EN Official Journal of the European Union C 57/4

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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2006/C 57/03)

Date of adoption of the decision:

Member State: The Netherlands

Aid No: N 605/2004

Title: Compensation for crop loss 2002

Objective: Under this measure a compensation will be given for damage to crops that occurred as a consequence of extreme weather conditions in August 2002.

Legal basis: Kaderwet LNV subsidies, Staatsblad 1997, nr. 710

Budget: This measure has a maximum budget of EUR 3,8 million

Duration: One off payment

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: Spain (Castile-Leon)

Aid No: N 521/05

Title: Assistance for the potato market

Objective: Temporary assistance for the consumer potato market in the form of a withdrawal and private storage operation, in order to stabilise the market in this product

Legal basis: Orden AYG/1213/2005, de 22 de septiembre, por la que se regula una intervención en el mercado de la patata de consumo de la campaña 2005-2006

Budget: EUR 2 million

Aid intensity or amount: Varies according to the activity

Duration: From 23 September to 1 November 2005

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: Ireland

No of the aid: N 525/05

Title: Development of the Potato Sector (Amending aid scheme No N 297/00)

Objective: Support for investments in new or improved storage and marketing facilities for potatoes other than starch potatoes

Legal basis: Implemented by administrative provision (The scheme has been in operation since 2001)

Budget: EUR 5,5 million (as initially approved under N 297/00)

Aid intensity or amount: 35 %

Duration: 2000-2006 (Applications accepted until 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 (Friuli Venezia Giulia)

Aid No: N 545/2005

Title: Assistance in agricultural areas affected by natural disasters (hail of 29 June 2005 in three municipalities of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, Udine province)

Objective: To compensate damage to farming structures caused by bad weather

Legal basis: Decreto legislativo n. 102/2004

Budget: See the approved scheme (NN 54/A/04)

Aid intensity or amount: Up to 100 % of the cost of the damage

Duration: Measure applying an aid scheme approved by the Commission

Other information: Measure applying an aid scheme approved by the Commission under State Aid NN 54/A/2004 (Commission Letter C(2005)1622 final of 7 June 2005)

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: France (Cher)

Aid No: N 560/2005

Title: Aid for the acquisition of sires of high genetic value — General Council for the department of Cher

Objective: Investment aid

Legal basis: Articles L 1511-5 et s. du Code général des collectivités territoriales

Budget: EUR 15 000 per year

Aid intensity or amount: 15 % (with a maximum of 40 %)

Duration: Three years (2006-08)

Other information: Extension of Aid Scheme N 732/2002

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: Austria (Niederösterreich)

No of the aid: N 564a/2004

Title: Guidelines of the Land of Niederösterreich for damages caused by natural disasters to agricultural production

Objective: The notified measure concerns the Guidelines of the Land Niederösterreich governing the granting of aid in exceptional emergency situations (‘the notified Guidelines’). The notified measure regards only the application of those Guidelines to agricultural production. The eligible damage, aid intensity and the mechanics of the aid provision are identical with those approved by the Commission in the case N 564b/2004.

Every exceptional emergency situation giving rise to compensation to agricultural producers under the notified Guidelines would be individually notified to the Commission. No compensation would be paid until the Commission has approved the existence of a natural catastrophe in such an individually notified case

Legal basis: Richtlinien für die Gewährung von Beihilfen zur Behebung von Katastrophenschäden des Landes Niederösterreich. (Rechtsvorschrift des Bundes)

Budget: Ca. 70 000 EUR per annum. This is the total budget including aid to agricultural production

Aid intensity or amount: 20-70 % of the eligible damage

Duration: Unlimited

Other information: The Decision concerns only the legal framework constituted by the notified Guidelines and does not authorise the payment of any State aid under that framework. Such payment is subject to an individual notification to and authorisation by the Commission

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: Denmark

Aid No: N 568/04

Title: Compensation for losses due to the presence of certain GMO material

Objective: In order to provide adequate coverage for the risk involved and thus to contribute to the successful establishment of the co-existence between GM and other crops the Danish authorities have decided to set up a compensation scheme financed by the growers of GM crops.

Each farmer cultivating genetically modified crops shall pay a cultivation fee of 100 DKK per hectare of land cultivated with such crops. The cultivation fees are integrally used to constitute a compensation fund, from which compensation would be paid to farmers who have sustained economic losses due to the presence of GM material in their crops.

Payment of compensation is limited to cases where GM material is found in the same non-GM crop as the GM crop or in a crop closely related to the GM crop (GM crops that can be crossed into non-GM crops) in the same season and within a specified area (distance from the GM crops). In the cultivation of organically grown seed only the condition concerning the season applies.

Compensation for losses can be paid only if the occurrence of GM material in the claimant's crop, as defined above, exceeds the threshold of 0,9 per cent. The threshold is the limit under which genetically modified food or feedstuffs do not have to be labelled for containing genetically modified organisms, as laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003.

The amount of compensation is limited to the price difference between the market price of a crop that has to be labelled as containing GM material and a crop for which no such labelling is required (i.e. GM material content less than 0,9 per cent). The market price will be determined by the Danish Plant Directorate on the basis of the monthly statistics from the Institute for Food economics (FØI)

Legal basis: Lov nr. 436 af 9. juni om dyrkning m.v. af genetisk modificerede afgrøder; bekendtgørelse om kompensation for tab på grund af visse forekomster af genetisk modificeret materiale (udkast).

Budget: DKK 300 000/EUR 40 540 in 2005

Aid intensity or amount: 100 % of the eligible costs

Duration: 5 years

Other information: It is the intention of the Danish authorities to limit the duration of the compensation scheme until a privately financed insurance solution is found

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 (Lombardy)

Aid No: N 577/05

Title: Assistance in farming areas affected by natural disasters (violent winds of 2 August 2005 in the province of Cremona)

Objective: To compensate for damage to agricultural production and farming structures caused by bad weather (violent winds of 2 August 2005 in the province of Cremona)

Legal basis: Decreto legislativo 102/2004: «Nuova disciplina del Fondo di solidarietà nazionale»

Budget: To be financed from the budget approved under Aid No NN 54/A/04

Aid intensity or amount: Up to 100 %

Duration: Measure applying an aid scheme approved by the Commission

Other information: Measure applying the scheme approved by the Commission under State aid NN 54/A/2004 (Commission letter C(2005)1622 final, dated 7 June 2005)

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: United Kingdom (Wales)

Aid No: N 584/2005

Title: Extension to the Meat Generic Advertising Scheme (Wales)

Objective: Prolongation of the Meat Generic Advertising Scheme (Wales) for 1 year with an increase of the budget

Legal basis: Agriculture Act 1967 as amended; Welsh Development Agency Act 1975

Budget: Increase of the budget: GBP 2,25 million (EUR 3,32 million)

Aid intensity or amount: Up to 100 % (parafiscal levies)

Duration: Prolongation for 1 year until 31 March 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:

Member State: United Kingdom (Wales)

Aid No: N 585/2005

Title: Extension to the Meat Quality Advertising Scheme (Wales)

Objective: Prolongation of the Meat Quality Advertising Scheme (Wales) for 1 year with an increase of the budget

Legal basis: Agriculture Act 1967 as amended; Welsh Development Agency Act 1975

Budget: Increase of the budget: GBP 2,25 million (EUR 3,32 million)

Aid intensity or amount: Up to 100 % (parafiscal levies)

Duration: Prolongation for 1 year until 31 March 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/