EN Official Journal of the European Union C 35/6

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 Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production of agricultural products and amending Regulation (EC) No 70/2001

2011/C 35/04

Aid No: XA 142/10

Member State: France

Region: Département de l’Ain

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Aides en assistance technique pour limiter l’impact de l’agriculture sur l’environnement et prise en compte de l’agriculture en urbanisme (Ain)

Legal basis: Articles L1511-2, L3231-2 et 3232-1 du Code général des collectivités territoriales; délibération du Conseil général de l’Ain

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 115 000

Maximum aid intensity: 50 %

Date of implementation: From the date of publication of the registration number for the request for exemption on the website of the Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 31 December 2013 at the latest.

Objective of aid: The measure is covered by Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 on aid for the provision of technical support on agricultural holdings.

Through this aid programme, the Conseil général (General Council) aims to strengthen the agricultural sector's awareness of land-use planning, and issues regarding the environment and energy.

The provision of technical support for environmental awareness within the agricultural sector:

The aim of this provision is to finance environmental technical studies on agricultural holdings and expertise on farmers’ environmental protection projects.

In particular, this will include the spreading of sewage slurry, the improvement of agricultural water-management techniques and the link between agriculture and water catchment areas.

The provision of technical support for the use of renewable energy sources:

The aim of this assistance is to support awareness activities and information targeted at farmers.

In particular, these activities may include:

the creation of factsheets on renewable energy sources,

awareness-raising activities regarding renewable energy devices at agricultural events, visits to existing sites, information days on renewable energy sources,

carrying out diagnoses on agricultural holdings.

The proposed aid will be paid exclusively to agricultural holdings whose size does not exceed that of an SME as defined in EU legislation (cf. Annex I to Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2008 of 6 August 2008) and which are active in the primary production of agricultural products.

Any agricultural holding which is an enterprise in difficulty within the meaning of the Community guidelines on State aid for rescuing and restructuring firms in difficulty (OJ C 244, 1.10.2004) will not be eligible to benefit from this scheme.

Sector(s) concerned: All the agricultural holdings in Ain (SMEs).

Name and address of the granting authority:

Monsieur le Président du Conseil général de l’Ain Direction de l’aménagement du territoire et de l’économie 45 avenue Alsace-Lorraine 01000 Bourg en Bresse FRANCE

Website: http://www.ain.fr

http://www.ain.fr/jcms/int_50667/formulaires

http://www.ain.fr/upload/docs/application/msword/2010-07/j_ain_bue_environn.doc

Other information: —

Aid No: XA 145/10

Member State: France

Region: Département de l’Ain

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Aide à la promotion et la communication en agriculture (Ain)

Legal basis: Articles L1511-2, L3231-2 et 3232-1 du Code général des collectivités territoriales; délibération du Conseil général de l’Ain

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 140 000

Maximum aid intensity: 50 %

Date of implementation: From the date of publication of the identification number of the exemption request on the website of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 31 December 2013 at the latest.

Objective of aid: The measure is covered by Article 15 (‘Provision of technical support in the agricultural sector’) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

The aid programme seeks to promote agricultural production in the Department of Ain. Agriculture in the department features many typical products with names registered as Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) such as Volaille de Bresse, Comté, Bleu de Gex, Vins de Seyssel, Vins du Bugey and, in the near future, Beurre de Bresse and Crème de Bresse.

Moreover, some products, such as ‘le Bressou’ veal calves, ‘mont Br’Ain d’herbe’ steers, ‘le Gigotin’ lambs and the ‘Princes de la Dombes’ range, are produced under commercial marks backed up by specifications.

The main traditional food sectors are brought together under the ‘Saveurs de l’Ain’ mark. This mark is on constant display at major events organised in conjunction with departmental tourist bodies and aimed at increasing the popularity of local products (the Salon de l’Agriculture in Paris, the Spring Trade Fair in Bourg en Bresse, events co-organised with the Departmental Tourist Board, etc.)

With this in mind the Conseil Général feels it is important to support promotion and communications efforts to increase awareness of the various agricultural production sectors by facilitating the organisation of events (meetings of meat farmers), travel by farmers to regional and national competitions, and campaigns aimed at presenting Ain's agricultural products to consumers and experts (open days at organic farms, etc.)

Sector(s) concerned: All agricultural sectors in the department (SME farms)

Name and address of the granting authority:

Monsieur le Président du Conseil général de l’Ain Direction de l’aménagement du territoire et de l’économie 45 avenue Alsace-Lorraine 01000 Bourg en Bresse FRANCE

Website: http://www.ain.fr

http://www.ain.fr/jcms/int_50667/formulaires

http://www.ain.fr/upload/docs/application/msword/2010-07/a_ain_bue_promotion_b1.doc

Other information: —

Aid No: XA 148/10

Member State: France

Region: Département de l’Ain

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Aides en appui technique aux éleveurs (Ain)

Legal basis: Articles L1511-2, L3231-2 et 3232-1 du Code général des collectivités territoriales; délibération du Conseil général de l’Ain

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 363 000

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum rate of aid to farmers will be 50 % for general technical assistance; this will increase to 65 % for assistance specifically targeted at new stockfarmers.

Date of implementation: From the date of publication of the registration number of the exemption request on the website of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 31 December 2013 at the latest

Objective of aid: The measure is covered by Article 15 (‘Provision of technical support in the agricultural sector’) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

This aid programme is aimed at financing technical assistance measures to farmers, with the objective of encouraging the improvement of farm management in the department. Part of the aid is targeted more specifically at supporting farmers producing in difficult sectors.

Technical support for difficult production sectors:

Due to the milk crisis, both cattle and goat stockfarmers feel insecure as to their future considerations and decisions. The new prescribed prices call the current situation into question, necessitating a review of production conditions. The department's support aims to encourage a voluntary audit of livestock holdings, dealing with eight aspects: feed self-sufficiency, feed rationing, forecasts of production in line with the market, milk quality requirements, public environment/fertilizer policy, cross-compliance, charter requirements and animal welfare. The results and experiences gained from these audits will be made available across the sector.

Technical support for new stockfarmers:

The department's support for new stockfarmers, under the current circumstances, seeks to cover part of the costs of technical assistance to farmers from the Departmental Stockfarming Establishment, with the aim of carrying out monitoring during the first three start-up years.

This aid will be paid exclusively to:

farms whose size does not exceed that of an SME as defined in Community law (Annex I to Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2008 of 6 August 2008),

farms that are active in the primary production of agricultural products,

farms that are not enterprises in difficulty within the meaning of the Community guidelines on State aid for rescuing and restructuring firms in difficulty (OJ C 244, 1.10.2004).

Sector(s) concerned: All farms in the Department of Ain (SMEs).

Name and address of the granting authority:

Monsieur le Président du Conseil général de l’Ain Direction de l’aménagement du territoire et de l’économie 45 avenue Alsace-Lorraine 01000 Bourg en Bresse FRANCE

Website: http://www.ain.fr

http://www.ain.fr/jcms/int_50667/formulaires

http://www.ain.fr/upload/docs/application/msword/2010-07/g_ain_bue_appui_techn.doc

Other information: —

Aid No: XA 149/10

Member State: France

Region: Département de l’Ain

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Aides en faveur des investissements réalisés par les agriculteurs (Ain)

Legal basis: Articles L1511-2, L3231-2 et 3232-1 du Code général des collectivités territoriales; délibération du Conseil général de l’Ain

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 533 000

Maximum aid intensity: 50 %

The maximum rate of aid will be 40 % for both small production equipment and farm buildings. Where appropriate, an additional 10 % will be added to this base rate for agricultural holdings in less-favoured areas or young farmers in accordance with the EU definition. The addition of more than one additional rate is not permitted.

Furthermore, the aid will be subject to the following ceilings:

EUR 4 000 for small equipment,

EUR 400 000 for buildings (or EUR 500 000 if the agricultural holding is located in a less-favoured area).

Date of implementation: From the date of publication of the registration number of the request for exemption on the website of the Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 31 December 2013 at the latest.

Objective of aid: The measure is covered by Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 on aid for investment in agricultural holdings.

The Department of Ain's geographical diversity is reflected in its agriculture. Three activities cover 65 % of the area's agricultural capacity, in descending order: cereals, dairy farming and cattle farming for beef production. Accordingly, it is important for the Conseil général (General Council) to support the investments made by farmers from that departments agricultural sectors, adhering to the conditions which are conducive to each sector's progress.

Investments that will be eligible under the scheme are those aimed at reducing production costs, improving production, improving quality, preserving or improving the natural environment, or improving hygiene conditions or animal welfare standards in accordance with Article 4(3) of the Regulation. The aid will support modernisation or reconstruction of agricultural buildings and the tangible or software investments that the holdings require.

Small production monitoring equipment:

With regard to quality assurance measures, such as those aimed at improving performance or traceability, which require the purchase of administrative, technical and economic agricultural holding management software, the Conseil général wishes to support these acquisitions (40 % of the purchase price) in order to facilitate farmers’ uptake of these types of measures.

Modernisation, renovation or reconstruction of farm buildings:

For example, in the sheep-rearing sector, support from the department will focus on modernising agricultural holdings and creating enclosures:

In the goat-rearing sector, support from the département will focus on bringing cheese dairies into line with requirements, at a rate of 30 % of expenditure limited to EUR 13 333. Only those investments relating to compliance which involve either new Community standards, in accordance with Article 4(2) of the agricultural exemption Regulation (and Article 2(10)), or national standards set above the Community standards, will be eligible.

In the poultry sector, support from the department will focus on the renovation-modernisation of the sector's buildings. Eligible investments are those that are health-related (protection measures against birdlife, concrete floors, rainwater management, water treatment equipment etc.), save energy (heating, insulation etc.), concern animal welfare (environment, mist propagation etc.) and are security-related (telephone alarms and generators). The possible grant will be 40 % of eligible expenditure, limited to EUR 15 000 per building (thus the aid is limited to EUR 6 000 per building).

In the rabbit-farming sector, the aid will focus on the creation of breeding cages (the grant will amount to 8,33 % of expenditure with a limit set at EUR 30,50 per cage).

In the organic-farming sector, the aid covers the purchase of specific organic-farming equipment and amounts to 20 % of total expenditure between EUR 1 500 and EUR 5 000. Eligible equipment includes chain harrows, hoeing machines and thermic weed control material.

The proposed aid will be paid exclusively to:

agricultural holdings whose size does not exceed that of an SME as defined in Community Law (cf. Annex I to Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2008 of 6 August 2008),

agricultural holdings that are active in the primary production of agricultural products,

agricultural holdings that are not enterprises in difficulty within the meaning of the Community guidelines on State aid for rescuing and restructuring firms in difficulty (OJ C 244, 1.10.2004).

The aid may not exceed the ceiling laid down in Article 4(9) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006, namely, EUR 400 000 over three fiscal years or EUR 500 000 if the agricultural holding is located in a less-favoured area.

Sector(s) concerned: All the agricultural industries in the department (SME agricultural holdings)

Name and address of the granting authority:

Monsieur le Président du Conseil général de l’Ain Direction de l’aménagement du territoire et de l’économie 45 avenue Alsace-Lorraine 01000 Bourg en Bresse FRANCE

Website: http://www.ain.fr

http://www.ain.fr/jcms/int_50667/formulaires

http://www.ain.fr/upload/docs/application/msword/2010-07/c_ain_bue_invst.doc

Other information: —