EN Official Journal of the European Union C 153/26

Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under 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

(2005/C 153/12)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Aid No: XT 86/02

Member State: Germany

Region: Bavaria

Recipient: Perspektive e.V., gemeinnütziger Verein (Print), Munich

Legal basis: Bayerische Haushaltsordnung (BayHO)

VO (EG) Nr. 1784/1999

EPPD zu Ziel 3

Ergänzendes Programmplanungsdokument Ziel 3

Total amount of aid granted to the recipient:

Total eligible costs: EUR 479 201 ESF: EUR 90 397

Maximum aid intensity: 80 %

Date of implementation: October/November 2002

Payment of individual aid:

— Last payment expected to be in June 2004

— Project duration: 1.1.2002 to 31.12.2003

Objective: This is a general training measure for unemployed mentally ill and mentally handicapped persons with a view to placement on the general labour market. The aim is to provide skills in printing and clerical work. The measure will help to provide transferable skills which will significantly improve the placement potential of the participants. The measure is based on the framework plan for general vocational skill acquisition measures for the handicapped and mentally ill in Bavarian integration firms/self-help firms of 18.7.2001.

Economic sector(s) concerned: Other services

Name and address of the granting authority:

Regierung von Oberbayern Integrationsamt 80534 Munich

Aid No: XT 5/03

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: Scotland (as covered by the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme and the Lowland Scotland Objective 3 Programme)

Title of aid scheme:

— Lowland Scotland Objective 3 Programme

— Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme

— Western Scotland Objective 2 Programme

Legal basis:

— European Council Regulation laying down the general provisions on the structural funds (1260/1999)

— European Council Regulation on the European Social Fund (1784/1999)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: For Measure 1.3 of the Western Scotland Objective 2 programme, EUR 25,722 million over the period 2000-06 available in aid.

For Lowland Scotland Objective 3 programme, Measures 4A1, 4A2 and 4A3: EUR 82,074 million over the period 2000-06 available in aid.

For the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional programme: Measures 3.3 and 2.4: EUR 24,973 million over the period 2000-06 available in aid.

Maximum aid intensity:

Large firms outside assisted areas: Specific: 25 % General: 50 % Large firms in Article 87(3)(c) areas: Specific: 30 % General: 55 % SMEs (1) outside assisted areas: Specific: 35 % General 70 % SMEs in Article 87(3)(c) areas: Specific: 40 % General: 75 %

Supplement for disadvantaged workers (2): +10 %

Date of implementation: January 2003

Duration of scheme: Until 31 December 2006

Objective of aid: The European Social Fund programmes include broadbased training and development to improve the employability of unemployed people including disadvantaged workers, to promote lifelong learning for those in and out of employment, to improve the skills base and adaptability of the employed labour force and to reduce the level of disadvantage faced by women in the labour market. Training aid covered by this exemption covers those measures in the programmes that provide aid to employees and enterprises. (see above)

Most training supported is general in nature. It is applicable not only to an employees' present or future position in the enterprise being assisted because the provision of qualifications provides transferable skills that substantially improve the employability of the employee concerned. Examples would include:

IT training (such as European Computer Driving Licence) to employees of SMEs from several sectors;

management VQs delivered to a group of owner/managers of companies within a specific geographical area;

university modules in HR skills delivered to managers of SMEs;

language training for employees working in tourism-related sectors.

Programmes do include some forms of specific training. This covers training which is targeted at specific companies (i.e. companies recruited in advance and training specifically designed for these companies) and is aimed at developing skills directly related to those particular businesses. Examples would include:

an industry-recognised qualification for business advisers;

training in operation of specific machinery relevant to a particular industry;

international marketing/export programme for a group of SMEs;

a project developing e-commerce strategies and website development training for directors of SMEs.

Economic sectors concerned: All sectors as outlined in the relevant programming documents of the scheme and approved by the European Commission: The Scottish Objective 3 Operational Programme 2000-06, the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme 2000-06 and the Western Scotland Objective 2 Programme 2000-06.

Where support is provided to a project in one of the Community's sensitive sectors, any obligations and restrictions relating to training support will be respected.

Name and address of the granting authority: Scottish Executive, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ

Contact: Deborah Smith (tel. (44-131) 244 0703)

Aid No: XT 25/01

Member State: Italy

Region: Lombardy

Title of aid scheme: Training aid

Legal basis:

— legge 236/93 del 19.3.1993, art. 9

— legge 845 del 21.12.1978

— quadro comunitario di sostegno per l'obiettivo 3 FSE — 2006

— programma operativo regione Lombardia relativo all'utilizzo del FSE, ob. 3 2000/2006 approvato dalla Commissione con decisione n. C(2000)20070 CE 21 settembre 2000

— legge 16 aprile 1987 n. 183 art. 5

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: EUR 730 000

Maximum aid intensity: The intensities laid down in the Regulation will be complied with in relation to the objectives of the aid, the size of enterprises, the type of beneficiaries and the geographic area in which they are located.

Date of implementation: June 2001

Duration of scheme: June 2001 — June 2006

Objective of aid: General and specific training as indicated in the attached decision of the Regional Council.

The indicators used to check the general nature of the training will relate to:

involvement of several enterprises;

transferability of skills;

regional certification.

Economic sector(s) concerned: All sectors

Name and address of granting authority: Giunta regionale della regione Lombardia

Aid No: XT 29/03

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: North East Region

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: OneNorthEast Accelerate Programme

Legal basis: Regional Development Agency Act 1998

Annual expenditure planned under scheme:

GBP 840 000 in FY 2002/03

GBP 3 360 000 in FY 2003/04

GBP 3 360 000 in FY 2004/05

GBP 2 758 000 in FY 2005/06

GBP 953 000 in FY 2006/07

GBP 714 000 in FY 2007/08

Total expenditure: GBP 11 985 000

Maximum aid intensity: All aid granted will fall within the ceilings expressed in Article 4, points 2 & 3 of the training block exemption for exempted training aid according to the Assisted Areas map for the North East Region:

25 % to large enterprises for specific training

35 % to SMEs for specific training

50 % to large enterprises for general training

70 % to SMEs for general training

An additional 5 % will be given in Article 87(3)(c) areas.

Individual aid will not exceed EUR 1 000 000 per recipient per project.

Date of implementation:

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 30 June 2007 in accordance with current regulations. Following this the scheme will comply with the regulations then in force.

Objective of aid: OneNorthEast has an economic strategy to remedy its comparative disadvantage to most other EU regions in terms of economic performance and competitiveness.

For regional companies (SMEs and large companies)

Training in supply chain development within the North East Region and training to improve levels of participation in international business.

Training in the transfer of technology & knowledge, innovation and improvement in R&D levels.

Enhancing the knowledge manufacturing knowledge base in the North East Region.

OneNorthEast will deliver this to companies through establishing funds to finance training.

The dissemination of training will be carried out to the supply chain. Intensity levels will be relatively small and within the permitted levels and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Economic sector(s) concerned: All sectors (including services), without prejudice to special rules in the regulations and directives concerning State aid to certain sectors under the EC Treaty.

Name and address of granting authority: Fergus Mitchell, State Aid Co-ordinator, OneNorthEast, Great North House, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ND; 0191 204 2221

Other information: The various elements of this programme will be delivered by OneNorthEast and the region's universities

Aid No: XT 31/03

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: West Midlands

Title: Improving basic skills in the workplace

Legal basis (in original language): Regional Development Agencies Act 1998

Budget:

2002/03 GBP 250 000 2003/04 GBP 175 000 2004/05 GBP 175 000 Total GBP 600 000

The scheme will support SMEs which meet the EC definition of an SME and large companies.

Aid intensity or amount: Project funding of up to 70 % will be provided outside assisted areas to support general training for SMEs. An additional 5 % will be granted in Article 87(3)(c) areas.

Project funding of up to 50 % will be provided outside assisted areas to support general training for large companies. An additional 5 % will be given in Article 87(3)(c) areas.

Date of implementation: May 2003

Duration: 3 years

Objective: (Sector): Basic skills, literacy and numeracy training for employees of companies in the Black Country

Economic sectors concerned: All

Name and address of granting authority:

Rita Davey Advantage West Midlands 3 Priestly Wharf Holt Street Birmingham B7 4BN

Aid No: XT 39/03

Member State: Italy

Region: (Campania, Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily, Sardinia) Objective 1

Title of aid scheme: Measures III.6 — Promotion of women in the labour market.

Legal basis: Programma operativo nazionale ‘Ricerca scientifica, sviluppo tecnologico, alta formazione’ 2000/2006 che si integra nel quadro comunitario di sostegno per gli interventi strutturali comunitari nelle regioni Campania, Calabria, Puglia, Basilicata, Sicilia, Sardegna. Approvato con decisione della Commissione C(2000), 2343 dell'8.8.2000

Complemento di programmazione approvato dal Comitato di sorveglianza dell'11.12.2001.

Avviso 4391/2001 pubblicato sulla GURI n. 202 del 31.8.2001 — Supplemento ordinario n. 222.

Decreto direttoriale n. 800/RIC/2001 del 30.7.2001 — Cofinanziamento mediante l'utilizzo delle risorse comunitarie assicurate dal Fondo sociale europeo (FSE) — Programma operativo nazionale ‘Ricerca scientifica, sviluppo tecnologico ed alta formazione’ per l'obiettivo 1 — di interventi formativi per soggetti occupati, compresi i titolari di PMI, delle imprese localizzate sul territorio obiettivo 1.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: EUR 280 952,55 for the period July 2002—December 2003.

Maximum aid intensity: The aid is granted in the form of initial advance payments and by reimbursing duly documented eligible expenditure actually incurred in implementing training activities, subject to the following maximum aid intensities as provided for by Regulation (EC) No 68/2001:

The above intensities are increased by 10 percentage points if the training for which aid is granted is given to disadvantaged workers, as referred to in Article 2(g) of Regulation (EC) No 68/2001 and further defined in D.D. 800/RIC/2001.

Date of implementation:

Duration of scheme: Until 31 December 2006

Objective of aid: The aid scheme covers general and specific training. General training within the meaning of Article 2(e) of Regulation (EC) No 68/2001 involves training which is not applicable only or principally to the employee's present or future position in the assisted firm but which provides qualifications that are largely transferable to other firms or fields of work and thereby substantially improve the employability of the employee. For the purposes of implementing this aid scheme, ‘general’ training means: inter-enterprise training, i.e. training organised jointly by different independent enterprises or in which employees of different enterprises may take part.

Economic sector(s) concerned: All sectors. All services

Comments: Firstly, the aid scheme applies to all sectors covered by Regulation (EC) No 68/2001. Secondly, it does not apply to aid for training or retraining workers employed by firms in difficulty within the meaning of the Community guidelines on state aid for rescuing and restructuring firms in difficulty (OJ C 288, 9.10.1999), as part of rescue or restructuring operations assisted through public funds (rescue and/or restructuring aid). Such aid will be assessed in the light of those guidelines. Thirdly, the aid scheme does not apply if the amount of aid granted to one enterprise for a single training project exceeds EUR 1 million, in which case the individual aid grant must be notified to the Commission for its approval.

Name and address of granting authority:

Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca Servizio per lo Sviluppo ed il potenziamento dell'attività di ricerca Ufficio IV Piazza Kennedy, 20 — 00144 Roma

Aid No: XT 53/02

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: England

Title of aid scheme: Expansion of Young Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) Drivers Training Scheme.

Legal basis:

— Title: Appropriation Act 2002

— An Appropriation Act is enacted every year which authorises the use of funds for carrying out the Department's objectives including ‘promoting modern, integrated and safe transport…’

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: The budget allocation is:

2002/03: GBP 1,5 million

2003/04: GBP 1,8 million

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum aid intensity will not exceed 50 % of training costs. No grant will exceed GBP 2 000 per trainee.

Date of implementation:

Duration of scheme: Until 31 March 2004

Objective of aid: The Young LGV Drivers Training Scheme aims to address a recognised market failure by providing a structured training and development programme for young people under the age of 21 embarking on a driving career in road transport and distribution. Trainees follow a structured programme of training leading to the level 2 Qualification, Driving Goods Vehicles or Transporting Goods by Road, National Vocational Qualification.

The Road Transport and distribution sectors currently have a problem recruiting a sufficient number of LGV drivers, and suffers from a progressively ageing workforce. The funding of the expansion of the Young LGV Drivers Scheme is a pump-priming exercise over 2 years intended to ramp-up the numbers of young drivers recruited and trained under the existing scheme. Currently there are only about 100 young trainees on the Scheme each year which is too low a volume to meet employers current and future needs.

The form of training provided under this scheme is general since it provides qualifications — National Vocational Qualifications — that are transferable to other employers and substantially improve the employability of the employee. Employees of different enterprises may avail themselves of the training and the training and qualifications are recognised and certified by the UK Department for Education and Skills and Department for Transport.

Economic sector(s) concerned: Transport Services. (The Scheme is open to any lorry operator.)

Name and address of the granting authority: Department for Transport

Contact:

Judith Ritchie

Freight Logistics Division

Department for Transport

Zone 2/24

Great Minster House

76 Marsham Street

London

SW1P 4DR

Aid No: XT 72/04

Member State: Italy

Region: Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Craft and Agriculture of Reggio Emilia (Emilia-Romagna)

Title of aid scheme: Grants to support training initiatives in farms in the province of Reggio Emilia.

Legal basis:

Deliberazione della Giunta della Camera di Commercio di Reggio Emilia n. 62/2004

Annual expenditure planned: EUR 70 000

Maximum aid intensity: 70 %

Date of implementation: 6.7.2004. (Deadline for submission of applications: 30.9.2004)

Duration of scheme:

Objective of aid: The aid is intended to support general training plans for farms in the province of Reggio Emilia in order to:

improve the occupational skills of farmers and farm workers in preparation for the qualitative reorientation of production, the application of production practices compatible with the protection of the environment, enhancement of the landscape, hygiene standards and animal welfare;

provide farmers and farm workers with the necessary knowledge to run an economically profitable business.

Economic sectors concerned: Agriculture

Name and address of the granting authority:

Camera di Commercio, Industria, Artigianato e Agricoltura di Reggio Emilia Piazza della Vittoria 42100 Reggio Emilia (Italy)

Aid No: XT 79/04

Member State: Italy

Region: Lombardy

Title of aid scheme: Masters in Economics and Management of Tourist Accommodation Services ‘Successful hospitality and accommodation skills’, 2004/05.

Legal basis:

Art. 12 L. 7 agosto 1990, n. 241, Deliberazione camerale n. 236 del 18.11.2003, Deliberazione camerale n. 48 del 23.3.2004, Determinazione dirigenziale n. 63/AV del 18.6.2004

Annual expenditure planned: EUR 60 000,00

Maximum aid intensity: 50 % of eligible costs incurred.

Date of implementation:

Duration of scheme: Until 3.3.2005

Objective of aid: Training course to strengthen managerial and entrepreneurial skills for staff working in tourist and hotel firms and in institutions promoting their surrounding area.

Economic sectors concerned: Tourism, service industry and agriculture (agri-tourism entrepreneurs)

Name and address of the granting authority: Camera di Commercio, Industria, Artigianato e Agricoltura di Brescia — Via Orzinuovi N. 3, 25125 Brescia Italia — tel. 0303514335 E-mail: buriani@bs.camcom.it

Aid No: XT 82/02

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: Yorkshire and The Humber

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Adaptive Skills/WYL/4E/OB2

Legal basis: C (2001) 796 –23 March 2001/Local Government Act 2000

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

Overall amount: GBP 6 254 484

2002: GBP 3 132 242

2003: GBP 3 122 242

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum aid intensity will be 70 % or 80 % for disadvantaged groups.

GBP 5 000 max. per SME

Date of implementation:

Duration of scheme: Until 31 December 2006

Objective of aid: To provide general training to SMEs in existence for over 3 years

Economic sectors concerned: All sectors, without prejudice to special rules in the regulations and directives concerning state aid in certain sectors

Name and address of the granting authority:

Mr E I Dockrat Learning and Skills Council West Yorkshire 4 Mercury House Manchester Road Bradford West Yorkshire BD5 0QL

(1) Definition of SME will be consistent with Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001.

(2) ‘Disadvantaged worker’ must be consistent with definition given in Commission Regulation (EC) No 68/2001 and more recently updated in Commission Regulation (EC) No 2204/2002.