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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2002/C 177/03)

Date of adoption of the decision: 24.6.2002

Member State: Germany

Aid No: N 56/02

Title: Investment aid for animal welfare appropriate rearing methods

Objective: Improvement of animal welfare standards in chicken rearing. The notified draft directive provides aid towards investments whose purpose is to transform existing chicken rearing facilities in order to adopt alternative rearing techniques within the meaning of paragraph 13 of Tierschutz-Nutztierhaltungsverordnung

Legal basis: Entwurf der Richtlinien des Bundesministeriums für Verbraucherschutz, Ernährung und Landwirtschaft für ein Bundesprogramm "tiergerechte Haltungsverfahren"

Budget: EUR 12782000 in 2002

Aid intensity or amount: The aid is given in form of a reduced-interest loan from Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank. Such loans must amount to at least EUR 10000 and may not exceed EUR 500000. The reduction of interest is at the most 5 %, and the loans must bear a minimum interest of 2 %. The interest subsidy may not exceed 30 % of the eligible investment costs

Duration: The measure would be applied 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: 24.6.2002

Member State: Italy

Aid No: N 211/02

Title: Loi nationale 122/01 article 5, par 7 "Modification de la Discipline agricole et des forêts"

Objective: Investment aid, publicity and promotion and quality certification

Legal basis: Articolo 5 comma 7 della Legge 17.3.2001 n. 122 "Disposizioni modificative e integrative alla normativa che disciplina il settore agricolo e forestale"

Budget: ITL 160 billion (approximately EUR 80 million)

Aid intensity or amount: Depending on the measure

Duration: 2002-2003

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: 24.6.2002

Member State: Italy (Umbria)

Aid No: N 721/01

Title: Protection of indigenous genetic resources of agricultural interest

Objective: To protect the regions's zootechnical and plant heritage

Legal basis: Legge regionale n. 25/2001: "Tutela delle risorse genetiche autoctone di interesse agricolo"

Budget: EUR 25823 in 2002; budget for following years to be laid down in annual finance law

Aid intensity or amount: Unspecified

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: 24.6.2002

Member State: Sweden

Aid No: N 816/01

Title: Aid towards crop management plans

Objective: To help farmers set up crop management plans. A crop management plan is a form in which the farmer each year records his plan concerning the use of his/her arable land and, after harvest, notes how the plan has been followed. The plan includes information on soil quality, use of crops on each plot as well as the amounts of seed, fertiliser and plan protection chemicals used. The plans would be drafted and followed up with the help of consultants who also perform the necessary tests to establish e.g. the quality of soil as well as the need of fertilisers and plant protection chemicals. The farmers would also receive training to help them to draft, analyse and follow up crop management plans without consultants after the commitment period

Legal basis: Ett regeringsdekret om stöd för växtodlingsplaner

Budget: Maximum SEK 280 million (approximately EUR 30536350) per year, nationally financed

Aid intensity or amount: SEK 100 or approximately EUR 11 per hectare and year

Duration: From 2002 until 2004

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