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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2003/C 91/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Date of adoption of the decision: 14.3.2003

Member State: Finland

Aid No: N 41/03

Title: Amendment of the investment aid scheme N 59/2000

Objective: The approved aid scheme N 59/2000 concerns investment and development aid for processing and handling of agricultural products. The notified aid measure introduces the following amendments to that aid scheme: the cumulating of the investment aid pursuant to scheme N 59/2000 with other State aid would be limited to 40 % aid rates of the eligible investment; wage and travel costs related to development activity would be added as eligible costs for development aid; cumulating of development aid with other State aid would be allowed while these maximum cumulated aid rates would remain the same as the maximum aid rates of development aid under the approved aid scheme N 59/2000. No other amendments are made to aid scheme N 59/2000

Legal basis: A government decree (not yet issued)

Budget: The budget for the investment aid scheme to be amended has been estimated at EUR 2,5-5 million/year. The proposed amendment is not expected to have any budgetary impact

Aid intensity or amount: Variable

Duration: Until 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: 14.3.2003

Member State: Spain (Navarre)

Aid No: N 709/02

Title: Aid for the conversion and modernisation of irrigation works

Objective: To modernise irrigation works

Legal basis: Proyecto de Orden Foral por la que se regula la concesión de subvenciones para la financiación de las obras de distribución de redes a presión en parcelas de interés agrícola privado en las zonas de actuación en infraestructuras agrícolas con transformación o modernización de regadíos

Budget: EUR 800000

Aid intensity or amount: Up to 40 % (50 % in less-favoured areas) and 45 % for young farmers (55 % in less-favoured areas)

Duration: Unlimited

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

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

Date of adoption of the decision: 14.3.2003

Member State: France

Aid No: N 721/02

Title: Aid to promote technical and economic restructuring in the stockfarming sector

Objective: To improve effectiveness and professionalism, in particular by providing technical assistance to stockfarmers in the form of management services, introducing technical measures to improve production and processing, developing new techniques, and organising competitions, trade fairs and shows

Budget: EUR 300000 per three-year period

Aid intensity or amount: 50 %, with a ceiling of EUR 100000 per beneficiary of a technical assistance service in a three-year period

Duration: Six years

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: 14.3.2003

Member State: Italy (Bergamo)

Aid No: N 529/02

Title: Investment aid to agricultural undertakings and cooperatives in Bergamo

Objective: To favour investment in agricultural holdings, in the agro-tourism sector and in the processing and marketing of agricultural products

Legal basis: Delibera della Giunta provinciale n. 293 del 13.6.2002 "Approvazione di un bando di concorso per la concessione di contributi in conto interessi a favore delle imprese e cooperative agricole bergamasche a sostegno degli investimenti aziendali"

Budget: Max. EUR 500000

Aid intensity or amount: Variable according to the extent of the interest rate subsidy and the duration of the loan. Does not exceed 15 % gross grant equivalent

Duration: Unlimited

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

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

Date of adoption of the decision: 14.3.2003

Member State: Italy

Aid No: N 802/02

Title: Aid for the beekeeping sector - Natural disasters 2002

Objective: To compensate honey producers for losses resulting from the bad weather in 2002

Legal basis: Articolo 10 della legge 27 marzo 2001, n. 122 "Misure finanziarie per il settore agricolo"

Budget: EUR 3834000000

Aid intensity or amount: 30 % of the losses incurred by the beekeeper

Duration: Until the budget is exhausted

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: 14.3.2003

Member State: France

Aid No: N 81/03

Title: Aid for supplying certain milk products to pupils in educational establishments

Objective: To stimulate consumption of milk and organic milk products by children

Budget: EUR 600000 per year

Aid intensity or amount: Variable, but less than 25 % of the price of the products

Duration: Five years

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