EN Official Journal of the European Union C 106/22

Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production of agricultural products and amending Regulation (EC) No 70/2001

(2008/C 106/09)

Aid No: XA 323/07

Member State: Hungary

Region: Entire country

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: 2007. évben aszálykárt szenvedett mezőgazdasági termelők kedvezményes hitelhez jutási lehetőségének támogatása

Legal basis:

— Commission Regulation (EC) No 1860/2004 of 6 October 2004 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to de minimis aid in the agriculture and fisheries sectors (OJ L 325, 28.10 2004, p. 4),

— 2006. évi LXXXVIII. törvény a nemzeti agrár-kárenyhítési rendszerről;

— 88/2006 (XII. 28.) FVM rendelet a nemzeti agrárkár-enyhítési rendszerről szóló 2006. évi LXXXVIII. törvény végrehajtásának szabályairól;

— A földművelésügyi és vidékfejlesztési miniszter /2007. (…..) FVM rendelete a 2007. évben aszálykárt szenvedett mezőgazdasági termelők kedvezményes hitelhez jutási lehetőségéről

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: Planned annual expenditure: HUF 200-220 million

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum intensity of the loan and guarantee subsidy together is 80 % of the loss in yields

Date of implementation: From October 2007

Duration of scheme or individual aid award:

Objective of aid: The objective of the aid is to provide farmers (small and medium-sized undertakings) with compensation for the drought damage suffered in 2007.

Farmers suffered a significant reduction of their incomes (in some cases 50-100 % of production was lost). In order to compensate for such loss of earnings, farmers will be entitled to subsidised loans and such loans may also be accompanied by a preferential guarantee.

The amount of aid included in the guarantee attached to the loan is calculated on the basis of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1860/2004 of 6 October 2004 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to de minimis aid in the agriculture and fisheries sectors. The guaranteeing institutions provide the guarantee on the loan on the basis of Decree No 50/2007 (VI. 27) FVM on the institutional guarantee which may be claimed as de minimis aid by agricultural undertakings. Upon redemption of the guarantee the guarantee institutions transfer to the financial institution providing the financing the full amount of the counter-guarantee received from budget resources.

We apply Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

The maximum aid intensity attainable (interest-rate subsidy and provision of guarantee) is 80 % of loss of income

Sector(s) concerned: Plant production sector (field crops)

Name and address of the granting authority:

Földművelésügyi és Vidékfejlesztési Minisztérium Kossuth Lajos tér 11. H-1055 Budapest

Website: http://www.fvm.hu/main.php?folderID=1846&articleID=11273&ctag=articlelist&iid=1

András Máhr

State Secretary

Aid No: XA 337/07

Member State: Italy

Region: Umbria

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid award: Progetti integrati di filiera a favore delle PMI attive nel settore della produzione, trasformazione e commercializzazione dei prodotti di cui all'allegato I del trattato. Criteri per la concessione degli aiuti

Legal basis: Deliberazione della Giunta Regionale n. 1798 del 12 novembre 2007 avente per oggetto ‘Modifiche ed integrazioni alla DGR 1449/2007 concernente: Progetti integrati di filiera a favore delle PMI attive nel settore della produzione, trasformazione e commercializzazione dei prodotti di cui all'allegato I del trattato, criteri per la concessione degli aiuti’

This aid scheme must be regarded as a modification of the preceding exempted aid scheme registered by the Commission, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1/2004, under XA 02/05. It will be launched with a specific call for applications setting out the terms and conditions for submitting applications. The call will be published only after the Commission has confirmed, in accordance with Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006, receipt of this summary information sheet and its publication on the Commission's website.

For all aid categories relating to the processing and marketing of the products listed in Annex I to the Treaty, it should be pointed out that the legal basis, which is the above-mentioned exempted aid scheme XA 02/05, is being revised to take account of Regulation (EC) No 70/2001, as amended and supplemented by Article 21 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006. Consequently, pursuant to Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 70/2001, we will send the Commission, jointly with this summary information, the summary information which constitutes the legal prerequisite for launching the exempted aid scheme in that sector

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 5 450 000 broken down as follows:

EUR 5 000 000 primarily for enterprises in the area of the Lake Trasimeno in the province of Perugia (Magione, Panicale, C. del Lago, Tuoro, Passignano, Città della Pieve, Piegaro, Paciano),

EUR 450 000 as a first allocation and according to the schedule established in the 2007-2013 RDP for Umbria, which the European Commission is currently examining for approval, for aid to integrated agri-food projects in the remaining part of the region

Maximum aid intensity:

1. For primary production, the aid is granted in the form of capital contributions for the following maximum amounts: — 40 % of expenditure for the following interventions/operations: (a) construction or improvement of immovable property and purchase of agricultural land for up to 10 % of the total costs borne by each implementing party; immovable property may also be purchased, if essential to attain the aims of the project, for a maximum eligible expenditure of EUR 516 per useable square metre; (b) expenditure for the introduction of company quality systems in compliance with the ISO 9000 standard, — 20 % of the expenditure borne to purchase machinery and equipment, including computer equipment, — 12 % for overheads related to the expenditure described in points (a) and (b), including the purchase of patents and licences. The above rates shall be increased by 10 percentage points if the intervention/operation takes place in mountain or less-favoured areas as established in the 2007-2013 Rural Development Programme for Umbria pursuant to Articles 50 and 94 of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 and by a further 10 points if it is carried out by young farmers. The maximum amount of aid granted to an individual enterprise must not exceed EUR 400 000 over any period of three financial years or EUR 500 000 if the enterprise is situated in a mountainous or less-favoured area as established in the 2007-2013 Rural Development Plan for Umbria pursuant to Articles 50 and 94 of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005. The primary production sector also includes any investment in the agricultural holding needed to prepare animal or vegetable products for the first sale. The term ‘first sale’ means the sale effected by a primary producer to retailers or processors, including any operation needed to prepare the product for this first sale, and the sale to the final consumer provided it takes place in premises that are not separate from other premises used for the primary activity. The following are not eligible: — the purchase of production rights, animals and annual plants, — drainage works, irrigation equipment and irrigation works, — the planting of annual plants, — simple replacement investments, — investments for the manufacture and marketing of products which imitate or substitute for milk and milk products.

2. For processing and marketing, the aid is granted in the form of capital contributions up to 40 % of expenditure for the following interventions/operations: (a) the construction or improvement of immovable property; immovable property may also be purchased, if essential to attain the aims of the project, for a maximum eligible expenditure of EUR 516 per useable square metre; (b) expenditure for the introduction of company quality systems in compliance with the ISO 9000 standard; (c) the purchase of machinery, equipment, including computer equipment, and technological installations; (d) up to 12 % of overheads related to the expenditure described in points (a), (b) and (c), including the purchase of patents and licences. The following expenditure is not eligible: — investments at retail level, — investments for processing or marketing products from non-EU countries. For each enterprise, maximum eligible expenditure is limited to 40 % of the turnover of the last budget approved as of the date of submission of the application, or to ten times the share capital subscribed as of the same date. In any case, for enterprises processing and marketing agricultural products listed in Annex I to the Treaty, expenditure may only be eligible for support if in compliance with Regulation (EC) No 70/2001.

3. For integrated management relating to quality, environmental protection, public health, animal and plant health, animal welfare and safety at work, the aid is granted in the form of capital contributions for the following amounts: — up to 100 % of the costs borne by individual or associated producers, and up to EUR 30 000 for each enterprise, for the following interventions: (a) expenditure relating to checks carried out in connection with the issuing of the first certification required for quality products recognised at Community level (DOC, DOCG, PDO, IGT, PGI, SGT, and organic products), — up to 50 % of the expenditure borne, up to EUR 100 000, for each enterprise for the following interventions: (b) expenditure for the introduction of environmental quality systems in compliance with the ISO 14000 or EMAS standard, — up to 80 % of the expenditure borne, up to EUR 100 000, for each enterprise for the following: (c) expenditure for the introduction of certification systems in the food chain, — up to 70 % of expenditure borne by individual or associated enterprises, and up to EUR 200 000, for interventions relating to marketing support services, i.e.: (d) publications, such as catalogues or websites, presenting factual information on the sector product provided the information is neutral and that all the operators in the sector have equal opportunities to be represented in the publications; (e) organising and participating in competitions, trade fairs, shows and forums for knowledge-sharing among businesses, provided it is for the following: participation fees, travel costs, publication costs, the rent of exhibition stands, symbolic prizes up to EUR 250 per prize and per winner; (f) quality products recognised at Community level (DOC, DOCG, PDO, IGT, PGI, SGT, and organic products): (i) the dissemination of scientific knowledge; (ii) factual information on the quality systems and nutritional benefits of these products and their use provided that the references to the origin correspond exactly to those references which have been registered by the Community. Aid for technical support services does not involve direct payments to farmers except in the cases provided for in Article 14(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006

Date of implementation:

Duration of scheme:

Objective of aid: Support to SMEs involved in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products listed in Annex I to the EC Treaty (except forestry, bioenergy and fishery products) aimed at stepping up competitiveness in the main agri-food sectors in Umbria by introducing product and process innovations and integrated management relating to quality, safety and environmental protection and support services for marketing agricultural products, mostly quality products.

For the production sector, the legal basis for the exemption of this aid scheme is provided by Articles 4, 14 and 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

For the processing and marketing sector, the legal basis for the exemption of this aid scheme is provided by Articles 4 and 5 of Regulation (EC) No 70/2001.

Eligible costs covered by the aid scheme are indicated under ‘Maximum aid intensity’ above

Sector(s) concerned: The sectors concerned by the aid scheme are the production, processing and marketing of products listed in Annex I to the EC Treaty (except forestry, bioenergy and fishery products).

For all initiatives planned under this aid scheme, evidence must be given of the existence of normal market outlets. Investments to increase production capacity in sectors with specific limitations under common market organisations are not eligible unless justified by the purchase of the corresponding production quotas

Name and address of the granting authority:

Regione Umbria — Direzione regionale all'Agricoltura e foreste, aree protette, valorizzazione dei sistemi naturalistici e paesaggistici, beni ed attività culturali, sport e spettacolo Centro Direzionale Fontivegge I-06100 Perugia

Website: www.regione.umbria.it

select ‘aree tematiche’,

select ‘agricoltura e foreste’ on the left,

under ‘ultime notizie’, select ‘D.G.R. del’,

select ‘clicca qui’.

E-mail:

fgarofalo@regione.umbria.it

Other information: Aid for the processing and marketing of agricultural products listed in Annex I to the Treaty is implemented as exempted aid pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 70/2001. As a consequence, in accordance with Article 9 of the above-mentioned Regulation, the summary information on exempted aid for this sector shall be forwarded to the Commission jointly with this summary information

Aid No: XA 344/07

Member State: France

Region: Département de la Manche

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Accompagnement au développement de la Qualification Agriculture Raisonnée

Legal basis:

— Articles L 1511 et suivants, articles L 3231-2 et L3232-17 du Code général des collectivités territoriales

— Délibération du conseil général de la Manche no 2006-II-3/06 du 19 juin 2006

— Convention entre l'État et le département relative à l'accompagnement au développement de la qualification à l'agriculture raisonnée

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: Annual aid of EUR 28 750 (maximum)

Maximum aid intensity: 100 % of the technician's fees, capped at two days' work per holding

Date of implementation: From receipt of the acknowledgement of receipt from the European Commission

Duration of aid scheme or individual aid: Until 31 December 2009 at the latest

Objective of aid: The aim of the scheme is to promote the development of the sustainable agriculture qualification by having the Manche General Council cover the cost of a maximum of two days' work by a technician. The aid is paid to the Council body in charge of the pre-audit and not to the agricultural producer. The aid will be governed by the provisions of Article 15 of the Agricultural Exemption Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006)

Sector(s) concerned: All the agricultural holdings of the department, provided they fall within the Community definition of small and medium-sized enterprises

Name and address of the granting authority:

Monsieur le président du conseil général de la Manche Direction des affaires économiques et du développement rural Service du développement rural Maison du département Rond-point de la liberté F-50008 Saint-Lo cedex

Website: http://www.cg50.fr/economie/agriculture

Aid No: XA 346/07

Member State: Spain

Title of aid scheme: Ayudas para paliar los daños ocasionados por las tormentas de lluvia, granizo y viento ocurridas en la segunda quincena del mes de mayo de 2007, que afectaron a varias comunidades autónomas

Legal basis: Orden APA/ /2007, de … de octubre, por la que se desarrolla el artículo 4 del Real Decreto-ley no 5/2007, de 22 de junio, por el que se adoptan medidas urgentes para reparar los daños causados por las tormentas de lluvia, granizo y viento, que han afectado en la segunda quincena del mes de mayo de 2007, a diversas comunidades autónomas

Annual expenditure planned: EUR 9,1 million

Maximum aid intensity: 80 per cent of the losses

Date of implementation: In the six months following publication of the Order

Duration of scheme: December 2008

Objective of aid: The objective of the aid is to offset the harvest losses incurred by farmers as a result of the heavy rainstorms, hailstorms and strong winds which occurred, losses that were not covered by insurance policies.

An absolute precondition for the aid is that the recipients should have insured their production under the Annual Farm Insurance Plan.

In order to qualify for the aid, the damage incurred must exceed 30 per cent of normal production.

The application of a non-reducible excess of 20 per cent of the damage means that the aid will not exceed 80 per cent of the losses.

The losses will be calculated by individual farm.

The compensation received under the insurance policies will be deducted from the amount calculated.

The aid scheme complies with Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006

Sector(s) concerned: Cereal, tomato and fruit production has been affected by these adverse climatic conditions

Name and address of the granting authority:

Entidad Estatal de Seguros Agrarios (ENESA) C/ Miguel Ángel, no 23 — 5a planta E-28010 Madrid

Website: http://oracle3.mapya.es/documentos_pwe/rd/orden_tormentas.pdf

enesa@mapa.es

Aid No: XA 352/07

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Region: Območje občine Vransko

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Programi razvoja podeželja v občini Vransko 2007–2013

Legal basis: Pravilnik o dodeljevanju pomoči za ohranjanje in razvoj kmetijstva in podeželja v občini Vransko za programsko obdobje 2007–2013

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

2007: EUR 60 900

2008: EUR 60 900

2009: EUR 60 900

2010: EUR 65 000

2011: EUR 65 000

2012: EUR 70 000

2013: EUR 70 000

Maximum aid intensity:

1. Investment in agricultural holdings for primary production:

— up to 50 % of eligible costs in less-favoured areas and up to 40 % of eligible costs for investment in other areas,

— up to 60 % of eligible costs in less-favoured areas and up to 50 % of eligible costs for investment in other areas, where the investment is made by young farmers within five years of setting up.

Support is granted for investment to restore farm features and to purchase equipment for agricultural production, and for investment in permanent crops, farmland improvement and pasture management.

2. Aid for conservation of traditional buildings:

— for non-productive features, up to 100 % of the actual costs incurred,

— for productive assets on farms, up to 60 % or — in less-favoured areas — 75 % of the actual costs incurred, provided that the investment does not entail any increase in the production capacity of the farm,

— additional aid may be granted at a rate of up to 100 % to cover the extra costs incurred by using traditional materials necessary to maintain the heritage features of buildings.

3. Relocation of farm buildings in the public interest:

— up to 100 % of the actual costs incurred if the relocation simply consists of the dismantling, removal and re-erection of existing facilities,

— where the relocation results in the farmer benefiting from more modern facilities, the farmer must contribute in less-favoured areas at least 50 % and in other areas at least 60 % of the increase in the value of the facilities concerned after relocation. If the beneficiary is a young farmer, this contribution shall be at least 55 % or in less favoured areas 45 %,

— where the relocation results in an increase in production capacity, the farmer must contribute at least 60 % or — in less-favoured areas — 50 % of the expenses relating to the increase. If the beneficiary is a young farmer, this contribution shall be at least 55 % or in less-favoured areas 45 %.

4. Aid towards the payment of insurance premiums:

— municipality aid is the difference between the level of cofinancing of insurance premiums from the national budget and a sum of up to 50 % of eligible insurance premium costs for insuring crops and fruit and insuring livestock against disease.

5. Aid for land reparcelling:

— up to 100 % of actual administrative and legal costs incurred.

6. Aid to encourage the production of quality agricultural products:

— up to 100 % of the costs of market research activities, product conception and design, including aid for the preparation of applications for recognition of geographical indications, designations of origin or certificates of specific character, in accordance with the relevant Community regulations. The aid is granted in the form of subsidised services and does not involve direct payments of money to producers.

7. Aid for the provision of technical support in the agricultural sector:

— up to 100 % of costs concerning education and training for farmers, consultancy services, the organisation of forums, competitions, exhibitions and fairs, publications, catalogues, websites and the dissemination of scientific knowledge. The aid is granted in the form of subsidised services and does not involve direct payments of money to producers

Date of implementation: November 2007 (No aid will be granted until the summary is published on the European Commission's website)

Duration of scheme or of individual aid: Until 31 December 2013

Objective of aid: To support SMEs

Reference to Articles of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 and eligible costs: Chapter II of the proposed Rules on the granting of aid for preserving and developing agriculture and rural areas in the Municipality of Vransko for the programming period 2007-2013 (Pravilnik o dodeljevanju pomoči za ohranjanje in razvoj kmetijstva in podeželja v Občini Vransko za programsko obdobje 2007-2013) includes measures relating to State aid in accordance with the following Articles of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 of 15 December 2006 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production of agricultural products and amending Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 (OJ L 358, 16.12.2006, p. 3):

Article 4: Investment in agricultural holdings;

Article 5: Conservation of traditional landscapes and buildings,

Article 6: Relocation of farm buildings in the public interest,

Article 12: Aid towards the payment of insurance premiums,

Article 13: Aid for land reparcelling,

Article 14: Aid to encourage the production of quality agricultural products,

Article 15: Provision of technical support in the agricultural sector

Economic sector(s) concerned: Agriculture

Name and address of the granting authority:

Občina Vransko Vransko 59 SLO-3305 Vransko

Website: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/ulonline.jsp?urlid=200797&dhid=92173

Other information: Aid for the payment of insurance premiums to insure crops and fruit includes the following adverse climatic events which can be assimilated to natural disasters: spring frost, hail, lightning, fire caused by lightning, storms and floods.

The municipality's Rules meet the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 concerning measures to be taken by the municipality and the general provisions applicable (steps preceding grant of aid, cumulation, transparency and monitoring of aid)

Mayor of the municipality of Vransko

Franc SUŠNIK