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 18/02)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Aid No: XS 49/03

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: West Midlands

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Regional Supply Office ERDF Programme

Legal basis: Regional Development Agencies Act 1998

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: This new scheme will provide funding of some GBP 1,65 million (EUR 2,66 million) from February 2003 to 31 December 2003. This comprises both ERDF and UK Government funding.

This funding will be used to support SMEs (who meet the definition set out in Annex 1 of Commission Regulation EC 70/2001) located in the West Midlands Region

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum aid intensity will be 50 % of the costs of consultancy services and participation in trade fairs and exhibitions. The maximum amount available to any one company will be GBP 15000 (EUR 24000) over the 1 year period

Date of implementation: February 2003

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 31 December 2003

Objective of aid: The objective of this aid is to improve the competitiveness of a minimum 150 small and medium sized businesses by providing advice so that they may access new markets and business opportunities and improve their business processes.

The objectives will be achieved by dissemination of supply chain development best practice and by developing networking opportunities and access to new markets through participation in trade fairs and exhibitions. Companies will be assisted to participate in these activities by advisors from Advantage West Midlands

Economic sector(s) concerned: Economic sectors supported will be "All sectors" (except SMEs in agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture).

Companies receiving support will typically be within the following clusters as described within the West Midlands Regional Economic Strategy:

- Transport technologies

- Building technologies

- Food and drink

- Tourism and leisure

- High value consumer products

- Specialist business and professional services

- Information and communication technologies

- Environmental technologies

- Interactive media for education and entertainment

- Medical technologies

Name and address of the granting authority: Dean Brotherton Advantage West Midlands 3 Priestley Wharf

Holt Street

Aston Science Park

Birmingham West Midlands B23 7SG

Aid No: XS 68/03

Member State: Spain

Region: Asturias

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Aid scheme for the application of the Rural Development Programme (PRODER II) in the Principado de Asturias for the period 2000-2006

Legal basis: 1. Decreto 46/2001, de 19 de abril, por el que se declara la aplicación en el Principado de Asturias el Programa de Desarrollo Rural.

2. Resolución de la Consejería de Medio Rural, de 8 de abril de 2003, por el que se establece una modificación parcial del Régimen de Ayudas para la aplicación del PRODER II

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 9 million

Maximum aid intensity: EUR 150000 of aid max.

Date of implementation: As from publication of the scheme in BOPA (Boletín Oficial del Principado de Asturias)

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

Objective of aid: To support the indigenous development of less-favoured rural areas, agricultural diversification, and the promotion of local microenterprises

Economic sector(s) concerned: - Firms providing services to rural society

- Processing firms

- New local firms

- Small agri-food businesses

- Rural tourism

- Craftsmen

Name and address of the granting authority: Instituto de Desarrollo Rural Consejería de Medio Rural y Pesca Principado de Asturias

Other information: 1. This type of aid will only apply to firms that can be classed as microenterprises under Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001.

2. The eligible expenditure and the ancilliary investment will be those that comply with the requirements and definitions laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1685/2000 of 28 July 2000

Aid No: XS 76/02

Member State: Italy

Region: Veneto

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Scheme of aid for SMEs in Veneto for investment in tangible and intangible fixed assets, consultancy and other services and activities, in particular first-time participation in fairs and exhibitions, granted by the Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture and Crafts (CCIAA) in Veneto either directly or indirectly via their special agencies, the Regional Union and the External Centre

Legal basis: Delibere e/o provvedimenti delle CCIAA e/o delle le loro aziende speciali, l'Unione regionale e del loro Centro estero che contempleranno precisa indicazione del Regolamento comunitario di esenzione in parola

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 7819022. If this total expenditure were to increase by more than 20 % before the end of 2006, the Chambers undertake formally to notify the modification to the scheme to the Commission

Maximum aid intensity: In accordance with the ceilings laid down in Article 4 of Regulation 70/2001, the aid will not exceed:

- for investment:

a) 15 % in the case of small enterprises with fewer than 50 employees and turnover in the year preceding the grant of the aid of less than EUR 7 million;

b) 7,5 % in the case of medium-sized enterprises.

- for consultancy and other services and activities:

50 % of the eligible costs in accordance with the Regulation, and in particular Article 5 thereof.

No one project will receive aid exceeding EUR 3500000, without prejudice to the higher ceilings laid down in Article 6 of the Regulation

Date of implementation: From the date of transmission of this notice

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

Objective of aid: To facilitate the development of the economic activities of small and medium-sized enterprises in the manner, for the reasons and with the aims set out in recital (5) to Regulation 70/2001; apart from the aid for investment, the scheme provides aid in particular for expenditure on consultancy relating to technological innovation; quality, environmental friendliness and safety certification; internationalisation; market surveys and research; and participation in fairs and exhibitions

Economic sector(s) concerned: All SMEs of any kind located in Veneto are eligible for this scheme, except for those associated with the products listed in Annex I to the EC Treaty, fishing, shipbuilding and ECSC steel products.

Only tangible investments in land, buildings, machinery and equipment will be eligible for aid under the scheme.

No aid will be granted in respect of investment in vehicles and transport equipment by enterprises operating mainly in the transport sector. Investments made for activities linked to exporting, i.e. the actual exporting of goods, the establishment and operation of a foreign distribution network and other expenditure linked to exporting, are likewise excluded.

In accordance with Article 7 of the Regulation, aid will be granted only where, before work on the aided project is started, the beneficiary firm has submitted an appropriate application to the local Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture and Crafts and the latter has delivered a favourable opinion.

Name and address of the granting authority: The individual Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture and Crafts in Veneto. The agency coordinating this scheme is Unione Regionale delle Camere di Commercio del Veneto Via Sansovino, 9 I - 30173 Mestre (VE) Tel. (39) 04 12 58 16 66 Fax (39) 04 12 58 16 00 E-mail: europa@eicveneto.it