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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2003/C 195/09)

Date of adoption of the decision: 7.7.2003

Member State: Italy (Veneto)

Aid No: N 53/03

Title: Plan for the protection and improvement of the waters of the Venice Lagoon. Interventions in terms of agriculture and animal husbandry. Breakdown of measures 2001

Objective: To extend to new sufaces and beneficiaries the following infrastructural, investment and agri-environmental measures approved in the context of Aid N 412/01:

- measure C5.1.3.A (Compatible agriculture in the Lagoon of Venezia): agri-environmental aids for rewarding the obligation of the rotation of culture and maintenance of lawn surfaces for a duration of five years. Budget increase of EUR 10329137,98

- measure C5.1.3.B (Environmental buffers and set aside in the Lagoon of Venezia): agri-environmental aids for the creation of buffer zones situated along the rivers and set aside of cultivated surfaces for 10 years with the prohibition of the use of any chemical fertilisers. Budget increase of EUR 2298233,20

- measure C5.1.3.C (Water management and rationalisation of water resources): investment State aids to agricultural undertakings and aids for infrastructural works to Consorzi di Bonifica. Budget increase of EUR 5164568,99

Legal basis: Deliberazione del Consiglio Regionale 27 dicembre 2001, n. 70. Legge 29 novembre 1984, n. 798 "Nuovi interventi per la salvaguardia di Venezia"

Budget: EUR 17791940,17

Aid intensity or amount: Variable depending on the measure

Duration: Variable depending on the 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: 9.7.2003

Member State: Germany (Bayern)

Aid No: N 150/03

Title: Payment of the cost of rapid tests for BSE/TSE carried out under statutory testing requirements

Objective: To cover the costs arising from the statutory testing requirement to control BSE and TSE

Legal basis: Gesetz zum Vollzug des Tierseuchenrechts und Verordnung über die Benutzungsgebühren der Gesundheitsverwaltung

Budget: EUR 19,2 million

Aid intensity or amount: Maximum of EUR 22,5 per test

Duration: Until 31 December 2004

Other information: The German authorities have assured that any overcompensation because of a combination of Community, national or regional repayments for BSE test-costs will be excluded

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: 9.7.2003

Member State: France

Aid No: N 184/03

Title: Programme to establish and develop local initiatives (PIDIL)

Objective: To seek young people outside the farming population who want to become farm managers and to provide support for the children of farmers with a holding of their own that does not allow them to become established on economically satisfactory terms and who must look for land outside the family circle if they are to achieve their aims

Budget: EUR 10 million in 2003

Aid intensity or amount: - 100 % of the cost of technical assistance aid: "aid for potential entrants to farming", "replacement aid", "technical support for young farmers" and "promotional and communication actions"

- A top-up amount with a maximum of EUR 50000 for aid for new entrants to farming

- 45 % of the costs of investment aid in plains areas and 55 % in less-favoured areas

- A top-up amount with a maximum of EUR 15000 for early-retirement aid

Duration: To the end of 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: 9.7.2003

Member State: Italy (Lombardia)

Aid No: N 188/03

Title: Regional measures in favour of the maize sector, affected by the western corn rootworm disease (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera Le Conte)

Objective: To compensate maize farmers for the losses caused by implementation of the obligatory control programme against the western corn rootworm disease. Farmers are barred from sowing maize as main crop in 2003. Compensation will be paid to cover the difference between income obtained with maize and income obtained with alternative crops

Legal basis: Legge regionale 7 febbraio 2000 n. 7 "Norma per gli interventi regionali in agricoltura", articolo 17 (abbandoni produttivi ed abbattimenti); Programma obbligatorio di controllo n. 1795 del 12.3.2003 "Misure urgenti per il contenimento e controllo di Diabrotica virgifera virgifera Le Conte nell'annata agraria 2003"

Budget: EUR 1,5 million for the first three years

Aid intensity or amount: Farmers who implement measure f of the RDP or Region Lombardia are entitled to 100 % compensation of foregone income; other farmers receive 70 %

Duration: 10 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: 9.7.2003

Member State: Spain (Catalonia)

Aid No: N 224/03

Title: Aid to improve processing and marketing conditions for agricultural products in the retail sector

Objective: To carry out investments in improving processing and marketing conditions for agricultural products in the retail sector

Legal basis: Proyecto de orden por la que se modifican las bases reguladoras de las ayudas para la aplicación de las medidas para la diversificación económica de las zonas rurales del programa Proder y se fija la dotación presupuestaria correspondiente al año 2003

Budget: EUR 1,55 million per year

Aid intensity or amount: Up to 40 % of the cost

Duration: 2003-2006

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: 9.7.2003

Member State: Germany (Saarland)

Aid No: N 429/02

Title: Aid to self-help organisations in agriculture

Objective: The notified directive would provide aid to agricultural self-help organisations in Saarland. Self-help organisations are not engaged in the production, transformation or commercialisation of Annex I-products. Only self-help organisations that offer their services to all farmers active in Saarland would be eligible for aid. The aid would be granted to cover up to 30 % of the documented personnel and business costs of the self-help organisation

Legal basis: Entscheidung der Landesregierung des Saarlandes

Budget: EUR 38500 yearly

Aid intensity or amount: Maximum 30 % of the eligible costs but not exceeding EUR 38500 yearly or 100000 in a three-year period for each beneficiary

Duration: Until end 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: 9.7.2003

Member State: Germany (Bavaria)

Aid No: N 431/02

Title: Quality programme "Eco-quality guaranteed"

Objective: The aim of the scheme is to support the introduction and promotion of the quality label "eco-quality guaranteed". The use of the label requires the observance of specific quality criteria. Aid is given for the control and certification of label users, consumer information on the label and advertising actions for marketing of products

Legal basis: Haushaltsgesetz und der Haushaltsplan des Freistaates Bayern; Vollzugshinweise für die Durchführung von Maßnahmen zur Förderung der Qualität und des Absatzes im Rahmen des Zeichens "Öko-Qualität garantiert"

Budget: 2003-2006: EUR 8,5 million

Aid intensity or amount: - Consumer information: 100 %

- Certification and controls: up to 80 %

- Advertising actions: 50 %

Duration: 2003 up to 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: 24.6.2003

Member State: Germany (Thüringen)

Aid No: N 582/02

Title: Restructuring aid for the firm "Die Thüringer"

Objective: To enable the firm, which has got into economic difficulties because of the market situation linked to the BSE crisis and the outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease, to restore its long-term viability

Legal basis: Thüringer Landes-Haushaltsordnung

Budget: EUR 588000

Aid intensity or amount: The aid is being granted in the form of a loan and an investment subsidy. The maximum aid intensity for the direct grant is 35 % of eligible expenditure

Duration: This is an one-off aid. The loan must be paid back within ten 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: 9.7.2003

Member State: Spain (Catalonia)

Aid No: N 673/02

Title: Aid for the voluntary withdrawal from livestock farming in sensitive areas

Objective: Complete, voluntary, permanent and irrevocable abandonment of active livestock farms intended to eliminate or reduce the impact of nitrates on waters so as to obtain adequate quality standards

Legal basis: Proyecto de Resolución por la que se publican las bases y se abre la línea de ayudas para el abandono voluntario de las explotaciones ganaderas ubicadas en zonas vulnerables

Budget: EUR 7850000

Aid intensity or amount: Various

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: 7.7.2003

Member State: Italy (Tuscany)

Aid No: N 757/02

Title: Amendments to Regional Law No 1 of 14 January 1998, "Aid to genetic improvement of animals of zootechnical interest"

Objective: Aid for investments: support to the livestock farming sector

Legal basis: Legge Regionale n. 35 del 18 dicembre 2002

Budget: EUR 400000 in 2002, with EUR 300000 planned for 2003, 2004 and 2005 respectively

Aid intensity or amount: Varies according to the measures (see points 8, 9 and 10 of the letter sent to the Member State)

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: 9.7.2003

Member State: Italy

Aid No: N 758/02

Title: Implementing modalities for the re-insurance fund. Ministerial Decree 102061 of 7.11.2002

Objective: Setting up a re-insurance fund

Legal basis: DM 7.11.2002 n. 102061 "Modalità operative Fondo riassicurativo rischi agricoli"

Budget: EUR 10000000 per year

Aid intensity or amount: As specified in the letter to the Member State

Duration: Undetermined

Other information: The measure can not be considered a state aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) of the treaty

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: 7.7.2003

Member State: Austria

Aid No: N 803/02

Title: Investment aid for the treatment of waste water in undertakings

Objective: Promotion of investments in environmental protection in enterprises producing or processing Annex I products. Aid would be granted towards investments in constructing and improving wastewater treatment installations in the eligible undertakings. The eligible investment costs are limited to the additional costs necessary to fulfil a national environmental norm superior to the Community minimum standard. If no Community norm exist the eligible investment cost is limited to the additional costs to attain a national norm

Legal basis: Diese Maßnahme stützt sich auf das Umweltförderungsgesetz BGBl Nr. 185/1993, geändert, die Förderungsrichtlinien für betriebliche Abwassermaßnahmen 1996, geändert 2002

Budget: EUR 9 million for all sectors. The share of Annex I production of this budget has not been communicated

Aid intensity or amount: Maximum 40 % of the eligible costs for SME's and 30 % for other enterprises. As far as processing of agricultural products is concerned, the aid may be cumulated with other aid up to the intensity of the applicable regional aid scheme

Duration: Until 31.12.2007

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: 9.7.2003

Member State: Italy (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)

Aid No: NN 38/96

Title: Measures in favour of the livestock sector

Objective: To provide technical support to livestock farmers in the context of a programme against infertility, hypofertility and perinatal mortality of several animal species

Legal basis: Legge regionale n. 42/95, articolo 12, paragrafi 1 e 2; legge regionale n. 79/77, articoli da 17 a 19

Budget: EUR 516460 a year (ITL 1 billion)

Aid intensity or amount: 100 %

Duration: Undetermined

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