EN Official Journal of the European Union C 162/6

Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 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, processing and marketing of agricultural products

(2007/C 162/04)

XA Number: XA 120/06

Member State: Italy

Region: Piedmont

Title of aid scheme: Contributi agli agricoltori e allevatori che attuano la riconversione del metodo di produzione.

Legal basis: Deliberazione della Giunta regionale n. 28 — 4172 del 30.10.2006. Legge 7 marzo 2003, n. 38 art. 3 comma 1 lettera b.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: EUR 250 000

Maximum aid intensity: The aid may cover up to 80 % of the cost of the first two years of membership of the inspection system provided for in Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 (1), but may not exceed EUR 800 per holding for the period 2005-2006.

Date of implementation: 15 December 2006. At all events the first payment will be awarded when the Commission communicates an identification number after receiving the summary information.

Duration of scheme:

Objective of aid: To encourage producers to change over to organic farming methods, by contributing towards the cost of participating in the inspection system applicable to organic farming pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91.

The expenditure concerned relates to the cost of taking part, in 2005 and 2006, in the inspection system provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91.

Article(s) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 (2) invoked: Article 13(2)(g).

Sector(s) concerned: Agricultural holdings engaged in the production of animal/plant products.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Regione Piemonte Assessorato Agricoltura, Tutela della Flora e della Fauna Direzione Sviluppo dell'Agricoltura Corso Stati Uniti, 21 I-10128 Torino

Website: www.regione.piemonte.it/agri

Other information: The aid concerns working holdings which, at the time of submitting their application, are registered as taking part in an inspection system as provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 2092/1991, are located principally in Piedmont and began changing over to organic farming between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2006.

The order in which the beneficiaries are selected is as follows:

XA Number: XA 121/06

Member State: Italy

Region: Marche

Title of aid scheme: Contributi alle cooperative agricole e alle cooperative sociali che operano nel settore agricolo e forestale al fine di ridurre i costi di produzione, a migliorare e diversificare le attività di produzione, a migliorare la qualità dei prodotti, a tutelare e migliorare l'ambiente naturale e le condizioni di igiene e benessere degli animali.

Legal basis:

1. Art. 4 della legge regionale 23 febbraio 2005, n. 7 — «Promozione della cooperazione per lo sviluppo rurale»;

2. Deliberazione di Giunta Regionale n. 1222 del 23.10.2006 avente ad oggetto «Programma annuale 2006 della legge regionale 23 febbraio 2005, n. 7 », «Promozione della cooperazione per lo sviluppo rurale» .

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The maximum expenditure planned for 2006 is EUR 150 000. The maximum expenditure for subsequent years will be set in accordance with the finance laws concerned, but is in no case to exceed EUR 1 000 000 for any one year.

Maximum aid intensity: The gross aid intensity may not exceed 30 % of the eligible expenditure (40 % in less-favoured areas).

The investment declared eligible for funding may not exceed EUR 60 000.

The investment must be aimed at lowering production costs, improving and diversifying production, improving product quality and safeguarding and improving the environment and animal hygiene and welfare.

In order to be eligible the measures must fall within one of the following groups:

Date of implementation: At least 10 working days after this form is sent, as laid down in Article 19(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004.

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: There is no limit on the scheme's duration, which depends on the funds set aside by the Marche Region and the period of validity of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004.

Objective of aid: To improve incomes and living and working conditions on agricultural cooperatives and social cooperatives operating in the agricultural and forestry sector, the aim being to lower production costs, improve and diversify production, improve product quality and safeguard and improve the environment and animal hygiene and welfare.

Beneficiaries:

1. Type B social cooperatives operating in the field of agriculture and forestry and entered in the register of social cooperatives specified in Regional Law No 34 of 18 December 2001.

2. Agricultural cooperatives, and syndicates thereof, which are classified as commercial farming operations (Imprenditore agricolo professionale — IAP).

Sector(s) concerned: Farming sector

Name and address of the granting authority:

Regione Marche Servizio Agricoltura, Forestazione e Pesca Posizione di Funzione Sviluppo della impresa agricola e del sistema agroalimentare Via Tiziano n. 44 I-60100 Ancona

Website:

1. www.agri-marche.it

2. www.regione.marche.it

Other information: The aid will be granted solely for investment in the field of agriculture and the recipients will be selected by public tender.

XA Number: XA 122/06

Member State: Italy

Region: Marche

Name of the aid scheme: Contributi a cooperative o consorzi di cooperative che svolgono attività nel settore agricolo e forestale, nel settore agro-industriale e agroalimentare per il finanziamento di progetti di fattibilità finalizzati ad attivare processi di fusione di cooperative esistenti, allargamento della base sociale, aggregazione di nuove imprese in forma cooperativa con l'obiettivo di aumentare la competitività della struttura cooperativa, consentire alle società cooperative di trovare nuovi sbocchi commerciali, concentrare e riorganizzare l'offerta dei prodotti agricoli e forestali.

Legal basis:

1. Art. 6 della legge regionale 23 febbraio 2005, n. 7 — «Promozione della cooperazione per lo sviluppo rurale»;

2. Deliberazione di Giunta regionale n. 1222 del 23.10.2006 avente ad oggetto «Programma annuale 2006 della legge regionale 23 febbraio 2005, n. 7», «Promozione della cooperazione per lo sviluppo rurale».

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The maximum expenditure planned for 2006 is EUR 350 000. For subsequent years of the scheme, the maximum expenditure will be established by means of the appropriate finance laws and will in any event not exceed EUR 1 000 000 for any one year.

Maximum aid intensity: The expenditure eligible for aid may not be less than EUR 30 000.

The aid may not exceed 75 % of such expenditure and will in any event be less than EUR 100 000 over three years per beneficiary, in accordance with Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004.

Date of implementation: At least 10 working days after the submission of this form, as required by Article 19(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004.

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: There is no time limit on the scheme's duration, which depends on the funds set aside in the annual budget of the Marche Region and the period of validity of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004.

Objective of aid: Promoting the merging of existing cooperatives, increasing their membership, bringing together new firms as cooperatives to increase the competitiveness of the cooperative's structure, enabling cooperative companies to find new commercial outlets and concentrating and reorganising the offering in agricultural and forestry products.

Beneficiaries: Cooperatives and consortia active in the agricultural and forestry sectors, in the agro-industrial sector and in the agri-food sector and their partners, having their registered offices in the region and registered with the State as a cooperative undertaking incorporated under the decreto del Ministero delle attività produttive (Decree of the Ministry for Productive Activities) of 23 June 2004.

Sectors concerned: No specific sectors are concerned.

Name and address of granting authority:

Regione Marche Servizio Agricoltura, Forestazione e Pesca Posizione di Funzione Sviluppo della impresa agricola e del sistema agroalimentare Via Tiziano n. 44 I-60100 Ancona

Website:

3. www.agri-marche.it

4. www.regione.marche.it

Other information: Assistance will be granted exclusively for projects concerning the agricultural sector and the beneficiaries will be selected by tender.

Aid to forestry cooperatives will be granted in the same way, subject to the de minimis rule regarding non-agricultural production in Commission Regulation (EC) No 69/2001 (3).

Aid No: XA 123/06

Member State: Netherlands

Region: Provincie Limburg

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Verplaatsing melkveehouderij Snijders in Zuid- Limburg (Relocation of Snijders dairy farm in South Limburg)

Legal basis: Algemene Subsidieverordening 2004

Subsidieregels voorbereidingskosten verplaatsing melkveehouderijen Zuid-Limburg

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: Total once-only contribution by the Province of EUR 100 000 per relocation.

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum aid to the dairy farmer comprises 40 % of the relocation costs up to a maximum of EUR 100 000. The above-mentioned aid amount is equivalent to the aid granted to the farmer if relocation in the public interest provides the farmer with more modern installations and leads to an increase in production capacity. If the installations concerned increase in value and the production capacity increases, the farmer's contribution must at least correspond to 60 % of the increase in the installations' value or to the expenditure connected with the increase. This in accordance with Article 6(3) and (4) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004. The dairy farmer is himself to contribute at least 60 %. Snijders dairy farm: estimated costs EUR 1 524 792.

Date of implementation: The decision to grant subsidy will be issued once the EU has confirmed receipt of this notification.

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: From December 2006 to 31 December 2008 inclusive.

Objective of aid: The aid relates to the relocation, in the public interest, of promising dairy farms from areas with planning restrictions in particular but where the presence of dairy farming is crucial for maintaining environmental quality and the landscape. In accordance with the Province's objectives, the relocation of a dairy farm must be oriented towards the quality of the landscape and the environment, and sustainability.

Economic sector(s) concerned: Intensive dairy farms (small and medium-sized enterprises) measuring 75 Dutch size units (NGE) or more and located in areas with more than 2 % gradient in South Limburg are eligible for aid.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Provincie Limburg Limburglaan 10 Postbus 5700 6202 MA Maastricht Nederland

Website: www.limburg.nl

Aid No: XA 124/06

Member State: Netherlands

Region: Provincie Limburg

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Verplaatsing melkveehouderij Mingels in Zuid- Limburg (Relocation of Mingels dairy farm in South Limburg)

Legal basis: Algemene Subsidieverordening 2004

Subsidieregels voorbereidingskosten verplaatsing melkveehouderijen Zuid-Limburg

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: Total once-only contribution by the Province of EUR 100 000 per relocation.

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum aid to the dairy farmer comprises 40 % of the relocation costs up to a maximum of EUR 100 000. The above-mentioned aid amount is equivalent to the aid granted to the farmer if relocation in the public interest provides the farmer with more modern installations and leads to an increase in production capacity. If the installations concerned increase in value and the production capacity increases, the farmer's contribution must at least correspond to 60 % of the increase in the installations' value or to the expenditure connected with the increase. This in accordance with Article 6(3) and (4) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004. The dairy farmer is himself to contribute at least 60 %. Mingels dairy farm: estimated costs EUR 1 874 970.

Date of implementation: The decision to grant subsidy will be issued once the EU has confirmed receipt of this notification.

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: From December 2006 to 31 December 2008 inclusive.

Objective of aid: The aid relates to the relocation, in the public interest, of promising dairy farms from areas with planning restrictions in particular but where the presence of dairy farming is crucial for maintaining environmental quality and the landscape. In accordance with the Province's objectives, the relocation of a dairy farm must be oriented towards the quality of the landscape and the environment, and sustainability.

Economic sector(s) concerned: Intensive dairy farms (small and medium-sized enterprises) measuring 75 Dutch size units (NGE) or more and located in areas with more than 2 % gradient in South Limburg are eligible for aid.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Provincie Limburg Limburglaan 10 Postbus 5700 6202 MA Maastricht Nederland

Website: www.limburg.nl

(1) OJ L 198, 22.7.1991, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 1, 3.1.2004, p. 1.

(3) OJ L 10, 13.1.2001, p. 30.