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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2004/C 22/03)

Date of adoption of the decision: 16.12.2003

Member State: United Kingdom (Scotland)

Aid No: N 231/03

Title: Meat Generic Advertising (Scotland) Scheme

Objective: To advertise on a generic basis the red meat products and advantages of red meat consumption

Legal basis: The Scotland Act 1998 (Cross-Border Public Authorities) (Adaptation of Functions) (Amendment) Order 2002 No 2636 which amends the Agriculture Act 1967 (Section 20)

Budget: Maximum of GBP 3 million per year

Aid intensity or amount: Up to 50 % will come from a parafiscal levy and voluntary contributions of the sector. The remainder will be financed through direct aid from the Member State but will not exceed 50 % of the scheme budget

Duration: From the date of the Commission's approval till 2008

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: 19.12.2003

Member State: Spain (Madrid)

Aid No: N 514/03

Title: Aid to promote investment in technological innovation in the food industry

Objective: To promote investment in technological innovation in the food industry (extension of aid scheme N 834/01 approved by Commission decision of 2 February 2002 to include 2004, 2005 and 2006)

Legal basis: Proyecto de orden por la que se regulan ayudas para al fomento de las inversiones para la innovación tecnológica de la industria alimentaria en la Comunidad de Madrid

Budget: EUR 1100000 per year

Aid intensity or amount: Varies according to the beneficiary and the aid

Duration: 2004, 2005 and 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: 19.12.2003

Member State: Belgium

Aid No: N 509/02

Title: Draft Royal Decree on compulsory contributions to the Budgetary Fund for the health and quality of livestock and animal products, as laid down for the poultry sector

Objective: To increase the compulsory contributions by 100 %. The contributions are intended to finance the slaughter premiums/analysis costs that are part of statutory animal disease prevention and the controls relating to the improvement of hygiene, health and the quality of livestock and animal products

Legal basis: Projet d'árrêté royal relatif aux cotisations obligatoires au Fonds budgétaire pour la santé et la qualité des animaux et des produits animaux, fixées pour le secteur avicole

Ontwerp van koninklijk besluit betreffende de verplichte bijdragen aan het Begrotingsfonds voor de kwaliteit van de dieren en de dierlijke producten, vastgesteld voor de sector pluimvee

Budget: Not available

Aid intensity or amount: Up to 100 %

Duration: Not specified

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: 19.12.2003

Member State: Italy

Aid No: N 185/03

Title: Ministerial Decree 135 of 17 January 2003, concerning rules for setting-up and control of producers unions

Objective: Setting-up and start-up aids to newly established producers unions, in accordance with the Community guidelines for state aid in the agriculture sector

Legal basis: Decreto ministeriale n. 135 del 17 gennaio 2003: Disposizioni per il riconoscimento, il controllo ed il sostegno delle Unioni nazionali tra le associazioni dei produttori agricoli

Budget: Undetermined

Aid intensity or amount: Aid is granted up to 100 % of the eligible expenses on the first year and it is then reduced by 20 percentage points each year for a total period of 5 years

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: 19.12.2003

Member State: Germany (Bavaria)

Aid No: N 333/03

Title: Aid for investments in a fruit processing company

Objective: The objective of the measure is investment aid to the firm Bayernwald Früchteverwertung GmbH

Legal basis: Bewilligungsbescheid der Regierung von Niederbayern i. V. m. Artikel 23, 24 Bayerische Haushaltsordnung (BayHO) sowie "Richtlinie zur Durchführung der bayerischen regionalen Förderungsprogramme für die gewerbliche Wirtschaft" vom 22.2.2002

Budget: An investment grant of EUR 335000 is awarded

Aid intensity or amount: The aid rate is 7,44 %

Duration: From Commission approval until 31 December 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: 19.12.2003

Member State: United Kingdom

Aid No: N 364/03

Title: Access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) within the agriculture sector

Objective: The objective of the scheme is to encourage the use of ICT within the agriculture sector. Two instruments will be used: Competence Development and Supply Chain Communication

Legal basis: Non-statutory scheme

Budget: For the Competence Development instrument:

2003/2004: GBP 195000 (EUR 281345)

2004/2005: GBP 220000 (EUR 317415)

2005/2006: GBP 220000 (EUR 317415)

For the Supply Chain Communication instrument:

2003/2004: GBP 280000 (EUR 403982)

2004/2005: GBP 210000 (EUR 302987)

2005/2006: GBP 370000 (EUR 533834)

Aid intensity or amount: Up to 100 %

Duration: From the date of Commission approval until 31 March 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: 19.12.2003

Member State: Spain (Cantabria)

Aid No: N 399/02

Title: Aid for livestock rearers

Objective: To assist co-operatives and other groups in launching programmes to improve beef production and quality

Legal basis: Proyecto de orden por la que se regulan ayudas para fomentar proyectos de modernización, innovación tecnológica y mejora de la competitividad de las explotaciones de ganado vacuno de carne de Cantabria

Budget: EUR 1500000 a year

Aid intensity or amount: Varies, depending on the aid

Duration: Unlimited

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: 19.12.2003

Member State: France

Aid No: N 418/03

Title: Aid from the Office national interprofessionnel des céréales (ONIC) and the Office national interprofessionnel des oléagineux (ONIOL)

Objective: To continue the funding of measures authorised under state aid schemes N 190/01, N 191/01, N 192/01 and N 821/01

Budget: - N 190/01: EUR 80000 for 2003, budget renewable up to 2006;

- N 191/02: EUR 605000 for 2003, budget renewable up to 2006;

- N 192/01: EUR 114000 for 2003 and EUR 120000 for 2004, budgets renewable up to 2006;

- N 821/01: EUR 2464000 for one further year

Aid intensity or amount: A maximum of 100 %

Duration: Three 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