Authorisation of State aid pursuant to Articles 61 and 63 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)

(2000/C 368/20)

Date of adoption: 5 July 2000

EFTA State: Norway

Aid No: 00-003 (formerly aid No 95-003)

Title: Notification of amendments to the "Development Grant" scheme ("Udviklingstilskudd"). Extension of the scope of the scheme to include aid for training (SMEs) and shipbuilding (R & D)

Objective: Primary objective is aid to SMEs, secondary objective is aid to R & D (unchanged)

Legal basis: Law on the Industrial and Regional Development Fund (SND) of 3 July 1992, No 97 (unchanged)

Aid intensity: Training aid for SMEs: up to 70 % gross for general training, up to 35 % gross for specific training

Shipbuilding: up to 65 % gross for industrial research to SMEs (ref. Article 8 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1540/98 of 29 June 1998)

Amount of aid: 2000: NOK 194 million (not affected by the amendments)

Duration: Unlimited, but decided upon by the Norwegian Parliament each year in relation to State budget appropriations (unchanged)

Date of adoption: 5 July 2000

EFTA State: Norway

Aid No: 00-005 (formerly aid No 99-007)

Title: Notification of amendments to the "Project Development Grant" scheme ("Prosjekturviklingstilskudd"). Extension of the scope of the scheme to include aid for training (SMEs) and shipbuilding (R & D)

Objective: Primary objective is aid to R & D, secondary objective is aid to SMEs, including soft aid (unchanged)

Legal basis: Fiscal Budget for 1999; Law on the Industrial and Regional Development Fund (SND) of 3 July 1992, No 97 (unchanged)

Aid intensity: Training aid for SMEs: up to 70 % gross for general training, up to 35 % gross for specific training

Shipbuilding: up to 65 % gross for industrial research to SMEs (ref. Article 8 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1540/98 of 29 June 1998)

Amount of aid: NOK 100 million (EUR 11,4 million) for the four-year period 1999-2002 (unchanged)

Duration: For the four-year period 1999-2002, but decided upon by the Norwegian Parliament each year in relation to State budget appropriations (unchanged)

Date of adoption: 5 July 2000

EFTA State: Norway

Aid No: 00-006 (formerly aid No 98-008)

Title: Notification of amendments to the "Regional Development Grant" scheme ("Distriktsutviklingstilskudd"). Extension of the scope of the scheme to include aid for training and shipbuilding

Objective: Regional aid and aid to SMEs (unchanged)

Legal basis: Law on the Industrial and Regional Development Fund (SND) of 3 July 1992, No 97 (unchanged)

Aid intensity: In areas covered by map of assisted areas:

- training aid for large enterprises: up to 50 % gross for general training, up to 25 % for specific training,

- training aid for SMEs: up to 75 % gross for general training, up to 35 % gross for specific training,

- shipbuilding: regional investment aid: 12,5 % (ref. Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1540/98 of 29 June 1998),

- R & D to large enterprises: up to 30 % gross for pre-competitive development activity and 55 % gross for industrial research,

- R & D to SMEs: up to 40 % gross for pre-competitive development activity and 65 % gross for industrial research,

- aid to SMEs: up to 50 % gross for aid to consultative services, training and dissemination of knowledge

Amount of aid: 2000: NOK 819 million (not affected by the amendments)

Duration: Unlimited, bud decided upon by the Norwegian Parliament each year in relation to State budget appropriations (unchanged)