EN Official Journal of the European Union C 138/24

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 for small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production of agricultural products

(2007/C 138/09)

XA Number: XA 39/07

Member State: Italy

Region: Sardinia

Title of aid scheme: Legge regionale 11 marzo 1998, n. 8, articolo 23 (aiuti per i danni alla produzione agricola) — Sostegno a favore degli allevatori per fronteggiare la blue tongue 2006 — Indennizzi per la perdita di reddito.

Legal basis: L. R. 11 marzo 1998, n. 8, articolo 23

Delibera della giunta regionale n. 49/30 del 28.11.2006 recante «Legge regionale 11 marzo 1998, n. 8, articolo 23 (aiuti per i danni alla produzione agricola) — Sostegno a favore degli allevatori per fronteggiare la febbre catarrale degli ovini nel 2006 — Indennizzi per la perdita di reddito — Spesa 300 000 EUR — CAP 06103 (UPB S 06.030) — F. R.»

Delibera della giunta regionale n. 54/4 del 28.12.2006 recante «Legge regionale 11 marzo 1998, n. 8, articolo 23 (aiuti per i danni alla produzione agricola) — Sostegno a favore degli allevatori per fronteggiare la febbre catarrale degli ovini del 2006 — Indennizzi per la perdita di reddito — Deliberazione 49/30 del 28.11.2006 — Estensione dell'aiuto alle nuove perdite — Spesa 300 000 EUR — CAP 06103 (UPB S 06.030) — F. R.»

Delibera della giunta regionale n. 7/10 del 20.2.2007 recante «Legge regionale 11 marzo 1998, n. 8, articolo 23 (aiuti per i danni alla produzione agricola) — Sostegno a favore degli allevatori per fronteggiare l'epidemia di “lingua blu” del 2006. Indennizzi per la perdita di reddito. Applicazione del regolamento di esenzione (CE) n. 1857/2006 della Commissione europea.»

Planned annual expenditure under the scheme: The total planned expenditure for 2006 is EUR 600 000.

Maximum aid intensity: Aid will amount to 70 % of the loss, calculated as follows:

Date of implementation: Entitlement to the aid will commence upon the death of the animals occurring from September 2006.

Duration of scheme: December 2010

Objective of aid: The aid will apply in accordance with Article 10 of the Regulation and is designed to compensate farmers for the loss of production following the death of the sheep and goats.

In view of the fact that sheep in Sardinia are raised primarily for the purpose of producing milk and given the seasonal nature of milk production amongst sheep in the region (generally between January and July), the loss of production is calculated for a period of one year, bearing in mind the difficulty with which animals can be replaced in the months following their death (because of the ban on moving animals and because no animals that could be used for production purposes will be available before the autumn of the year after the loss occurred).

The loss is calculated taking into account the value of lost production, net of intermediate costs not incurred by the farmer (purchase of forage and veterinary costs), with a distinction being made between non-purebred sheep and goats and those recorded in herd books (please refer to the explanatory table given under ‘Maximum aid intensity’).

Sector concerned: Animal production: sheep and goats

Name and address of the granting authority:

Regione autonoma della Sardegna Assessorato dell'Agricoltura e riforma agro-pastorale Via Pessagno, 4 I-09125 Cagliari

Website: http://www.regione.sardegna.it

XA number: XA 44/07

Member State: Belgium

Region: Flemish Authority: Department for Agriculture and Fisheries

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Vlaams Bedrijfspluimvee- en konijnenhouders vzw

Legal basis:

— 2 juni 1998 — Koninklijk besluit betreffende de zoötechnische en genealogische voorschriften voor de verbetering en de instandhouding van de pluimvee- en konijnenrassen, 17 maart 2005 — Ministerieel besluit houdende de erkenning en subsidiëring van organisaties in het kader van de aanmoediging en de verbetering van de pluimvee- en konijnenfokkerij,

— 2 juin 1998 — Arrêté royal du 2 juin 1998 relatif aux conditions zootechniques et généalogiques régissant l'amélioration et la conservation des races avicoles et cunicoles. 17 mars 2005 — Arrêté ministériel portant agrément et subventionnement des organisations dans le cadre de la promotion et de l'amélioration de l'élevage de volailles et de lapins.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 9 000

Maximum intensity of the aid: 100 % (granted by means of subsidised services)

Date of implementation:

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The subsidy is granted for the 2007 financial year.

Objective: To support small and medium-sized enterprises and sectoral development.

Article 15(2)(c): concerning advertisement services provided by third parties, that are not the costs of permanent or recurrent services, as is the company's normal business expenditure, e.g. on routine tax advice, regular legal services or advertising;

Economic sector(s) concerned: Poultry en rabbits

Name and address of the granting authority:

Departement Landbouw en Visserij Duurzame Landbouwontwikkeling Ellips, 6e verdieping Koning Albert II laan 35, bus 40 B-1030 Brussel

Website: http://www2.vlaanderen.be/ned/sites/landbouw/dier/pluim.html

Other information: —

Jules Van Liefferinge

Secretary-General

XA number: XA 47/07

Member State: Belgium

Region: Flemish Authority: Department for Agriculture and Fisheries

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Vlaamse rundveeteeltvereniging vzw

Legal basis:

— 23 september 1971 — Koninklijk besluit betreffende de verbetering van het rundveeras, 27 februari 1991 — Ministerieel besluit betreffende de verbetering van het rundveeras,

— 23 septembre 1971 — Arrêté royal relatif à l'amélioration de l'espèce bovine. 27 février 1991 — Arrêté ministériel relatif à l'amélioration de l'espèce bovine.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 1 194 000

Maximum intensity of the aid: Article 16(1)(a): aid at a rate of up to 100 % to cover the administrative costs of the establishment and maintenance of herd books;

Article 16(1)(b): aid at a rate of up to 70 % of the costs of tests performed by or on behalf of third parties, to determine the genetic quality or yield of livestock; There is no exemption for aid granted to cover the costs of checks undertaken by the owner of the livestock and routine checks on milk quality.

Date of implementation:

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The subsidy is granted for the 2007 financial year.

Objective: To support small and medium-sized enterprises and sectoral development.

Article 16(1)(a): aid at a rate of up to 100 % to cover the administrative costs of the establishment and maintenance of herd books;

Article 16(1)(b): aid at a rate of up to 70 % of the costs of tests performed by or on behalf of third parties, to determine the genetic quality or yield of livestock; there is no exemption for aid granted to cover the costs of checks undertaken by the owner of the livestock and routine checks on milk quality.

Economic sector(s) concerned: Cattle

Name and address of the granting authority:

Departement Landbouw en Visserij Duurzame Landbouwontwikkeling Ellips, 6e verdieping Koning Albert II laan 35, bus 40 B-1030 Brussel

Website: http://www2.vlaanderen.be/ned/sites/landbouw/dier/rund.html

Other information: —

Jules Van Liefferinge

Secretary-General

XA Number: XA 49/07

Member State: Italy

Region: Lazio

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Agevolazioni a favore di PMI per l'acquisto o il leasing di nuove macchine utensili o di produzione

Legal basis: Deliberazione della giunta regionale n. 115 del 27.2.2007, pubblicata sul Bollettino Ufficiale della Regione Lazio (parte I e II) n. 9 del 30 marzo 2007, attuativa della legge 28.11.1965, n. 1329 (c.d. ‘legge Sabatini’) e s.m.i

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 10 million (1).

Maximum aid intensity: Up to 40 % of eligible investments, or 50 % of eligible investments in less-favoured areas or those areas referred to in Article 36(a)(i), (ii) and (iii) of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, designated as such by Member States in accordance with Articles 50 and 94 of that Regulation. In any event the overall amount of aid granted to an individual company must not exceed EUR 400 000 over a three-year period, or EUR 500 000 if the company is located in a less-favoured area or an area referred to in Article 36(a)(i), (ii) and (iii) of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, designated as such by Member States in accordance with Articles 50 and 94 of that Regulation.

Date of implementation: The day after Regional Government Decision No 115 of 27 February 2007 is published on the website of the body managing the aid (MCC spa) www.incentivi.mcc.it (2)

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Unlimited. However the aid scheme is exempt from the notification obligation under Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty until 31 December 2013, when the validity of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 is due to expire, unless extended.

Objective of aid: Aid for investment — the purpose of the aid scheme is to provide an incentive for the purchase or leasing of new production machines or tools in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation 1857/2006 via an interest rate subsidy.

Sector(s) concerned: All sectors eligible for aid to SMEs under Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Direzione regionale Attività produttive Via Cristoforo Colombo, 212 I-00147 Roma Tel. (39) 06 51 68 37 75, Fax (39) 06 51 68 37 73 E-mail: nconsole@regione.lazio.it

Website: www.incentivi.mcc.it

Other information: The aid scheme was previously approved by the Commission by letter No D/55254 of 18 October 2000 — Aid N 659/A/97.

XA Number: XA 51/07

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: England — Dorset (including Bournemouth and Poole unitary authority areas)

Title of Aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Dorset Agricultural Advisory Service

Legal basis: Local Government Act 2000 (Part I)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: 23 June 2007-31 March 2008: GBP 69 000

1 April 2008-30 September 2008: GBP 31 000

Maximum aid intensity: The aid intensity is 100 %.

Date of implementation: The scheme will start on 23 June 2007.

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The scheme will begin on 23 June 2007. It will close on the 30 September 2008. The last payment will be made 10 October 2008

Objective of aid: The objective of the aid is sectoral development for land based business sector. The aid is being implemented under Article 15 of Regulation 1857/2006. The eligible costs are consultancy services.

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to production of agricultural products

Name and address of the granting authority: The statutory body responsible for the scheme is:

Dorset County Council

County Hall

Colliton Park

Dorchester DT1 1XJ

United Kingdom

The organisation operating the scheme is:

Dorset Agricultural Advisory Service

Stinsford Business Centre

Kingston Maurward College

Dorchester

Dorset DT 1 8PY

United Kingdom

Web-Address: www.kmc.ac.uk/daas

The State aid papers can be found under the newsletters section of the site.

Alternatively information on this scheme can be found on the Defra website on State aid issues on the web address below

www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/state-aid/setup/exist-exempt.htm

Other information: Further and more detailed information relating to eligibility and rules for the scheme can be found in the web links above

Aid for agricultural processing and marketing and non-agricultural business activities will be provided in accordance with EC Regulation 1998/2006 which governs the granting of de minimis aid. De minimis aid is specific category of aid which does not require authorisation by the European Commission. Such support is limited to EUR 200 000 (approximately GBP 120 000) over three years for each business and can cover any type of activity.

Any non-agricultural business applying to the service will need to provide the DAAS with details of any such support they have received from any central or local Government source or other public funds over the last 3 years.

Businesses which have already received aid up to these limits will not be eligible for the DAAS.

Signed and dated on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (UK competent authority)

Neil Marr

Agricultural State Aid

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Area 8B, 9 Millbank

C/o Nobel House

17 Smith Square

Westminster

London SW1P 3JR

United Kingdom

XA Number: XA 52/07

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: England

Title of Aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Conservation Advice Programme — Practical advice for land managers (England)

Legal basis: The scheme is non-statutory. The Agriculture Act 1986 (section 1) provides the legal base for the provision by Government of advice in connection with any agricultural activity.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: 1 July 2007-30 June 2008: GBP 980 000

Maximum aid intensity: The aid intensity is 100 %.

Date of implementation: The scheme will start on 1 July 2007

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The scheme will begin on 1 July 2007. It will close on 30 June 2008. The last date for applications is 15 October 2007. The last payment will be made on 15 February 2008.

Objective of aid: Sectoral development. This is a programme for practising farmers. The purpose of the programme, consisting of a range of conferences, workshops, farm walks, self help group meetings, training seminars and on-farm demonstration activities and events, is to help farmers understand current issues that may impact upon their businesses such as the introduction of new Environmental Stewardship Schemes and what they mean in terms of management requirements. This will increase the professionalism of the sector. The aid will be paid in line with Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 and the eligible costs will be costs of organising and delivering training programmes. No payments will be made direct to the beneficiary.

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to businesses active in the production of agricultural products only.

Name and address of the granting authority: The statutory body responsible for the scheme is:

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

C/o Nobel House

17 Smith Square

London SW1P 3JR

United Kingdom

The organisation operating the scheme is:

Natural England

Land Management & Advisory Services

Eastbrook

Shaftesbury Road

Cambridge

CambsCB2 8DR

United Kingdom

Web-Address: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/planning/farming-wildlife/docs/StateAidConservationAdvice.pdf

Click on ‘Farming Activities Programme (England)’. Alternatively, you can go to the UK's central website for agricultural State aids

www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/state-aid/setup/exist-exempt.htm

Other information: Further and more detailed information relating to eligibility and rules for the scheme can be found in the web links above. Aid to agricultural processing and marketing businesses and non-agricultural businesses will be paid with regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1998/2006 on de minimis aid.

Signed and dated on behalf of the Department For Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (UK competent authority)

Neil Marr

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Area 8B 9 Millbank

C/o Nobel House

17 Smith Square

Westminster

London SW1P 3JR

United Kingdom

(1) The figure for annual expenditure includes expenditure provided for under the scheme with the same legal basis designed for SMEs covered by Regulation (EC) No 70/2001, as amended, (including aid for investment in the processing and marketing of agricultural products).

(2) The Decision referred to above will be published on the above website within ten working days of sending this sheet to the European Commission.