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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2003/C 76/08)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Date of adoption of the decision: 11.3.2003.

Member State: Italian Republic.

Aid No: N 19/03.

Title: Extension of a scheme to reduce social charges in the maritime cabotage sector.

Objective: To promote the competitiveness of shipowners active in the maritime cabotage sector.

Legal basis: Legge 27 dicembre 2002, n. 289.

Budget: A maximum of EUR 20 million/year.

Aid intensity or amount: 25 %.

Duration: One year.

Other information: Extension of a scheme already approved by the Commission for the period 1999-2002.

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: 20.12.2002.

Member State: Germany (Lower Saxony).

Aid No: N 559/02.

Title: Guidelines concerning the granting of allocations in the context of the programme "Economy and Environment" allocated by the funds of business development - ecological scope.

Objective: To create more innovative methods of production which aim at the efficient use of natural resources and the substitution of environment-impairing materials.

Legal basis: §§ 23 und 24 der Niedersächsischen Landeshaushaltsordnung.

Budget: In the year 2003 up to EUR 3,359 million for grants and EUR 5,624 million for soft loans.

Aid intensity or amount: Up to 30 % gross of eligible costs, plus surcharge of 10 % gross for SMEs, plus 5 % gross for firms located in assisted regions.

Duration: Until 31.12.2007.

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: 27.11.2002.

Member State: Germany.

Aid No: N 565/02.

Title: BTU - Beteiligungskapital für kleine Technologieunternehmen.

Objective: R& D, SME, access to risk capital for small technology companies.

Legal basis: ERP-Haushaltsplangesetz.

Budget: EUR 195,2 million (no budget increase since last approval).

Duration: 30.6.2006.

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: 19.2.2003.

Member State: United Kingdom.

Aid No: N 588/02.

Title: Grant for long-distance coach services.

Objective: The scheme offers compensation. To the operators of scheduled long-distance coach services, conditional on them offering half-rate fare concessions to elderly and disabled passengers.

Legal basis: Section 154 of the Transport Act 2000.

Budget: GBP 12 million (EUR 18,7 million) annually.

Aid intensity or amount: Not applicable.

Duration: Permanent.

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: 15.11.2002.

Member State: Germany.

Aid No: N 633/02.

Title: Support of Innovative Networks - InnoNet.

Objective: To stimulate the collaboration especially between SMEs and research institutions and to promote the more rapid implementation of R& D results in marketable products, processes and services.

Legal basis: Bundeshaushaltsordnung.

Budget: EUR 13 million in 2003, EUR 16 million in 2004, EUR 20 million in 2005, EUR 25 million per year from 2006 on.

Aid intensity or amount: Measure mostly not constituting aid, very low intensity of possible aid effects.

Duration: 1.1.2003 until 31.12.2012.

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