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

(2004/C 93/09)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Aid No: XS 2/02

Member State: Austria

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: ERP-Internationalisation Programme

Legal basis: Richtlinien für das ERP-Internationalisierungsprogramm

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: Low-interest loans of approximately EUR 5 million

Grant equivalent: approximately EUR 810000

Maximum aid intensity: - 7,5 % (gross) in the case of medium-sized enterprises

- 15 % (gross) in the case of small enterprises

Date of implementation: From 1 January 2002

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 31 December 2006

Objective of aid: Assistance for direct investment abroad.

Note:

Account is taken of the scope as defined in Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 of 12 January 2001; this means that no aid may be granted to the following sectors:

- activities relating to the manufacture, processing and marketing of goods listed in Annex 1 to the EC Treaty,

- aid for export-related activities, i.e. aid which is directly related to the exported quantities, the setting-up and operation of a distribution network or current expenditure on an export activity,

- aid which is conditional on the use of indigenous products rather than imported goods

Economic sector(s) concerned: All manufacturing and all services

Name and address of the granting authority: ERP-Fonds Contact: Elfriede Kober Tel. (43-1) 150 17 54 66 E-mail: e.kober@erp-fonds.at

Aid No: XS 19/03

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: West Midlands Objective 2

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Learning and Skills Council Birmingham and Solihull Investors in People (IIP) Consultancy

Legal basis: - Employment Act 1973, Sections 2(1) and 2(2), as substantiated by Section 25 of the Employment and Training Act 1998

- Learning Skills Act 2000

- Local Government Act 2000

- Industrial Development Act 1982, Sections 7 and 11

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: - Total public expenditure: GBP 414000

- 2002: GBP 138000

- 2003: GBP 276000

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum grant will be 50 % of IIP consultancy costs. The maximum grant to any one SME is GBP 20000

Date of implementation: 1 September 2002

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 31 December 2003

Objective of aid: To provide consultancy support on IIP to SMEs identified in the regional economic strategy. The technique of IIP is a tool to improve productivity and overall economic performance. This will improve the flexibility of the workforce and safeguard jobs in the region

Economic sector(s) concerned: Manufacturing: automotive supply chain (non-vehicle manufacture or first-tier suppliers), engineering, food and drink (excluding Annex I).

Other services: creative industries, tourism and leisure.

Without prejudice to the regulations on sensitive sectors

Name and address of the granting authority: Paul Cornick Sector Co-ordinator Birmingham and Solihull LSC Chaplin Court

80 Hurst Street

Birmingham B5 4TG United Kingdom Tel. (44-121) 345 46 00

Other information: The organisation delivering consultancy to SMEs is Business Link Birmingham and Solihull (Small Business Service), which is a public-sector-funded organisation and acts as a conduit of funds to SMEs

Aid No: XS 42/03

Member State: Italy

Region: Umbria

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Regional aid scheme to promote investment by SMEs in the multimedia business

Legal basis: - Determinazione Dirigenziale 5 febbraio 2003 n. 703.

- In attuazione della Misura 2.1. - Sostegno allo sviluppo dei sistemi produttivi locali - Azione 2.1.3. - Regime di aiuti regionale a sostegno degli investimenti delle PMI - del Docup Obiettivo 2 2000-2006 per la Regione dell'Umbria, approvato dalla Commissione Europea con Decisione C(2001) 2119 del 7 settembre 2001

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: A maximum of EUR 1000000 per year in accordance with the funding plan in the programming complement to the Objective 2 single programming document (SPD) 2000-2006 for the Umbria region, giving a maximum total of EUR 7000000 for the duration of the scheme

Maximum aid intensity: - Small firms: 15 % gge of the total cost of the eligible investments.

In areas eligible for regional aid covered by the Objective 2 SPD for Umbria, 20 % gge of the total cost of the eligible investments (less than the intensity allowed by the regional aid map, which is 10 % gge + 8 % nge).

- Medium-sized firms: 7,5 % gge of the total cost of the eligible investments.

In areas eligible for regional aid covered by the Objective 2 SPD for Umbria, 15 % gge of the total cost of the eligible investments (less than the intensity allowed by the regional aid map, which is 6 % gge + 8 % nge)

Date of implementation: 14 February 2003.

Aid will be granted only on presentation of suitable applications by the firms concerned, which may be submitted from the day following publication of the notice. Only investments made after presentation of the aid application will be eligible

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Aid will be granted in respect of investments made by firms up to 31 December 2006, the deadline for eligibility of expenditure charged to the Objective 2 SPD 2000-2006 for Umbria

Objective of aid: Support for investment by small and medium-sized firms in the Objective 2 and phasing-out areas of Umbria. The investment covered by this scheme relates to:

(a) new plant, equipment and machinery connected with the firm's production cycle in the multimedia business;

(b) patents for innovative technologies;

(c) computer programs and specialist software connected exclusively with the firm's multimedia business;

(d) royalties or copyright on material to be used for multimedia projects, in accordance with the specific eligibility datasheets for costs for the purposes of Regulation (EC) No 1685/2000

Economic sector(s) concerned: Firms engaged in production activities and the provision of production services identified by the following codes in the 1991 Italian Statistical Office (ISTAT) classification:

22.31- Reproduction of sound recordings

22.32- Reproduction of video recordings

72.60.1- Telematics, robotics and imaging services

72.60.2- Other computer related services

92.11- Motion picture and video production

Further restrictions may be imposed as required by new mandatory Community rules

Name and address of the granting authority: Regione dell'Umbria - Giunta Regionale Servizio Politiche di Sostegno alle Imprese Via Mario Angeloni 61 I - 06100 Perugia Tel. (39) 07 55 04 57 09 Fax (39) 07 55 04 55 69 E-mail: servizio9@regione.umbria.it

Aid No: XS 79/03

Member State: Ireland

Region: All regions

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Prolongation of Town Renewal Scheme

Legal basis: Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 as amended by Finance Act 2000 and 2001. Finance Act 2003, which became law on 28 March 2003, has extended the end-date of the qualifying period for the scheme to 31 December 2004

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: Estimated EUR 10 million in tax foregone over the period of the extension of the scheme. Total cost in terms of tax foregone for the scheme now estimated to be of the order of EUR 25 million

Maximum aid intensity: 11,20 %

Date of implementation: 6 April 2001

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 6 April 2001 to 31 December 2004

Objective of aid: Extension of the qualifying period for the scheme of investment aid to support renewal projects by small and medium-sized enterprises in 100 small towns in Ireland

Economic sector(s) concerned: The sectors of industrial activity where special rules and frameworks of Community law apply (among which are those falling under the ECSC Treaty, shipbuilding, motor vehicles, synthetic fibres, transport, fisheries and agriculture, including the processing and marketing of agricultural products listed in Annex I of the EC Treaty (OJ C 29, 2.2.1996, p. 4)) are excluded, as are the financial services and property development sectors

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

Aid No: XS 88/03

Member State: Italy

Region: Liguria

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Competition to encourage investment by SMEs in the Province of Savona aimed at the introduction of quality systems, the certification of those systems and of products, equipment and machines, and the acquisition of certificates of qualification from certification companies (SOAs) in accordance with Presidential Order (DPR) No 34 of 25 January 2000

Legal basis: Delibera n. 73 del 23.5.2003 della giunta della Camera di commercio IAA di Savona e relativi provvedimenti attuativi

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 105000

Maximum aid intensity: The aid consists of a grant of no more than 30 % of the eligible expenditure, net of VAT, and no more than EUR 2582,28 for any one firm

Date of implementation: Date of this notification

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 31 December 2006

Objective of aid: To promote better production quality and to enhance firms' competitiveness in the marketplace by developing the introduction of quality systems and certification of products and businesses

Economic sector(s) concerned: SMEs in industry, crafts, agriculture, the distributive trades and services, with their place of business in the Province of Savona, who at the time of application are regularly entered on the chamber of commerce register of firms and whose subscriptions are paid up.

For purposes of this competition, "small and medium-sized enterprises" means those within the definition in Commission Recommendation 96/280/EC of 3 April 1996, published in OJ L 107, 30.4.1996

Name and address of the granting authority: Camera di commercio IAA di Savona Via Quarda Superiore 16 I - 17100 Savona Tel. (39) 01 98 31 41 Fax (39) 019 85 14 58 E-mail: camcom@sv.camcom.it

Other information: In the case of firms operating in the processing and marketing of agricultural products within the scope of Annex I to the EC Treaty (Annex 6 to this notification), the grant will be given under the Community rules on aid to agricultural enterprises via the Italian system of chambers of agriculture (state aid measure Italy 241/01).

For grants towards investment programmes launched before the relevant application was submitted, the Community system applicable is Regulation (EC) No 69/2001 on de minimis aid measures, which does not, however, apply to transport or to the processing and marketing of agricultural products within the scope of Annex I to the EC Treaty

Aid No: XS 93/02

Member State: Germany

Region: Lower Saxony (rural district of Goslar)

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Goslar rural district rules on the allocation of grants for joint financing of individual firms by the EU

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 300000

Maximum aid intensity: The whole of the rural district of Goslar lies within the national regional aid map approved by the Commission with an authorised gross aid intensity of 28 % for SMEs. The gross aid intensity amounts to 20 % of eligible investment expenditure, but not exceeding EUR 10000. The rules on the cumulation of aid are complied with

Date of implementation: 1 September 2002

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 1 September 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 Goslar, 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,

- 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 under market conditions.

The long-term jobs created 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: The following are eligible: SMEs in manufacturing, the craft sector, the distributive trades, building, transport and the hotel trade whose place of business is in the rural district of Goslar. Aid may not be granted to firms in sensitive sectors

Name and address of the granting authority: Landkreis Goslar Klubgartenstraße 6 D - 38610 Goslar

Other information: Ms Dippold Tel. (49-5321) 762 53 Fax (49-5321) 769 92 53

Aid No: XS 100/02

Member State: Italy

Region: Sicily

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

Legal basis: - Intervento previsto dall'art. 27, della L.R. 23.12.2000, n. 32.

- L'intervento è inoltre contemplato nel P.O.R. Sicilia, 2000/2006 e relativo Complemento di programmazione, misura 4.01a, sottomisura 4.01.a1 "potenziamento delle P.M.I."

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The measure will be financed under sub-measure 4.01.a1 of the 2000-2006 regional operational programme for Sicily, which provides for a total cost of EUR 47777500 for the entire programme.

The scheme started with the publication of the appropriate notice in the Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Communities of 13 September 2002 with a budget of EUR 32670354, broken down as follows:

2002: -

2003: EUR 11000000

2004: EUR 11000000

2005: EUR 10670354

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum aid intensity is 35 % nge + 15 % gge, for eligible costs

Date of implementation: 13 September 2002 (date of publication of call for applications)

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 31 December 2006

Objective of aid: The measure is intended to strengthen the existing production system by improving competitiveness and promoting the setting-up of new firms by helping SMEs planning new production initiatives to increase and/or consolidate their production base by introducing innovations in processes and products, energy saving and diversification measures and, in particular, firms giving priority to measures to reduce the quantity and hazardousness of production waste

Economic sector(s) concerned: The investment programmes of extractive and manufacturing firms may relate to one or several of the production sectors listed in Section C "Extraction of minerals" and Section D "Manufacturing activities" of the ISTAT '91 Classification of economic activities, without prejudice to prohibitive or restrictive measures under current EU rules.

Firms providing services may promote investment programmes only in one or several of the sectors listed in the annex under 1).

Investment programmes of companies operating in the electricity, steam and hot water generation and distribution industry and belonging to categories 40, 10 and 40.30 of the ISTAT '91 Classification of economic activities are eligible only in respect of plant using renewable or equivalent sources of supply, with a capacity not exceeding 50 MW electric and with an energy index of not less than 0,60.

For the list of sectors subject to prohibitive or restrictive measures under current EU legislation, reference should be made to point 2.6 of Industry Ministry Circular No 900315 of 14 July 2000 and the relevant annexes

Name and address of the granting authority: Regione Siciliana Assessorato Industria Viale Regione Siciliana 4580 I - 90146 Palermo