EN Official Journal of the European Union C 201/11

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

(2007/C 201/03)

XA Number: XA 114/07

Member State: Austria

Region: Niederösterreich

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Richtlinie für die Gewährung eines Zuschusses des Landes Niederösterreich für die Teilnahme an Messen und Ausstellungen außerhalb Österreichs

Legal basis: NÖ Landwirtschaftsgesetz

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: In Lower Austria the resulting annual funding requirement is EUR 375 000.

Maximum aid intensity: Support comprises up to 50 % of net costs, subject to maximum support of EUR 1 500 for each applicant and application.

Date of implementation: Beginning of May 2007

Duration of scheme or individual aid: May 2007 until 2013

Objective of aid: This measure is intended to give farmers the opportunity of receiving appropriate support for presenting products at trade fairs and exhibitions outside Austria. Support is granted for renting space, renting a stand and having it erected by a stand construction firm, travel to and from the event by public transport and the costs of staying overnight.

Sector(s) concerned: The aid is restricted to enterprises in Lower Austria active in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products (Annex I). The aid is restricted to small and medium-sized enterprises within the meaning of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 70/2001.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Amt der Niederösterreichischen Landesregierung Abteilung Landwirtschaftsförderung Landhausplatz 1 A-3109 St. Pölten

Internet address: http://www.noe.gv.at

Other information: —

XA number: XA 115/07

Member State: Austria

Region: Niederösterreich

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Richtlinie für die Gewährung eines Zuschusses des Landes Niederösterreich für Investitionen in landwirtschaftlichen Betrieben

Legal basis: NÖ Landwirtschaftsgesetz

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: In Lower Austria the expected annual funding requirement is EUR 500 000.

Maximum aid intensity: Support comprises up to 40 % of net costs.

Date of implementation: Beginning of May 2007

Duration of scheme or individual aid: May 2007 until 2013

Objective of aid: This measure is intended to provide the opportunity of receiving support for investment in farm buildings including the requisite technical installations, machinery, equipment and technical plant for indoor work and machinery and equipment for outdoor work. At least one of the following objectives must be achieved:

reduction of production costs,

improvement and conversion of production,

improvement of quality,

conservation and improvement of the natural environment or improvement of hygiene conditions or of animal welfare.

Sector(s) concerned: Agriculture and forestry, especially plant production and livestock rearing.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Amt der Niederösterreichischen Landesregierung Abteilung Landwirtschaftsförderung Landhausplatz 1 A-3109 St. Pölten

Internet address: http://www.noe.gv.at

Other information: —

XA Number: XA 116/07

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: Cumbria

Title of Aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Farming Connect Cumbria (FCC).

Legal basis: Sections 4 and 5 of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998.

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

Financial year Budget 2007/2008 GBP 2 850 000

Maximum aid intensity:

(A) Business advice and grant facilitation service The aid intensity will be 100 % in line with Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

(B) FCC Development Grants The maximum aid intensity will be 40 % or for young farmers (as defined in Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 as amended) within 5 years of setting up 50 % in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006. The level of grant per project will be capped at GBP 16 000 for all applicants. Applicants may apply for grants for more than one project, but no applicant may receive more than GBP 30 000 in total under this item.

(C) FCC Technical Consultancy Grants The maximum aid intensity will be 50 % this is in line with Article 15 of the Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006. The level of grant per project will be capped at GBP 1 300.

Date of implementation:

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Initial applications to join the FCC programme need to be received by 31st March 2008

All advice will be given and final payments made by 31st May 2008.

The last date for FCC Development Grant Applications is 31st March 2007 and all claims must be submitted and final payments made by 31st March 2008.

The last date for FCC Technical Consultancy Grant Applications will be 31st March 2008 and all claims must be submitted and final payments made by 31st May 2008.

Objective of aid: The objective is to support the long term sustainable development of Cumbria's rural economy by promoting:

within agriculture, diversification of agricultural businesses,

improved business efficiency,

enhancements to animal welfare conditions,

protection of the rural environment.

The eligible costs will be consultancy fees in line with Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

The eligible costs will be the construction, acquisition or improvement of immovable property, the purchase or lease-purchase of new machinery and equipment, including computer software and general costs, such as architects, engineers and consultation fees, feasibility studies, the acquisition of patents and licences. This is in line with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

These will comprise subsidised consultancy services in line with Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to production of agricultural products.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Cumbria Vision Gillan Way Penrith 40 Business Park Penrith CA11 9BP United Kingdom

Formerly:

Rural Regeneration Cumbria Hackthorpe Business Centre Hackthorpe CA10 2HX Cumbria United Kingdom

Web address: www.crea.co.uk

Alternatively, you can go to the UK's central website for exempted agricultural State aid at:

http://defraweb/farm/policy/state-aid/setup/exist-exempt.htm

Click on the link ‘Farming Connect Cumbria 2006’.

Other information: The scheme consists of 3 separate measures:

A flexible business advice and support service to farmers and other agricultural producers and processors, tailored to the specific needs of the business to enable the preparation of a formal business plan with the aim of improving business efficiency.

The business will then be able to apply for grants to help them implement that business plan by investing in their holding in order to develop their business for the future.

Alternatively, farmers may be given a grant towards the cost of more in depth consultancy to help them implement their business plan.

A considerable proportion of the aid consists of grants which will be paid in arrears on presentation of receipted invoices and only once stage 1 (preparation of the business plan) is completed. Therefore, more of the expenditure will occur towards the end of the scheme's period of operation.

This scheme extends XA 104/06.

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

Neil Marr

State Aid Adviser

Defra

Area 1B, Nobel House

17 Smith Square

London SW1P 3JR

United Kingdom

XA Number: XA 119/07

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Region: Municipality of Novo mesto

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Podpora ohranjanju in spodbujanju razvoja kmetijstva in podeželja v Mestni občini Novo mesto 2007-2013

Legal basis: Pravilnik o ohranjanju in spodbujanju razvoja kmetijstva in podeželja v mestni občini Novo mesto za programsko obdobje 2007-2013 (II. Poglavje), Uradni list RS, št. 51/2007

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The annual expenditure planned for the period 2007-2013 is EUR 249 000.

Maximum aid intensity:

1. Investment in agricultural holdings: — up to 40 % or a maximum of EUR 400 000 for a three-year period;

2. Conservation of traditional landscapes and buildings: — up to 100 % for non-productive features, up to 60 % for on-farm productive features and up to 100 % of additional aid to cover extra costs incurred by using traditional materials;

3. Aid towards the payment of insurance premiums: — municipality support in line with the Decree on co-financing of insurance premiums for agriculture production for the current year, adopted by the Slovenian Government, brings the balance of aid to up to 50 % of eligible costs before deduction of tax;

4. Aid for land reparcelling: — up to 100 % of eligible costs actually incurred in carrying out such activities;

5. Aid to encourage the production of quality agricultural products: — up to 100 % of costs incurred in connection with improving the quality of agricultural products. The aid is granted in the form of subsidised services and must not involve direct payments to farms;

6. Provision of technical support in the agricultural sector: — the aid may be granted to cover up to 100 % of eligible costs in the form of subsidised services and must not involve direct payments to farms.

Date of implementation: Starts June 2007 (or the day that the Rules enter into force)

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Ends 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 Pravilnik o ohranjanju in spodbujanju razvoja kmetijstva in podeželja v mestni občini Novo mesto za programsko obdobje 2007-2013 (Rules on conserving and promoting agriculture and rural development in the municipality of Novo mesto for the period 2007-2013) includes measures constituting State aid under 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 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

Sub-sectors: Livestock farming (cattle, pigs, sheep and goats, bees and small animals), agriculture (tilling fields, meadows and pastures), permanent crops (orchards, vineyards) and horticulture.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Mestna Občina Novo Mesto Seidlova 1 SLO-8000 Novo Mesto

Web address: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/ulonline.jsp?urlid=200751&dhid=89880, www.novomesto.si

Other information: —

Director of the municipal administration

Sašo MURTIČ

XA Number: XA 120/07

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: South West of England

Title of Aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Somerset Food Links — Food sector Support Service (FS4).

Legal basis: Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: 1.7.2007-30.6.2008: GBP 75 000

Maximum aid intensity: The aid intensity is 100 %

Date of implementation: The scheme will start on the 1st July 2007.

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The scheme will begin on the 1st July 2007. It will close on the 30th June 2008. The last payment will be made on the 30th June 2008, the last date advice will be provided will be the 30th June 2008.

Objective of aid: Provision of information and advice on the food and drink sector.

Maintenance of database of food and drink suppliers.

Advice on accessing training and provision of training events where no service is available.

This aid is in line with Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 and the eligible costs will be the costs of organising training programmes. Aid to non-agricultural rural businesses and agricultural processing and marketing businesses will be provided in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1998/2006.

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to businesses involved in agricultural production, processing and marketing. The scheme will apply to all subsectors.

Name and address of the granting authority: The statutory body responsible for the scheme is:

Somerset County Council

The Fire Station

George Street

Glastonbury TA10 9PR

Somerset

United Kingdom

The organisation operating the scheme is:

Somerset Food Links Ltd

The Old Town Hall

Bow Street

Langport TA10 9PR

Somerset

United Kingdom

Web address: http://www.foodlinks.org.uk/reports/FS4 %20Replacement %20text %2012 %20June %2007.pdf

Alternatively, you can visit the UK's central register for exempted agricultural State aid at:

http://defraweb/farm/policy/state-aid/setup/exist-exempt.htm

Other information: Further and more detailed information relating to eligibility and rules for the scheme can be found in the web links above. No direct payments will be made to producers.

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

Neil Marr

State Aid Adviser

Defra

Area 1B, Nobel House

17 Smith Square

London SW1P 3JR

United Kingdom

XA Number: XA 121/07

Member State: Italy

Region: Regione Liguria

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid award: Agevolazioni a favore di PMI per l'acquisto o il leasing di nuove macchine utensili o di produzione

Legal basis: Deliberazione della giunta regionale n. 615 dell'8 giugno 2007, attuativa della legge 28 novembre 1965, n. 1329 (c.d. «legge Sabatini») e s.m.i.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall annual amount granted to the company: EUR 1,5 million (1)

Maximum aid intensity: The gross aid intensity must not exceed 40 % of eligible investments or 50 % of eligible investments in less-favoured or areas referred to in Article 36(a)(i), (ii) and (iii) of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, as designated by the Member States in accordance with Articles 50 and 94 of that Regulation and, in any case, the maximum amount of aid granted to an individual enterprise must not exceed EUR 400 000 over any period of three financial years, or EUR 500 000 if the enterprise is situated in a less-favoured area or in areas referred to in Article 36(a)(i), (ii) or (iii) of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, as designated by Member States in accordance with Articles 50 and 94 of that Regulation.

Date of implementation: The day following the publication of ‘Deliberazione della Giunta regionale’ No 615 of 8 June 2007 in the Official Journal of the Region of Liguria (2).

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

Objective of the aid: Investment aid. The purpose of the aid scheme is to provide an incentive for the purchase or leasing of new production machines or tools in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 via an interest rate subsidy.

The aid scheme is implemented using mechanisms either with or without the issue of promissory notes, in both cases according to similar methods specified in two technical fact sheets approved under the same legal basis.

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in the production of agricultural products.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Regione Liguria Assessorato allo Sviluppo economico, industria, commercio, commercio equo e solidale, artigianato Dipartimento Sviluppo economico e politiche dell'occupazione Via Fieschi, 15 I-16121 Genova Tel. (39) 010 548 54 39 — Fax (39) 010 548 80 99 E-mail: gianni.dellacasa@regione.liguria.it

Website: www.incentivi.mcc.it

Other information: —

XA number: XA 122/07

Member State: Germany

Region: Baden-Württemberg

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Gewährung von Beihilfen und sonstigen Leistungen durch die Tierseuchenkasse Baden-Württemberg

Legal basis:

— § 71 Tierseuchengesetz der Bundesrepublik Deutschland

— §§ 8 und 9 Ausführungsgesetz zum Tierseuchengesetz des Landes Baden-Württemberg

— Leistungssatzung und Leistungsverzeichnis der Tierseuchenkasse Baden-Württemberg.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: Total aid of approximately EUR 2,900 million a year (financed from contributions to the Baden-Württemberg Animal Diseases Fund by livestock owners — no funding from other sources is involved).

Maximum aid intensity: Up to 100 %

Date of implementation: From 1 January 2006

Duration of scheme or individual aid: Until 31 December 2010

Objective of aid: Aid to combat animal diseases in accordance with Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

Aid to compensate for livestock losses resulting from infectious diseases and their treatment.

Aid for measures to prevent, detect and combat animal diseases.

Aid in the form of payment of the costs of laboratory diagnostic measures to detect animal diseases.

Sector(s) concerned: All holdings with horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, bees, poultry or fish in Baden-Württemberg.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Tierseuchenkasse Baden-Württemberg Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts Hohenzollernstraße 10 D-70178 Stuttgart E-mail: info@tsk-bw.de

Internet address:

— Tierseuchengesetz http://www.tsk-bw.de/download/Documents/TSG.pdf

— Ausführungsgesetz zum Tierseuchengesetz des Landes Baden-Württemberg http://www.tsk-bw.de/download/Documents/Ausfuehrung.pdf

— Leistungssatzung mit Leistungsverzeichnis http://www.tsk-bw.de/download/Documents/Leistungssatzung_neu.pdf

Other information: —

Dr Klaus Gossger

Manager

Tierseuchenkasse Baden-Württemberg

Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts

XA Number: XA 123/07

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: Northern Ireland

Title of Aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Financial Assistance for Young Farmers Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2007-2014

Legal basis: Financial Assistance for Young Farmers (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (SI 2004/3080) (NI 21), Financial Assistance for Young Farmers Scheme Order (Northern Ireland) 2005 (SR 2005/69) and Financial Assistance for Young Farmers Scheme (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2005 (SR 2005/540)

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

Year Scheme entrants Total participants Average total loan repayments Average annual loan repayments per applicant Sum 1 (2007/8) 164 164 16 363 — 0 (3) 2 (2008/9) 11 175 16 363 3 273 536 772 3 (2009/10) 0 175 16 363 3 273 572 775 4 (2010/11) 0 175 16 363 3 273 572 775 5 (2011/12) 0 175 16 363 3 273 572 775 6 (2012/13) 0 175 16 363 3 273 572 775 7 (2013/14) 0 11 16 363 3 273 36 003

Total amount of aid payable is GBP 2,9 million.

Maximum aid intensity: The scheme allows for an interest rate subsidy on loans taken out by young farmers. The maximum amount of aid available is GBP 17 000 over 5 years. The interest rate for which subsidy is payable is capped at 3,5 % above the Bank of England Base Rate (approximately 2,5 % above the Base Rate of local lending institutions). Applicants who secure loans above this rate are liable for the excess interest payment.

Date of implementation: The scheme will start on 1 July 2007.

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The maximum duration of subsidised interest payment is 5 years, and the final payments will be made no later than 31 March 2014. There is no restriction on the amount of loan or on the term of the loan, but the scheme will be closed to new entrants by 5 June 2008, or sooner if all available funds have been committed.

Objective of aid: Sectoral development. In line with Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006, the eligible costs will be an interest rate subsidy on a loan to cover the costs of setting up for new entrant farmers under 40 years of age setting up as the head of holding for the first time. This will promote additional farm investment which will generate new activities or add value to farming in Northern Ireland.

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to young farmers who will predominately be involved in production. The scheme applies to all types of production.

Name and address of the granting authority: The statutory body responsible for the scheme is:

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Dundonald House

Upper Newtownards Road

Belfast BT4 3SB

United Kingdom

The organisation operating the scheme is:

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Dundonald House

Upper Newtownards Road

Belfast BT4 3SB

United Kingdom

Web address: http://www.dardni.gov.uk/financial_assistance_for_young_farmers_for_northern_ireland.doc

Alternatively, you can go to the UK's central register for exempted Agricultural State aid at:

http://defraweb/farm/policy/state-aid/setup/exist-exempt.htm

Other information: Further and more detailed information relating to eligibility and rules for the scheme can be found in the web links above.

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

Neil Marr

Agricultural State Aid

Area 1B, Nobel House

17 Smith Square

Westminster

London SW1P 3JR

United Kingdom

(1) The annual expenditure includes the annual expenditure provided for under the scheme, with the same legal basis, intended for SMEs covered by Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 and SMEs (including aid for investment in the processing and marketing of agricultural products), which is the subject of a separate notification.

(2) The abovementioned Decision will be published in the Official Journal of the Region of Liguria once the European Commission communicates an identification number after receiving the summary information.

(3) As the aid is payable annually in arrears there will be no payments in year 1.