EN Official Journal of the European Union C 316/22

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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2005/C 316/10)

Date of adoption of the decision:

Member State: United Kingdom (England)

Aid No: N 233/2004

Title: The Woodland Grant Scheme (England) (1988) — Restocking and Regeneration Grant

Objective: To enable woodland owners and lessees to undertake woodland restocking through investing in the replacement of woodland (i.e. replanting or regeneration)

Legal basis: The Forestry Act 1979

Budget: GBP 1,5 million per year

Aid intensity or amount: Activities will be supported at a maximum rate of 80 % of eligible costs

Duration: 1 year, starting from July 2004

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:

Member State: Germany

Aid No: N 243/2004

Title: Promoting the use of biodegradable lubricants

Objective: The existing aid programme N 651/2002 would be prolonged by two years. The aid promotes the initial equipment with biogenic lubricants and hydraulic fluids and the corresponding conversion of machinery and plant, so as to give companies an incentive to use these environmentally friendly materials. Increasing the market share of these products is intended to improve economic efficiency and promote product development

Legal basis: Richtlinien zur Förderung von Projekten zum Schwerpunkt Einsatz von biologisch schnell abbaubaren Schmierstoffen und Hydraulikflüssigkeiten auf Basis nachwachsender Rohstoffe

Budget: The annual budget for the aid scheme is EUR 7 million in 2005 and 5 million in 2006

Aid intensity or amount: 60 % of the eligible costs

Duration: Until 31.12.2006

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:

Member State: Italy (Abruzzi)

Aid No: N 261/2004

Title: Subsidised farm credit

Legal basis: Legge regionale 14 settembre 1994, n. 62 e Legge regionale 9 marzo 2004, n. 11

Objective: Regional Law No 11 of 9 March 2004 amends Regional Law No 62 of 14 September 1994 on subsidised farm credit

Budget: The regional authorities are allocating total funding of EUR 900 000 for 2004

Aid intensity or amount: Investment aid for the first purchase of livestock, materials and equipment: 50 % in less-favoured areas and 40 % in other areas.

1,10 % of the applicable interest rate

Duration: Five years, until 31 December 2009

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:

Member State: United Kingdom

Aid No: N 295/2003

Title: Bio-Energy Infrastructure Scheme

Objective: The objective is to support the use of renewable sources for generating electricity and heat

Legal basis: The scheme has been initiated by the UK Government as a voluntary proposal and will be established under section 153(4) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990

Budget: A total budget of GBP 3,5 million (EUR 5,1 million) is available

Aid intensity or amount: Up to 100 %

Duration: Five years, with grant aid for the first three years only

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:

Member State: United Kingdom

Aid No: N 498/03

Title: Industry Forum Adaptation Scheme: Cereals Scheme

Objective: As part of the approval of N 470/99 (the Industry Forum Adaptation Scheme — hereinafter IFAS), the UK authorities undertook to apply the relevant Community Guidelines for the agricultural sector, and to notify the Commission of individual aids made in the agricultural sector. The aim of the IFAS is to promote a permanent improvement in business competitiveness by the transfer of best practice within sectors. The aim of this scheme is improved competitiveness in the cereals sector

By transferring best practice to the cereals supply chain and by improving skills of businesses active in the cereals supply chain it is the intention to improve supply chain integration and efficiency. The means to achieve this is through a targeted programme that will identify and address weaknesses in the supply chain

Legal basis: L Sections 7 and 8 of the Industrial Development Act 1982

Budget: The amount of grant payment that the Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA) will administer is as follows:

2003/04: GBP 200 000 (approx. EUR 297 000)

2004/05: GBP 458 000 (approx. EUR 680 000)

2005/06: GBP 549 000 (approx. EUR 815 000)

2006/07: GBP 203 000 (approx. EUR 301 000)

Aid intensity or amount: 50 %, with private funding making up the balance. HGCA will administer the entire project costs. No single beneficiary will receive more than EUR 100 000 over 3 years

Duration: 3 years from the date of approval

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:

Member State: Austria

Aid No: N 499/03

Title: BSE-related aid measures in 2003

Objective: Financing measures related to BSE and disposal of animal waste and of fallen stock Aid would be paid for the costs incurred in 2003 of statutory rapid BSE- and TSE-tests on slaughter animals (bovine animals and small ruminants), transport and disposal of fallen stock within the meaning of the TSE-Guidelines or, alternatively, towards the costs of insurance premiums covering such costs and the destruction of specified risk material pursuant to the TSE-Guidelines as well as of meat and bone meal having no further commercial use

Legal basis: Sonderrichtlinie des Bundesministers für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt und Wasserwirtschaft (BMLFUW) und der Bundesministerin für Gesundheit und Frauen (BMGF) zur Finanzierung von Maßnahmen im Zusammenhang mit der TSE- und BSE-Vorsorge, Falltieren und Schlachtabfällen

Budget: National funding of EUR 6,8 million for BSE/TSE–tests and EUR 10,9 million for other measures

Aid intensity or amount: Variable according to submeasure

Duration: One-off measure

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:

Member State: Italy (Autonomous Province of Trento)

Aid No: N 531/03

Title: Aid to compensate farmers for losses incurred as a result of unfavourable weather conditions (decision No 2724 of 17 October 2003)

Objective: To compensate farmers whose hay production was damaged as a result of unfavourable weather conditions

Legal basis: Deliberazione della Giunta Regionale n. 2724 del 17 ottobre 2003: «Aiuti destinati ad indennizzare gli agricoltori delle perdite causate da avverse condizioni atmosferiche; criteri e modalità per l'attuazione degli interventi per la siccità dell'annata 2003»

Budget: EUR 10 000 000

Aid intensity or amount: Maximum of 80 % of the damage

Duration: Limited to the duration of examination of applications

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:

Member State: Italy

Aid No: N 536/2003

Title: Regional intervention for the development of Confidi in the agricultural sector

Objective: Providing subsidiary guarantees to farmers or cooperatives and providing consultancy services to all the farmers operating in the Region, through the Confidi

Legal basis: Legge Regionale n. 13 del 25.7.2003«Interventi per lo sviluppo dei Confidi nel settore agricolo»

Budget: EUR 1 032 913,80 for guarantees and EUR 516 456,90 for technical assistance for the first year

Aid intensity or amount: The cash grant equivalent of the aid for subsidiary guarantees is calculated as the difference between market loan rates and the actual loan stipulated with the bank, following the existence of the guarantee, deduced the amount paid by the beneficiary (premium and costs related to the granting of the guarantee). For technical assistance aid is limited to EUR 100 000 per beneficiary any three year period. The aid intensity is maximum 70 % of eligible expenses

Duration: 5 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:

Member State: Italy (Calabria)

Aid No: N 559/03

Title: Determining the criteria and arrangements for compensation in the fruit sector following the frost in certain municipalities of Calabria between 7 and 9 April 2003

Objective: To compensate growers whose production of stone and citrus fruit was damaged as a result of unfavourable weather

Legal basis: Deliberazione della Giunta regionale del 28 ottobre 2003, n. 824: «Determinazione dei criteri e delle modalità di erogazione d'indennizzi in favore del settore frutticolo a seguito delle gelate verificatesi in alcuni comuni della Calabria dal 7 al 9 aprile 2003»

Budget: EUR 1 600 000

Aid intensity or amount: Varying depending on the damage (determined on the basis of a formula)

Duration: 1 year.

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:

Member State (Region): France

Aid No: N 731/2002 — corrigendum

Title: Aid for sheep products with official quality mark

Objective: To pay part of the inspection costs for sheep products with an official quality mark

Budget: EUR 1 630 000 per year

Aid intensity or amount: The rate of aid is 100 % of eligible expenditure in the first year, 83 % in the second, 67 % in the third, 50 % in the fourth, 33 % in the fifth and 17 % in the sixth year

Duration: Six 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/