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

(2004/C 16/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Aid No: XT 21/03

Member State: Italy

Region: Veneto

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Law 236/93, Article 9. Executive Decree (Decreto Dirigenziale) of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of 21 December 2001 on the financing of company, regional or sectoral training plans. Resources

Legal basis: DGR n. 1726 del 28.6.2002 e DGR n. 354 del 14.2.2003. The announcement approved under DGR 1726/2002 stipulated that projects must be submitted in accordance with the de minimis rules as laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No 69/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to de minimis aid (OJ L 10, 13.1.2001, p. 30).

Only those sectors not covered by the de minimis arrangements (laid down in Article 1(a), (b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 69/2001, as well as transport, agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture) were covered by the arrangements laid down in 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 (OJ L 10, 13.1.2001, p. 30).

Applicants had to state clearly when submitting projects, which would otherwise have been rejected, which of the cases listed in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 68/2001 of 12 January 2001 covered the project and the relevant percentages of part-financing to be applied. Projects that differed from the definitions in Article 4 would not have been regarded as eligible on the grounds of inadequate part-financing

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 9370593,98, excluding private-sector contribution (also includes the contribution under the arrangements laid down in Regulation (EC) No 69/2001)

Maximum aid intensity: In accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 68/2001 of 12 January 2001.

Applicants clearly stated when submitting projects, which would otherwise have been rejected, which of the cases listed in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 68/2001 of 12 January 2001 covered the project and the relevant percentages of part-financing to be applied. Projects that differed from the definitions in Article 4 were not regarded as eligible on the grounds of inadequate part-financing.

The maximum public-sector financing percentages laid down by DGR 1726/2002 are as follows:

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NB. The percentages referred to above are increased by 10 percentage points for training for disadvantaged workers (as defined in Regulation (EC) No 68/2001)

Each training project must relate to only one of the categories referred to above in paragraphs (a) to (d).

Pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 68/2001, the various types of measure provided for are subdivided as follows:

1. Specific training. Training involving tuition directly and principally applicable to the employee's present or future position in the assisted firm but providing qualifications which are not or only to a limited extent transferable to other firms or fields of work.

2. General training. General training 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. Training is considered general if, for example:

- it is jointly organised by different independent enterprises or if employees of other enterprises may avail themselves of the training;

- it is recognised, certified or validated by public authorities or bodies or by other bodies or institutions on which a Member State or the Community has conferred the necessary powers.

All projects must relate to only one of the categories of training referred to above in points 1 and 2; the characteristics of the training module selected should also be clearly shown

Date of implementation: 14 February 2003

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 31 March 2004

Objective of aid: The aid is intended for continuing training projects put forward by firms on the basis of contractual agreements. The training projects concern workers employed by firms subject to the contribution laid down in Law No 160/1975, as amended by Article 25 of Framework Law No 845/1978 on vocational training and subsequent amendments

Economic sector(s) concerned: Sectors not covered by the de minimis arrangements laid down in Article 1(a), (b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 69/2001, as well as transport, agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture

Name and address of granting authority: Regione del Veneto Giunta regionale Dorsoduro 3901 I - 30100 Venezia

Aid No: XT 32/03

Member State: Portugal

Region: Portugal (Mainland)

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Vocational training (Operational programme for agriculture and rural development - CSF III)

Legal basis: Portaria n.o 547/2003, publicada no Diário da República, II série, de 14.5.2003

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 1000000

Maximum aid intensity: Specific training:

Large enterprises - 25 % + bonuses (Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 68/2001)

SMEs - 35 % + bonuses (Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 68/2001)

General training:

Large enterprises - 50 % + bonuses (Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 68/2001)

SMEs - 70 % + bonuses (Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 68/2001)

Date of implementation: May 2003 - Publication of above scheme in Official Gazette

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Period covered by CSF III

Objective of aid: To improve the skills and qualifications of those working in agriculture

Economic sector(s) concerned: Agriculture and rural development. Framework laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/99 of 17 May 1999

Name and address of granting authority: Gestor do PO Agricultura e Desenvolvimento Rural Praça do Comércio PT - 1149-010 Lisboa

Other information: Aid granted to profit-making undertakings in their capacity as beneficiary undertakings; aid exceeding EUR 100000 over a three-year period