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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2004/C 28/02)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Date of adoption of the decision: 13.11.2002

Member State: Denmark

Aid No: NN 116/98

Title: Fiscal measures applicable to seafares on board Danish vessels

Objective: Reduction of manning costs in the maritime transport

Legal basis: Lov nr. 361, lov nr. 362, lov nr. 363 og lov nr. 364 af 1. juli 1988

Duration: No 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

Date of adoption of the decision: 10.12.2003

Member State: Germany

Aid No: NN 135/03

Title: Reduction of non-wage labour costs in the maritime transport sector

Objective: Safeguard employment of German seafarers on board of German merchant ships and preserve maritime know-how

Legal basis: Directive for the reduction of non-wage labour costs (social charges) in the German maritime shipping sector

Budget: EUR 27 million

Aid intensity or amount: Depending on the categories of seafarers

Duration: 12 months (1 January 2003 to 31 December 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: 16.10.2002

Member State: Finland

Aid No: N 195/02

Title: Act on taxation of shipping (Tonnage Tax)

Objective: Preserve competitiveness of the fleet and promote the maritime shipping "cluster" (employment of EC seafarers, preservation of maritime know-how in the EC and development of maritime skills and the improvement of safety)

Legal basis: Esitys tonnistoverolaiksi (HE 234/2001)

Budget: EUR 20 million per year

Aid intensity or amount: Under the Tonnage Tax, the corporation tax for each qualifying ship is to be calculated by reference to a fixed rate per 100 net tonnage per day as follows:

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Duration: No time limit

Other information: The Finnish authorities committed themselves to provide reports every two years on the achievement of the Tonnage Tax objectives

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: 16.12.2003

Member State: France

Aid No: N 211/03

Title: New free zones in urban areas (ZFU)

Legal basis: La loi de programmation pour la ville et la rénovation urbaine n° 2003-710 du 1er août 2003

Budget: Exemption from business tax in total: EUR 213 million over five years. Exemption from employers' social security contributions in total: EUR 363 million over five years

Duration: 1 January to 31 December 2008

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: 16.12.2003

Member State: Belgium

Aid No: N 274/03

Title: Foundation for durable development of fisheries

Objective: To establish the Foundation for durable development of fisheries and to finance measures acted out by the foundation, aimed at the rational and justified exploitation of the living aquatic resources on a durable basis

Legal basis: Loi de programme du 24 décembre 2002//Programmawet van 24 december 2002

Budget: EUR 2 million per year

Aid intensity or amount: Within the limits of Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999

Duration: 2003 and following 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: 10.12.2003

Member State: Italy

Aid No: N 311/03

Title: R & D support to investments in meta-districts in region Lombardia

Objective: The scheme aims to support competitiveness and develop specialised districts in the fields of food and other biotechnology, design, materials and fashion by encouraging undertakings and research centres to jointly or individually conduct these researches

Legal basis: Legge regionale del 24.3.2003 n. 3 articolo 2, comma 5 "Modifiche a leggi regionali in materiale di organizzazione, sviluppo economico, territorio e servizi alla persona"

Budget: The total budget of the scheme will presumably be EUR 90-110 million

Aid intensity or amount: For fundamental research: maximum 100 %; for industrial research: maximum 50 %; for pre-competitive development: maximum 25 %; for study costs preparatory to industrial research: maximum 75 %; for studies preparatory to pre-competitive development activities: maximum 50 %.

The aid intensity can be increased by max: 10 percentage points, as the aid is to be given to SMEs; 5 percentage points, as the aid is to be given to enterprises in 87(3)(c) assisted areas; 25 percentage points where the project also involves effective cross-border cooperation and where its results are widely disseminated; 15 percentage points if the research project is in accordance with the objectives of a specific project or programme undertaken as part of the Community's current framework programme for R & D; 10 percentage points if the project involves effective cross-border cooperation between independent partners and cooperation projects reflecting point 5(10)(4) of the R & D framework.

Altogether, including top-ups, not exceeding 75 % for industrial research and 50 % for pre-competitive development

Duration: The scheme has a maximum duration of 10 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: 12.12.2003

Member State: United Kingdom

Aid No: N 458/03

Title: Low Carbon Innovation Programme

Objective: R & D (support of new and emerging low carbon technologies)

Legal basis: Science and Technology Act 1965, Environmental Protection Act 1990

Budget: GBP 4 million (approximately EUR 5,8 million) in 2003/2004; GBP 7 million (EUR 10,2 million) in 2004/2005; GBP 3 million (EUR 4,4 million) in 2005/2006

Duration: Limited until 1 June 2008

Other information: The United Kingdom has to submit an annual report on the implementation of the scheme including the assessment of incentive effects in the case of aid granted to large companies

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: Austria

Aid No: N 471/02

Title: Sale of parts of DDSG to the City of Vienna and transfer to Wiener Hafen GmbH

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: 12.12.2003

Member State: Germany (Mecklenburg - Western Pomerania)

Aid No: N 492/03

Title: Programme of the Land of Mecklenburg - Western Pomerania to promote renewable energy - Extension of State aid N 800/2000

Objective: Environment/renewable energy

Legal basis: Richtlinie für die Gewährung von Zuwendungen des Landes Mecklenburg-Vorpommern zur verstärkten Nutzung zukunftsträchtiger Energietechniken; § 44 Absatz 1 der Landeshaushaltsordnung und der dazu ergangenen Verwaltungsvorschriften

Budget: EUR 2,38 million per year

Aid intensity or amount: 60 % maximum

Duration: Until 31 December 2006

Other information: Last approved under N 800/2000

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: 16.12.2003

Member State: The Netherlands

Aid No: N 506/03

Title: Energy tax exemption for energy intensive end-users

Objective: Compensation for additional tax burden for energy-intensive companies

Legal basis: Wet belastingen op milieugrondslag

Budget: EUR 21 million

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: 7.5.2003

Member State: Germany

Aid No: N 746/02 and N 747/02

Title: Aid to the coal industry for 2003 and a restructuring plan

Objective: Supporting the coal production in order to make a contribution to the objective of energy security and the need to continue the restructuring process of the coal industry

Legal basis: Council Regulation (EC) No 1407/2002 on State aid to the coal industry

Budget: EUR 3323,5 million for 2003

Aid intensity or amount: Aid for the reduction of activity and production aid covers the difference between production costs and selling price. Aid to cover exceptional costs covers the costs arising from or having arisen from the rationalisation and restructuring of the coal industry

Duration: 2003

Other information: The Commission has decided not to raise any objections to State aid N 746/02 and N 747/02 - Germany, aid to the coal industry for 2002 and a restructuring plan, on the ground that the aid is compatible with Council Regulation (EC) No 1407/2002 on State aid to the coal industry

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