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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2003/C 277/06)

Date of adoption of the decision: 20.10.2003

Member State: Spain

Aid No: N 225/03 and N 273/03

Title: Aid to repair damage to olive production caused by frost

Objective: To repair damage to olive trees caused by frost

Legal basis: Orden de 13 de noviembre de 2002, por la que se establecen ayudas para la recuperación del potencial productivo del olivar afectado por las bajas temperaturas registradas en diciembre de 2001 y se determinan las medidas para la solicitud, tramitación y concesión de las mismas

Budget: For aid N 225/03: EUR 1344121,30; for aid N 273/03: not specified

Aid intensity or amount: Less than the damage caused to the olive trees

Duration: Ad hoc aid

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: 20.10.2003

Member State: France

Aid No: N 418/03

Title: Aid from the Office national interprofessionnel des céréales (ONIC) and the Office national interprofessionnel des oléagineux (ONIOL)

Objective: To continue the funding of measures authorised under State aid schemes N 190/01, N 191/01, N 192/01 and N 821/01

Budget: - N 190/01: EUR 80000 for 2003, budget renewable up to 2006,

- N 191/02: EUR 605000 for 2003, budget renewable up to 2006,

- N 192/01: EUR 114000 for 2003 and EUR 120000 for 2004, budgets renewable up to 2006,

- N 821/01: EUR 2464000 for one further year

Aid intensity or amount: A maximum of 100 %

Duration: Three 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: 20.10.2003

Member State: Germany (North Rhine Westphalia)

Aid No: N 596/02

Title: Promotion of marketing of school milk

Objective: The proposed aid scheme provides incentives for the sale of school milk in kindergartens and schools: premiums for the sale of school milk, aid for investments of sales establishments, support for information work, image improvement and qualification and training

Legal basis: Landeshaushaltsordnung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Schulmilch-Beihilfenverordnung vom 8. November 1985, Entwurf der Richtlinien über die Gewährung von Zuwendungen zur Förderung von Schulmilch

Budget: EUR 1,15 million per year

Aid intensity or amount: Up to 100 %

Duration: 2003 to 2007

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: 20.10.2003

Member State: Italy (Umbria)

Aid No: N 701/02

Title: Promoting knowledge of agricultural production

Objective: To promote agricultural knowledge by means of research and development projects and support for technical assistance in order to promote the integrated and balanced development of rural areas, boost production value-added and improve the competitiveness of agricultural holdings, agri-food businesses and forest holdings while gearing production to quality, multifunctionality, health protection and environmental development. The Umbria regional executive will draw up triennial R & D operational plans and triennial service plans setting out the objective and description of each R & D topic selected. These triennial plans will be communicated to the Commission prior to implementation

Legal basis: Disegno di legge, Delibera della Giunta regionale del 2 ottobre 2002, n. 1312 e Delibera della Giunta regionale del 9 dicembre 2002, n. 255

Budget: To be determined each year in the regional budget

Aid intensity or amount: Research and development activities:

(a) Studies and research of general interest to enhance knowledge:

- up to 75 % for basic research,

- up to 50 % for pre-competitive development,

- up to 100 % for topics proposed by the region of Umbria;

(b) Preparation of research programmes to submit to the EU within the context of specific programmes; point 6.I.f: up to 50 % of eligible expenditure;

(c) Upgrading instruments and tools for agricultural research and testing and purchasing new ones; point 6.I.g: up to 100 % of eligible expenditure

Technical assistance:

(a) Presentation: up to 100 % of eligible expenditure;

(b) Information, assistance and consultation activities, highly qualified technical assistance, dissemination of new production and management techniques, implementation of pilot projects and demonstrations, keeping technicians' knowledge up-to-date as regards the activities planned in the triennial service plan: up to 80 % of eligible expenditure to a maximum EUR 100000 per beneficiary in each three-year period;

(c) Technical, agro-metrological and soil science support services: up to 100 % of eligible expenditure, up to a maximum EUR 100000 per beneficiary in each three-year period;

(d) Cost of replacing the farmer or a co-worker during periods of absence due to the frequency of training courses: up to EUR 4000 per beneficiary, with a maximum EUR 16000 per beneficiary in each three-year period

Duration: Unspecified

Other information: The assistance for the activities described under Articles 4(1)(a) and (b) and 5(1)(c) and (d) of the notified draft law is not State aid as it benefits the activities of the regional public administration and therefore the community as a whole rather than specific firms or types of production

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: 20.10.2003

Member State: Spain

Aid No: N 853/01

Title: Aid for advertising agricultural products

Objective: The international promotion of Spanish agricultural and food products

Legal basis: Decisión ad hoc de las autoridades españolas

Budget: Not specified

Aid intensity or amount: Various, according to the type of aid

Duration: Not specified

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