Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises

(2002/C 275/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Aid No: XS 109/01

Member State: Germany

Region: Lower Saxony (rural district of Grafschaft Bentheim)

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Rural District of Grafschaft Bentheim Rules (Richtlinie) on grants to promote individual businesses in Friesland

Legal basis: § 108 der Niedersächsischen Landkreisordnung (NLO) in der Fassung vom 22.8.1996 (Niedersächsisches Gesetz- und Verordnungsblatt S. 365) i. V. mit § 65 der Niedersächsischen Gemeindeordnung (NGO) in der Fassung vom 22.8.1996 (Niedersächsisches Gesetz- und Verordnungsblatt S. 382)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 511292

Maximum aid intensity: The whole rural district of Grafschaft Bentheim lies within the national assisted areas map approved by the Commission.

The aid amounts:

- in the case of small enterprises, to no more than 25 %,

- and in the case of medium-sized enterprises, to no more than 17,5 %,

of eligible investment expenditure.

The rules on the cumulation of aid are complied with

Date of implementation: 1 January 2002

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2006

Objective of aid: The aid is intended to promote the competitiveness and adaptability of small and medium-sized enterprises in the rural district of Grafschaft Bentheim, to encourage the creation of new jobs and help safeguard existing ones and thereby to bring about structural improvements.

Rescue and restructuring aid for firms in difficulty (within the meaning of the Community guidelines on State aid for rescuing and restructuring firms in difficulty: OJ C 288, 9.10.1999) is not covered by the measure.

Aid may be granted for the following types of investment project:

- setting-up of an establishment,

- extension of an establishment if the number of long-term full-time jobs is increased by 15 % as compared with the situation before the start of the investment,

- rationalisation, diversification or modernisation of an establishment if this serves to ensure the continued existence of the business and the maintenance of most of the jobs,

- acquisition of an establishment threatened with closure, provided that this is done on market terms.

The long-term jobs created through the aid must be maintained for at least two years after payment of the grant.

The aid takes the form of investment grants.

All depreciable fixed assets relating to physical and intangible assets are eligible

Economic sector(s) concerned: Those entitled to apply are SMEs in manufacturing, the craft sector, the distributive trades, the hotel industry, other service-sector firms and persons working in the business-related professions whose place of business is in the rural district of Grafschaft Bentheim. Aid may not be granted to firms in sensitive sectors

Name and address of the granting authority: Landkreis Grafschaft Bentheim Van-Delden-Straße 1-7 D - 48529 Nordhorn

Other information: Mrs Lübbert/Mr Wilbers Tel. 059 21/96-13 13, -13 11 Fax 059 21/96-13 19

Aid No: XS 110/01

Member State: Germany

Region: All Länder

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Guidelines on aid for advisory services for craft enterprises privided by their chambers and associations

Legal basis: Gesetz zur Ordnung des Handwerks, Haushaltsgesetz

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 8,7 million

Maximum aid intensity: 50 %

Date of implementation: 1 January 2002

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 31 December 2004 with the option of extending it until 31 December 2006 at the latest

Objective of aid: To provide SMEs and start-ups with advice on improving performance and competitivity.

Under the Craft Trade Act (Gesetz zur Ordnung des Handwerks), craft chambers and associations are required inter alia to provide advice to their members, which are under an obligation to join. This is funded from contributions by the chambers and associations.

The European Commission, amongst others, regards comprehensive and up-to-date advice as crucial to ensure the success of business start-ups and to guarantee SME's performance and competitivity.

Accordingly, the Federal Government contributes to advisory costs; this aid is supplemented by the Länder. Total State aid does not exceed 50 % of advisory costs

Economic sector(s) concerned: Craft industries

Name and address of the granting authority: BAFA Frankfurter Straße 29-35 D - 65760 Eschborn

Other information: BMWi, Bonn, Berlin

Aid No: XS 13/02

Member State: Spain

Region: Autonomous community of Navarre

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Aid scheme for investment in tourist establishments

Legal basis: Orden Foral 164/2001, de 14 de diciembre, de la Consejería de Industria y Tecnología, Comercio, Turismo y Trabajo (BON n° 1, de 2 de enero de 2002)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 712800,36 in 2002, EUR 1352277,23 in 2003, EUR 1352277,23 in 2004

Maximum aid intensity: The gross maximum intensity is 25 %, with a maximum limit of EUR 270000 in assisted areas. In non-assisted areas (Pamplona) the intensity laid down in Article 4 of the Regulation applies

Date of implementation: 2002

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Period 2001-2004

Objective of aid: To provide an incentive for productive investment in the tourism sector in order to strengthen it and make it competitive in today's tourism market

Economic sector(s) concerned: Tourism sector: accommodation and restaurants

Name and address of the granting authority: Comunidad Foral de Navarra ( España ) Avda. Carlos III El Noble, 4 E - Pamplona ( Navarra )

Other information: The scheme also contains a de-minimis aid line

Aid No: XS 16/02

Member State: Spain

Region: Catalonia

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Stimulation of the cooperative, mutual and non-profit sector

Legal basis: Orden de 17 de diciembre de 2001, por la cual se aprueban las bases reguladoras sobre el fomento de la economía social y se establece la convocatoria para el año 2002 (DOGC núm. 3542 de fecha de 28 de diciembre de 2001), programa 2, subvenciones para inversiones productivas destinadas al fomento del empleo y la competitividad

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 601012,10

Maximum aid intensity: In the case of small firms: 15 %, and in the case of medium-sized firms: 7,5 %

Date of implementation: 29 December 2001

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 1 January to 31 December 2002

Objective of aid: To finance investments in productive tangible fixed assets that require a minimum effective capital outlay of EUR 42070,85 exclusive of tax and are made between 1 January and 31 December 2002 by cooperative societies and worker-owned firms, provided they are directly related to the objects of the firm

Economic sector(s) concerned: All sectors

Name and address of the granting authority: Manuel Romero i Colomé

Director General d'Economia Social, Cooperatives i Autoempresa

Departament de Treball

Generalitat de Catalunya

Calle Sepúlveda, 148-150, 7a planta E - 08011 Barcelona

Aid No: XS 24/01

Member State: Ireland

Region: All regions

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Scheme of capital allowances for hotels

Legal basis: Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 as amended by Finance Act 2001

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: Estimated cost in tax forgone: EUR 110 million

Maximum aid intensity: 12,7 %

Date of implementation: 2 February 2001

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: February 2001 to December 2006

Objective of aid: Investment aid for the construction or refurbishment of small and medium-sized enterprises involved in the trade of hotel-keeping

Economic sector(s) concerned: Hotel sector

Name and address of the granting authority: Revenue Commissioners Dublin Castle Dublin 2 Ireland

Aid No: XS 25/02

Member State: Spain

Region: Catalonia

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Granting of investment incentives

Legal basis: Orden de 27 de febrero [Diario Oficial de la Generalitat de Catalunya (DOGC) núm. 3591 de 8 de marzo de 2002], por la que se abre la convocatoria y aprueban las bases para la concesión de incentivos a la inversión industrial

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 6 million

Maximum aid intensity: 12 % for small firms and 6 % for medium-sized firms

Date of implementation: 9 March 2002

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: One year, from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002

Objective of aid: Promote industrial investment projects to encourage growth, modernisation and innovation in the industrial fabric of areas with declining populations

Economic sector(s) concerned: Industrial sector

Name and address of the granting authority: Antoni Gurguí i Ferrer

Director General de Indústria

C/ Provença, 339, 4a planta E - 08037 Barcelona

Aid No: XS 47/01

Member State: Germany

Region: Lower Saxony (district of Emsland)

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Promotion of productive investment by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Emsland

Legal basis: § 108 der Niedersächsischen Landkreisordnung (NLO) in der Fassung vom 22.8.1996 (Niedersächsisches Gesetz- und Verordnungsblatt S. 365) i. V. mit § 65 der Niedersächsischen Gemeindeordnung (NGO) in der Fassung vom 22.8.1996 (Niedersächsisches Gesetz- und Verordnungsblatt S. 382)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 500000

Maximum aid intensity: The aid amounts:

- in the case of small enterprises, to no more than 15 %,

- and, in the case of medium-sized enterprises, to no more than 7,5 %,

of eligible investment expenditure, with a maximum of EUR 12500 per aid grant

The rules on the cumulation of aid are complied with

Date of implementation: 1 September 2001

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 1 September 2001 to 31 December 2001

Objective of aid: The aid is intended to promote the competitiveness and adaptability of small and medium-sized enterprises in the rural district of Emsland, encourage the creation of new jobs and help safeguard existing ones, thus bringing about structural improvements.

Rescue and restructuring aid for firms in difficulty (within the meaning of the Community guidelines on State aid for rescuing and restructuring firms in difficulty: OJ C 288, 9.10.1999) is not covered by the measure.

Aid may be granted for the following types of investment project:

- setting-up of an establishment, provided that at least one new job is created,

- extension of an establishment if the number of long-term jobs is increased by 15 % as compared with the situation before the start of the investment,

- relocation of an establishment if the number of long-term jobs is increased by 15 % as compared with the situation before the start of the investment,

- acquisition of an establishment threatened with closure, provided that this is done on market terms.

The long-term jobs and training places created through the aid must be maintained for at least five years after payment of the grant.

The aid takes the form of investment grants.

All depreciable fixed assets relating to physical and intangible assets are eligible

Economic sector(s) concerned: Those entitled to apply are small and medium-sized business enterprises in manufacturing, the craft sector, the distributive trades, construction, transport, the hotel industry and other service-sector firms, as well as independent businesses with their offices in the district of Emsland and persons starting new business who intend to establish a place of business in Emsland.

Aid may not be granted to firms in sensitive sectors

Name and address of the granting authority: Landkreis Emsland Ordeniederung 1 D - 49716 Meppen

Other information: Landkreis Emsland Herr Hofschröer Tel. 059 31/44-23 34 Fax 059 31/44-39 23 34 E-mail: thorsten.hofschroeer@emsland.de

Aid No: XS 61/01

Member State: Italy

Region: Piedmont

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: SPD 2000-2006 for the Piedmont region - Measure 2.1 Support for corporate investment - Line 2.1.c - Supplementary laws on corporate investments - Point 3 - Aid scheme provided for by Law No 598/94 on organisational and commercial innovation and safety in the workplace

Legal basis: Atto deliberativo della Giunta Regionale n. 12-3626 del 31 luglio 2001 Reg. 1260. Ob. 2. Docup Regione Piemonte, periodo di programmazione 2000-2006. Approvazione progetti di aiuto in esenzione ai sensi del Reg. Ce 70/2001 - Allegato 2 - 2.1.c - Leggi integrative per gli investimenti imprenditoriali - Punto n. 3 - Regime di aiuto previsto dalla legge 598/94 relativo all'innovazione organizzativa e commerciale e per la sicurezza sui luoghi di lavoro

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The amounts relate to the aid scheme "Line 2.1.c - Supplementary laws on corporate investments (Regulation (EC) No 70/01)".

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Maximum aid intensity: Interest-rate subsidy as provided for in Law No 598/94 of up to 70 % of the investment programme, with a maximum of ITL 3 billion.

The aid may not exceed 7,5 % gge for medium-sized firms and 15 % gge for small firms, while in Article 87(3)(c) areas it may not exceed 8 % nge + six percentage points gge for medium-sized firms and eight percentage points nge + 10 percentage points gge for small firms.

The higher regional aid ceilings apply only where the aid is conditional on the investment remaining in the area benefiting for at least five years and on the beneficiary's contribution being at least 25 % of the financing obtained.

The total gross aid for external consultancy services may not exceed 50 % of the cost of such services, which must not be continuous or regular, or connected with the normal day-to-day operating expenditure of the firm, e.g. ordinary tax advice, legal advice and advertising costs

Date of implementation: 10 December 2001

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 30 June 2007

Objective of aid: Aid for investment/consultancy.

Under the single programming document (SPD) 2000-2006 for the Piedmont region (Axis 2 - System qualification and support, Measure 2.1 Support for corporate investment, Intervention line (c), Supplementary laws on corporate investment. Point 3 - Aid scheme provided for by Law No 598/94 on organisational and commercial innovation and safety in the workplace), the scheme in question significantly enhances the stability and competitiveness of firms

Economic sector(s) concerned: All sectors

Name and address of the granting authority: Regione Piemonte - Assessorato Industria, Lavoro, New Economy, Formazione professionale, Politiche comunitarie, Affari internazionali, Commercio interno ed estero Via Pisano, 6 I - Torino Contact person: Dott. Vito Valsania Via Pisano, 6 I - Torino Tel. 011/432 31 95 Fax 011/432 34 83 E-mail: direzione16@regione.piemonte.it

Other information: The SPD identifies the Piedmont region as the implementing body with responsibility for carrying out the measure via a managing body to be selected in accordance with the Community rules on public service contracts.

The scheme will apply to small and medium-sized firms in the industrial, construction, crafts, tourism and service sectors, as defined in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises (OJ L 10, 13.1.2001) located in an Objective 2 area and/or in an Article 87(3)(c) area.

The aid will be granted without prejudice to regulations, directives and guidelines under the EC Treaty governing the granting of state aid in specific sectors within the meaning of Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 70/2001. If applications for aid are received from firms in the sectors governed by specific Community rules on State aid, the competent authority will examine them in the light of the rules applicable and will comply with their requirements.

Aid from the ERDF will not be granted to firms producing, processing or marketing agricultural products (Annex I to the Treaty)

Aid No: XS 62/01

Member State: Italy

Region: Piedmont

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: SPD 2000-2006 for the Piedmont region, Measure 2.1 - Support for business investment, Line 2.1.d - Aid for investment in conjunction with EIB loans

Legal basis: Atto deliberativo della Giunta Regionale n. 12-3626 del 31 luglio 2001 Reg. 1260. Ob. 2. Docup Regione Piemonte, periodo di programmazione 2000-2006. Approvazione progetti di aiuto in esenzione ai sensi del Reg. Ce 70/2001 - Allegato 3 - 2.1.d. - Aiuti agli investimenti in connessione con i prestiti BEI

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The amounts relate to the aid scheme "Line 2.1.d - Aid for investment in conjunction with EIB loans (Regulation (EC) No 70/01)".

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Maximum aid intensity: The aid is in the form of a capital grant of not more than EUR 500000.

The aid may not exceed 7,5 % gge for medium-sized firms and 15 % gge for small firms, while in Article 87(3)(c) areas it may not exceed 8 % gge + six percentage points gge for medium-sized irms and 8 % gge + 10 percentage points gge for small firms.

The higher regional aid ceilings apply only where the aid is conditional on the investment remaining in the area benefiting for at least five years and on the beneficiary's contribution being at least 25 % of the financing obtained

Date of implementation: 10 December 2001

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 30 June 2007

Objective of aid: Aid for investment.

Under the single programming document (SPD) 2000-2006 for the Piedmont region (Priority 2 - System qualification and support, Measure 2.1 - Support for business investment, Line 2.1.d - Aid for investment in conjunction with EIB loans), the scheme in question is intended to contribute to diversifying/converting (i.e. rationalising, restructuring and modernising) production (firms in difficulty not being eligible), safeguarding and creating jobs and expanding the productive base, restoring efficiency and rationalising the entire productive base in the area concerned in conditions of maximum safety and environmental protection introducing innovations in production cycles and creating multiplier effects in neighbouring sectors (construction, capital goods) as the investments are carried out

Economic sector(s) concerned: All sectors

Name and address of the granting authority: Regione Piemonte - Assessorato Industria, Lavoro, New Economy, Formazione professionale, Politiche comunitarie, Affari internazionali, Commercio interno ed estero Via Pisana, 6 I - Torino Contact person: Dott. Vito Valsania Via Pisano, 6 I - Torino Tel. 011/432 31 95 Fax 011/432 34 83 E-mail: direzione16@regione.piemonte.it

Other information: The SPD identifies the Piedmont region as the implementing body with responsibility for carrying out the measure via a managing body to be selected in accordance with the Community rules on public service contracts.

The scheme will apply to small and medium-sized firms in the industrial, construction, crafts, tourism and service sectors, as defined in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises (OJ L 10, 13.1.2001) located in an Objective 2 area, a phasing-out area and/or an Article 87(3)(c) area.

The aid will be granted without prejudice to regulations, directives and guidelines under the EC Treaty governing the granting of State aid in specific sectors within the meaning of Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 70/2001. If applications for aid are received from firms in the sectors governed by specific Community rules on State aid, the implementing body will examine them in the light of the rules applicable and will comply with their requirements.

Aid from the ERDF will not be granted to firms producing, processing or marketing agricultural products (Annex I to the Treaty)

Aid No: XS 67/01

Member State: Germany

Region: Lower Saxony (rural district of Soltau-Fallingbostel)

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Joint financing of grants to individual SMEs in the rural district of Soltau-Fallingbostel under the Lower Saxony Objective 2 programme

Legal basis: § 108 der Niedersächsischen Landkreisordnung (NLO) in der Fassung vom 22.8.1996 (Niedersächsisches Gesetz- und Verordnungsblatt S. 365) i. V. mit § 65 der Niedersächsischen Gemeindeordnung (NGO) in der Fassung vom 22.8.1996 (Niedersächsisches Gesetz- und Verordnungsblatt S. 382)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 50000

Maximum aid intensity: The aid amounts:

- in the case of small enterprises, to no more than 15 %,

- and in the case of medium-sized enterprises, to no more than 7,5 %,

of eligible investment expenditure.

The rules on the combination of aid are complied with

Date of implementation: 1 August 2001

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 1 August 2001 to 31 December 2005

Objective of aid: The aid is intended to promote the competitiveness and adaptability of small and medium-sized enterprises in the rural district of Lüneburg, to encourage the creation of new jobs and help safeguard existing ones and thereby to bring about structural improvements.

Rescue and restructuring aid for firms in difficulty (within the meaning of the Community guidelines on State aid for rescuing and restructuring firms in difficulty: OJ C 288, 9.10.1999) is not covered by the measure.

Aid may be granted for the following types of investment project:

- setting-up of an establishment,

- extension of an establishment if the number of long-term full-time jobs is increased by 15 % as compared with the situation before the start of the investment.

The long-term jobs created must be maintained for at leas two years after payment of the grant.

The aid takes the form of investment grants.

All depreciable fixed assets relating to physical and intagible assets are eligible

Economic sector(s) concerned: The following are eligible: SMEs in industry, the distributive trades, the craft sector, building, transport and the hotel trade that are located in the rural district of Soltau-Fallingbostel and individuals intending to start up in business there.

Aid may not be granted to firms in sensitive sectors

Name and address of the granting authority: Landkreis Soltau-Fallingbostel Amt für Kreisentwicklung Postfach 13 43 D - 29603 Soltau

Other information: Hans Jürgen Stegen Tel. 051 91/97 06 73 Fax 051 91/97 07 53 E-mail: hans.juergen.stegen@heidekreis.de

Aid No: XS 80/01

Member State: Austria

Region: The scheme applies to the whole of Austria

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Provision of guarantees for tourism and leisure businesses 2001-2006

Legal basis: Bundesgesetz über besondere Förderung von kleinen und mittleren Unternehmen (BGBl. Nr. 432/1996) in der jeweils geltenden Fassung. Richtlinien des Bundesministeriums für wirtschaftliche Angelegenheiten für die Übernahme von Garantien für Tourismusbetriebe vom 9. September 1999, N 26/99

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: Budget (estimated expenditure on guarantees called): 2001: ATS 5 million; 2002: ATS 10 million; 2003: ATS 15 million; 2004-2006: approximately ATS 15-20 million

Maximum aid intensity: The aid intensity wll be calculated in accordance with the Commission notice on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid in the form of guarantees. The resulting intensities will comply with Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 (i.e. they will be lower than 7,5 % for medium-sized enterprises and 15 % for small enterprises).

In the case of equity capital guarantees, care will be taken to ensure that the gross grant equivalent does not exceed the de-minimis ceiling set in Commission Regulation (EC) No 69/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to de-minimis aid

Date of implementation: 1 September 2001

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2006 pursuant to the SME block exemption Regulation or 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2006 pursuant to the requested procedure for maintaining the remaining notification of the extension of the rules on restructuring guarantees for the years 2004-2006 (for the period 1999-2003 an authorisation was granted by the Commission in Case N 26/99)

Objective of aid: Horizontal aid restricted to SMEs in the tourism and leisure industry (see point 1 of the Richtlinien, "Purpose").

The main emphasis is on (see Richtlinien, points 4.1-4.10):

- investment which is innovative, helps to improve quality and optimises the size of enterprises,

- improving tourist infrastructure,

- using new technologies,

- purchasing units and developing them into staff accommodation,

- environment- and safety-related installations,

- setting-up and capitalising cooperative ventures, clusters and networks,

- creating new businesses, taking over existing ones and keeping tourism businesses going,

- improving the provision of capital, particularly equity capital,

- creating suitable structures with a view to stimulating incoming tourism

Economic sector(s) concerned: Other services. (Aid is to be granted under the scheme to small and medium-sized enterprises in the tourism and leisure sector and for tourism-related infrastructure.)

Name and address of the granting authority: Ministry for Economic Affairs and Labour Stubenring 1 A - 1010 Wien Contact person: Frau MR Mag. Walburga Einicher Sektion VII, Abt. 4 Tel. (43-1) 711 00 59 30 Fax (43-1) 712 14 42 E-mail: walburga.einicher@bmwa.gv.at

Other information: Ministry for Economic Affairs and Labour Stubenring 1 A - 1010 Wien

Contact person: Frau MR Mag. Walburga Einicher Sektion VII, Abt. 4 Tel. (43-1) 711 00 59 30 Fax (43-1) 712 14 42 E-mail: walburga.einicher@bmwa.gv.at

Österreichische Hotel- und Tourismusbank Gesellschaft mbH (ÖHT) Parkring 12a A - 1011 Wien

Contact person: Herr Dir. Dr. Franz Hartl Tel. (43-1) 515 30 20 Fax (43-1) 515 30 30 E-mail: hartl@oeht.at

Reference is also made to the existing standard information for notifying the provision of guarantees for tourism and leisure businesses 2001-2006, N 529/01

Aid No: XS 82/01

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: Available in the assisted areas and the enterprise grant areas of the English regions

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Enterprise Grant Scheme

Legal basis: Industrial Development Act 1982; Section 7 and Section 8

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: Expected to build up to around GBP 15 million per year from around GBP 10 million this financial year. Please note that according to recent spending patterns, annual expenditure is not expected to reach this amount.

The ceiling for individual support is GBP 75000 per applicant

Maximum aid intensity: 15 % gross of capital costs for small firms; 7,5 % gross of capital costs for medium-sized firms outside the assisted areas; 15 % gross for medium-sized firms inside the assisted areas (extra 7,5 % notified to the Commission under the regional aid guidelines)

Date of implementation: Scheme began on 1 January 2000. Capitalising lease costs of premises allowed with effect from 13 September 2001

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: No end date specified at present

Objective of aid: The scheme has three broad objectives:

(a) to develop and increase the SME base of the assisted areas;

(b) to improve the productivity and profitability of assisted firms; and

(c) to improve the competitiveness of the regions

Economic sector(s) concerned: The scheme is available to a broad range of manufacturing and service sectors. Aid to SMEs in the restricted sectors (steel, coal, shipbuilding, transport, synthetic and motor vehicles) is available only within the terms of the individual State aid rules for these sectors

Name and address of the granting authority: Department of Trade and Industry Graham Thorpe

Assistant Director

Regional Assistance Policy and Scheme Administration Room 389

1 Victoria Street

London SW1H 0ET Tel. (44-207) 215 25 88 Fax (44-207) 215 25 62 E-mail: graham.thorpe@dti.gsi.gov.uk

Other information: The exemption regulation expires on 31 December 2006, followed by a transitional period six months

Aid No: XS 93/01

Member State: Spain

Region: Autonomous community of the Basque country

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Aid scheme for in-service training in enterprises

Legal basis: Acuerdo de 10 de octubre de 2001 del pleno del Patronato de Hobetuz (Fundación Vasca para la Formación Profesional Continua), por el que se aprueba la convocatoria de ayudas a la formación continua dirigida a empresas para el año 2001 (Boletín Oficial del País Vasco de 11 de octubre de 2001)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 200000

Maximum aid intensity: 50 %

Date of implementation: November 2001

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: December 2001

Objective of aid: The objective of the aid scheme is to finance consulting services with a view to drawing up assessments of training needs in small and medium-sized enterprises

Economic sector(s) concerned: All sectors apart from those whose particular rules are such that the Regulation cannot be applied

Name and address of the granting authority: Hobetuz, Fundación Vasca para la Formación Profesional Continua Gran Vía 35, 6o E - 48009 Bilbao