EN Official Journal of the European Union C 222/8

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 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 222/07)

Aid No: XA 150/08

Member State: Latvia

Region: —

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Atbalsta shēma „Atbalsts ciltsdarbam“

Legal basis: Ministru kabineta 2008. gada 22. janvāra noteikumu Nr. 41 „Noteikumi par valsts atbalstu lauksaimniecībai 2008. gadā un tā piešķiršanas kārtību“ 2. pielikums.

Ministru kabineta noteikumu „Noteikumi par valsts atbalstu ciltsgrāmatā uzņemto dzīvnieku sagatavošanai un tā piešķiršanas kārtību“ projekts

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The annual expenditure planned under the scheme is LVL 14 910 000

Additional information on financing: It is intended to supplement the current aid scheme, XA 254/07, under which the planned annual expenditure is LVL 9 910 000, with LVL 5 000 000 of financing, and this aid scheme therefore replaces aid scheme XA 254/07

Maximum aid intensity: In accordance with Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006:

In accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006: up to 100 % of expenditure concerning the organisation of, and participation in, competitions, exhibitions, fairs and forums with a view to exchanging information in the sector

Date of implementation:

Additional information concerning implementation: The measures provided for under the current aid scheme, XA 254/07, are to be implemented from 1 May 2007 to 31 December 2013. Following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, this aid scheme will replace aid scheme XA 254/07, and the measures already undertaken in accordance with Articles 16 and 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 will be continued

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 31.12.2013.

Until 31 December 2011 in the case of aid relating to the introduction at farm level of innovative breeding techniques or practices, with the exception of any expenditure relating to artificial insemination

Objective of aid: The purpose of the aid for small and medium-sized enterprises is:

to encourage breeders to take part in the evaluation of breeding stock by offspring and in other selection programmes,

to increase livestock yield and improve genetic potential, and to increase the number of herds of high breeding value,

to establish records of livestock yield and origins and to improve software relating to breeding activities and animal selection programmes using the joint IT network,

to modernise livestock yield and meat quality assessment technologies,

to encourage stock breeders to rear animals of high breeding value and to improve their breed characteristics,

to maintain and improve pedigree animals and their gene pool in Latvia,

to carry out evaluations of pedigree animals and organise exhibitions and work capacity tests/competitions for horses.

Articles 15 and 16 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 apply.

Eligible expenses under the criteria for granting aid:

Economic sector(s) concerned: The aid is intended for small and medium-sized enterprises active in the primary production of agricultural products.

The aid is intended for the animal production sector

Name and address of the granting authority:

Latvijas Republikas Zemkopības ministrija LV-1981 Rīga

Website: Cabinet Regulation No 41 of 22 January 2008‘Regulations on State aid for agriculture in 2008 and the procedure for the granting such aid’, Annex 2:

http://www.zm.gov.lv/doc_upl/2.pielikums.doc

Ministru kabineta noteikumu ‘Noteikumi par valsts atbalstu ciltsgrāmatā uzņemto dzīvnieku sagatavošanai un tā piešķiršanas kārtību’ projekts (Draft Cabinet Regulation ‘Regulations on State aid for the preparation of animals to be recorded in a herd book and the procedure for granting such aid’):

http://www.zm.gov.lv/?sadala=932

Other information: Following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, this aid scheme will replace aid scheme XA 254/07.

The increase in the budget for the aid scheme will make it possible to cover expenditure relating to the administrative costs of maintaining a herd book not only on pedigree farms but also for livestock on farms subject to supervision, which will improve the genetic quality of the livestock in the relevant stockfarming sectors.

Aid for small and medium-sized enterprises active in the primary production of agricultural products will be granted in accordance with Article 16(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006. The aid will be granted in kind in the form of subsidised services and will not involve direct payments of money to producers, and aid will not be granted retroactively in respect of activities which have already been carried out by the beneficiary.

Expenditure concerning the organisation of, and participation in, competitions, exhibitions, fairs and forums with a view to exchanging information in the sector will be in conformity with Article 15(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006, and the aid will be accessible to all those eligible in the area concerned, based on objectively defined conditions

Aid No: XA 151/08

Member State: Italy

Region: Regione autonoma Valle d'Aosta

Title of aid scheme: Contributi alle spese per il controllo e la certificazione nel settore dell'agricoltura biologica

Legal basis: Legge regionale 16 novembre 1999, n. 36 «Disposizioni in materia di controlli e promozione per le produzioni agricole ottenute mediante metodi biologici» e successive modificazioni e integrazioni

Planned annual expenditure under the scheme: EUR 0,03 million

Maximum aid intensity: 100 % of expenses for the control and certification of the organic production process. The aid is granted by means of subsidised services without direct payments of money to organic operators (farmers and gatherers of products growing in the wild)

Date of implementation: as from the publication of the registration number of the request for exemption on the website of the Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development

Duration of scheme: Under the scheme, aid may be granted until 31.12.2013 and for six months thereafter

Objective of aid: To promote the development of organic farming. Reference to Community legislation: Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006

Sector(s) concerned: Livestock (cattle, sheep and goats, poultry and rabbits, small traditional pig holdings, equines and other minor species), fruit (apples, pears, nuts, small fruit and other traditional fruit), wine, fodder crops, cereals, vegetables, medicinal plants, flowers and nursery plants, bee-keeping and other animal and crop sectors deemed eligible

Name and address of the granting authority:

Regione autonoma Valle d'Aosta Assessorato agricoltura e risorse naturali Dipartimento Agricoltura Loc. Grande Charrière, 66 I-11020 Saint-Christophe

Website: http://www.regione.vda.it/agricoltura/biologico/documenti/riferimenti_3.pdf

Aid No: XA 159/08

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Region: Območje občine Ravne na Koroškem

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Podpore programom razvoja podeželja v občini Ravne na Koroškem 2008–2013

Legal basis: Pravilnik o dodeljevanju pomoči za ohranjanje in razvoj kmetijstva in podeželja v občini Ravne na Koroškem za programsko obdobje 2008–2013 (II. poglavje)

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

2008: EUR 26 900

2009: EUR 27 200

2010: EUR 27 800

2011: EUR 28 300

2012: EUR 28 800

2013: EUR 29 400

Maximum aid intensity:

1. Investment in agricultural holdings for primary production:

— up to 50 % of eligible costs in less-favoured areas,

— up to 40 % of eligible costs in other areas,

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

The purpose of the aid is investment to restore farm features and to purchase equipment to be used for agricultural production, to invest in permanent crops, to improve farmland and to manage pastures.

2. Conservation of traditional landscapes and buildings:

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

— for productive assets on farms, up to 60 % of actual costs, or 75 % in less-favoured areas, 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 actual costs where 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 at least 60 %, or 50 % in less-favoured areas, of the increase in the value of the facilities concerned after relocation. If the beneficiary is a young farmer, this contribution is to be at least 55 % or 45 % respectively,

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

4. Aid towards the payment of insurance premiums:

— the amount of municipal support is the difference between the amount of co-financing of insurance premiums from the national budget and up to 50 % of eligible costs of insurance premiums for insuring crops and fruit and for insuring livestock against disease.

5. Aid for land reparcelling:

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

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

— up to 100 % of eligible costs in the form of subsidised services; this must not involve direct payments of money to producers.

7. Provision of technical support:

— up to 100 % of costs concerning education and training of farmers, consultancy services, the organization of forums, competitions, exhibitions, fairs, publications, catalogues and websites, and the costs of replacement services. The aid is to be granted in the form of subsidised services and must not involve direct payments of money to producers

Date of implementation: April 2008 (the aid will not be granted until a summary has been published on the European Commission's website)

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 31.12.2013

Objective of the aid: To support SMEs

Reference to Articles in Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 and eligible costs: Chapter II of the draft Rules on granting aid for preserving and developing agriculture, forestry and rural areas in the municipality of Ravne na Koroškem includes measures constituting 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 granting authority:

Občina Ravne na Koroškem Gačnikova pot 5 SLO-2390 Ravne na Koroškem

Website: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/ulonline.jsp?urlid=200822&dhid=95160

Other information: The measure 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, storm and floods.

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

Tomaž ROŽEN

Mayor of the Municipality of Ravne na Koroškem

Aid No: XA 162/08

Member State: Spain

Region: Andalucía

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Ayudas destinadas a la recuperación del potencial productivo de las explotaciones de ovino y caprino tras la aparición de la Lengua Azul

Legal basis: Sección Primera del Capítulo Segundo del Proyecto de Orden por la que se establecen las bases reguladoras para la concesión de ayudas establecidas en el marco del Plan Andaluz de Recuperación de la Capacidad Productiva del Sector Ovino y Caprino, así como la concesión de subvenciones en forma de tipos de interés a préstamos como medidas de apoyo a los titulares de explotaciones ganaderas de vacuno de carne, porcino y cunícola ubicadas en Andalucía, y se efectúa su convocatoria

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: Expenditure is estimated at EUR 3 million in 2008 and a further EUR 3 million in 2009

Maximum aid intensity: The total aid will be EUR 30 for each breeding ewe of more than 12 months old dead or slaughtered because of blue tongue and EUR 40 for each breeding she-goat of more than 12 months old dead or slaughtered because of blue tongue. In addition, in order to provide compensation for animals that are now no longer productive, aid can be requested for 10 % more animals than the total number of female breeding animals of more than 12 months old dead or slaughtered because of blue tongue

Date of implementation: From the publication and entry into force of the Proyecto de Orden por la que se establecen las bases reguladoras para la concesión de ayudas establecidas en el marco del Plan Andaluz de Recuperación de la Capacidad Productiva del Sector Ovino y Caprino

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Payments will be made throughout 2008, although, depending on the available budget, they could continue into 2009.

The animals to be replaced must have been lost in 2007. Consequently, the scheme fulfils the conditions laid down in Article 10(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 in that it is being introduced within three years of the occurrence of the loss and the aid is being paid out within four years of the occurrence

Objective of aid: Only SMEs may benefit under this scheme.

In addition, the aid is intended to compensate the holders of sheep and/or goat farms for the loss of future breeding animals, facilitating the purchase or replacement of animals with the aim of restoring the number of breeding animals before the outbreak of the disease, in accordance with Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006

Sector(s) concerned: Sheep- and goat-breeding

Name and address of the granting authority:

Consejería de Agricultura y Pesca de la Junta de Andalucía C/ Tabladilla, s/n E-41071 Sevilla

The full text of the draft Order can be found at: http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/agriculturaypesca/portal/opencms/portal/DGPAgraria/orden_plan_apoyo_sector_ganadero?entrada=tematica&tematica=194

Other information: The draft Order governing this scheme sets out:

aid under the notified scheme, i.e. the aid provided for in Section 1 of Chapter 2 of the draft Order, contained in the Plan Andaluz de Recuperación de la Capacidad Productiva del Sector Ovino y Caprino (Andalusian Plan for Restoring Reproductive Capacity in the Sheep and Goat Sectors),

and a scheme of de minimis aid in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 1535/2007 of 20 December 2007 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to de minimis aid in the sector of agricultural production: subsidies in the form of interest rates on loans as support measures for the holders of sheep, goat, beef cattle, pig and rabbit farms in Andalusia.

Blue tongue or ovine catarrhal fever is mentioned in the list of animal diseases established by the International Office of Epizootics and in the Annex to Council Decision 90/424/EEC and thus complies with Article 10(7) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

The measure is part of a public programme to combat the disease provided for by the Orden de 26 de julio de 2007, por la que se establecen medidas de lucha contra la lengua azul (fiebre catarral ovina) ocasionada por virus del serotipo 1 (BTV-1) y se regula el movimiento pecuario de animales de las especies sensibles en la Comunidad Autónoma de Andalucía (Order of 26 July 2007 laying down measures to combat blue tongue (ovine catarrhal fever) caused by the serotype 1 virus (BTV-1) and laying down rules on the movement of animals of susceptible species in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia) and thus complies with Article 10(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006

Aid No: XA 167/08

Member State: France

Region: Département des Bouches-du-Rhône

Title of aid scheme: Dispositif d'aides à l'investissement des Coopératives d'Utilisation de Matériel Agricole (C.U.M.A.)

Legal basis:

— Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006

— Articles L1511-2, L1511-3 et L1511-5 du code général des collectivités territoriales

— Projet de délibération du Conseil général des Bouches-du-Rhône

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: EUR 100 000

Maximum aid intensity: 15 %

Between 5 % and 15 % of the total eligible cost, depending on the equipment and the existence or otherwise of other public financers, it being understood that the Departmental Council will ensure that the rate of 40 % is never exceeded where there are several sources of aid.

Purchases of second-hand equipment are not eligible for aid from the Departmental Council

Date of implementation: From the date on which the registration number of the exemption request is published on the website of the Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development

Duration of scheme: 2008-2013

Objective of aid: In a difficult economic climate, where the investment needed to maintain or improve competitiveness is becoming an increasing burden, farmers should be encouraged to pool equipment and resources. Purchasing the equipment as a cooperative avoids over-investment by individuals, which boosts the competitiveness of the holdings concerned.

This aid scheme falls under Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

This programme should make it possible to achieve the objectives of cutting production costs for holdings by reducing the cost of mechanisation, in accordance with Article 4(3)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006, and protecting the environment, in line with Article 4(3)(d) of that Regulation, through more widespread use of innovative and more environmentally friendly equipment

Sector(s) concerned: All sectors.

The aid is open to all CUMAs, irrespective of their sector of activity, provided that they comply with the definition of SMEs within the meaning of the Community legislation

Name and address of the granting authority:

Monsieur le Président du Conseil général des Bouches-du-Rhône Direction de l'agriculture et du tourisme Hôtel du Département 52, avenue de Saint-Just F-13256 Marseille cedex 20

Website: http://www.cg13.fr/amenagements/agriculture/aides.html