Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2003/C 157/02)

Date of adoption of the decision: 4.6.2003

Member State: France

Aid No: N 4/03

Title: Aid to organisations of producers of perfume, aromatic and medicinal plants for technical assistance and investment

Objective: To encourage producer organisations to continue efforts to adapt supply to demand by means of aid for investment, quality-product development and technical assistance measures

Budget: EUR 300000 per year

Aid intensity or amount: Investment aid: 40 % of eligible expenditure

Aid for technical assistance: 50 % of eligible expenditure, with a ceiling of EUR 100000 per beneficiary over three years

Aid for high-quality products: degressive rate, starting from 80 % in the first year with a ceiling of EUR 100000overthreeyears

Duration: Five years

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at

http://europa.eu.int/comm/ secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids

Date of adoption of the decision: 4.6.2003

Member State: France

Aid No: N 223/02

Title: Aid to assist livestock and sheep breeders' associations

Objective: To control production better

Budget: EUR 870000 per year

Aid intensity or amount: Maximum 40 % of expenditure

Duration: 2002 and 2003

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at

http://europa.eu.int/comm/ secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids

Date of adoption of the decision: 4.6.2003

Member State: United Kingdom (Wales)

Aid No: N 611/02

Title: "Welsh flock improvement" - Artificial insemination an semen banking for scrapie resistance

Objective: The aim of the scheme is to improve scrapie resistance in the Welsh sheep sector. A semen bank of high merit ARR/ARR genotype sires will be established for a relevant range of breeds. Artificial insemination will be offered to breeders where there exists a high proportion of the most susceptible genotypes

Legal basis: Government of Wales Act 1998, sections 40 and 85(2); Agriculture Act 1967 as amended

Budget: GBP 1044000

Aid intensity or amount: 100 %

Duration: October 2003 to October 2005

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at

http://europa.eu.int/comm/ secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids

Date of adoption of the decision: 4.6.2003

Member State: Italy (Umbria)

Aid No: N 642/01

Title: To encourage the use of soil improvers to protect the quality of agricultural land

Objective: To encourage the adoption af agri-environmental measures (investment aidand agrienvironmental premiums)

Legal basis: Legge regionale n. 24 del 4 settembre 2001 "Incentivazione degli ammendanti ai fini della tutela della qualità dei suoli agricoli"

Budget: EUR 50000 for 2001 (the budgets for other years will be laid down in the Region's Finance Acts)

Aid intensity or amount: Between EUR 50 and EUR 80 a hectare per year over five years for the agri-environmental premiums

Between 20 % and 35 % for investment aid

Duration: Unspecified

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at

http://europa.eu.int/comm/ secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids

Date of adoption of the decision: 4.6.2003

Member State: United Kingdom (Scotland)

Aid No: Aid Scheme NN 36/03 (ex Aid N 292/01)

Title: Farm Business Development Scheme

Objective: The scheme is designed to assist the diversification of farm incomes by creating new enterprises or improving existing diversified activities for farmers. The scheme covers investments (in agriculture or out agriculture) and technical support

Legal basis: The Farm Business Development Scheme (Scotland) Scheme 2001

Budget: GBP 50,9 million (approximately EUR 80,8 million)

Aid intensity or amount: Variable

Duration: From July 2001 to 31 December 2006

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at

http://europa.eu.int/comm/ secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids

Date of adoption of the decision: 4.6.2003

Member State: United Kingdom (Scotland)

Aid No: NN 37/03 (ex N 704/2000)

Title: Processing and Marketing Scheme

Objective: The scheme is designed to assist the processing and marketing of quality agricultural products. Four separate measures are envisaged: investments, incentives to improve the quality of agriculture products, "start-up" of producer groups, and technical support

Legal basis: Agriculture Processing and Marketing Grants (Scotland) Regulations 2001 (SSI 220/2001)

Budget: GBP 25 million (EUR 36,9 million)

Aid intensity or amount: Variable

Duration: From July 2001 to 31 December 2006

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at

http://europa.eu.int/comm/ secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids