EN Official Journal of the European Union C 304/15

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 304/13)

XA Number: XA 167/07

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Region: Območje občine Sevnice

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: „Finančna sredstva za ohranjanje in spodbujanje razvoja kmetijstva in podeželja v občini Sevnica“

Legal basis: Pravilnik o ohranjanju in spodbujanju razvoja kmetijstva in podeželja v občini Sevnica programsko obdobje 2007-2013 (Poglavje II.)

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

2007: EUR 138 500

2008: EUR 194 000

2009: EUR 194 000

2010: EUR 194 000

2011: EUR 194 000

2012: EUR 194 000

2013: EUR 194 000

Maximum aid intensity:

1. Investment in agricultural holdings: — 50 % of eligible costs in less-favoured areas, — 40 % of eligible costs in other areas, — where the share of aid for investment in farms applies to young farmers within five years of their establishment, the aid is granted 60 % of eligible costs in less-favoured areas or 50 % in other areas. The purpose of aid is investment to restore farm features, to purchase equipment used for agricultural production, to invest in permanent crops and to improve pastures.

2. Conservation of traditional landscapes and buildings: — for non-productive features up to 100 % of actual costs, — for means of agricultural production up to 75 % of actual costs in less-favoured areas or 60 % in other areas (farm buildings: granaries, drying frames, beehives, mills, sawmills), provided the investment does not lead to an increase in production potential, — additional aid may be granted up to 100 % to cover the extra costs incurred by using traditional materials necessary to maintain the heritage features of buildings.

3. Aid towards the payment of insurance premiums: — municipal support brings the difference between the amount of co-financing of insurance premiums from the national budget up to 50 % of eligible costs of insurance premiums for insuring crops and products against adverse weather conditions classed as natural disasters and to insure livestock against the risk of destruction due to disease.

4. Aid for land reparcelling: — up to 100 % of eligible costs incurred in legal and administrative procedures.

5. Provision of technical support in the agricultural sector: — aid is granted up to 100 % of costs in the form of subsidised services (which must not involve direct payments of money to producers) for education and training for farmers, consultancy services, for the organisation of forums, competitions, exhibitions, fairs, publications, catalogues, web pages and to disseminate scientific findings.

Date of implementation: July 2007 (or the date on which 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 Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 and eligible costs: Chapter II of the draft Rules on preserving and promoting agriculture and rural development in the municipality of Sevnica for the period 2007-2013 includes measures constituting State aid in accordance with 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 15: Provision of technical support in the agricultural sector.

Economic sector(s) concerned: Agriculture: Arable and livestock farming

Name and address of granting authority:

Občina Sevnica Glavni trg 19 a SLO-8290 Sevnica

Web address: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/ulonline.jsp?urlid=200757&dhid=90254

Other information: The measure for the payment of insurance premiums to insure crops and products includes the following adverse weather conditions which may be classed as a natural disaster: spring frost, hail, lightning, fire caused by lightning, hurricanes and floods.

The municipality Rules meet the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 on the measures to be adopted by municipalities and the general provisions to be implemented (procedure for allocating aid, accumulation of aid, transparency and monitoring of aid).

XA Number: XA 168/07

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (United Kingdom)

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: National Fallen Stock Scheme

Legal basis: The Scheme is non-statutory.

Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 laying down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption requires Member States to ensure adequate arrangements are in place to enable animal by-products to be disposed of in accordance with the Regulation.

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

22 November 2007-31 March 2008: GBP 1,41 million 1 April 2008-21 November 2008: GBP 1,94 million Total: GBP 3,35 million

Maximum aid intensity:

— The aid intensity for Transport costs of having carcases of fallen stock collected from holdings by an approved contractor is up to 100 % in accordance with Article 16(d) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

— The aid intensity for the Disposal costs of rendering or incineration of carcases by an approved contractor is up to 75 % in accordance with Article 16(d) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

Date of implementation:

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The Extension will begin on: 22 November 2007. It will close on: 21 November 2008. The last date for applications: 21 November 2008.

Objective of aid: To provide a State-aided voluntary subscription system for collection and disposal of fallen stock in compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002.

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to all businesses active in the production of livestock.

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

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Food and Farming Group

Area 707, 1A Page Street

London SW1P 4PQ

United Kingdom

The organisation operating the scheme is:

The National Fallen Stock Company Ltd

Stuart House

City Road

Peterborough PE1 1QF

United Kingdom

Web address: http://www.nfsco.co.uk/

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

www.defra.gov.uk/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 and dated on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (UK's competent authority)

Neil Marr

Area 8D, 9 Millbank

C/o Nobel House

17 Smith Square

Westminster

London SW1P 3JR

United Kingdom

XA Number: XA 169/07

Member State: Italy

Region: Regione Marche

Title of aid scheme: Legge 1329/65 — agevolazioni per l'acquisto o il leasing di nuove macchine utensili o di produzione

Legal basis: Deliberazione di giunta regionale n. 404 del 7.5.2007

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: EUR 2 million

Maximum aid intensity: Interest-rate subsidy for the purchase of new machine tools or new manufacturing equipment, excluding replacement investments.

The amount of financing is 100 % of the reference rate, indicated and updated by a decree of the Ministry of Production Activities (referred to in Article 2(2) of Legislative Decree No 123/98), in force on the date the application is received by MCC, the Region's managing body.

The gross aid intensity must not exceed 40 % of eligible investments or 50 % of eligible investments in less favoured areas or in the 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.

The maximum amount of aid granted to an individual enterprise must not exceed EUR 400 000 over any period of three fiscal years, or EUR 500 000 if the enterprise is situated in a less favoured area or in the 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: 1 June 2007; in every case the first payment will be awarded when notification of the identification number given by the Commission is sent, which is issued after the summary information is received.

Duration of scheme: Until 30 June 2008

Objective of aid: To facilitate investments pursuing the following objectives: reduction of production costs, improvement and re-deployment of production, improvement in quality, preservation and improvement of the natural environment or the improvement of hygiene conditions or animal welfare standards in accordance with Article 4(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

Relevant Articles of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006: Article 4.

Investments for products excluded because of overcapacity or a lack of market outlets are not eligible; ‘replacement investments’, i.e. investment that simply replaces an existing building or machine, or parts of it, by a new up-to date building or machine, without expanding the production capacity by at least 25 % or without fundamentally changing the nature of production or the technology involved are not eligible; aid for investments for the construction of drainage works or irrigation equipment and irrigation works may not be granted, unless such investment leads to a reduction of previous water use of at least 25 %; aid must not be granted in respect of the manufacture of products which imitate or substitute for milk and milk products.

Sector(s) concerned: This aid scheme applies to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the processing and marketing of agricultural products included in Annex I of the EC Treaty as provided in Article 2(2)(m) and (n) of Regulation (EC) No 70/2001.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Regione Marche, Servizio Industria, Artigianato, Energia, P.F. Promozione, credito agevolato, finanza innovativa Via Tiziano, 44 I-60100 Ancona tel. (39) 386 07 18 20

Web address: http://www.incentivi.mcc.it/html/html/MCC_MARCHE/MCC_MARCHE_LEGGI_SABATINI/section_new_010107.html

Other information: The annual expenditure indicated herein is cumulative for the two laws cited under the legal basis and also includes annual expenditure forecast under the scheme with the same legal basis targeting SMEs active in the processing and marketing of agricultural products and SMEs active in other economic sectors.

XA Number: XA 170/07

Member State: Italy

Region: Regione Marche

Title of aid scheme: Legge 598/94 — art.11 Agevolazioni per investimenti per l'innovazione tecnologica, la tutela ambientale, l'innovazione organizzativa e commerciale, la sicurezza sui luoghi di lavoro

Legal basis: Deliberazione di giunta regionale n. 404 del 7.5.2007

Planned annual expenditure under the scheme: EUR 4 million

Maximum aid intensity: Interest-rate subsidy

100 % of the reference rate, indicated and updated by a decree of the Ministry of Production Activities (referred to in Article 2(2) of Legislative Decree No 123/98), in force on the date the application is received by MCC, the Region's managing body.

The gross aid intensity must not exceed 40 % of eligible investments or 50 % of eligible investments in less favoured areas or in the 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.

The maximum amount of aid granted to an individual enterprise must not exceed EUR 400 000 over any period of three fiscal years, or EUR 500 000 if the enterprise is situated in a less favoured area or in the 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: 1 June 2007; in every case the first payment will be awarded when notification of the identification number given by the Commission is sent, which is issued after the summary information is received.

Duration of scheme: Until 30 June 2008

Objective of aid: To facilitate investments pursuing the following objectives: reduction of production costs, improvement and re-deployment of production, improvement in quality, preservation and improvement of the natural environment or the improvement of hygiene conditions or animal welfare standards in accordance with Article 4(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

Relevant Articles of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2004: Article 4.

Investments for products excluded from aid because of overcapacity or a lack of market outlets are not eligible; ‘replacement investments’, i.e. investment that simply replaces an existing building or machine, or parts of it, by a new up-to date building or machine, without expanding the production capacity by at least 25 % or without fundamentally changing the nature of production or the technology involved are not eligible; aid for investments for the construction of drainage works or irrigation equipment and irrigation works may not be granted, unless such investment leads to a reduction of previous water use of at least 25 %; aid may not be granted for the manufacture of products which imitate or substitute for milk or milk products.

Sector(s) concerned: The aid scheme applies to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the processing and marketing of agricultural products included in Annex I of the EC Treaty as provided in Article 2(2)(m) and (n) of Regulation (EC) No 70/2001.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Regione Marche, Servizio Industria, Artigianato, Energia, P.F. Promozione, credito agevolato, finanza innovativa Via Tiziano, 44 I-60100 Ancona tel. (39) 386 07 18 20

Web address: http://www.incentivi.mcc.it/html/html/MCC_MARCHE/MCC_MARCHE_LEGGI_598_CLASSICA/section_new_010107.html

Other information: The annual expenditure indicated herein is cumulative for the two laws cited under the legal basis and also includes annual expenditure forecast under the scheme with the same legal basis targeting SMEs active in the processing and marketing of agricultural products and SMEs active in other economic sectors.

XA Number: XA 182/07

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: Scotland

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Natural Heritage Grant Scheme

Legal basis: National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006

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

Year Total Expenditure Maximum Expenditure per eligible beneficiary 2007/2008 GBP 167 000 (EUR 246 655) GBP 20 000 (EUR 29 592) 2008/2009 GBP 167 000 (EUR 246 655) GBP 20 000 (EUR 29 592) 2009/2010 GBP 167 000 (EUR 246 655) GBP 20 000 (EUR 29 592)

Maximum aid intensity: Aid will only be made available for investments which protect or enhance the natural heritage. Aid may be paid at one of three rates:

Technical support. The aid intensity for the technical support measure will be up to 100 % in accordance with Article 15 Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

The maximum aid intensity for the capital works will be up to 100 % where a grant is awarded for the conservation of non-productive heritage features. However, the maximum rate of grant will be reduced in line with the rates set out in Article 5 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 where the aid is productive.

If aid is being paid in line with Article 4, the maximum aid intensity paid will be up to 75 % of the eligible investment in Less Favoured Areas or in areas referred to in Article 36(a)(i).

Date of implementation: The scheme will start on 13 August 2007.

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Scheme will close to new applications on 20 January 2010.

Final payment to applicants will be 31 March 2010.

Objective of aid: The Natural Heritage Grant Scheme is a capital grants scheme designed to encourage and provide support for measures that will conserve and enhance the natural heritage, and promote understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the National Park. The statutory National Park Plan for Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park indicates the particular activities that will be regarded as a priority for assistance to deliver the objectives.

Eligible costs: The Natural Heritage Grant Scheme provides payment towards any capital works, equipment, labour and/or professional fees required to develop and implement measures to conserve and enhance the natural heritage of the Park, and/or promote understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the Park. This complies with Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006. Where capital works to assist in conserving productive heritage features intended to preserve and improve the natural environment require investment in agricultural holdings, aid will be up to 75 % of the costs incurred. This complies with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

For the technical support element of the scheme, the eligible costs will be the training of farmers and farm workers, in particular the costs of organising the training programme, and consultancy services. The aid will be provided in the form of services on preferential terms — in order to comply with Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006, there will be no direct payments of money to producers.

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

Name and address of the granting authority:

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority National Park Headquarters The Old Station Balloch G83 8BF United Kingdom

Web address: http://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/park/default.asp?p=309&s=3

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

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

Check on the link Loch Lomond.

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

Neil Marr

Agricultural State Aid

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Area 8D, 9 Millbank

C/o Nobel House

17 Smith Square

Westminster

London SW1P 3JR

United Kingdom

XA Number: XA 196/07

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Region: Municipality of Ribnica

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: „Državna pomoč za ohranjanje in razvoj kmetijstva, gozdarstva in podeželja v občini Ribnica“

Legal basis: Pravilnik o sofinanciranju ukrepov za ohranjanje in razvoj kmetijstva, gozdarstva in podeželja v občini Ribnica

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

2007: EUR 40 895

2008: EUR 44 985

2009: EUR 49 483

2010: EUR 54 431

2011: EUR 56 064

2012: EUR 57 750

2013: EUR 59 480

Maximum aid intensity: Aid will be awarded in the form of a grant. The maximum intensity of aid per individual measure totals:

— up to 50 % of eligible costs in less-favoured areas, or 40 % in other areas.

The purpose of the aid is to invest in the restoration of farm features, to purchase equipment to be used for agricultural production, to invest in permanent crops and to improve farmland and pastures.

— up to 100 % of the real costs as regards investments in non-productive features,

— up to 60 % of the real costs, or 75 % in less-favoured areas, as regards investments in productive assets on farms, provided that the investment does not entail any increase in the production capacity of the farm,

— additional aid may be granted at a rate of up to 100 % to cover the extra costs incurred by using traditional materials necessary to maintain the heritage features of buildings.

— the amount of municipal co-financing is the difference between the amount of co-financing of insurance premiums from the national budget and up to 50 % of the eligible costs of an insurance premium for insuring crops, products and livestock against disease.

— financial aid will be allocated in the form of grants, up to 100 % of eligible legal and administrative costs.

— up to 100 % of costs in the form of subsidised services for measures to promote the quality of agricultural products.

— up to 100 % of eligible costs concerning education and training of farmers, consultancy services, the organisation of forums, competitions, exhibitions and fairs, publications, dissemination of scientific knowledge, catalogues and websites. The aid will be granted in kind by means of subsidised services and must not involve direct payments of money to producers.

Date of implementation: August 2007 (or the date on which the Rules enter into force)

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

Objective of the aid: To support SMEs

Reference to Articles of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 and eligible costs: Chapter II of the draft Rules on co-financing measures for conservation and agricultural, forestry and rural development in the municipality of Ribnica includes measures constituting State aid in accordance with 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: Arable and livestock production

Name and address of granting authority:

Občina Ribnica Gorenjska cesta 3 SLO-1310 Ribnica

Web address: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/ulonline.jsp?urlid=200770&dhid=91162

Other information: The measure concerning the payment of insurance premiums to insure crops and fruit includes the following adverse climatic events which can be assimilated to natural disasters: spring frost, hail, lightning, fire caused by lightning, storm and floods.

The municipality's Rules meet the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 concerning the measures to be adopted by the municipality and the general provisions applicable (steps preceding grant of aid, cumulation, transparency and monitoring of aid).