EN Official Journal of the European Union C 101/32

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 101/11)

Aid No: XA 245/07

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Region: Območje občine Polzela

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Pomoči za ohranjanje in razvoj kmetijstva in podeželja v občini Polzela za programsko obdobje 2007–2013

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

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

2007: EUR 23 994

2008: EUR 24 700

2009: EUR 25 400

2010: EUR 26 150

2011: EUR 26 950

2012: EUR 27 750

2013: EUR 28 600

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, where the investment is made by young farmers within five years of their setting up.

The support is granted in respect of investment in the restoration of farm features and the purchase of equipment for use in agricultural production, and for investment in permanent crops, farmland improvement and pasture management.

2. Conservation of traditional landscapes and buildings:

— up to 100 % of the real costs as regards investment in non-productive features,

— up to 60 % of the real costs, or 75 % in less-favoured areas, as regards investment in production facilities on farms, 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 cultural heritage features of buildings.

3. Relocation of farm buildings in the public interest:

— up to 100 % of the real 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, his contribution shall be at least 55 %, or 45 %, respectively,

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

4. Aid towards the payment of insurance premiums:

— the amount of municipal co-financing 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 insuring livestock against disease.

5. Aid for land reparcelling:

— up to 100 % of the real legal and administrative costs.

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

— up to 100 % of the real costs incurred; this is to be provided in the form of subsidised services and must not involve direct payments of money to producers.

7. Provision of technical support:

— up to 100 % of costs concerning education and training, consultancy services provided by third parties, the organisation of forums, competitions, exhibitions and fairs, publications and websites. 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: September 2007 (or the date on which the Rules enter into force)

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

Objective of 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 the preservation and development of agriculture and rural areas in the municipality of Polzela for the programming period 2007-2013 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 Polzela Polzela 8 SLO-3313 Polzela

Website: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/ulonline.jsp?urlid=200781&dhid=91480

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

Ljubo ŽNIDAR

Mayor

Aid No: XA 246/07

Member State: Netherlands

Region: Provincie Gelderland

Title of aid scheme: Subsidieregeling vitaal Gelderland 2007, onderdelen: Losse Kavelruil, Investeringen in landbouwbedrijven (bedrijfsmodernisering), Bedrijfsadvisering

Legal basis: Artikel 11, derde lid, van de Wet Inrichting landelijk gebied.

Subsidieregeling vitaal Gelderland 2007 en het Provinciaal Meerjarenprogramma 2007-2013 Gelderland (PMJP), deel 3: het subsidiekader

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: Period 2007-2013: annual maximum of EUR 1 500 000

Maximum aid intensity: Aid percentage/aid amount per aid section under the Provincial Multi-Annual Programme (PMAP) 2007-2013 for small and medium-sized agricultural holdings, provided that they are covered by this exemption notification:

PMAP Article 2.2.2.1: Investments in innovation and the environment by small and medium-sized agricultural holdings:

The eligible costs relate to the construction, acquisition, improvement or equipment of immovable property, the purchase of new machinery and equipment, including computer software, and general costs, among other things for architects, engineers and advisers.

Only small and medium-sized primary agricultural holdings that are economically viable are eligible for the aid.

PMAP Article 2.1.1.1: Voluntary parcel exchange:

The aid is up to 100 % of the actual notary and land registry costs incurred in relation to the land/parcels covered by parcel exchange. The implementing organisations and authorities incur these costs and thus receive the aid. The farmer indirectly benefits from this aid because for each exchange, land belonging to small and medium-sized primary agricultural holdings is involved.

PMAP Article 2.2.2.2: Farm consultancy services for small and medium-sized agricultural holdings:

Only small and medium-sized primary agricultural holdings are eligible for the aid. The aid is paid out in kind, by paying it to the consultancy service in question. No direct payments are made to the primary producer. The farms are selected on the basis of objective criteria and no aid may be granted for consultancy services constituting a periodic or continuous activity relating to the enterprise's usual operating expenditure

Date of implementation: Implementation is to take place following publication of the information in the Official Journal of the European Union

Duration of scheme: Up to 31 December 2013

Objective of aid: The general objective of the PMAP, agriculture section, is to ensure a vital agricultural sector, involving:

future-oriented, competitive agriculture as an economic motor in rural areas,

sustainable agriculture which makes sustainable use of soil, water, air and other natural resources and is economically viable.

More specifically, the objective under each Article can be described as follows:

Article 2.1.1.1: Voluntary parcel exchange

Reparcelling serves to improve the parcelling of rural areas in line with their functions, as laid down under regional planning. Essentially, this is done by exchanging land, which is made possible by this Article.

Article 2.2.2.1: Investments in agricultural holdings

The objective of this Article is to stimulate investments in improvements and renovation on the holding, aimed at increasing the efficiency of production, producing new or better products and/or increasing the quality and sustainability of production processes and products. This will help to create a more competitive, sustainable and vital agriculture: that is, agriculture providing a fair income for the holding with decent working conditions, meeting society's expectations (such as the environment, animal welfare and health, hygiene requirements and (agro-)biodiversity).

Article 2.2.2.2: Farm consultancy services

The objective of this Article is to enable farmers to obtain future-oriented consultancy services as regards how the holding can be developed sustainably

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to small and medium-sized agricultural holdings (both arable and livestock). Only holdings in the primary production sector are covered

Name and address of the granting authority:

Provincie Gelderland Dienst REW/EU Programmasecretariaat Postbus 9090 6800 GX Arnhem Nederland

Website: www.gelderland.nl

projecten> projectprogramma's> platteland (ILG)> deel 3 PMJP, subsidiekaders 2e herziening

Other information: Aid to small and medium-sized agricultural holdings is granted on the basis of the following Articles of the PMAP, Part 3:

Article 2.1.1.1 Voluntary parcel exchange

Article 2.2.2.1 Investments in agricultural holdings (farm modernisation)

Article 2.2.2.2 Farm consultancy services

Applications for the aid may be submitted by small and medium-sized agricultural holdings meeting the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006, Articles 4, 13 or 15(2)(c).

Where, under the above-mentioned Articles, other farms and/or entities are eligible for aid, the Commission will be informed/notified of them separately in accordance with the applicable rules (such as Commission Regulation (EC) No 1998/2006 of 15 December 2006 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty to de minimis aid, the Community framework for State aid for research and development, and Commission Regulation (EC) No 68/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to training aid)

Aid No: XA 247/07

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Region: Območje občine Preddvor

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Podpore programom razvoja kmetijstva in podeželja v občini Preddvor 2007–2013

Legal basis: Pravilnik o dodelitvi pomoči za ohranjanje in razvoj kmetijstva, gozdarstva in podeželja v občini (II. Poglavje)

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

2007: EUR 8 700

2008: EUR 8 874

2009: EUR 9 052

2010: EUR 9 233

2011: EUR 9 417

2012: EUR 9 606

2013: EUR 9 798

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.

The support is granted in respect of investment to restore farm features and the purchase of equipment to be used for agricultural production, and for investment in permanent crops, farmland improvement and pasture management.

2. Conservation of traditional buildings:

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

— up to 75 % of eligible costs for investment in production facilities in less-favoured areas, and 60 % in other areas, provided that the investment does not entail an increase in the production capacity of farms in other areas.

3. Payment of insurance premiums:

— the amount of municipal co-financing 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 insuring livestock against disease.

4. Aid for land reparcelling:

— up to 50 % of real legal and administrative costs.

5. Technical support in the agricultural sector:

— up to 100 % of costs concerning education and training for farmers, consultancy services and the organisation of forums, competitions, exhibitions, fairs, publications, catalogues and websites, and the cost 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: September 2007 (or the date on which the Rules enter into force)

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

Objective of the aid: To support SMEs

Reference to Articles of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 and eligible costs: Chapter II of the Rules on granting aid for the preservation and development of agriculture, forestry and rural areas in the municipality of Preddvor 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 12: Aid towards the payment of insurance premiums,

Article 13: Aid for land reparcelling,

Article 15: Provision of technical support in the agricultural sector

Economic sector(s) concerned: Agriculture

Name and address of granting authority:

Občina Preddvor Dvorski trg 10 SLO-4205 Preddvor

Website: http://www.preddvor.si/uradno_glasilo/objave2007/052007.pdf

Other information: The measure concerning 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 relating to the measures to be adopted by the municipality and the general provisions applicable (steps preceding grant of aid, cumulation, transparency and monitoring of aid)

Miran ZADNIKAR

Mayor of the municipality of Preddvor

Aid No: XA 290/07

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: Wales

Title of Aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Light Lamb Welfare Disposal Scheme

Legal basis: Section 1 of the Welsh Development Agency Act 1975 and sections 70 and 71 of the Government of Wales Act 2006

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: Year: October 2007-January 2008

Expenditure: under GBP10 000 000

Maximum aid intensity: The aid will be limited to losses caused by disease for which an outbreak has been formally recognised by public authorities and will not exceed 100 % of the costs associated with dealing with the requirements of the scheme

Date of implementation:

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The scheme will run for ten weeks and will close on 4 January 2008

Objective of aid: The Light Lamb Welfare Disposal Scheme will be open to farmers in Wales facing animal welfare problems as a result of export restrictions imposed following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the United Kingdom. Producers will be responsible for transporting eligible animals (namely light lambs at or under 25 kg live weight) to collection centres. The operators will pay GPB 15 per head for eligible animals. The animals will not enter the human food chain. Following slaughter, the carcasses will be transported for subsequent disposal. Competitive tendering will be used to provide these services on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government. This complies with Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 where the aid must be limited to losses caused by diseases for which an outbreak has been formally recognised by public authorities

Eligible costs: Under the Light Lamb Welfare Disposal Scheme, collection centre operators will be paid a total of GBP 15 per head for each eligible animal. In addition, operators will be paid for the services involved in collecting, slaughtering, transport, rendering and incineration; these costs will be determined by competitive tender. This complies with Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 where the gross aid intensity must not exceed 100 % and that the aid will be to compensate for income losses due to quarantine obligations

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to the light lamb sector of the farming industry in Wales

Name and address of the granting authority:

Welsh Assembly Government Cathays Park Cardiff CF10 3NQ United Kingdom

Contact: Rory O'Sullivan

Tel. (44) 292 80 13 32

e-mail: rory.o'sullivan@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Website: Scheme details can be found at

http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/countryside_policy/farming/light_lamb_disp_scheme/?lang=en

Signed and dated on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (UK competent authority)

Neil MARR

Agricultural State Aid

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Area 8D, 9 Millbank

C/o Nobel House

17 Smith Square

Westminster

London SW1P 3JR

United Kingdom

Aid No: XA 291/07

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: England

Title of Aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Foot and Mouth Disease Hill Farm Scheme

Legal basis: Section 8 (Miscellaneous Provisions) Agriculture Act 1963

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: Year: 23 October 2007-31 March 2008

Expenditure: GBP 10 000 000

Maximum aid intensity: The scheme aims to provide a maximum aid intensity of 100 %. Aid will be limited to losses caused by disease for which an outbreak has been formally recognised by public authorities, specifically in relation to losses attributable to quarantine obligations

Date of implementation:

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The scheme will provide a one-off payment to eligible hill farmers. Payments will be calculated and completed by 31 March 2008

Objective of aid: To help small and medium sized extensive sheep and beef hill farmers in England who, as a group have been particularly disadvantaged by national movement and export restrictions imposed as a result of Foot and Mouth disease. These farmers rely heavily on sheep movements at this time of year for autumn livestock sales and exports to generate a significant proportion of their annual income and their cash flow has been badly hit.

This aim complies with Article 10, paragraph 2(a)(ii) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 where aid is payable for income losses due to quarantine obligations of diseases for which an outbreak has been formally recognised by public authorities

Eligible costs: Our current best estimates of the economic cost of Foot and Mouth disease to the livestock sector since 3 August is GBP 103 million and are expected to continue to rise. The total budget for this scheme will be GBP 10 million and individual payments to eligible farmers will be calculated in proportion to the size of their enterprise.

The aims of the scheme comply with Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 which states that the gross aid intensity must not exceed 100 % and that the aid will be to compensate for income losses due to quarantine obligations

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to the SMEs in the hill livestock sector of the farming industry in England who have received a payment in 2007 under England's Less Favoured Areas scheme (the Hill Farm Allowance 2007)

Name and address of the granting authority:

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Nobel House 17 Smith Square London SW1P 3JR United Kingdom

Website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/movements/hillfarmers.htm

Signed and dated on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (UK competent authority)

Neil MARR

Agricultural State Aid

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Area 8D, 9 Millbank

C/o Nobel House

17 Smith Square

Westminster

London SW1P 3JR

United Kingdom