EN Official Journal of the European Union C 208/12

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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2005/C 208/03)

Date of adoption of the decision:

Member State: Italy (Lombardy).

Aid No: N 43/2005.

Title: Articles 11 and 21 of Regional Law No 7 of 16 July 2003. Minor land improvement works.

Objective: To carry out minor land improvement works under the regional plan for ensuring the water safety of the area, rationed and shared use of water resources, supply, maintenance and qualitative and quantitative safeguarding of the waters, water economy, the capacity for agricultural production of the soil and the development of agricultural, zootechnical and forestry products.

Legal basis:

Articoli 11 e 21, legge regionale 16 luglio 2003, n. 7.

Budget: EUR 5 000 000.

Aid intensity or amount: The maximum public aid rate may not exceed 50 % of eligible expenditure in less-favoured areas and 40 % in other areas and, where it relates to investments made by young farmers within five years of their setting up, 45 %, or 55 % in less-favoured areas. Aid will be granted in the form of direct subsidies and interest-rate subsidies.

Duration: 31 December 2015.

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

Aid No: N 120/2005

Title: Aid for protective fencing for pig herds reared in the open air.

Objective: To support investments in impermeable fencing erected around pig herds reared in the open air in order to prevent contact between swine for breeding and disease-carrying wild boar. In exceptional cases, funding may be provided for conversion work on existing buildings for the accommodation of sows on heat.

Budget: EUR 1 million.

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

Duration: Two years (up to 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: The Netherlands

Aid No: N 246/2005

Title: N 246/2005 modifying N 222/2004 Single opportunity scheme and demonstration projects.

Objective: The objective is to stimulate investments in energy transition experiments and innovative energy technology demonstration projects. This measure concerns a change of the support measure authorised by the Commission under number N 222/2004. It extends the measure to entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector who, under the previous stipulations, were not eligible for support.

Legal basis:

Kaderwet EZ-subsidies (Staatsblad 1997, 638).

Budget: The total budget of the notified scheme (for both the agricultural and non agricultural sector) amounts to EUR 255 million. The budget for transition experiments is EUR 95 million, the budget for demonstration projects is EUR 160 million.

Aid intensity or amount: Under the notified change in the scheme the Dutch authorities will support investments in the agricultural sector for up to 60 % of the eligible costs.

Duration: Sub measure on transition experiments: 2004-2009

Sub measure for demonstration projects: 2004-2014

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 (Val D'Aosta)

Aid No: N 271/2005

Title: Aid to compensate farmers for the losses caused by adverse weather events.

Objective: To compensate for damages to the wine and fruit production in October 2003, March-April 2004 and on 4 May 2004, caused by hail and frost, in the Region Val d'Aosta.

Legal basis:

Modifica dell'aiuto di Stato della misura III.1, azione III.1.2 –calamità naturali e danni da fauna selvatica- del Piano di sviluppo rurale della Valle d'Aosta e la procedura di attuazione dell'azione stessa.

Budget: EUR 53 737,5

Aid intensity or amount: 50 % of the ascertained damage.

Duration: Una tantum.

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 (Veneto)

Aid No: N 508/2004

Title: Aid for investment in agricultural undertakings (Articles 17 and 24 of Regional Law No 40/2003).

Objective: Investment aid for the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products.

Legal basis:

Legge regionale 12 dicembre 2003, n. 40 ‘Nuove norme per gli interventi in agricoltura’, articoli 17 e 24 come modificata dalla LR 9 aprile 2004, n. 8 e dalla Legge regionale 25 febbraio 2005 n. 5.

Budget: EUR 1 000 000

Aid intensity or amount: 40 % of eligible costs and 50 % in less-favoured areas (with a 5 % increase in the case of investments by young farmers) for farmers, and 50 % of eligible costs in Objective 1 regions and 40 % in other regions for processing and marketing.

Duration:

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 (Veneto)

Aid No: N 510/2004

Title: Aid for the certification and traceability of high-quality agricultural products (Articles 50 and 51 of Regional Law No 40/2003).

Objective: Aid for the introduction of high-quality traceability and certification systems.

Legal basis:

Legge regionale 12 dicembre 2003, n. 40 ‘Nuove norme per gli interventi in agricoltura’, articoli 50 e 51, come modificata dalla LR 9 aprile 2004, n. 8 e dalla Legge regionale 25 febbraio 2005 n. 5.

Budget: EUR 300 000

Aid intensity or amount: As specified in the letter to the Member State.

Duration:

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

Aid No: N 515/B/2003

Title: Aid for small butchers — slaughter tax

Objective: To finance the collection of the vertebrae of animals presenting a health risk

Budget: Estimated at EUR 26 million per year

Aid intensity or amount: Variable

Duration: One year (2004)

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 547/2004

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

Objective: The approved Meat Quality Advertising (Wales) Scheme (N 716/2002) will be prolonged by one year.

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

Budget: GBP 2,25 million (EUR 3,22 million)

Aid intensity or amount: Parafiscal levies will always finance at least 50 % of the budget.

Duration: 1 April 2005 to 31 March 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 (Basilicata)

Aid No: N 557/2004

Title: Aid to Consorzi Fidi in the agriculture sector

Objective: This aid scheme aims to stock up the guarantees funds of Consorzi Fidi in Region Basilicata. These Consorzi grant guarantees on loans taken out by agricultural SMEs operating in the region.

Legal basis: Legge no 441 del 15 dicembre 1998, art. 11

Decreto legislativo no 173 del 30 aprile 1988, art. 5

Budget: EUR 2 million

Aid intensity or amount: Variable

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:

Member State: Germany

Aid No: N 558/2004

Title: Aid towards the costs of BSE-tests within the special program on the consequences of BSE in the Land Sachsen.

Objective: Alteration to aid scheme no N 371/2003

Legal basis:

Richtlinie des Sächsischen Staatsministeriums für Soziales über die Gewährung von Zuwendungen im Rahmen des Sonderprogramms für BSE-Auswirkungen.

Budget: EUR 234 000

Aid intensity or amount: EUR 10 per test

Duration: 1 year

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: Portugal.

Aid No: N 559/2004.

Title: Compensation for the damage caused by hail in the municipalities of Murça and Mirandela.

Objective: To compensate for losses suffered by agricultural holdings involved in vine and olive cultivation as a result of the severe hail storm which took place on 7 June 2004 in the Portuguese region of Alto-trás os Montes, more specifically in the municipalities of Murça, parish of Candedo e de Mirandela and parish of Abreiro.

Legal basis:

Projecto de portaria de operacionalização do Auxilio de Estado relativo à queda de granizo nos concelhos de Murça e Mirandela.

Budget: EUR 16 000 for the olive sector and EUR 261 975,42 for the vine sector.

Aid intensity or amount: EUR 650/ha for the vine sector. For the olive sector the amount will correspond with the actual loss of production.

Duration: One-off 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:

Member State: Sweden.

Aid No: N 562/2004.

Title: Aid for the costs of transporting fallen stock.

Objective: With letter of 13 May 2002 (SG(2002)D/229773, aid case N 4/2002) the Commission authorised Sweden to pay aid towards the cost of transporting carcasses of fallen stock or emergency slaughtered animals from livestock farms situated in Northern Sweden beyond the 62nd Parallel to the Stenstorp installation. All livestock farms with fallen stock in Sweden pay a standard fee that in principle covers the transportation and destruction costs. However, in Northern Sweden the costs of transportation are considerably higher than in other regions of the country, and the standard fee is not sufficient to cover the extra costs. Therefore the aid referred to above was granted to cover the part of the transportation costs of carcasses exceeding the transportation costs from farms south of the 62nd Parallel. No aid was granted to destruction costs. Because the livestock farmers in Northern Sweden continued to pay the standard fee they never paid less for the disposal of fallen stock than the livestock farmers in other parts of the country. The Swedish authorities propose to prolong the validity of this scheme without any changes. Aid is available only to farmers and to no other operators. These farmers continue to pay the above-mentioned standard fee towards the transport and disposal costs of fallen stock. No aid is paid towards the destruction costs, which are covered by this fee.

Legal basis:

Riksdagens beslut avseende regeringens proposition 2004/05:1 och Jordbruksverkets regleringsbrev för år 2005.

Budget: SEK 2,4 million per annum (ca EUR 260 870).

Aid intensity or amount: 100 % of the eligible costs.

Duration: 6 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:

Member State: Germany (Nordrhein-Westfalen)

No of the aid: N 620/2003.

Title: Aid for the costs of transporting and destroying fallen stock.

Objective: Disposal of fallen stock. According to the provisions applicable in Nordrehein-Wesfalen farmers pay 25 % of the costs of processing and rendering fallen stock in a rendering facility while the remaining costs (i.e. 75 % of the processing and rendering and 100 % of the pick-up, transport and storage costs) are borne by the cities and municipal districts.

Legal basis: Ausführungsgesetz zum Tierische Nebenprodukte-Beseitigunsgesetz (AG TierNebG NRW) vom 27.1.2005.

Budget: Exact budget figures are not available, but on the basis of the data supplied by the German authorities it can be estimated that the destruction costs of fallen stock amount to ca EUR 5 million per annum.

Aid intensity or amount: See above under ‘Objective’.

Duration: 31.12.2013.

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: Germany (Hessen)

Aid No: NN 60/2004 (ex aid N 255/2004)

Title: Special programme for implementing additional BSE tests for slaughter cattle

Objective: The scheme covers the costs of BSE tests on slaughter cattle over 24 months old in Hessen.

Legal basis:

Verordnung (EG) Nr. 999/2001 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates mit Vorschriften zur Verhütung, Kontrolle und Tilgung bestimmter transmissibler spongiformer Enzephalopathien; BSE Untersuchungsverordnung, Erlass über die Kostenübernahme für BSE-Schnelltests

Budget: EUR 2 300 000 per year

Aid intensity or amount: 100 %, with a maximum of EUR 39,50 from 1 January 2003

Duration: 2002-2003

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 (Molise)

Aid No: NN 64/2004

Title: Ordinanza DPCM 3268/2003 — Compensation for damages due to adverse weather events (floods and torrential rain)

Objective: This aid scheme aims to provide compensation to undertakings in Molise hit by flooding and torrential rain.

Legal basis: Ordinanza del Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri (PCM) n. 3268 of 12 March 2003‘Primi interventi urgenti di protezione civile diretti a fronteggiare i danni conseguenti agli eventi meteorologici verificatisi nei giorni 23, 24 e 25 gennaio 2003 sul territorio della regione Molise’

Decreto n. 8 del Presidente della Regione Molise (Commissario Delegato) del 3 giugno 2003‘Danni in agricoltura causati dagli eventi meteorologici del 23, 24 e 25 gennaio 2003’;

Decreto n. 25 del Presidente della Regione Molise (Commissario Delegato) del 13 luglio 2003‘Prestiti di cui agli articoli 5 e 6 del Decreto 8/2003’

Progetto di decreto del Presidente della Regione Molise (Commissario Delegato) determinazione delle percentuali di aiuto e degli importi massimi liquidabili alle imprese agricole a agroalimentari a titolo di indennizzo ai sensi dell'articolo 5, comma 13

Budget: EUR 12 057 000

Aid intensity or amount: Up to 100 %

Duration: One-off

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

Aid No: NN 67/2004

Title: Preservation of land integrity — Legislative Decree n. 99/2004, Article 7, paragraph 2, Article 9, paragraphs 1 and 2, Articles 10, 11 and 12

Objective: The measures aim to encourage reparcelling and the setting up of larger, more viable agricultural undertakings (notably by means of transfers of land and the setting up of cooperatives which jointly manage land).

Legal basis:

Decreto Legislativo n. 99/2004, Article 7, comma 2, Articolo 9 commi 1 e 2, articoli 10, 11 e 12.

Budget: The measures will be financed from the general budget, without a specific appropriation

Aid intensity or amount: Variable

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/