EN Official Journal of the European Union C 273/2

Summary information communicated by Member States on State aid granted in conformity with Commission Regulation (EC) No 736/2008 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 fisheries products

(Text with EEA relevance)

2010/C 273/02

Aid No: XF 12/10

Member State: United Kingdom

Region/authority granting the aid: Shetland Islands Council

Title of aid scheme/name of company receiving an ad hoc aid: Shetland Seafood Quality Control Grant

Legal basis: Local Government in Scotland Act 2003, Section 20

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: GBP 250 000 per annum

Maximum aid intensity: Salmon Inspection Services and Whitefish Improvement Scheme aid will be up to 80 % respecting the aid intensities of Article 17.

For Analytic and Marine Farm Services to upgrade professional skills, or develop new training methods and tools, aid will be paid up to 100 % due to the status of SSQC being a company limited by guarantee whereby all profits are reinvested into the industry for its benefit, no dividends are paid.

Beneficiaries of the scheme will qualify as small or medium-sized enterprise and be compliant with the Common Fisheries Policy.

Date of entry into force:

Duration of the scheme or individual aid award: Under the scheme aid may be granted to 31 December 2013.

Objective of aid: A partnership grant between Shetland Islands Council and Shetland Seafood Quality Control to deliver the salmon inspection service, whitefish improvement scheme, analytical services and marine farm services. To support the seafood-based industries in Shetland by providing services to monitor the quality and safety of both caught and farmed seafood and the environments where it is caught, farmed or processed. Allowing the Shetland Islands Council to support all the seafood activities in Shetland, with strong links to other similar centres across the UK, the North Atlantic regions and act as a catalyst for best practice and entrepreneurship within the community and beyond.

Indicate which of Articles 8 to 24 is used: Article 17

Activity concerned: To allow the Shetland Islands Council to support the caught and farmed seafood sector by providing assistance to measures of common interest in the areas to:

contribute sustainably to better management or conservation of resources,

improve quality and food safety,

promote partnership between scientists and operators in the fisheries sector,

contribute to the transparency of markets in fisheries and aquaculture products including traceability,

networking and exchange of experience and best practice among organisations promoting equal opportunities between men and women and other stakeholders, and

upgrade professional skills, or develop new training methods and tools.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Shetland Islands Council Economic Development Unit 3 North Ness Business Park Lerwick Shetland ZE1 0LZ UNITED KINGDOM

Web address where the full text of the scheme can be found: http://www.sdt.shetland.org/

Motivation: SSQC with the support of Shetland Island Council had previously submitted an application for EFF funding to augment their service, however this was deferred due to over subscription of the EFF. In order to allow SSQC to provide the required support within a timescale required by industry, Shetland Island Council decided to obtain an exemption compliant with State aid rules to ensure adequate support is provided to SMEs operating in the industry within the timescales required.

Aid No: XF 13/10

Member State: United Kingdom

Region/authority granting the aid: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council)

Title of aid scheme/name of company receiving an ad hoc aid: Outer Hebrides Fisheries Support Scheme

Legal basis: Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended and Local Government in Scotland Act 2003

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: The annual expenditure planned under the scheme amounts to GBP 25 000. This represents the projected gross grant equivalent on applications to the Outer Hebrides Fisheries Support Scheme (OHFSS).

Maximum aid intensity: Aid intensity will not exceed the aid outlined in Article 27(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1198/2006 i.e. it will not exceed 15 % of the cost of acquisition of ownership nor exceed the amount of EUR 50 000.

The aid comprised in this guarantee scheme addresses the type of guarantees and type of underlying transactions at stake in the context of the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 736/2008.

The OHFSS gross grant equivalent is calculated following the methodology used in the UK notified scheme N 71/09 for aid in the form of guarantees.

Beneficiaries of the scheme will qualify as small or medium-sized enterprise and be compliant with the Common Fisheries Policy.

Date of entry into force:

Duration of the scheme or individual aid award: Under the scheme aid may be granted until 31 December 2013.

Objective of aid: The Outer Hebrides Fisheries Support Scheme (OHFSS) is a partnership scheme between Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Royal Bank of Scotland and Western Isles Fishermen’s Association.

The scheme aims to create and retain employment opportunities in the Outer Hebrides by encouraging business development in the fisheries sector.

Funding is available in the form of a loan guarantee for fishers younger than 40 years of age who acquire for the first time part or total ownership of a second hand fishing vessel.

Indicate which of Articles 8 to 24 is used: Article 10

Activity concerned: Through the Royal Bank of Scotland loans of up to 40 % are available for the purchase of a second hand fishing vessel, subject to a maximum loan of GBP 100 000 repayable over a maximum of 10 years. The OHFSS will provide a loan guarantee for up to 50 % of the loan provided by the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Sandwick Road Stornoway Isle of Lewis HS1 2BW UNITED KINGDOM

Web address where the full text of the scheme can be found: http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/eds/business/assistanceavailable/fls.asp

Motivation: Although the Outer Hebrides Fisheries Support Scheme would be compatible with the European Fisheries Fund, the competitive nature and the time taken to obtain approval if successful, and the retrospective payment of awards means that this scheme is better suited to a tailored State aid scheme rather than using the EFF.

Western Isles Council is committed to providing this assistance to the fishing industry and prefers the certainty and immediacy afforded by the exemption regulation.