C 245/01)

| Committee | End of term of office | Publication in OJ | Person replaced | Resignation/Appointment | Member/Alternate | Category | Country | Person appointed | Affiliation | Date of Council Decision |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Advisory Committee for Safety and Health at Work | 31.12.2006 | C 321, 31.12.2003,

  C 116, 30.4.2004,


  C 122, 30.4.2004 | Mr Pavel SKÁCELÍK | Resignation | Member | Workers | Czech Republic | Mr Jaroslav ZAVADIL | Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions | 24.7.2006 |
| Advisory Committee for Safety and Health at Work | 31.12.2006 | C 321, 31.12.2003,

  C 116, 30.4.2004,

  C 122, 30.4.2004 | Mr Bo BARREFELT | Resignation | Alternate | Government | Sweden | Ms Anna-Lena HULTGÅRD SANCINI | Näringsdeparte-mentet | 24.7.2006 |
| Governing Board of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work | — | L 184, 15.7.2005


  C 161, 5.7.2002,

  C 116, 30.4.2004 | Mr Pat DONNELLAN | Resignation | Alternate | Government | Ireland | Mr Gavin LONERGAN | Health and Safety Authority | 26.7.2006 |
| Governing Board of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions | 18.10.2007 | C 317, 22.12.2004 | Ms Henriette BENNICKE | Resignation | Member | Employers | Denmark | Mr Sven-Peter NYGAARD | DA | 24.7.2006 |
| Governing Board of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions | 18.10.2007 | C 317, 22.12.2004 | Ms Mirja Maija TOSSAVAINEN | Resignation | Alternate | Employers | Finland | Ms Anu SAJAVAARA | Confederation of Finnish Industries EK | 24.7.2006 |
| Governing Board of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions | 18.10.2007 | C 317, 22.12.2004 | Ms Eva HÖGL | Resignation | Alternate | Government | Germany | Ms Vera BADE | Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales | 15.9.2006 |
| Governing Board of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions | 18.10.2007 | C 317, 22.12.2004 | Ms Mária NÁDAŽDYOVÁ | Resignation | Member | Goverement | Slovakia | Mr Miloslav HETTEŠ | Ministry of Labour
  Social Affairs and Family | 25.9.2006 |
| Governing Board of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions | 18.10.2007 | C 317, 22.12.2004 | Ms Malgorzata CZAPKA | Resignation | Alternate | Employers | Poland | Mr Rafal BANIAK | Confederation of Polish Employers | 25.9.2006 |
| Governing Board of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions | 18.10.2007 | C 317, 22.12.2004 | Ms Marie-Louise THORSEN-LIND | Resignation | Member | Employers | Sweden | Mr Sverker RUDEBERG | Confederation of Swedish Enterprise | 25.9.2006 |
| Governing Board of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions | 18.10.2007 | C 317, 22.12.2004 | Mr Sverker RUDEBERG | Resignation | Alternate | Employers | Sweden | Mr Christian ARDHE | Confederation of Swedish Enterprise | 25.9.2006 |

Committee

End of term of office

Publication in OJ

Person replaced

Resignation/Appointment

Member/Alternate

Category

Country

Person appointed

Affiliation

Date of Council Decision

Advisory Committee for Safety and Health at Work

31.12.2006

C 321, 31.12.2003,

C 116, 30.4.2004,

C 122, 30.4.2004

Mr Pavel SKÁCELÍK

Resignation

Member

Workers

Czech Republic

Mr Jaroslav ZAVADIL

Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions

24.7.2006

Advisory Committee for Safety and Health at Work

31.12.2006

C 321, 31.12.2003,

C 116, 30.4.2004,

C 122, 30.4.2004

Mr Bo BARREFELT

Resignation

Alternate

Government

Sweden

Ms Anna-Lena HULTGÅRD SANCINI

Näringsdeparte-mentet

24.7.2006

Governing Board of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

—

L 184, 15.7.2005

C 161, 5.7.2002,

C 116, 30.4.2004

Mr Pat DONNELLAN

Resignation

Alternate

Government

Ireland

Mr Gavin LONERGAN

Health and Safety Authority

26.7.2006

Governing Board of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

18.10.2007

C 317, 22.12.2004

Ms Henriette BENNICKE

Resignation

Member

Employers

Denmark

Mr Sven-Peter NYGAARD

DA

24.7.2006

Governing Board of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

18.10.2007

C 317, 22.12.2004

Ms Mirja Maija TOSSAVAINEN

Resignation

Alternate

Employers

Finland

Ms Anu SAJAVAARA

Confederation of Finnish Industries EK

24.7.2006

Governing Board of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

18.10.2007

C 317, 22.12.2004

Ms Eva HÖGL

Resignation

Alternate

Government

Germany

Ms Vera BADE

Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales

15.9.2006

Governing Board of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

18.10.2007

C 317, 22.12.2004

Ms Mária NÁDAŽDYOVÁ

Resignation

Member

Goverement

Slovakia

Mr Miloslav HETTEŠ

Ministry of Labour

Social Affairs and Family

25.9.2006

Governing Board of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

18.10.2007

C 317, 22.12.2004

Ms Malgorzata CZAPKA

Resignation

Alternate

Employers

Poland

Mr Rafal BANIAK

Confederation of Polish Employers

25.9.2006

Governing Board of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

18.10.2007

C 317, 22.12.2004

Ms Marie-Louise THORSEN-LIND

Resignation

Member

Employers

Sweden

Mr Sverker RUDEBERG

Confederation of Swedish Enterprise

25.9.2006

Governing Board of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

18.10.2007

C 317, 22.12.2004

Mr Sverker RUDEBERG

Resignation

Alternate

Employers

Sweden

Mr Christian ARDHE

Confederation of Swedish Enterprise

25.9.2006

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Commission

| 12.10.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 245/4 |
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12.10.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 245/4

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Euro exchange rates (1)

11 October 2006

(2006/C 245/02)

1 euro=

| | Currency | Exchange rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USD | US dollar | 1,2543 |
| JPY | Japanese yen | 149,96 |
| DKK | Danish krone | 7,4555 |
| GBP | Pound sterling | 0,67575 |
| SEK | Swedish krona | 9,2560 |
| CHF | Swiss franc | 1,5932 |
| ISK | Iceland króna | 86,04 |
| NOK | Norwegian krone | 8,4180 |
| BGN | Bulgarian lev | 1,9558 |
| CYP | Cyprus pound | 0,5767 |
| CZK | Czech koruna | 28,205 |
| EEK | Estonian kroon | 15,6466 |
| HUF | Hungarian forint | 267,36 |
| LTL | Lithuanian litas | 3,4528 |
| LVL | Latvian lats | 0,6960 |
| MTL | Maltese lira | 0,4293 |
| PLN | Polish zloty | 3,9098 |
| RON | Romanian leu | 3,5055 |
| SIT | Slovenian tolar | 239,60 |
| SKK | Slovak koruna | 36,870 |
| TRY | Turkish lira | 1,8725 |
| AUD | Australian dollar | 1,6830 |
| CAD | Canadian dollar | 1,4239 |
| HKD | Hong Kong dollar | 9,7749 |
| NZD | New Zealand dollar | 1,8987 |
| SGD | Singapore dollar | 1,9911 |
| KRW | South Korean won | 1 201,93 |
| ZAR | South African rand | 9,7054 |
| CNY | Chinese yuan renminbi | 9,9277 |
| HRK | Croatian kuna | 7,4212 |
| IDR | Indonesian rupiah | 11 567,78 |
| MYR | Malaysian ringgit | 4,6353 |
| PHP | Philippine peso | 62,740 |
| RUB | Russian rouble | 33,8030 |
| THB | Thai baht | 47,034 |

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,2543

JPY

Japanese yen

149,96

DKK

Danish krone

7,4555

GBP

Pound sterling

0,67575

SEK

Swedish krona

9,2560

CHF

Swiss franc

1,5932

ISK

Iceland króna

86,04

NOK

Norwegian krone

8,4180

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CYP

Cyprus pound

0,5767

CZK

Czech koruna

28,205

EEK

Estonian kroon

15,6466

HUF

Hungarian forint

267,36

LTL

Lithuanian litas

3,4528

LVL

Latvian lats

0,6960

MTL

Maltese lira

0,4293

PLN

Polish zloty

3,9098

RON

Romanian leu

3,5055

SIT

Slovenian tolar

239,60

SKK

Slovak koruna

36,870

TRY

Turkish lira

1,8725

AUD

Australian dollar

1,6830

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,4239

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

9,7749

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,8987

SGD

Singapore dollar

1,9911

KRW

South Korean won

1 201,93

ZAR

South African rand

9,7054

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

9,9277

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,4212

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

11 567,78

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

4,6353

PHP

Philippine peso

62,740

RUB

Russian rouble

33,8030

THB

Thai baht

47,034

---

(1)

Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

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| 12.10.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 245/5 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

12.10.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 245/5

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Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys

(2006/C 245/03)

1.   Introduction

The Ecofin Council report to the European Council on 11 and 12 December 1999 in Helsinki on ‘Economic policy co-ordination’ (13123/1/99 Rev 1) called for an effective monitoring of economic policies in stage three of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). For this purpose, the Council considered the improved understanding of economic developments an essential prerequisite.

According to the Treaty, the Commission has an important role in informing the EU authorities, the Member States and the various economic agents on the economic situation and prospects, both at national and at Community level. One of the instruments to obtain timely information on economic developments are business and consumer surveys. For this reason, the Commission, through its Directorate General for Economic and Financial Affairs, co-ordinates regular and harmonised business and consumer surveys in different economic sectors in the EU Member States and the candidate countries.

2.   The Need for a Joint Harmonised EU Programme

The regular business and consumer surveys of the joint harmonised EU Programme are qualitative economic surveys, intended for short-term economic analysis. The surveys are mainly used for qualitative economic analysis but increasingly also for quantitative economic research. Particularly, in recent years a variety of economic short-term forecasting methods have been developed that make use of the information provided in business and consumer surveys. Very often these models outperform traditional econometric models in forecasting macro-economic developments. More specifically, business and consumer survey data are increasingly used in predicting turning points in the economic cycle. Besides the surveys of the joint harmonised EU Programme, various other surveys of Commission services exist, such as from the Directorates-General for Enterprise and Industry, Employment and Communication. The approach of these surveys is different from those of the joint harmonised EU Programme since they are intended for long-term economic analysis and thus enquire about the various structural determinants of growth and employment.

The attractiveness of the survey data for qualitative and quantitative analysis stems from the fact that the survey data are normally available ahead of the quantitative information from other sources, which they are correlated with. The high frequency and continuous harmonisation of the surveys are some of their other main qualities. For this reason, business and consumer surveys have become an indispensable complement of quantitative statistical surveys, from which they differ in methods and use. As noted by the recent report of an external evaluation of the Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys (BCS) (1), the surveys can be considered a highly effective instrument to monitor the economic situation in the EU, the euro area and the Member States.

3.   Implementation of the Programme

The harmonised business and consumer surveys in the European Union were initialised in 1961 by the Commission. The first survey was the harmonised business survey in industry conducted in 1962. Since then, both the scope and the sectors covered by the surveys have expanded considerably. Particularly, the sector for private services, which accounts for an increasing share in the overall economy, has been included in the programme. In 2006, a pilot survey in the financial services sector was launched. The high sensitivity of this sector regarding confidentiality and the sector's idiosyncraticies in term of cyclical behaviour have been the motives behind the separation of this survey from the general service sector survey.

Over the past years, the surveys have been extended to cover all (post-enlargement) Members States as well as the candidate countries (2). The integration of the candidate countries into the programme at an early stage is necessary in order to provide reliable and comparable data to follow their economic evolution at present, and for the elaboration of correct EU aggregates once these countries become members of the EU. Due to an early integration of the countries involved, the recent enlargement of the EU was reflected in the Programme by a smooth and timely transition to new aggregate indicators.

The surveys are carried out at national level by collaborating institutions such as ministries, statistical institutes, central banks, economic research institutes, business associations and private companies. These institutions work with harmonised survey questionnaires elaborated in co-operation with the Commission services. The surveys feature also a number of other common elements in the area of sample design, field work and data transmission.

Conducting the surveys in accordance with a common methodology, in particular a harmonised questionnaire, leads to a better comparability of the data between different Member States and allows the construction of meaningful aggregated business cycle indicators for the euro area and the EU. Since this positive externality of harmonisation occurs mainly at EU and euro area level rather than at the level of the national survey-conducting institutions, the Commission decided from the outset to support the activity of the collaborating institutions with action grants (COM (61) PV 165 final, 15 November 1961). These grants, which are limited to a maximum of 50 % of the costs of the action, also intend to cover the incremental costs that arise initially from the inclusion of additional harmonised questions or the addition of new sectors and branches in the surveys and/or the change of certain questions from a non-harmonised type to a harmonised one. In contrast, where the national survey conducting institutions have no clear interest or vocation in conducting a particular type of survey, the Commission concludes a service contract with the selected survey conducting entity. In such cases the Commission covers the full cost of the survey.

The continuous development of the Joint Harmonised BCS Programme gave significant impulses to the advance of business and consumer surveys outside the EU. As mentioned in the above-cited evaluation report, the harmonised scheme of the European Union has been increasingly adopted as the international standard. Business and consumer surveys following the harmonised methodology are not only carried out in the 25 EU Member States and all candidate countries but also in a number of other countries, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe (e.g. Russia and Albania). In this regard, the EU harmonised surveys continue to serve as a benchmark for future co-operation. In particular, future applicant countries will be integrated in the programme as soon as membership negotiations with the European Union start.

The business surveys are addressed to managers in industry, construction, retail trade and services. The consumer surveys are addressed to private households. With the exception of the investment survey in industry all surveys are carried out on a monthly basis with some questions added every quarter. The investment survey is conducted twice a year. The number of questions varies between areas and lies between 6 and 15.

The data is normally collected in the first half of the month and transmitted to the Commission services around one week before the end of the month. More than 100 000 firms and over 30 000 consumers are surveyed each month in the EU, the samples varying in accordance with the size of the country. The industry survey covers 56 sectors whereas the other surveys include 5 to 9 different sectors. The consumers are split into 25 socio-economic categories.

A quarterly survey addressed to economic experts around the world, the World Economic Survey, is also included in the Programme and gives information about economic developments on a global scale.

In addition, ‘ad hoc’ surveys are conducted on issues of particular interest. As an example, ad hoc surveys concerning the labour market have been carried out with a periodicity of around five years. The results of the most recent survey of June 2004, which focused on labour market flexibility and the impact of new technologies on the performance of the EU labour market, has been published in 2005.

All questionnaires are constantly updated to meet the requirements of economic analysts. The Commission services organise regularly (once or twice a year) meetings with business survey experts in order to update the questionnaires, discuss issues of harmonisation and data presentation, and evaluate the results of the surveys. Occasionally, workshops and working groups are organised, which are addressed to a wider set of interested parties (including, e.g., user groups) with the purpose of developing certain aspects of the programme or discussing issues of common interest between EU and non-EU countries. Such workshops are sometimes organised in co-operation with other international bodies such as the OECD.

The maintenance and development of the database available at the Commission services, in which the data of the BCS Programme is stored, requires specialised software and the maintenance and development of appropriate tools to handle and analyse statistically and econometrically large quantities of time series data. Such tools include, for instance, procedures for assuring data consistency, the pre-adjustment and seasonal adjustment of the data or the construction and development of appropriate composite indicators. While most of these tasks are covered by the staff of the Commission services, in certain specific areas external expertise by specialised companies is sought after. Such technical assistance is limited to highly technical parts of the process at the end of the production chain and provides for a more efficient management of the Programme.

4.   Publication

The results of the surveys are used as such or summarised in composite indicators (economic sentiment and confidence indicators). The purpose of these composite indicators is to synthesise the information contained in the survey data and make the presentation of survey results more easily accessible. As timeliness is a key advantage of the survey data, the period between the transmission of the data from the national institutes and publication of the results by the Commission services has been shortened in successive steps over the past years. The results are now published on the last working day of the month during which the data was collected. The release of the data is accompanied by a press release. Monthly updated survey results, containing the data over the whole survey period, can be downloaded from the Internet at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/indicators/businessandconsumersurveys_en.htm

More detailed results, e.g. broken down by sectors, can be obtained from the Commission services on request. While previously such data was provided only against a fee, in accordance with the new policy these data are now provided free of charge.

5.   Use of the Information

The fact that the business and consumer survey results are available rapidly and that they contain information about economic agents' expectations makes them valuable for forecasting purposes.

The results of the surveys are intensively used by the Commission services as an indispensable tool for economic surveillance. This includes their use in the semi-annual macroeconomic forecasts and in the analysis of business cycle developments (e.g. determination of turning points). Some of the structural information contained (e.g. opinions on employment perspectives) are also used by various Commission services.

The surveys have become a fundamental source of information for monitoring the evolution of EMU. For instance, the European Central Bank uses these results as significant input for the assessment of the economic situation in the euro area.

Apart from the main actors in the field of economic policy at European level, the business and consumer survey results are also used by various international organisations, such as the OECD, and national public and private bodies for the construction of concurrent and leading economic indicators and, more generally, for forecasting purposes.

6.   Evaluation

For the economic sentiment indicator and other sector indicators to be useful, they must possess a series of properties such as consistency, timeliness, comparability, etc. Moreover, the quality of the indicators needs to be continuously examined by looking at their performance of tracking the macro-economic aggregates they represent. At the most aggregate level, the indicators should be able to track sufficiently well the development of GDP growth. A good tracking performance is also necessary for confidence indicators at sector level (industry, services, consumption etc.) in relation to their macro-economic reference variables (e.g. GDP, industrial production, gross value added of the private services sector, private consumption expenditure). The tracking record of the indicators needs to be continuously evaluated and modifications and improvements are to be made in line with the outcome of these evaluations. Various research projects and studies are being undertaken on a regular basis to develop new sector indicators or improve the existing ones in order to better follow the economic evolution.

While the utility of the programme for the work of various EU bodies and international organisations in the domain of economic policy has been demonstrated without doubt there is also a need to evaluate its usefulness, efficiency and effectiveness from an outside perspective. For this reason, a specialised consortium was engaged to carry out an evaluation of the existing programme as a whole. This evaluation addressed, amongst others, the following issues:

| — | Survey quality and survey programme effectiveness |
| --- | --- |

—

Survey quality and survey programme effectiveness

| — | Efficiency and alternative contractual arrangements |
| --- | --- |

—

Efficiency and alternative contractual arrangements

| — | Likely consequence of discontinuing EU co-financing |
| --- | --- |

—

Likely consequence of discontinuing EU co-financing

| — | Users' future needs |
| --- | --- |

—

Users' future needs

The report (ECFIN/196/2004/385636, 22 April 2005) concludes that, while progress needs to be made on a continuous basis, the survey programme has largely met the quality requirements of the users in all respects, with the surveys considered to be a highly reliable and relevant instrument to monitor macroeconomic developments. The grant-based survey programme can be considered as cost-effective and any change in contractual arrangements such as a move to service contracts or to a centralised survey scenario would carry the risk of a substantial loss of important economic information. Likewise, a discontinuation of co-financing the surveys by the European Commission is likely to lead to the loss of harmonised European data. Users' future information needs include, inter alia, a further detailing of the services survey, more information on the financial situation of households and firms and more detailed data on the labour market.

7.   Reporting

The Commission will present every three years, starting in 2008, a report on the implementation of the Programme in 2006-2008, giving an overview regarding methodological developments and the use of the information provided by the programme.

8.   Conclusion

The results of the harmonised business and consumer surveys in the EU have become an important source of information for all those concerned with economic trends: public institutions, business management, researchers and, above all, economic decision-makers both at national and EU/euro area level. The survey data has become an indispensable tool for economic surveillance in the EU and for monitoring the economic prospects of the Economic and Monetary Union as well as the development of the candidate countries' economies. The Commission will assure that the programme will also fulfil this role in the future by constantly enhancing and improving its features thereby allowing it to continue to provide essential information for the purpose of economic decision making in the European Union.

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(1)  The European Evaluation Consortium, Evaluation of Business and Consumer Surveys, Final Report, 22 April 2005

(2)  The BCS are part of the annual work programme of the Directorate General Economic and Financial Affairs and are authorised by means of a financing decision adopted by the Commission

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ANNEX

GRAPH: ECONOMIC SENTIMENT, SECTORAL CONFIDENCE AND GDP IN THE EURO AREA

Image

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| 12.10.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 245/9 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

12.10.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 245/9

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Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 68/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to training aid

(2006/C 245/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| Aid No | XT 2/06 |
| --- | --- |
| Member State | Spain |
| Region | Whole country |
| Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid | State aid for small and medium-sized enterprises in the horse sector with a view to promoting and developing this sector: training courses for professionals in the sector |
| Legal basis | Real Decreto por el que se establecen las bases reguladoras de las subvenciones estatales destinadas al sector equino |
| Annual expenditure planned or overall amount of aid granted to the company | Aid scheme | Annual overall amount | EUR 0,25 million |
| Loans guaranteed | |
| Individual aid | Overall aid amount | |
| Loans guaranteed | |
| Maximum aid intensity | In conformity with Article 4(2)-(7) of the Regulation | Sí | |
| Date of implementation | Publication in the Official State Gazette and entry into force |
| Duration of scheme or individual aid award | Until 30.6.2007 |
| Objective of aid | General training | No |
| Specific training | Yes |
| Economic sectors concerned | Limited to specific sectors | Yes |
| Other services | Yes |
| Name and address of the granting authority | Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación
  Dirección General de Ganadería |
| C/ Alfonso XII, 62 |
| E-28014 Madrid |

Aid No

XT 2/06

Member State

Spain

Region

Whole country

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid

State aid for small and medium-sized enterprises in the horse sector with a view to promoting and developing this sector: training courses for professionals in the sector

Legal basis

Real Decreto por el que se establecen las bases reguladoras de las subvenciones estatales destinadas al sector equino

Annual expenditure planned or overall amount of aid granted to the company

Aid scheme

Annual overall amount

EUR 0,25 million

Loans guaranteed

Individual aid

Overall aid amount

Loans guaranteed

Maximum aid intensity

In conformity with Article 4(2)-(7) of the Regulation

Sí

Date of implementation

Publication in the Official State Gazette and entry into force

Duration of scheme or individual aid award

Until 30.6.2007

Objective of aid

General training

No

Specific training

Yes

Economic sectors concerned

Limited to specific sectors

Yes

Other services

Yes

Name and address of the granting authority

Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación

Dirección General de Ganadería

C/ Alfonso XII, 62

E-28014 Madrid

Large individual aid grants

In conformity with Article 5 of the Regulation

Yes

| Aid No | XT 6/06 |
| --- | --- |
| Member State | Italy |
| Region | Molise: varying levels of aid depending on the area where the measure is implemented |
| Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid | Multiannual programme of measures designed to promote economic recovery in Molise following disasters: open notice concerning the granting of aid for craft firms |
| Legal basis | Ordinanza del Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri n. 3268 del 12 marzo 2003, e successive, che ha nominato il Presidente della Regione Molise, Commissario Delegato per gli eccezionali eventi sismici del 31 ottobre 2002 e per quelli meteorologici del gennaio 2003 ed ha previsto, all'art. 15, la predisposizione di un Programma pluriennale d'interventi diretti a favorire la ripresa produttiva nel territorio della Regione Molise.
  Tale Programma è stato approvato dalla Giunta regionale del Molise con Deliberazione n. 841 del 9 giugno 2004 e dal Comitato Interministeriale per la Programmazione Economica, con Deliberazione n. 32 del 29 settembre 2004 (pubblicata nella Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana n. 289 del 10 dicembre 2004). |
| For the legal basis, see the specific section on the multiannual economic regeneration programme for Molise, on the region's official website (www.regione.molise.it) |
| Annual expenditure planned or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company | Aid scheme | Annual overall amount
  Average over three years | EUR 0,17 million |
| Maximum aid intensity | In conformity with Article 4(2)-(7) of the Regulation | Yes | |
| Date of implementation | 6.12.2005 |
| Duration of scheme or individual aid award | Until 30.6.2008 |
| Objective of aid | General training | Yes |
| Specific training | Yes |
| Economic sectors concerned | Limited to specific sectors | Yes |
| Other manufacturing | Yes |
| Other services | Yes |
| Name and address of the granting authority | Commissario Delegato per l'Attuazione Operativa del Programma ex art. 15 |
| via XXIV Maggio, 130 |
| I-86100 Campobasso |

Aid No

XT 6/06

Member State

Italy

Region

Molise: varying levels of aid depending on the area where the measure is implemented

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid

Multiannual programme of measures designed to promote economic recovery in Molise following disasters: open notice concerning the granting of aid for craft firms

Legal basis

Ordinanza del Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri n. 3268 del 12 marzo 2003, e successive, che ha nominato il Presidente della Regione Molise, Commissario Delegato per gli eccezionali eventi sismici del 31 ottobre 2002 e per quelli meteorologici del gennaio 2003 ed ha previsto, all'art. 15, la predisposizione di un Programma pluriennale d'interventi diretti a favorire la ripresa produttiva nel territorio della Regione Molise.

Tale Programma è stato approvato dalla Giunta regionale del Molise con Deliberazione n. 841 del 9 giugno 2004 e dal Comitato Interministeriale per la Programmazione Economica, con Deliberazione n. 32 del 29 settembre 2004 (pubblicata nella Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana n. 289 del 10 dicembre 2004).

For the legal basis, see the specific section on the multiannual economic regeneration programme for Molise, on the region's official website (www.regione.molise.it)

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

Aid scheme

Annual overall amount

Average over three years

EUR 0,17 million

Maximum aid intensity

In conformity with Article 4(2)-(7) of the Regulation

Yes

Date of implementation

6.12.2005

Duration of scheme or individual aid award

Until 30.6.2008

Objective of aid

General training

Yes

Specific training

Yes

Economic sectors concerned

Limited to specific sectors

Yes

Other manufacturing

Yes

Other services

Yes

Name and address of the granting authority

Commissario Delegato per l'Attuazione Operativa del Programma ex art. 15

via XXIV Maggio, 130

I-86100 Campobasso

Large individual aid grants

In conformity with Article 5 of the Regulation

Yes

| Aid No | XT 7/06 |
| --- | --- |
| Member State | Italy |
| Region | Molise: varying levels of aid depending on the area where the measure is implemented |
| Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid | Multiannual programme of measures designed to promote economic recovery in Molise following disasters: open notice concerning the granting of aid for craft firms |
| Legal basis | Ordinanza del Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri n. 3268 del 12 marzo 2003, e successive, che ha nominato il Presidente della Regione Molise, Commissario Delegato per gli eccezionali eventi sismici del 31 ottobre 2002 e per quelli meteorologici del gennaio 2003 ed ha previsto, all'art. 15, la predisposizione di un Programma pluriennale d'interventi diretti a favorire la ripresa produttiva nel territorio della Regione Molise.
  Tale Programma è stato approvato dalla Giunta regionale del Molise con Deliberazione n. 841 del 9 giugno 2004 e dal Comitato Interministeriale per la Programmazione Economica, con Deliberazione n. 32 del 29 settembre 2004 (pubblicata nella Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana n. 289 del 10 dicembre 2004) |
| For the legal basis, see the specific section on the multiannual economic regeneration programme for Molise, on the region's official website (www.regione.molise.it). |
| Annual expenditure planned or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company | Aid scheme | Annual overall amount
  Average over three years | EUR 0,17 million |
| Maximum aid intensity | In conformity with Article 4(2)-(7) of the Regulation | Yes | |
| Date of implementation | 7.12.2005 |
| Duration of scheme or individual aid award | Until 30.6.2008 |
| Objective of aid | General training | Yes |
| Specific training | Yes |
| Economic sectors concerned | All sectors eligible for training aid | |
| Limited to specific sectors | Yes |
| Other: distributive trades | Yes |
| Name and address of the granting authority | Commissario Delegato per l'Attuazione Operativa del Programma ex art. 15 |
| via XXIV Maggio, 130 |
| I-86100 Campobasso |

Aid No

XT 7/06

Member State

Italy

Region

Molise: varying levels of aid depending on the area where the measure is implemented

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid

Multiannual programme of measures designed to promote economic recovery in Molise following disasters: open notice concerning the granting of aid for craft firms

Legal basis

Ordinanza del Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri n. 3268 del 12 marzo 2003, e successive, che ha nominato il Presidente della Regione Molise, Commissario Delegato per gli eccezionali eventi sismici del 31 ottobre 2002 e per quelli meteorologici del gennaio 2003 ed ha previsto, all'art. 15, la predisposizione di un Programma pluriennale d'interventi diretti a favorire la ripresa produttiva nel territorio della Regione Molise.

Tale Programma è stato approvato dalla Giunta regionale del Molise con Deliberazione n. 841 del 9 giugno 2004 e dal Comitato Interministeriale per la Programmazione Economica, con Deliberazione n. 32 del 29 settembre 2004 (pubblicata nella Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana n. 289 del 10 dicembre 2004)

For the legal basis, see the specific section on the multiannual economic regeneration programme for Molise, on the region's official website (www.regione.molise.it).

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

Aid scheme

Annual overall amount

Average over three years

EUR 0,17 million

Maximum aid intensity

In conformity with Article 4(2)-(7) of the Regulation

Yes

Date of implementation

7.12.2005

Duration of scheme or individual aid award

Until 30.6.2008

Objective of aid

General training

Yes

Specific training

Yes

Economic sectors concerned

All sectors eligible for training aid

Limited to specific sectors

Yes

Other: distributive trades

Yes

Name and address of the granting authority

Commissario Delegato per l'Attuazione Operativa del Programma ex art. 15

via XXIV Maggio, 130

I-86100 Campobasso

Large individual aid grants

In conformity with Article 5 of the Regulation

Yes

| Aid No | XT 9/06 |
| --- | --- |
| Member State | Italy |
| Region | Toscana |
| Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid | Aid scheme for foreign-language training for firms in the province of Prato |
| Legal basis | Commission Regulation (EC) No 68/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to training aid |
| Deliberazione della Giunta camerale n. 11 del 1o febbraio 2006 |
| Annual expenditure planned or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company | Aid scheme | Annual overall amount | EUR 60 000 |
| Individual aid | EUR 1 500 per firm | |
| Maximum aid intensity | In conformity with Article 4(2)-(7) of the Regulation | Yes | |
| Date of implementation: | 1.3.2006 |
| Duration of scheme or individual aid award | Until 31.12.2006 |
| Objective of aid | General training | Yes |
| Specific training | No |
| Economic sectors concerned | All sectors eligible for training aid | Yes |
| Name and address of the granting authority | Camera di Commercio Industria Artigianato Agricoltura di Prato |
| Via Valentini, 14 |
| I-59100 Prato |

Aid No

XT 9/06

Member State

Italy

Region

Toscana

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid

Aid scheme for foreign-language training for firms in the province of Prato

Legal basis

Commission Regulation (EC) No 68/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to training aid

Deliberazione della Giunta camerale n. 11 del 1o febbraio 2006

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

Aid scheme

Annual overall amount

EUR 60 000

Individual aid

EUR 1 500 per firm

Maximum aid intensity

In conformity with Article 4(2)-(7) of the Regulation

Yes

Date of implementation:

1.3.2006

Duration of scheme or individual aid award

Until 31.12.2006

Objective of aid

General training

Yes

Specific training

No

Economic sectors concerned

All sectors eligible for training aid

Yes

Name and address of the granting authority

Camera di Commercio Industria Artigianato Agricoltura di Prato

Via Valentini, 14

I-59100 Prato

Large individual aid grants

In conformity with Article 5 of the Regulation

Yes

| Aid No | XT 13/06 |
| --- | --- |
| Member State | Italy |
| Region | Molise: varying levels of aid depending on the area where the measure is implemented |
| Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid | Multiannual programme of measures designed to promote economic recovery in Molise following disasters: open notice concerning the granting of aid for craft firms |
| Legal basis | Ordinanza del Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri n. 3268 del 12 marzo 2003, e successive, che ha nominato il Presidente della Regione Molise, Commissario Delegato per gli eccezionali eventi sismici del 31 ottobre 2002 e per quelli meteorologici del gennaio 2003 ed ha previsto, all'art. 15, la predisposizione di un Programma pluriennale d'interventi diretti a favorire la ripresa produttiva nel territorio della Regione Molise.
  Tale Programma è stato approvato dalla Giunta regionale del Molise con Deliberazione n. 841 del 9 giugno 2004 e dal Comitato Interministeriale per la Programmazione Economica, con Deliberazione n. 32 del 29 settembre 2004 (pubblicata nella Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana n. 289 del 10 dicembre 2004) |
| For the legal basis, see the specific section on the multiannual economic regeneration programme for Molise, on the region's official website (www.regione.molise.it) |
| Annual expenditure planned or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company | Aid scheme | Annual overall amount
  Average over three years | EUR 0,53 million |
| Maximum aid intensity | In conformity with Article 4(2)-(7) of the Regulation | Yes | |
| Date of implementation | 16.2.2006 |
| Duration of scheme or individual aid award | Until 30.6.2008 |
| Objective of aid | General training | Yes |
| Specific training | Yes |
| Economic sectors concerned | Limited to specific sectors | Yes |
| Other manufacturing | Yes |
| Other services | Yes |
| Name and address of the granting authority | Commissario Delegato per l'Attuazione Operativa del Programma ex art. 15 |
| via XXIV Maggio, 130 |
| I-86100 Campobasso |

Aid No

XT 13/06

Member State

Italy

Region

Molise: varying levels of aid depending on the area where the measure is implemented

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid

Multiannual programme of measures designed to promote economic recovery in Molise following disasters: open notice concerning the granting of aid for craft firms

Legal basis

Ordinanza del Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri n. 3268 del 12 marzo 2003, e successive, che ha nominato il Presidente della Regione Molise, Commissario Delegato per gli eccezionali eventi sismici del 31 ottobre 2002 e per quelli meteorologici del gennaio 2003 ed ha previsto, all'art. 15, la predisposizione di un Programma pluriennale d'interventi diretti a favorire la ripresa produttiva nel territorio della Regione Molise.

Tale Programma è stato approvato dalla Giunta regionale del Molise con Deliberazione n. 841 del 9 giugno 2004 e dal Comitato Interministeriale per la Programmazione Economica, con Deliberazione n. 32 del 29 settembre 2004 (pubblicata nella Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana n. 289 del 10 dicembre 2004)

For the legal basis, see the specific section on the multiannual economic regeneration programme for Molise, on the region's official website (www.regione.molise.it)

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

Aid scheme

Annual overall amount

Average over three years

EUR 0,53 million

Maximum aid intensity

In conformity with Article 4(2)-(7) of the Regulation

Yes

Date of implementation

16.2.2006

Duration of scheme or individual aid award

Until 30.6.2008

Objective of aid

General training

Yes

Specific training

Yes

Economic sectors concerned

Limited to specific sectors

Yes

Other manufacturing

Yes

Other services

Yes

Name and address of the granting authority

Commissario Delegato per l'Attuazione Operativa del Programma ex art. 15

via XXIV Maggio, 130

I-86100 Campobasso

Large individual aid grants

In conformity with Article 5 of the Regulation

Yes

| Aid No | XT 17/06 |
| --- | --- |
| Member State | Malta |
| Region | N/A |
| Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid | My Web for Industry |
| Legal basis | Malta Enterprise Act (Cap. 463) |
| Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company | Aid scheme | Annual overall amount | EUR 70 000 |
| Loans guaranteed | |
| Individual aid | Overall aid amount | |
| Loans guaranteed | |
| Maximum aid intensity | In conformity with Article 4(2)-(7) of the Regulation | Yes | |
| Date of implementation | 15.3.2006 |
| Duration of scheme or individual aid award | Until 31.12.2006 |
| Objective of aid | General training | Yes |
| Specific training | No |
| Economic sectors concerned | All sectors eligible for training aid | Yes |
| Name and address of the granting authority | Malta Enterprise |
| Enterprise Centre, Industrial Estate |
| MT-San Gwann SGN 09 |

Aid No

XT 17/06

Member State

Malta

Region

N/A

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid

My Web for Industry

Legal basis

Malta Enterprise Act (Cap. 463)

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

Aid scheme

Annual overall amount

EUR 70 000

Loans guaranteed

Individual aid

Overall aid amount

Loans guaranteed

Maximum aid intensity

In conformity with Article 4(2)-(7) of the Regulation

Yes

Date of implementation

15.3.2006

Duration of scheme or individual aid award

Until 31.12.2006

Objective of aid

General training

Yes

Specific training

No

Economic sectors concerned

All sectors eligible for training aid

Yes

Name and address of the granting authority

Malta Enterprise

Enterprise Centre, Industrial Estate

MT-San Gwann SGN 09

Large individual aid grants

In conformity with Article 5 of the Regulation

| Aid number: | XT 54/03 |
| --- | --- |
| Member State | (United Kingdom and) Republic of Ireland |
| Region | 32 Counties of the island of Ireland — Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. |
| Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid | FOCUS |
| Legal basis | British/Irish Agreement Act 1999 Section 2.3 Part 7 of Annex 2 of the Act empowers InterTradeIreland to invest, lend or grant aid for the purposes of its function. |
| Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company | Maximum cost per company
  2002: GBP 25 400
  2003: GBP 25 400
  Maximum total funded element
  2002: GBP 254 000
  2003: GBP 254 000
  Notes: 20 projects will be established and implemented during 2002-2004. Cost per project is GB 25 400 over 12-month duration. The GBP 25 400 per project is paid in quarterly instalments over the 12-month period. Annual expenditure for the overall FOCUS scheme of 20 projects is calculated on the basis that the projects will commence mid-2002 and be completed mid-2003. Therefore, spend is apportioned across the two years
  Total funding element for 20 projects over 2 years = GBP 508 000. This represents 65 % of the total project cost with the remaining 35 % attributed by the participating enterprises |
| Maximum aid intensity | Up to a maximum of GBP 25 400 assistance per project per annum representing 65 % aid intensity. |
| Date of implementation, duration | Proposed scheme to run for 2 years from date of approval.
  Individual companies will be eligible for assistance for a maximum of 12 months |
| Objective of aid | The objective of the aid is to train high-calibre graduates in sales and marketing with a view to preparing them for senior management. The training is general as it is generic to all participating graduates and provides skills which are transferable across industry.
  It is intended that the FOCUS programme will provide participating graduates with part or full accreditation towards membership of relevant professional bodies, such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing and/or the Marketing Institute of Ireland |
| Economic sector(s) concerned | All sectors |
| Name and address of the granting authority | InterTradeIreland
  The Old Gasworks Business Park |
| Kilmorey Street |
| Newry |
| Co Down |
| Irlande du Nord |
| BT34 2DE |
| United Kingdom |

Aid number:

XT 54/03

Member State

(United Kingdom and) Republic of Ireland

Region

32 Counties of the island of Ireland — Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid

FOCUS

Legal basis

British/Irish Agreement Act 1999 Section 2.3 Part 7 of Annex 2 of the Act empowers InterTradeIreland to invest, lend or grant aid for the purposes of its function.

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

Maximum cost per company

2002: GBP 25 400

2003: GBP 25 400

Maximum total funded element

2002: GBP 254 000

2003: GBP 254 000

Notes: 20 projects will be established and implemented during 2002-2004. Cost per project is GB 25 400 over 12-month duration. The GBP 25 400 per project is paid in quarterly instalments over the 12-month period. Annual expenditure for the overall FOCUS scheme of 20 projects is calculated on the basis that the projects will commence mid-2002 and be completed mid-2003. Therefore, spend is apportioned across the two years

Total funding element for 20 projects over 2 years = GBP 508 000. This represents 65 % of the total project cost with the remaining 35 % attributed by the participating enterprises

Maximum aid intensity

Up to a maximum of GBP 25 400 assistance per project per annum representing 65 % aid intensity.

Date of implementation, duration

Proposed scheme to run for 2 years from date of approval.

Individual companies will be eligible for assistance for a maximum of 12 months

Objective of aid

The objective of the aid is to train high-calibre graduates in sales and marketing with a view to preparing them for senior management. The training is general as it is generic to all participating graduates and provides skills which are transferable across industry.

It is intended that the FOCUS programme will provide participating graduates with part or full accreditation towards membership of relevant professional bodies, such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing and/or the Marketing Institute of Ireland

Economic sector(s) concerned

All sectors

Name and address of the granting authority

InterTradeIreland

The Old Gasworks Business Park

Kilmorey Street

Newry

Co Down

Irlande du Nord

BT34 2DE

United Kingdom

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