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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2003/C 236/06)

Date of adoption of the decision: 24.7.2003

Member State: Denmark

Aid No: N 18/03

Title: Fund for Organic farming

Objective: The purpose of the Fund for Organic farming is to promote organic agricultural production by providing support for marketing, research and experimentation, Product development, and consultation

Legal basis: Lov om administration af EF's forordninger om fælles markedsordninger for landbrugsprodukter

Vedtægter for fonden for økologisk landbrug

Administrative instrukser om produktion og promillefondene inden for landbrug og gartneri

Revisionsinstrukser om produktion og promillefondene inden for landbrug og gartneri

Budget: DKK 10968512 (EUR 1476107) for 2003

Aid intensity or amount: 80 % of the costs for all measures; except for marketing measures, where the aid intensity is 50 %

Duration: 2003-2009

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: 24.7.2003

Member State: The Netherlands

Aid No: N 42/A/03

Title: Compensation of damages due to the flooding of the Meuse

Objective: Compensating damages caused by a nautral disaster

Legal basis: Wet van 25 mei 1998 houdende regels over tegemoetkoming in de schade en de kosten ingeval van overstromingen door zoet water, aardbevingen of andere rampen en zware ongevallen

Budget: Not available

Aid intensity or amount: Less than 100 %

Duration: 2003

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: 17.7.2003

Member State: France

Aid No: N 107/03

Title: Aid for the sheepfarming sector

Objective: To boost the sheepfarming sector

Budget: EUR 6 million per year

Aid intensity or amount: Variable

Duration: 3 years

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: 24.7.2003

Member State: Italy (Tuscany)

Aid No: N 126/03

Title: Roads of wine, extra-virgin olive oil and agri-food products

Objective: This aid scheme is designed to provide public funding for setting up the infrastructure of the Roads and carry out a number of promotional activities with a view to enhancing agri-food tourism in the area

Legal basis: Proposta di legge di iniziativa della giunta regionale n. 17/02. N. proposta al Consiglio 221/2002, approvata dal Consiglio, Atti del Consiglio n. 11

Budget: The public contribution will be EUR 100000 for the year 2004, to be determined by budgetary law afterwards

Aid intensity or amount: For promotional measures: 40 % or 50 % of eligible costs; For all other measures: aid is granted under the de minimis Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 69/2001)

Duration: Unlimited

Other information: The Italian authorities have engaged to submit a report on the implementation of the scheme, including representative samples of advertising material used

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: 23.7.2003

Member State: Spain (Navarre)

Aid No: N 129/03

Title: Assistance for the costs of BSE tests

Objective: To protect animal and human health by granting assistance for the costs of BSE tests

Legal basis: Proyecto de orden Foral por la que se establecen ayudas públicas en relación con las pruebas de detección de las encefalopatias espongiformes transmisibles

Budget: EUR 400000 per year

Aid intensity or amount: Up to 100 % of the costs with a maximum EUR 40 per test

Duration: Until 2013

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: 23.7.2003

Member State: Sweden

Aid No: N 164/03

Title: Aid for TSE and BSE tests

Objective: The aim of the aid measure is to perform BSE and TSE tests on sheep, goats and those bovine animals that constitute a risk, in order to protect animal and human health

Legal basis: Riksdagens beslut avseende regeringens proposition 2002/2003:1. Budgetpropositionen för år 2003

Budget: The cost is estimated at SEK 22 million (approx. EUR 2,4 million) per year

Aid intensity or amount: 100 %

Duration: The scheme will begin in 2003. Prolongation will be the subject of yearly decisions by the Swedish Parliament. However, the scheme will not continue beyond 2013

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: 15.7.2003

Member State: France

Aid No: N 171/03

Title: Insurance against agricultural risks

Objective: To promote the development of insurance against agricultural risks

Legal basis: Projet de Décret fixant pour 2003 les modalités d'application de l'article L.361-8 du livre III (nouveau) du code rural en vue de favoriser le développement de l'assurance contre certains risques agricoles

Budget: EUR 10 million

Aid intensity or amount: Maximum 50 %

Duration: 1 year

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: 23.7.2003

Member State: France

Aid No: N 215/A/02

Title: Aid from Hautes-Pyrénées General Council

Objective: To help improve farm revenues and farmers' living, working and production conditions

Budget: EUR 664305 per year

Aid intensity or amount: 40-50 % of the cost of investment

Duration: Unspecified

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: 23.7.2003

Member State: Italy (Piemonte)

Aid No: N 268/03

Title: Modification of Commission Decision SG(03) 229602 of 5.5.2003 concerning aid N 428/01 "Regional Law of 25.5.2001. Setting-up of a compulsory consortium for the disposal or recycling of animal waste"

Objective: To increase the aid rate for fallen stock up to 100 % from 1 January 2004 onwards for the removal of fallen stock, which has to be disposed of, and for the destruction of such carcasses, where there is an obligation to perform TSE tests on the animals concerned

Legal basis: Legge regionale 25.5.2001 "Costituzione del Consorzio obbligatorio per lo smaltimento ed il recupero dei rifiuti di origine animale provenienti da allevamenti ed industrie alimentari"

Budget: About Euro 6,5 million for the first year

Aid intensity or amount: As specified in the letter to the Member State

Duration: Undetermined. For fallen stock disposal and insurance polices linked to it, duration is limited to that set in the Community guidelines for State aid concerning TSE tests, fallen stock and slaughterhouse waste

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: 23.7.2003

Member State: Germany (Nordrhein-Westfalen)

Aid No: N 442/02

Title: Promoting sales of agriculture and food sector products in North Rhine-Westphalia

Objective: To open up, secure and expand the market segment for high-quality agricultural products

Legal basis: Richtlinien über die Förderung des Absatzes land- und ernährungswirtschaftlicher Erzeugnisse in Nordrhein-Westfalen

Budget: EUR 1 million per year

Aid intensity or amount: Advertising measures: Up to 50 % direct aid. Publicity, consultancy services, training and participation in trade fairs, exhibitions and marketing concepts: Up to EUR 100000 within 3 years

Duration: Indefinite

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: 23.7.2003

Member State: France

Aid No: N 649/02

Title: Start-up aid for producer groups in the horticultural sector

Objective: To raise producer awareness of the need for structuring

Budget: EUR 76224 in 2002, rising to around EUR 230000 in 2003 and following years subject to available budget appropriations

Aid intensity or amount: The amount of aid will be calculated in such a way that it does not exceed 100 % of the real costs of setting up and operating the groups in the first year, 80 % in the second year, 60 % in the third year, 40 % in the fourth year and 20 % in the fifth year

Duration: Five years

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: 23.7.2003

Member State: Italy (Sardinia)

Aid No: N 662/01

Title: Aid to livestock farmers to compensate losses due to bluetongue

Objective: Aid to compensate the loss of income suffered by livestock farmers as a result of implementation of the plan for the prevention and eradication of bluetongue

Legal basis: Deliberazione della Giunta Regionale n. 29/10 del 4.9.2001 "Interventi a favore degli allevatori per fronteggiare l'epizoozia denominata 'febbre catarrale degli ovini (Blue tongue)' -sostegno agli allevatori di bovini per i danni conseguenti al divieto di movimentazione"

Budget: EUR 15493710

Aid intensity or amount: EUR 231,09 per animal

Duration: One-off aid

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: 23.7.2003

Member State: United Kingdom

Aid No: N 716/02

Title: Meat Quality Advertising Scheme (Wales)

Objective: The purpose of the scheme is to advertise the advantages of eating red meat (bovine, ovine and porcine) and red meat products. The advertising will take place in the United Kingdom, in the European Union outside the UK, and in third countries

Legal basis: Part 1 and Schedule 1 of the Agriculture Act 1967/Section 1 of the Welsh Development Act

Budget: 2002/2003: GBP 2,00 million (approximately EUR 2973000)

2003/2004: GBP 2,10 million (approximately EUR 3122000)

2004/2005: GBP 2,15 million (approximately EUR 3196000).

The scheme will be financed mainly by funds derived from the Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC) parafiscal levies and grants from the Welsh Development Agency (WDA)

Aid intensity or amount: Up to 100 %

Duration: From the date of the Commission's approval until 31 March 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: 24.7.2003

Member State: France

Aid No: N 722/02

Title: Aid for measures advertising agricultural products - department of Vendée

Objective: To safeguard and promote regional agricultural production, raise awareness of local products and inform consumers of the typical characteristics of these products

Budget: EUR 100000 per year

Aid intensity or amount: Maximum 50 %

Duration: Five years

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: 23.7.2003

Member State: Italy (Tuscany)

Aid No: NN 44/03 (ex N 6/03)

Title: Programme for the promotion of agricultural resources 2003

Objective: This aid scheme is designed to provide public funding for the promotion and advertising of Tuscany's quality agricultural products (PDO, PGI, organic products and products from integrated agriculture)

Legal basis: Legge regionale n. 28 del 14.4.1997, come modificata dalla legge regionale n. 35 del 20.3.2000

Delibera della Giunta Regionale n. 1198 del 4.11.2002

Budget: The overall public contribution will be EUR 1687000

Aid intensity or amount: - For promotional measures: up to 100 % of eligible costs;

- For advertising measures: up to 50 % of eligible costs (up to 80 % in the case of measures to be implemented outside the EU)

Duration: One year (2003)

Other information: The Italian authorities have engaged to submit a report on the implementation of the scheme, including representative samples of advertising material used

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: 23.7.2003

Member State: Ireland

Aid No: NN 118/02

Title: Thoroughbred Foal Levy

Objective: Provision of technical assistance to breeders, breeding stock and their foals born in Ireland and market development and promotion of sales of bloodstock in Ireland

Legal basis: The Irish Horseracing Industry Act, 1994, as modified by Section 5 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing (Betting Charges and Levies) Act, 1999 and The Thoroughbred Foal Ley Regulation, 2000

Budget: Approximately EUR 1 million/year

Aid intensity or amount: Variable from 12 % to 100 %. No individual beneficiary could receive aid in excess of EUR 100000 in any three-year period

Duration: No time limit

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