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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2002/C 32/08)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Date of adoption of the decision: 11.12.2001

Member State: The Netherlands

Aid No: N 239/01

Title: Exemption from energy tax for waste incineration units

Objective: Promoting the use of renewable energy sources

Legal basis: Artikel 36o, vierde lid, Wet belastingen op milieu-grondslag

Budget: NLG 76 million (EUR 34,5 million)

Aid intensity or amount: 27 % to 69 %

Duration: 19 months

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: 11.12.2001

Member State: Germany (Nordrhein-Westfalen)

Aid No: N 256/01

Title: R & D programme "Technology and innovation"

Objective: To support R & D projects in different fields of high technology

Legal basis: Programmrichtlinien

Budget: Up to EUR 100 million per year, of which 90 % to enterprise and 10 % to public research institutes

Aid intensity or amount: For feasibility studies: maximum 75 %; for industrial research: maximum 25 %; for precompetitive development: maximum 25 %; plus additional 10 % points for SMEs; plus additional 5 % points for projects carried out in eligible areas according to Article 87(3)(c) EC Treaty; altogether, including bonuses, not exceeding 50 % for industrial research and 50 % for precompetitive development

Duration: Until 30 September 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: 20.12.2001

Member State: Germany (Bavaria)

Aid No: N 288/01

Title: Application-orientated development projects of a polymer material on the basis of vegetable raw materials

Objective: Research and development

Legal basis: Bayrische Haushaltsordnung und Bescheid an den Beihilfeempfänger

Budget: Maximum EUR 1022175

Aid intensity or amount: 50 % of the eligible costs

Other information: Obligation of the Member State to submit an annual report to the Commission

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: 27.12.2001

Member State: Germany

Aid No: N 435/01

Title: Programme in favour of technology orientated firms in Saxony-Anhalt

Objective: Furthering research and development activities and recruitment of highly qualified staff ("innovation assistants") in Saxony-Anhalt

Legal basis: Mittelstandsförderungsgesetz und Verwaltungsvorschriften zu § 44 Landeshaushaltsordnung, Richtlinie über die Gewährung von Zuschüssen an technologieorientierte, mittelständische Unternehmen im Land Sachsen-Anhalt

Budget: 2001: approximately EUR 6,8 million; 2002 and 2003: approximately EUR 10,3 million each year; 2004 and 2005: approximately EUR 9,5 million each year

Duration: Five years after the Commission's approval, the sub-programme "recruitment of innovation assistants" is limited until 31 December 2003

Other information: Germany has to submit an annual report on the implementation of the scheme

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: 13.11.2001

Member State: United Kingdom (Scotland)

Aid No: N 497/01

Title: Grants for owner-occupation scheme

Objective: Promote owner-occupied social housing

Legal basis: Housing (Scotland) Act 1988, Scotland Act 1998

Budget: Approximately GBP 15 million (EUR 24,5 million) per year

Duration: Until 31 December 2006

Other information: The UK has to submit an annual report on the implementation of the scheme

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: 21.12.2001

Member State: Belgium (Province of Hainaut)

Aid No: N 521/01

Title: Extension of industrial and service investment aid scheme (phasing-out of Objective 1 - Hainaut) to DOCUP Objective 2 areas "Meuse-Vesdre" and "Rural"

Objective: Regional development

Legal basis: Articles 1er à 4, article 5 ter, articles 10 à 17, 36 à 40 et 43 à 48 de la loi du 30 décembre 1970 sur l'expansion économique telle que modifiée par le décret du 25 juin 1992

Projet d'arrêté du gouvernement wallon portant exécution des articles 2, 12, 16 et 38 de la loi du 30 décembre 1970 sur l'expansion économique

Mesure 1.1 du DOCUP Phasing-out, objectif n° 1 "Hainaut"

DOCUP objectif 2 "Meuse-Vesdre" et "Rural"

Budget: EUR 49578705 for DOCUP "Meuse-Vesdre" and EUR 14923190 for DOCUP "Rural"

Aid intensity or amount: Regions covered by Article 87(3)(c) of the EC Treaty:

- large firms: 20 % nge or 17,5 % nge, depending on the municipality

- SMEs: maximum admissible aid intensity: as for large firms, plus 10 percentage points gge

Other municipalities (Hainaut only):

- small firms: 15 % gge

- medium-sized firms: 7,5 % gge

Duration: Scheme expires on 31 December 2006

Other information: Scheme N 234/2000, approved on 30 November 2000

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: 11.12.2001

Member State: Spain

Aid No: N 630/01

Title: Capitalisation aid for technology based firms

Objective: To promote access to investment capital by small technologically innovative firms

Legal basis: Real Decreto por el que se regulan las bases y el régimen de funcionamiento de la línea de apoyo a la capitalización de empresas de base tecnológica y se realiza la convocatoria de las ayudas a que se refiere dicha línea

Duration: Until June 2003

Other information: Annual report

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: 7.11.2001

Member State: Ireland

Aid No: N 710/2000

Title: "Support for major attractors and for clusters of tourism attractions" (scheme No 1); "Support for special interest pursuits" (scheme No 2)

Objective: Regional aid

Legal basis: Tourist Traffic Acts 1939-1998

Budget: Scheme No 1: approximately EUR 77 million (IEP 61 million); scheme No 2: approximately EUR 46 million (IEP 36 million)

Aid intensity or amount: The maximum aid gross intensity ceilings will correspond to those mentioned in the Irish regional aid map for the period 2000-2006:

- plus 10 % for SMEs in south-east, mid-west, south-west, mid-east

- plus 15 % in border midlands west region

Duration: 2000-2006

Other information: Commitment to submit detailed annual report

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: 28.12.2001

Member State: Greece

Aid No: N 776/01

Title: International cooperation in industrial research and precompetitive development activity

Objective: Research and development

Legal basis: ΠΔ 274/2000, "Όροι, προϋποθέσεις και διαδικασία χρηματοδότησης (επιχορήγησης ή συνδρομής) έργων και προγραμμάτων που υποβάλλονται από βιομηχανικές ή άλλες παραγωγικές μονάδες" (ΕτΚ 225-17.10.2000)

Budget: EUR 4402054 for the period 2001-2006

Aid intensity or amount: Industrial, research projects: 50 % gge of the eligible costs

Precompetitive development activities: 35 % gge of the eligible cost in the case of large enterprises and 45 % gge in the cases of SMEs

Duration: 2001-2006

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