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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2003/C 269/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Date of adoption of the decision: 18.9.2002

Member State: United Kingdom

Aid No: N 252/02

Title: The reinvention of the urban post office network - Post Office Limited (POL)/Consignia

Objective: Post office

Legal basis: Section 8 of the Industrial Development Act 1982

Budget: GBP 180 million (max.) for Government refund to POL of investment compensation to leaving sub-postmasters and GBP 30 million (max.) for refund of investment grant to remaining sub-postmasters

Duration: Refunds spread over three years from 2002 to 2005 on the basis of POL's actual payments to sub-postmasters

Other information: Decision not to raise any objections as measures compatible with common market: no overcompensation of cost of public service

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: 18.9.2003

Member State: The Netherlands

Aid No: N 339/03

Title: Expansion of the scheme for Temporary Defensive Measures for Shipbuilding (Commission Decision N 780/02) to LNG Tankers (liquefied natural gas tankers)

Objective: Operating aid in the shipbuilding sector

Legal basis: Toepassing van Verordening nr. 1177/2002 van de Raad, Art. 3 Kaderwet EZ Subsidies

Aid intensity or amount: Maximum 6 % of contract value

Duration: 25 October 2002 to 31 March 2004

The authentic text 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: 17.9.2003

Member State: Italy (Sardinia)

Aid No: N 511/02

Title: Venture capital fund

Objective: Regional development

Legal basis: Progetto di deliberazione della Giunta regionale in ordine alle direttive di attuazione della misura 4.1, azione D, del POR Sardegna 2000-2006

Budget: EUR 21,303 million

Aid intensity or amount: Acquisition of minority shareholdings. The scheme does not constitute State aid

Duration: Until 31 December 2006

The authentic text 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: 27.5.2003

Member State: United Kingdom

Aid No: N 784/02

Title: Government debt payment funding, rural network support and rolling working capital loan to Post Office Limited

Objective: (a) Enabling POL to deliver the entrusted services of general economic interest over the structurally loss-making rural counters;

(b) keeping POL as an on-going concern in the return to sustainability period so that it can continue providing the entrusted services of general economic interest;

(c) enabling the delivery of the over-the-counter cash payment service of general economic interest

Legal basis: Postal Services Act 2000 Sections 62, 63, 64, 72, 74 and 103

Duration: Due to start on approval by the Commission

1. Annual GBP 150 million (max.) Government compensation for network net public service cost or rural coverage (initially for three years and then subject to Government decision further to major consultation exercise);

2(a) one-off compensation (GBP 726 million) to refund exactly loan from Royal Mail amounting to POL's balance-sheet deficit;

2(b) subsequent compensation cumulating to GBP 524 million (max.) for net annual balance-sheet deficits until end financial year 2006/7 to enable POL to pay fully its debts;

3. rolling working capital loan of GBP 576 million (max.) to pre-fund services of general economic interest of over-the-counter cash payments (on-going)

The authentic text 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