EN Official Journal of the European Union C 227/3

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 227/03)

Aid No: XA 270/07

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Region: Občina Prebold

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

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

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

2007: EUR 37 000

2008: EUR 37 000

2009: EUR 39 000

2010: EUR 39 000

2011: EUR 40 000

2012: EUR 40 000

2013: EUR 40 000

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 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 actual eligible legal and administrative costs.

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

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

7. Provision of technical support:

— aid may be granted to cover up to 100 % of costs concerning education and training, consultancy services provided by third parties and the organization of forums, competitions, exhibitions, 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: October 2007 (No aid will be granted until the 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: Main objective: 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 and rural areas in the municipality of Prebold 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 Prebold Hmeljarska cesta 3 SLO-3312 Prebold

Website: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/ulonline.jsp?urlid=200785&dhid=91588

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 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)

Vinko DEBELAK

Mayor of the municipality of Prebold

Aid No: XA 289/07

Member State: Republic of Lithuania

Region: —

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Parama ūkiams modernizuoti 2007—2013 m.

Legal basis: Lietuvos Respublikos žemės ūkio ministro 2007 m. rugpjūčio 24 d. įsakymas Nr. 3D-389 „Dėl paramos ūkams modernizuoti 2007—2013 metais taisyklių“ (Žin., 2007, Nr. 94-3796)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The planned annual budget is LTL 10,5 million (EUR 3,04 million at the official exchange rate)

Maximum aid intensity: Under these rules, farmers are to receive aid covering 20 % of the purchase costs of new tractors or new combine harvesters, whilst young farmers who are under 40 years of age at the time of submitting their application and have been established for no more than five years before purchasing the tractor or combine harvester concerned (hereinafter ‘young farmers’) are to receive aid covering 25 % of the purchase costs.

The total amount of investment aid per beneficiary and per application must not exceed LTL 10 000 (or LTL 15 000 for young farmers) in the case of a tractor, and LTL 40 000 (or LTL 50 000 for young farmers) in the case of a combine harvester.

The amount of aid granted to cover part of the purchase costs of a tractor or combine harvester may not exceed 40 % of the eligible investments (or 50 % for young farmers). None of the aid received in respect of a tractor or combine harvester may be cumulated with aid in respect of the same eligible expenditure, if such cumulation would result in an aid intensity exceeding that specified above, as indicated in Article 19 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006. All investment aid received in respect of a tractor or combine harvester is to be aggregated. This includes the State aid received under the above-mentioned rules and any other financial assistance received in respect of a new tractor or combine harvester indicated in the applicant's payment request.

The maximum amount of investment aid granted to a beneficiary must not exceed the sum indicated in Article 4(9) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 (EUR 400 000).

The amount of aid may be modified, having regard to the number of beneficiaries and the funding requirement

Date of implementation:

Duration of the aid scheme or the individual aid: Until 31.12.2013

Objective of aid:

— aid to SMEs,

— purchase of machinery and equipment,

— to reduce production costs,

— to improve the competitiveness of farms,

— to facilitate the acquisition of agricultural machinery by farmers.

The provisions of Article 4(4)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 are to apply

Eligible expenditure:

1. Special rural support programme funds are to be used to cover part of the purchase costs of new tractors (hereinafter ‘tractors’) and new self-propelled or towed combine harvesters used in agricultural production (hereinafter ‘combine harvesters’), except sugar-beet harvesters, exclusive of VAT.

2. Beneficiaries are to receive aid only in respect of tractor or combine harvester purchase costs which have been approved by an order of the Director of the National Paying Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture (hereinafter ‘the Agency’) and which are incurred after that order enters into force. Aid provided for under these rules is to be allocated to cover the purchase costs of no more than one tractor or one combine harvester per calendar year.

3. In accordance with Article 4(7) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006, aid must not be granted for simple replacement investments in respect of agricultural machinery

Economic sector(s): Primary production of agricultural products

Name and address of the granting authority:

Lietuvos Respublikos žemės ūkio ministerija Gedimino pr. 19 (Lelevelio g. 6) LT-01103 Vilnius

Website: http://www.zum.lt/min/Isakymai/dsp_isakymas.cfm?IsakymasID=3602&langparam=LT

Other information: —

Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania

State Secretary

Vidmantas KANOPA

Aid No: XA 342/07

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Region: Območje občine Lovrenc na Pohorju

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Program razvoja kmetijstva in podeželja v občini Lovrenc na Pohorju 2007–2013

Legal basis: Pravilnik o dodeljevanju državnih pomoči za ohranjanje in razvoj kmetijstva in podeželja v občini Lovrenc na Pohorju (II.A poglavje)

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

2007: EUR 19 200

2008: EUR 22 200

2009: EUR 22 700

2010: EUR 22 900

2011: EUR 23 100

2012: EUR 23 300

2013: EUR 23 500

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 purpose of the aid is to invest in the restoration of farm features, to purchase equipment to be used for agricultural production, to invest in permanent crops and in farmland improvement and pasture management.

2. For land reparcelling:

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

3. Aid for providing technical support in the agricultural sector:

— up to 50 % of costs concerning education and training of farmers, consultancy services, the organisation of forums, competitions, exhibitions and fairs, publications, catalogues and websites and the dissemination of scientific knowledge. 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: November 2007 (No aid will be allocated until the summary is 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 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 and eligible costs: Chapter II.A of the Rules on granting State aid for preserving and developing agriculture and rural areas in the municipality of Lovrenc na Pohorju includes measures constituting State aid in accordance with the following Articles of 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 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 Lovrenc na Pohorju Spodnji trg 8 SLO-2344 Lovrenc na Pohorju

Website: http://www.izit.si/muv/index.php?action=showIzdaja&year=2007&izdajaID=423 page 950

Other information: 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)

Aid No: XA 350/07

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: Scotland

Title of Aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Scottish Ewe Scheme

Legal basis: Section 4 and 6 of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act 1911

Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: 2007: Estimated at GBP 18 800 000

Maximum aid intensity: The aid will be limited to compensating for income losses caused by quarantine obligations resulting from a disease outbreak, which has been formally recognised by public authorities. Taken together with the Sheep Welfare Scheme (under which farmers will receive compensation now estimated at GBP 1,5 million), compensation will not exceed 100 % of the costs associated with dealing with the requirements of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Control Measures. The Scottish Executive funds the scheme.

The Scottish Executive's economic advisors calculate that the cost of compliance with FMD quarantine restrictions amount to GBP 28 500 000. The total cost to the Scottish Executive of its package of measures for the industry associated with Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) quarantine restrictions, including the Scottish Ewe Scheme and the Sheep Welfare Scheme, will be limited to not more than GBP 25 100 000

Date of implementation:

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Aid awards will take the form of a one-off payment to producers, in November or December 2007. The scheme will close on 31 December 2007

Objective of aid: To compensate producers for income losses caused by movement and export restrictions imposed following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the United Kingdom. This complies with Article 10(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006

Eligible costs: The income losses caused by movement and export restrictions (comprising additional maintenance requirements, loss in productivity and loss of market value) has been assessed at GBP 6 per head for each breeding ewe or gimmer declared as being present on the producers holding on 1 March 2007. These figures will be taken from the 2007 Single Application Form submitted on the 15 May 2007 which indicate that compensation will be paid on 3 133 000 animals given a total cost of the scheme of ca. GBP 18 800 000. 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: This scheme applies to the breeding sheep sector of the farming industry in Scotland

Name and address of the granting authority:

Scottish Executive Pentland House 47 Robb's Loan Edinburgh EH14 1TY United Kingdom Contact: Brian Endicott Tel. (44-13) 12 44 65 46

Website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Agriculture/grants/Schemes/ScottishEweScheme

Aid No: XA 378/07

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Region: Občina Vuzenica

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

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

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

2007: EUR 7 431

2008: EUR 16 000

2009: EUR 16 000

2010: EUR 16 000

2011: EUR 16 000

2012: EUR 16 000

2013: EUR 16 000

Maximum aid intensity:

1. Investment in farms 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 setting up.

The purpose of the aid is to invest in the restoration of farm features, to purchase equipment to be used for agricultural production, to invest in permanent crops and in farmland improvement and pasture management.

2. Conservation of traditional landscapes and buildings:

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

— up to 60 % of actual costs, or 75 % in less-favoured areas, for productive assets 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 heritage features of buildings.

3. Relocation of farm buildings in the public interest:

— up to 100 % of actual costs, where 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 is 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 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 is 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 an insurance premium for insuring crops and fruit and insuring livestock against disease.

5. Aid for land reparcelling:

— up to 100 % of eligible costs incurred in legal and administrative procedures.

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 eligible costs for education and training for farmers, consultancy services and to organise forums, competitions, exhibitions, fairs, publications, catalogues, websites and to fund 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: November 2007 (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 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 and eligible costs: Chapter II of the draft Rules on granting aid for preserving and developing agriculture and rural areas in the municipality of Vuzenica 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 the granting authority:

Občina Vuzenica Mladinska ulica 1 SLO-2367 Vuzenica

Website: http://www.izit.si/muv/index.php?action=showIzdaja&year=2007&izdajaID=426

Regulatory procedure No 569, page 30

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 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)

Miran KUS

Mayor of the Municipality of Vuzenica