Authorization of State aid pursuant to Article 61 of the EEA Agreement and Article 1 (3) of Protocol 3 to the Surveillance and Court Agreement EFTA Surveillance Authority decision not to raise objections (94/C 398/02)

Date of adoption: 7. 12. 1994

Member State: Finland

Aid No: 94-033

Title: Amendment of grant for transportation costs - Åland

Objective: To partially compensate for the additional cost of transport of goods manufactured in the Åland islands

Legal basis:

- Act on transport aid (Landskapslag om transportstöd, 56/73)

- Acts amending the act on transport aid (Landskapslag om ändring av landskapslagen om transportstöd, 49/94; Landskapslag om ändring av § 13 i landskapslagen om transportstöd)

Aid intensity: 5 % to 29 % depending on the length of transport and the means of transportation used

Duration: 1994 to 1996

Conditions: Detailed annual report

Date of adoption: 7. 12. 1994

Member State: Finland

Aid No: 94-036

Title: Amendment of the regional transport subsidy

Objective: To partially compensate for the additional cost of transport of goods manufactured in the assisted areas when the transport begins from the place where the products are processed

Legal basis:

- Act on regional subsidization of transport (Laki kuljetusten alueellisesta tukemisesta (954/81), as amended by 901/89, 1111/89, 634/93 and 1137/93)

- Government proposal on amending the act on regional subsidization of transport (Laki kuljetusten alueellisesta tukemisesta annetun muuttamisesta (HE 151/94))

Aid intensity: 5 to 31 % depending on the length of transport, the means of transportation used and the location of the place of processing of the goods to be transported

The rate of transport subsidy payable to companies falling outside the definition of SMEs is reduced by 60 %

Duration: 1995/96

Conditions: Detailed annual report

Date of adoption: 21. 12. 1994

Member State: Austria

Aid No: 94-041

Title: New guarantee facility by the FGG/East-West Fund

Objective:

- Reduction of commercial risks related to equity investment in countries in transition to a market economy

- Co-financing of investment with international finance arrangements, notably the JOPP-Phare programme

Legal basis: § 11 of the Guarantee Act of 1977

Budget: Estimated to ECU 8 to 16 million per year

Aid intensity: Maximum 4 % of acquisition costs (share acquisition plus other shareholders' funds)

Date of adoption: 21. 12. 1994

Member State: Finland

Aid No: 94-044

Title: Map of assisted areas and maximum aid ceilings thereof

Objective: Regional development

Legal basis:

- Regional development act (Laki alueiden kehittämisestä, 1135/93)

- Decision of the Council of State on aid to business (Valtioneuvoston päätös yritystuesta, 1689/93, Valtioneuvoston päätös yritystuesta annetun valtioneuvoston päätöksen muuttamisesta)

Budget: No budget directly allocated to the map

Coverage: Development zones I, II and III: 31 % (basic coverage)

Structural change areas: 10,6 % (temporary coverage)

Aid intensity: Article 61 (3) (c) areas:

Development zone I (population coverage 12,7 %)

- 35 % gross

- SME top-up 10 % gross (absolute maximum aid ceiling for SMEs in development zone I is 37 % gross)

Development zone II (population coverage 12,8 %)

- 27 % gross

- SME top-up 10 % gross

Development zone III (population coverage 5,5 %)

- 20 % gross

- SME top-up 10 % gross

Structural change areas (population coverage 10,6 %)

- 20 % gross

- SME top-up 10 % gross

Duration:

- Development zones I, II and III until 31. 12. 1997

- Structural change areas until 31. 12. 1995

Date of adoption: 21. 12. 1994

Member State: Finland

Aid No: 94-046

Title: Aid for the promotion of energy technology research

Objective: Promote research and development in order to develop internationally competitive products, production processes and services

Legal basis: Decision of the Council of State for R& D grants and loans (Valtioneuvoston päätös teknologiseen tutkimukseen ja kehitykseen myönnettävien avustusten ja lainojen yleisistä ehdoista)

Aid intensity:

- Basic industrial research: 50 %

- Applied research and development: 25 %

Duration: Unlimited

Conditions:

- Detailed annual report

- Notification of individual cases exceeding ECU 20 million (ECU 30 million for Eureka projects, of which ECU 4 million provided by the national authorities)

Date of adoption: 21. 12. 1994

Member State: Austria

Aid No: 94-047

Title: Euro-Economic Promotion Programme (Oberösterreich)

Objective: Material and immaterial investment scheme for SMEs

Legal basis: Richtlinien für das Euro-Wirtschaftsförderungsprogramm (EWP)

Budget: ÖS 60 million per year (1995 to 1998)

Aid intensity:

- 15 to 20 % gross in assisted areas as defined in EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision 38/94/COL of 11 May 1994 - 94.005;

- 7,5 % gross for medium-sized, 15 % gross for small enterprises outside assisted areas

- Maximum grant: ECU 50 000 per enterprise/year

Duration: 31. 12. 1998

Conditions: Simplified annual report

Date of adoption: 21. 12. 1994

Member State: Austria

Aid No: 94-049 and 94-051

Title: Aid scheme under the Business Structure Improvement Act and regional component (framework for agreements between the Federal State and eight Austrian Länder)

Objective: Investment aid for SMEs

Legal basis: Richtlinien für die Gewährung von Förderungen nach dem Gewerbestrukturverbesserungsgesetz 1969 vom . . . 1994

Budget: ÖS 469,92 million (1994)

Aid intensity: Up to 5,8 % gross; for 'TOP investments` up to 7,5 % gross for medium-sized enterprises and 8,8 % gross for small enterprises

For the regional component and/or in cases of cumulation with aid from other sources: up to 7,5 % gross for medium-sized enterprises and 15 % gross for small enterprises located outside assisted areas; up to the prevailing aid ceiling for regional aid in assisted areas

Duration: 1. 1. 1995 to 31. 12. 1996

Conditions: Simplified annual report

Date of adoption: 28. 12. 1994

Member State: Finland

Aid No: 94-043

Title: Aid for the environmental protection investments of Imatra Steel Oy Ab

Objective: To bring the Imatra steel plant into line with statutory environmental standards. The new dust extraction system of the company must be in place by 1 November 1996

Legal basis: Act on aid to business (Laki yritystuesta, 1136/93)

Decision of the Council of State on aid to business (Valtioneuvoston päätös yritystuesta, 1689/93)

Budget: Fmk 5,3 million

Aid intensity: 7,5 % gross

Duration: 1995/96

Date of adoption: 28. 12. 1994

Member State: Finland

Aid No: 94-050

Title: Aid for businesses' internationalization

Objective: Soft aid to small and medium-sized enterprises for

- consultancy help, training and the dissemination of knowledge

- the purpose of encouraging cooperation between enterprises

- export promotion

Legal basis: Decision of the Ministry of Trade and Industry on the general terms on aid for businesses' internationalization (Kauppa- ja teollisuusministeriön päätös yritysten kansainvälistymisen edistämiseksi myönnettävän valtionavun käyttöä koskevista yleisohjeista, 159/690/94)

Aid intensity: 50 % of the eligible costs up to a maximum period of two years

Duration: Unlimited

Conditions: Detailed annual report

Date of adoption: 28. 12. 1994

Member State: Sweden

Aid No: 94-052

Title: Aid for R& D in the field of hydropower technology

Objective: Aid for R& D

Legal basis: Government decision I:7 of 3 November 1994

Budget: SKr 16,5 million

Aid intensity: 24,6 % gross

Date of adoption: 31. 12. 1994

Member State: Sweden

Aid No: 94-014 (ex 93-023)

Title: Amendment of localization grant

Objective: Regional investments

Legal basis: 'Förordning om regionalpolitiskt företagsstöd` (SFS 1990:642)

Budget: Increase of the overall annual budget appropriation by 19,7 %, from Skr 1 362 million to SKr 1 630 million (other schemes also benefit from this same budget appropriation)

Aid intensity: As decided by the EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision of 28 December 1994 on the map of assisted areas and aid ceilings thereof (Sweden)

Duration: Indefinite

Conditions: Detailed annual report

Date of adoption: 30. 12. 1994

Member State: Sweden

Aid No: 94-015 (ex 93-024)

Title: Amendment of localization loan

Objective: Regional investments

Legal basis: 'Förordning om regionalpolitiskt företagsstöd` (SFS 1990:642)

Budget: No change of budget. The loans are granted through an allocation which works as a revolving fund

Aid intensity: The terms of the loan involve aid on only a limited scale. The loan can amount to up to 70 % of investments. When combined with localization grant, this ceiling applies to the total State financing

Duration: Indefinite

Conditions: Simplified annual report

Date of adoption: 30. 12. 1994

Member State: Sweden

Aid No: 94-016 (ex 93-025)

Title: Amendment of development grant

Objective: Regional development (R& D, intangible investments, market research and training)

Legal basis: 'Förordning om regionalpolitiskt företagsstöd` (SFS 1990:642)

Budget: Increase of the overall annual budget appropriation by 19,7 %, from SKr 1 362 million to SKr 1 630 million (other schemes also benefit from this same budget appropriation)

Aid intensity:

In the Target-6 area:

35 % gross, 40 % gross for SMEs

In the low population density area outside the Target-6 area:

25 % gross, 35 % gross for SMEs

Duration: Indefinite

Conditions: Detailed annual report

Date of adoption: 30. 12. 1994

Member State: Sweden

Aid No: 94-017 (ex 93-026)

Title: Amendment of development grant for location of certain business service activities

Objective: Location of service companies in the assisted areas.

The scheme can support costs of transfer of machinery and equipment, new investments in machinery and equipment, research and development costs and recruitment and training costs

Legal basis: 'Förordning om regionalpolitiskt företagsstöd` (SFS 1990:642)

Budget: Annual budget appropriation reduced from SKr 350 million to Skr 300 million (other measures also funded out of this same budget appropriation)

Aid intensity:

In the Target-6 area:

SKr 250 000 per new job in aid area 1, subject to the following ceilings in relation to eligible expenditures: 35 % gross, 40 % gross for SMEs

In the low population density area outside the Target-6 area:

SKr 150 000 per new job in aid area 1, subject to the following ceilings in relation to eligible expenditures: 25 % gross, 35 % gross for SMEs

Duration: Indefinite

Conditions: Detailed annual report

Date of adoption: 30. 12. 1994

Member State: Sweden

Aid No: ex 93-027

Title: Amendment of loans to private investment companies

Objective: Investments by private investment companies in entreprises located in the assisted areas

Legal basis: 'Förordning om regionalpolitiskt företagsstöd` (SFS 1990:642)

Budget: No change of budget

Aid intensity: Unspecified

Duration: Indefinite

Conditions:

- Granting of loans involving State aid is subject to prior notification in each case

- Simplified annual report

Date of adoption: 30. 12. 1994

Member State: Austria

Aid No: 94-058

Title: § 51a (3) to (5) Labour Market Promotion Act and implementing guidelines

Objective: Investment aid for SMEs and in assisted areas/rescue and restructuring aid to secure employment

Legal basis: § 51a (3) to (5) Labour Market Promotion Act (Arbeitsmarktförderungsgesetz - AMFG) and Richtlinien für die Gewährung von Beihilfen (Förderungen) thereunder

Budget: ÖS 400 million (per year)

Aid intensity: In assisted areas: up to the ceilings authorized by EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision 38/94/COL of 11 May 1994 - 94.005

7,5 % gross for medium-sized, 15 % gross for small entreprises outside assisted areas

Duration: 31. 12. 1997

Conditions: Annual report

Date of adoption: 30. 12. 1994

Member State: Sweden

Aid No: 94-065

Title: Map of assisted areas and maximum aid ceilings thereof

Objective: Regional development

Legal basis: Government ordinance SFS 1990:642 on regional aid to enterprises ('Förordning om regionalpolitiskt företagsstöd`)

Government Decision 4 (A94/2467/RP) of 15 December 1994 on the establishment of a regional policy low population density area, etc. ('Fastställande av regionalpolitiskt gleshetsområde, m.m.`)

Government Decision 5 (A94/2468/RP) of 15. 12. 1994 on certain amended guidelines for regional aid to enterprises ('Vissa ändrade riktlinjer för regionalpolitiskt företagsstöd`)

Budget: No budget directly allocated to the map

Coverage:

- Low population density area: 14 % (basic coverage)

- Target-6 area (within the low population density area): 5,1 %

- Structural change areas: 4,5 % (temporary coverage)

Aid intensity:

Article 61 (3) (c) areas:

Low population density area (outside Target-6 area):

- 25 % gross, 18,3 % net

- SMEs: 35 % gross, 25,6 % net

Target-6 area (population coverage 5,1 %):

- 35 % gross, 25,6 % net

- SMEs: 40 % gross, 29,2 % net

Structural change areas (population coverage 4,5 %):

- 25 % gross, 18,3 % net

- SMEs: 35 % gross, 25,6 % net

Municipalities within structural change areas temporarily eligible for enhanced aid ceilings (population coverage 0,8 %):

- 35 % gross, 25,6 % net for all enterprises

Duration:

- Low population density area and Target-6 area until 31. 12. 1999

- Structural change areas unitl 31. 12. 1997