EN Official Journal of the European Union C 265/7

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

(2007/C 265/08)

XA Number: XA 138/07

Member State: Germany

Region: Freistaat Sachsen

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Förderrichtlinie des Sächsischen Staatsministeriums für Umwelt und Landwirtschaft zur Förderung der Tierzucht (Förderrichtlinie Tierzucht — RL TZ/2007)

Legal basis: Förderrichtlinie des Sächsischen Staatsministeriums für Umwelt und Landwirtschaft zur Förderung der Tierzucht (Förderrichtlinie Tierzucht — RL TZ/2007)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 2,3 million annually

Maximum aid intensity:

— Keeping of herd books by recognised breeders' associations: 80 % (maximum EUR 80 000).

— Performance tests and breeding-value assessments as part of breeding programmes: 70 %.

— Organising breeding-animal shows: 70 % (maximum EUR 33 000).

— Improving the genetic quality of livestock as part of the projects described under ‘objective of aid’: 60 %.

Date of implementation: After publication in the Sächsischen Amtsblatt (Saxony Gazette), but at the earliest from 25 June 2007

Duration of scheme or individual aid: Until December 2010

Objective of aid: To record and evaluate data in order to maintain and improve the genetic quality of livestock as part of breeding programmes. In order to do this, the service provider carries out tests and collects and evaluates data. For this the service provider receives a market-rate payment comprising the aid and the portion of the costs to be borne by the farmer. The costs of routine checks on milk quality are not eligible for support.

The measure is based on Article 15 (provision of technical support/participation in exhibitions and fairs) and Article 16 (support for the livestock sector).

Sector(s) concerned: Agriculture (rearing of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and horses)

Name and address of the granting authority:

Sächsische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft Referat 72 „Förderung“ Postfach 540137 D-01311 Dresden

Internet address: www.smul.sachsen.de > Foerderung > Foerderrichtlinien > Besondere Aufgaben

http://www.smul.sachsen.de/de/wu/aktuell/foerderung/5_374.htm

Other information:

Sächsisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt und Landwirtschaft Referat 35 „Tierische Erzeugnisse“ Postanschrift: D-01076 Dresden Tel. (49) 351 564 66 63

XA Number: XA 141/07

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Region: Območje občine Gorenja vas – Poljane

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: „Programi razvoja podeželja v občini Gorenja vas – Poljane 2007-2013“

Legal basis: Pravilnik o dodelitvi pomoči za ohranjanje in razvoj kmetijstva, gozdarstva in podeželja v občini Gorenja vas – Poljane (II. Poglavje)

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

2007: EUR 52 162

2008: EUR 52 162

2009: EUR 55 000

2010: EUR 55 000

2011: EUR 55 000

2012: EUR 61 000

2013: EUR 61 000

Maximum aid intensity:

1. Investment in farms for primary production — up to 50 % of eligible costs in less-favoured areas and up to 40 % of eligible costs for investment in other areas.

2. Conservation of traditional buildings — up to 100 % of eligible costs for non-productive features, — up to 75 % of eligible costs for investment in productive features in less-favoured areas, and 60 % in other areas, provided that the investment does not lead to an increase in production potential.

3. Aid towards the payment of insurance premiums — the amount of municipal co-financing is the difference between the amount of co-financing of insurance premiums from the national budget up to 50 % of eligible costs of insurance premiums for insuring crops and products and to insure livestock against the risk of destruction due to disease.

4. For land reparcelling — up to 50 % of actual costs incurred in legal and administrative procedures.

5. For providing technical support in the agricultural sector — up to 100 % of costs for education and training for farmers, consultancy services and to organise forums, competitions, exhibitions, fairs, publications, catalogues, websites and to fund replacement services.

Date of implementation: July 2007 (or the date on which the Rules enter into force)

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

Objective of the aid: To support SMEs

Reference to Articles in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 and eligible costs: Chapter II of the Rules on granting aid for rural development programmes in the municipality of Gorenja vas includes measures constituting State aid in accordance with the following Articles of 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 (OJ L 358, 16.12.2006, p. 3):

Article 4: Investment in agricultural holdings,

Article 5: Conservation of traditional landscapes and buildings,

Article 12: Aid towards the payment of insurance premiums,

Article 13: Aid for land reparcelling,

Article 15: Provision of technical support in the agricultural sector.

Economic sector(s) concerned: Agriculture: arable and livestock farming

Name and address of granting authority:

Web address: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/ulonline.jsp?urlid=200755&dhid=90135

Other information: —

Signature of person responsible

Milan Čadež

XA Number: XA 142/07

Member State: France

Region: Département de Saône-et-Loire

Title of aid scheme: Appui technique dans les exploitations et leurs groupements

Legal basis:

— Article 15 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

— Art L 3231-2 et subséquents du Code général des collectivités territoriales permettant aux collectivités territoriales d'accorder des aides pour favoriser le développement économique.

— Délibération du Conseil général du 27.3.2007.

— Délibération du Conseil régional de Bourgogne du 15.1.2007

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: Annual expenditure of EUR 150 000, according to need and depending on the budgetary means available.

Maximum aid intensity:

Title of measure Nature of eligible expenditure Maximum eligible expenditure in euro (net of tax) Rate of support Technical support for setting up groups of employers (GEs) (advice, consultancy services) including only agricultural holdings which fall under the Community definition of SMEs — Feasibility study 2 100 70 % — Setting-up (operational audit; support for the recruitment, training and management of the GE's staff; administrative, tax and social procedures for setting up the GE) 1 500 (× 2 for MGEs (1)) 50 % — Follow-up aid (2nd year) operational audit, support for the recruitment, training and management of the GE's staff 400 (× 2 for MGEs) 50 % — Follow-up aid (3rd year) same as 2nd year 400 (× 2 for MGEs) 25 % Genetic improvement incentive for farmers setting up (advice, consultancy services) Technical support for: — growth for beef cattle 1 000 — 60 % in the 1st year of membership — monitoring for zootechnical indexation purposes for dairy cattle and goats — 40 % in the 2nd year of membership — Chamber of Agriculture's animal husbandry service for meat sheep — 20 % in the 3rd year of membership

Date of implementation: From receipt of the receipt confirmation from the European Commission

Duration of scheme or individual aid: Six years, subject to budget appropriations

Objective of aid: The aid, which will be paid to bodies providing services, is intended to enable young farmers to set up under favourable conditions and help them to become technically secure by:

promoting work organisation on agricultural holdings through developing groups of employers,

providing incentives for better technical management for the livestock sector (suckler and dairy cows and meat sheep) through recourse to bodies providing performance monitoring and genetic advice.

Sector(s) concerned: All the department's agricultural production sectors as regards aid for groups of employers including only agricultural holdings which fall under the Community definition of SMEs, the livestock sectors as regards aid for genetic improvement.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Monsieur le président du conseil général de Saône-et-Loire Direction de l'équipement rural et de l'agriculture Service des affaires agricoles Espace Duhesme — 18, rue de Flacé F-71026 Macon Cedex 9

Website: http://www.cg71.com

XA Number: XA 143/07

Member State: France

Regions: All

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Aides à l'assistance technique dans le secteur des grandes cultures.

Legal basis: Code Rural, partie législative, articles L 621-1 à L 621-11.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: EUR 1 500 000/year by the National Inter-trade Office for Major Crops (Office National Interprofessionnel des Grandes Cultures — ONIGC), subject to budgetary allocations and without prejudice to aid from regional or local authorities.

Maximum aid intensity: Up to 100 %

Date of implementation: The aid scheme will be implemented from the date on which the Commission acknowledges receipt, subject to the appropriations available.

Duration of scheme or individual aid: 7 years

Objective of aid: The aid falls under Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

The National Inter-trade Office for Major Crops will introduce aid programmes aimed at providing producers with technical assistance measures tailored to their needs; the programmes will centre on:

development of local branches (Camargue rice, olive oil and table olives, Burgundy mustard, pulses, etc.),

diversification or revival of crops (sorghum, chickpeas, lupins, protein plants, pulses, etc.),

organic farming,

taking into account new uses for products deriving from major crops (use in food and feed, 1st and 2nd generation agri-fuels, green chemicals, agri-materials, by-products, etc.),

water-saving initiatives,

upgrading of branches in the regions of production.

The aid programmes will make it possible to finance:

the cost of initiatives to transfer, disseminate and demonstrate the results of research and experiments (technical days, booklets, training, consultancy services) provided by bodies such as technical institutes, chambers of agriculture, inter-trade associations,

studies aimed at assessing the relevance of development steps on a regional scale (feasibility and market studies, branch and regional audits, etc.),

the cost of technical support, study, advice and dissemination provided within this framework, limited to the costs relating to the supply of this service.

No aid will be paid to producers. Steps will be taken to ensure that no farmer whose holding does not satisfy the Community SME criteria benefits from subsidised technical assistance.

Subject to that restriction, aid will be granted in the form of subsidised services, accessible to all producers of major crops whether or not they are members of producer organisations or other structures.

Sector(s) concerned: The whole major crop sector (cereals/rice, oleaginous plants/oils and fats of plant origin, protein plants/pulses, dried fodder, fibre plants and silkworms, sugar)

Name and address of the granting authority:

Office National Interprofessionnel des Grandes Cultures 12, rue Henri Rol-Tanguy F-93100 Montreuil

Website: www.onigc.fr (heading ACTUALITES, sub-heading AIDES NATIONALES)

Other information: These initiatives may also be financed by regional and local authorities (regional councils and general councils), either separately or supplementing the financing by the ONIGC, subject to the limits laid down by the Community rules.

XA Number: XA 145/07

Member State: France

Region: Département de la Vendée

Title of aid scheme: Aides pluriannuelles en faveur de la promotion de la qualité des produits agricoles vendéens («fonds pour la promotion de la qualité»)

Legal basis: Article L.1511-5 du Code général des collectivités territoriales

Convention cadre en cours entre l'État et le département de la Vendée

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: EUR 150 000 a year

Maximum aid intensity: Rates of 40 % then 30 % then 25 %, as set out below.

The aid is spread over four years, with decreasing rates applying to expenditure incurred:

40 % of expenditure on technical and administrative setting-up, in the first year, subject to a limit of EUR 15 000,

30 % of expenditure on launching and marketing, in the second year, subject to a limit of EUR 15 000,

25 % of remaining expenditure, including promotional follow-up, in the third and fourth years, subject to a limit of EUR 15 000.

A separate aid application will have to be submitted for each stage.

The aid amount must not exceed the ceiling of 80 % of eligible expenditure where other public bodies contribute towards financing an operation: the aid from the general council will be revised accordingly.

Date of implementation: From acknowledgement of receipt by the Commission

Duration of scheme: Five years from the Commission's acknowledgement of receipt of the exemption sheet

Objective of aid: The scheme, devised in line with Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006, is intended to encourage new certification moves, such as labels, certificates of conformity, protected geographical indications and designations of origin, to be taken by agricultural producer groups wishing to become involved in quality local production, by supporting those groups in completing the procedures necessary to obtain official recognition for quality products.

Eligible expenditure may comprise:

recourse to experts or service providers for studies to examine technical questions, feasibility, product conception and design or market studies with a view to developing quality agricultural products,

the costs of preparing applications for the recognition of designations of origin or certificates of specific character,

the costs of introducing quality assurance programmes, HACCP systems or environmental audit systems,

training people to apply the quality assurance programmes or HACCP systems,

the cost of the charges levied by certifying bodies for the initial certification of quality assurance and similar systems,

the cost of compulsory quality control measures, which the rules do not require enterprises to bear.

In any case, only costs relating to the projects selected will be included in eligible expenditure, excluding all administrative costs arising from the recipient group's normal activity.

All the aid will be granted in kind, in the form of subsidised services. No direct payment to beneficiaries will be made, in compliance with Article 15 of agricultural exemption Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006. It will also be ensured that all producers have access to the services offered by the beneficiary group, without discrimination and on equal terms, without any membership requirements.

Sector(s) concerned: All quality production within the meaning of Article 32 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, originating from Vendée agriculture and involving only SMEs within the meaning of Community law.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Conseil Général de la Vendée Direction de l'Environnement et de l'Aménagement Service de l'Agriculture et de la Pêche 40, rue Maréchal Foch F-85923 La Roche sur Yon Cedex 9

Website: www.vendee.fr (the Department's general website)

Heading:

www.vendee.fr/conseil-general

Sub-heading:

www.vendee.fr/conseil-general/guide-subventions

The description will be made available online as soon as the Commission has registered this exemption sheet.

Other information: —

(1) MGEs: mixed groups of employers (any group of employers whose annual agricultural workload is at least 40 % and at most 70 %).