EN Official Journal of the European Union C 50/7

Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production of agricultural products and amending Regulation (EC) No 70/2001

(2008/C 50/05)

XA Number: XA 232/07

Member State: Slovak Republic

Region: —

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Schéma štátnej pomoci poskytovanej formou odpustenia sankcie alebo povolenia úľavy zo sankcie podľa § 103 zákona SNR č. 511/1992 Zb. o správe daní a poplatkov a o zmenách v sústave územných finančných orgánov v znení neskorších predpisov – poskytovanie štátnej pomoci malým a stredným podnikom pôsobiacim v prvotnej výrobe poľnohospodárskych výrobkov

Legal basis:

— § 103 zákona č. 511/1992 Zb. o správe daní a poplatkov a o zmenách v sústave územných finančných orgánov v znení neskorších predpisov

— Zákon č. 231/1999 Z. z. o štátnej pomoci v znení neskorších predpisov

— Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 of 15 December 2006 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production of agricultural products and amending Regulation (EC) No 70/2001, published in OJ L 358, 16.12.2006, p. 3

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The estimated amount of State aid which will be provided under the scheme to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the primary production of agricultural products will be about SKK 30 million in 2007 and SKK 50 million annually from 2008 to 2013

Maximum aid intensity:

(a) 50 % of eligible investments in less-favoured areas or in areas referred to in Article 36(a)(i), (ii) and (iii) of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) (OJ L 277, 21.10.2005, p. 1), as designated by Member States in accordance with Articles 50 and 94 of that Regulation;

(b) 40 % of eligible investments in other regions;

(c) 60 % of eligible investments in less-favoured areas or in areas referred to in Article 36(a)(i), (ii) and (iii) of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, as designated by Member States in accordance with Articles 50 and 94 of that Regulation, and 50 % in other regions, in the case of investments made by young farmers within five years of setting up;

(d) 75 % of eligible investments in regions referred to in apoint (a) and 60 % in other regions where investments result in extra costs relating to the protection and improvement of the environment, the improvement of hygiene conditions of livestock enterprises or the welfare of farm animals. This increase may only be granted for investments which go beyond the minimum Community requirements in force, or for investments made to comply with newly introduced minimum standards. The increase must be limited to the extra eligible costs necessary and must not apply in the case of investments which result in an increase in production capacity.

The maximum amount of aid granted to an individual enterprise must not exceed EUR 400 000 over any period of three fiscal years, or EUR 500 000 if the enterprise is situated in a less-favoured area or in an area referred to in Article 36(a)(i), (ii) or (iii) of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, as designated by Member States in accordance with Articles 50 and 94 of that Regulation

Date of implementation: September 2007

Duration of scheme or individual aid: Until 31 December 2013

Objective of aid: Investment projects of small and medium-sized enterprises active in the primary production of agricultural products, as specified in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production of agricultural products and amending Regulation (EC) No 70/2001

Economic sector(s) concerned: Agricultural primary production (Annex I to the Treaty establishing the European Community)

Name and address of the granting authority:

Ministerstvo financií SR Štefanovičova 5 SK-817 82 Bratislava Tel. (421) 02 59 58 11 11

Daňové riaditeľstvo SR Nová ulica 13 SK-975 04 Banská Bystrica Tel. (421) 04 84 39 31 11

Title: Miestne príslušné daňové úrady, ktorých pôsobnosť je ustanovená zákonom č. 150/2001 Z. z. o daňových orgánoch a ktorým sa mení a dopĺňa zákon č. 440/2000 Z. z. o správach finančnej kontroly v znení neskorších predpisov

Address: www.drsr.sk/daňová správa/územné členenie-kontakty

Website address: http://www.drsr.sk/drsr/slovak/legislativa/statna_pomoc/schpp.doc

www.finance.gov.sk

Further information: —

Igor ŠULAJ

Director-General, Tax Directorate of the Slovak Republic

XA Number: XA 234/07

Member State: France

Region: Languedoc-Roussillon (Conseil régional et Conseils généraux de la région Languedoc-Roussillon)

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Programme d'appui à la création et à la transmission des exploitations en agriculture (PACTE Agriculture): volet investissements et dispositifs départementaux de soutien à l'installation en agriculture

Legal basis:

— Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 of 20 September 2005,

— Commission Regulation (EC) No 1974/2006 of 15 December 2006,

— Articles 13 to 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006,

— Articles 1511-1 et suivants, article 4211-1 du code général des collectivités territoriales,

— Délibération no 01.24 du Conseil régional du 22 juillet 2005

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 2 300 000

Maximum aid intensity: This aid scheme is the continuation of scheme XA 98/06, in conjunction with aid scheme XA 25/07 PIDIL (programme d'installation et de développement des initiatives locales [programme for setting up and developing local initiatives]). The aid scheme will take the form of overall support for start-up plans submitted by candidates under the age of 40 who are setting up for the first time away from the family farm or on a family farm in need of support (1), already have or are in the process of acquiring the necessary professional skills and are submitting an economic development project in the Languedoc-Roussillon region.

In particular, the scheme provides for the following:

For the region and the departments: working capital aid or a local supplement to the Young Farmers Grant amounting to between EUR 5 000 and EUR 10 000, subject to the limits set by Article 22 of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005.

For the region: aid amounting to 30 % for investments of over EUR 15 000 (excluding tax), up to a ceiling of EUR 4 600.

For the region: a repayable advance of 35 % for investments of less than EUR 15 000 (excluding tax).

For the region: aid for deferred land purchases amounting to 80 % of the carrying cost, up to a ceiling of EUR 10 000.

Subject to the funding conditions laid down by the PIDIL programme, technical and financial support is routinely provided during the first three years after start-up

Date of implementation: From confirmation of receipt by the Commission

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Ends 31 December 2013

Objective of aid: In accordance with Articles 4, 7 and 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006, the objective is to encourage young farmers to set up small and medium-sized agricultural holdings.

In this way, the region and the departments hope to encourage generational renewal in farming, so as to maintain the number of active farmers and thus boost the regional economy. With agriculture employing 6 % of the working population in the region, it is an economic sector to be sustained and developed. Both PACTE-agriculture and the departmental measures will support competitiveness in rural areas and will therefore contribute to maintaining and creating jobs in those areas.

The investment section of PACTE-agriculture is designed to provide financial start-up support by allowing farmers to invest in the heavy equipment needed to start up a farm.

The eligibility criteria for PACTE-agriculture are based on the national eligibility criteria for start-up aid. This is intended to ensure that aid grants from the State, the Regional Council and the Local Councils complement each other.

Capital investments of less than EUR 15 000 must be investments that are vital to the start-up and are intended to improve working conditions on the holding. The aid will take the form of a repayable advance with a grant equivalent of no more than EUR 1 000. Failure to repay the advance will lead to the regional authority demanding full repayment of all aid received under the PACTE-agriculture scheme.

Each application is subjected to a system of routine checks, which was set up in conjunction with the DDAFs (Departmental Agriculture and Forestry Directorates) in order to avoid any duplication of funding, particularly with regard to investment aid. Consequently, if an aid application for investments of over EUR 15 000 is submitted to the State under the PIDIL programme, an equivalent aid application submitted under the PACTE-agriculture scheme will be rejected, and vice versa

Sector(s) concerned: All candidates wishing to start up in the region, all areas and all sectors of agricultural production

Name and address of the granting authority:

Monsieur le Président du Conseil Régional Languedoc-Roussillon Direction de l'Economie Rurale, Littorale et Touristique — Service Gestion de l'Espace Rural et Littoral 201, avenue de la Pompignane F-34064 Montpellier Cedex 2

Website address: http://www.cr-languedocroussillon.fr/3502-installation-en-agriculture.htm

XA Number: XA 235/07

Member State: Latvia

Region: —

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Atbalsta shēma “Atbalsts bioloģiskās lauksaimniecības veicināšanai”

Legal basis: Noteikumi par valsts atbalstu lauksaimniecībai un tā piešķiršanas kārtību, kas izdoti saskaņā ar Lauksaimniecības un lauku attīstības likuma 5. pantu

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The total amount available under the aid scheme is LVL 600 000

Maximum aid intensity: —

Date of implementation:

Duration of aid scheme or of individual aid:

Objective of aid: The purpose of the aid measure is to foster the development of organic farming.

The aid will be used to provide theoretical and practical training for those involved in the production of organic farming produce, so as to foster the development of organic farming. As part of the training, seminars will be organised both in Latvia and abroad. Competitions, open days and seminars will be organised on farms in order to promote organic farming.

Aid may be granted to cover 100 % of the following eligible costs:

1.1. costs of organising the training programme;

1.2. travel and subsistence expenses of participants;

2.1. participation fees;

2.2. travel costs;

2.3. costs of publications;

2.4. the rent of exhibition premises;

This is in conformity with Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006

Economic sector(s) concerned: The aid is intended for small and medium-sized enterprises

Name and address of institution responsible:

Latvijas Republikas Zemkopības ministrija LV-1981 Riga

Website address: http://www.zm.gov.lv/index.php?sadala=836&id=5261

Other information: —

XA Number: XA 236/07

Member State: Ireland

Region: Entire Member State

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Livestock Expo 2008

Legal basis: National Development Plan 2007-2013

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 511 000 for Livestock Expo 2008

Maximum aid intensity: Up to 100 % of eligible costs

Date of implementation: September 2007

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: September 2007-December 2008

Objective of aid: International Show of Pedigree cattle entitled Livestock Expo 2008. The primary objective of Livestock Expo 2008 is a forum to share knowledge and information in relation to pedigree livestock, their semen, ova and embryos. The proposed event would give cattle breeders the opportunity to showcase the technologically advanced testing and genetic evaluation systems in operation and to allow the dissemination of knowledge between farming businesses.

This aid is provided in accordance with Article 15(2)(c), Article 15(2)(d)(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), and Article 15(2)(f) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 — Provision of technical support for the agricultural sector.

Eligible costs will be those associated with:

consultancy services provided by third parties,

the organisation of and participation in competitions, trade fairs, shows and forums to share knowledge between businesses which will include participation fees, travel costs, costs of publications, the rent of exhibition premises and other organisational costs,

general information about pedigree livestock, their semen, ova and embryos,

publications such as catalogues or websites containing impartial information about pedigree livestock, their semen, ova and embryos, provided all producers are given an equal opportunity to be included in the publication or website

Sector(s) concerned: Bovines — beef

Name and address of the granting authority:

Department of Agriculture and Food Agriculture House Kildare Street Dublin 2, Ireland

Website address: http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/Livestock_Expo

(Conditions of the Scheme will be available on this weblink when the scheme is to be implemented)

(1) Whether the holding is in need of support is assessed on the basis of the situation before the takeover. If the farm fails to meet the viability criteria before the takeover and the candidate demonstrates that modernisation/adaptation/expansion will enable it to become viable within three years, the need for support is deemed to have been substantiated.