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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2003/C 284/02)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Date of adoption of the decision: 24.6.2003

Member State: Sweden

Aid No: N 40/03

Title: Measures to promote certain house building

Objective: Stimulation of the construction of smaller rented dwellings in Sweden's growth regions and of student accommodation at college and university sites

Legal basis: Proposition (/lagförslag)

Budget: Expenditure not determined (estimated absolute maximum net cost for the whole period of four years SKK 1,7 billion (EUR 184 million)

Aid intensity or amount: Reduction of the construction costs of property owners by reimbursing a certain amount of the paid Value Added Tax through tax account

Duration: 1 January 2003 to 31 December 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: 1.10.2003

Member State: Italy (Province of Trento)

Aid No: N 64/03

Title: Granting of aid in support of combined transport

Objective: To promote the development of rail combined transport in the territory of the Province of Trento through the reduction of the accessing costs to combined transport

Legal basis: Articolo 16 bis della legge provinciale del 9 luglio 1993 ("Disciplina dei servizi pubblici di trasporto in provincia di Trento"), come aggiunto dall'articolo 66 della legge provinciale 19 febbraio 2002, n. 1 ("Misure collegate con la manovra di finanza pubblica per l'anno 2002")

Budget: EUR 2000000 by year

Duration: 2003 to 2005

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: France (Lorraine)

Aid No: N 122/03

Title: Fonds d'industrialisation de la Lorraine (FIL)

Objective: De minimis - regional aid

Legal basis: Loi de Finance

Budget: EUR 9 million

Aid intensity or amount: - 15 % or 20 % nge in eligible areas

- de minimis aid outside eligible areas

Duration: Until end 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: 6.10.2003

Member State: Spain

Aid No: N 132/03

Title: Aid scheme to promote energy saving measures, energy efficiency and renewable energies - Navarra

Objective: Environmental aid

Legal basis: Proyecto de decreto foral

Budget: EUR 14000000. The annual budget is EUR 2 million. This budget can be increased in 20 % during the coming years. The total amount of aid referred to above is indicative or approximate

Aid intensity or amount: Gross 40 % (This 40 % of gross aid intensity can be increased in 5 percentage points since Navarra is a region partially assisted and then falling within the scope of 87(3)(c) of the EC Treaty. In addition, small and medium-sized enterprises can receive an additional bonus of 10 percentage points but the total intensity of the aid will not bypass 100 %)

Duration: From 31 December 2003 to 31 December 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: 7.10.2003

Member State: Spain (Ceuta)

Aid No: N 197/03

Title: Scheme of economic incentives for the promotion of entrepreneurial initiative in the Autonomous City of Ceuta

Objective: Regional development

Legal basis: Bases reguladoras para la concesión de subvenciones públicas a empresas beneficiarios del plan de incentivos económicos para el fomento de la iniciativa empresarial en la Ciudad Autónoma de Ceuta

Budget: EUR 600000

Aid intensity or amount: Gross 40 % (The intensity may increase in 15 percentage points when the beneficiaries of the aid are small and medium-sized entreprises)

Duration: From end 2003 to 31 December 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: 17.9.2003

Member State: Italy

Aid No: N 214/03

Title: Aid for productive investments by SMEs and large enterprises in regions eligible for regional aid

Objective: Regional development and SMEs

Legal basis: - legge n. 181 del 15.5.1989, articoli 5, 6, 7 et 8;

- legge n. 289 del 27.12.2002, articolo 73;

- direttiva del ministero dell'industria, del commercio e dell'artigianato del 23.3.2001;

- progetto di delibera del Comitato interministeriale per la programmazione economica (CIPE)

Budget: EUR 180 million (for the duration of the scheme)

Aid intensity or amount: Outside the scope of the multisectoral framework on regional aid for large investment projects (OJ C 70, 19.3.2002), the maximum intensity under the scheme is 8 %. This ceiling is raised by 10 percentage points gross for small enterprises and 6 percentage points gross for medium-sized enterprises. Outside regions eligible for regional aid, the aid intensity is 7,5 % gge for medium-sized enterprises and 15 % gge for small enterprises

Duration: Until 31 December 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: 3.9.2003

Member State: United Kingdom

Aid No: N 245/03 (modifying aid N 802/99 and N 228/02)

Title: Modification of State aid schemes "Research & Development Tax Credit for SMEs" and "Vaccines Research Relief"

Objective: To encourage overall spending on research and development activities by SMEs and on development of vaccines and drugs for the prevention and treatment of TB, malaria and HIV/AIDS by all companies in the United Kingdom

Legal basis: Schedule 20 Finance Act 2000 and Schedule 13 Finance Act 2002

Budget: Negligible in 2003/04 and GBP 10 million (EUR 14460000) in 2004/05 and 2005/06

Aid intensity or amount: Unchanged

Duration: Unchanged

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: 6.10.2003

Member State: United Kingdom

Aid No: N 284/03

Title: Waste Research and Innovation Programme and Waste Demonstrator Programme

Objective: To provide aid for the research and development of new waste treatment technologies and the demonstration of their viability in the United Kingdom operating conditions in order to encourage their use by the waste disposal authorities. The final objective is to reduce the amount of biodegradable waste disposed of to landfill in England

Legal basis: Environmental Protection Act 1990

Budget: GBP 38 million (EUR 55 million) (of which about GBP 3,5 million (EUR 5 million) in 2003/2004, GBP 15,5 million (EUR 22,5 million) in 2004/2005 and GBP 19 million (EUR 27 million) in 2005/2006)

Aid intensity or amount: For fundamental research by non-profit making higher education establishments or research institutes: max. 100 %;

For fundamental research by firms: max. 50 %;

For industrial research: max. 50 %;

For feasibility studies preparatory to industrial research: max. 50 %;

For pre-competitive development activity: max. 25 %.

The aid intensity can be increased by max:

- 10 percentage points when the aid is to be given to SMEs;

- 5 percentage points when the aid is to be given to enterprises in assisted Areas 87(3)(a) and 87(3)(c)

Duration: Three years

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: 17.9.2003

Member State: Italy

Aid No: N 322/03

Title: Fiat Auto and Comau training aid

Objective: Training aid

Aid intensity or amount: Training aid of EUR 38239650 in favour of Fiat Auto and training aid of EUR 5537573 in favour of Comau

Duration: 2003 to 2005

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: 25.9.2003

Member State: Italy (Sardinia)

Aid No: N 597/02

Title: Business start-up aid

Objective: Aid for SMEs - regional aid

Legal basis: Progetto di Deliberazione della Giunta regionale in ordine alle direttive di attuazione della misura 4,3 C del POR Sardegna 2000-2006

Budget: EUR 10 million

Aid intensity or amount: Interest subsidy estimated to be equivalent to 13,08 % gge; aid below limits laid down by the regional aid map

Duration: Until 31 December 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: 1.10.2003

Member State: Germany

Aid No: N 642/02

Title: Renewal of the joint task scheme "Improvement of the regional economic structure" in favour of firms in regions assisted under Article 87(3)(a) and (c) of the EC Treaty on the basis of Part II of the 31st outline plan

Objective: The scheme aims at the furthering of regional development by the award of aid for initial investment which creates or safeguards long-term jobs

Legal basis: Gesetz über die Gemeinschaftsaufgabe (GA) "Verbesserung der regionalen Wirtschaftsstruktur" vom 6. Oktober 1969 in Verbindung mit den einschlägigen Bestimmungen von Teil II des 31. Rahmenplans zur GA

Budget: The main part of some EUR 5 billion for 2004 to 2006

Aid intensity or amount: Aid intensities are granted in accordance with the approved German regional aid map for 2004 to 2006. SMEs qualify for the SME supplement

Duration: From 1 January 2004 until 31 December 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: 17.9.2003

Member State: Germany

Aid No: N 644/h/02

Title: Extension of municipal economic infrastructure under the joint scheme for improving regional economic structures, together with Part II, point 7 of the general plan

(h) Site development for, and promotion of, public tourist infrastructure

Objective: Regional development

Legal basis: Gesetz über die GA "Verbesserung der regionalen Wirtschaftsstruktur" vom 6. Oktober 1969 in Verbindung mit den einschlägigen Bestimmungen von Teil II Nummer 7 des jeweils geltenden Rahmenplans der GA "Verbesserung der regionalen Wirtschaftsstruktur"

Budget: Aid under the joint scheme (including for infrastructure measures) totals EUR 5 billion for 2004-06; only part of the aid is earmarked for this measure

Aid intensity or amount: The aid may represent up to 90 % of eligible costs

Duration: 1 January 2004 to 31 December 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: 5.3.2003

Member State: United Kingdom

Aid No: N 740/02

Title: Extension of the United Kingdom Coal Operating Aid Scheme and aid to the coal production for the period 24 July 2002 to 31 December 2002

Objective: To improve the economic viability of the production units by reducing the production costs

Legal basis: Plan for modernisation, rationalisation and restructuring of the United Kingdom coal industry and the United Kingdom Coal Operating Aid Scheme

Budget: GBP 2784810

Aid intensity or amount: To cover the difference between production costs and selling price

Duration: 24 July 2002 to 31 December 2002

Other information: The Commission has decided not to raise any objections to State aid N 740/02 - United Kingdom, extension of the United Kingdom Coal Operating Aid Scheme and aid to the coal production for the period 24 July 2002 to 31 December 2002, on the ground that the aid is compatible with Council Regulation No 1407/02 and Decision No 3632/93/ECSC

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: 13.10.2003

Member State: Germany

Aid No: NN 147/02 (ex N 735/02)

Title: Emergency Aid for Flood Disaster SME 2002

Objective: Aid to make good the damage caused by natural disasters

Legal basis: Richtlinie des Sächsischen Staatsministeriums für Wirtschaft und Arbeit über die Gewährung von Soforthilfen für die von der Hochwasserkatastrophe betroffenen kleinen und mittleren Unternehmen vom August 2002 im Freistaat Sachsen - Soforthilfe Hochwasserkatastrophe KMU 2002 - vom 19. August 2002

Aid intensity or amount: Compensation of damage

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