ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 190/91

EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY DECISION

No 438/12/COL

of 28 November 2012

amending for the eighty-sixth time the procedural and substantive rules in the field of state aid

THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY,

HAVING REGARD to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, (1) in particular to Articles 61 to 63 and Protocol 26 thereof,

HAVING REGARD to the Agreement between the EFTA States on the Establishment of a Surveillance Authority and a Court of Justice, (2) in particular its Articles 5(2)(b) and 24,

Whereas:

The Chapter in the EFTA Surveillance Authority’s State Aid Guidelines on state aid for rescuing and restructuring firms in difficulty (3) is due to expire on 30 November 2012, (4)

That Chapter corresponds to the Community Guidelines on State aid for Rescuing and Restructuring Firms in Difficulty, (5) which expired on 9 October 2012, (6)

On 28 September 2012 the European Commission adopted a Communication concerning the Prolongation of the application of the Community Guidelines on State Aid for Rescuing and Restructuring Firms in Difficulty of 1 October 2004, until they are replaced by new rules. (7)

The current Chapter on state aid for rescuing and restructuring firms in difficulty which will expire on 30 November 2012 must therefore be prolonged in order to ensure the uniform application of state aid rules throughout the European Economic Area,

The European Commission and the EFTA States have been consulted,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The validity of the Chapter in the EFTA Surveillance Authority’s State Aid Guidelines on state aid for rescuing and restructuring firms in difficulty is prolonged until it is replaced by new rules.

Article 2

Only the English version is authentic.

Done at Brussels, 28 November 2012. For the EFTA Surveillance Authority Oda Helen SLETNES President Sverrir Haukur GUNNLAUGSSON College Member

(1) The “EEA Agreement”.

(2) The “Surveillance and Court Agreement”.

(3) OJ L 97, 15.4.2005, p. 41, EEA Supplement No 18, 15.4.2005, p. 1.

(4) See paragraph 90, as extended by EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision No. 433/09/COL of 30.10.2009 amending for the seventy-third time the procedural and substantive rules in the field of state aid. OJ L 48, 25.2.2010, p. 27, EEA Supplement No. 9, 25.2.2010, p. 12

(5) OJ C 244, 1.10.2004, p. 2-17.

(6) See paragraph 102, as extended by European Commission Communication concerning the prolongation of the Community Guidelines on State aid for Rescuing and Restructuring Firms in Difficulty, OJ C 156, 9.7.2009, p. 3.

(7) OJ C 296, 2.10.2012, p. 3.
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 384/9

Information communicated by the EFTA States regarding State aid granted under the Act referred to in point 1j of Annex XV to the EEA Agreement (Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2008 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the common market in application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty (General Block Exemption Regulation))

2012/C 384/08

PART I

Aid No GBER 10/12/R&D EFTA State Norway Granting authority Name Innovation Norway Address PO Box 448, Sentrum 0104 Oslo NORWAY Webpage http://www.innovationnorway.com Title of the aid measure Wood-Based Innovation Scheme National legal basis (Reference to the relevant national official publication) State Budget (2011-2012), Chapter 1149, item 71 Web link to the full text of the aid measure http://www.innovasjonnorge.no/Satsinger/Landbruk/Trebasert-innovasjonsprogram/ Type of measure Scheme X Duration Scheme 1.8.2012 to 31.12.2013 Economic sector(s) concerned All economic sectors eligible to receive aid All sectors may receive aid, as long as the beneficiaries contribute to the overall aim of the scheme — to increase the utilisation of wood Type of beneficiary SME X Large enterprises X Budget Annual overall amount of the budget planned under the scheme NOK 26 million Overall amount of the ad hoc aid awarded to the undertaking NOK … million For guarantees NOK … million Aid instrument (Article 5) Grant X

PART II
25 % of eligible costs in the first 3 years and 15 % in the next 2 years

However, total aid amount for all five years is maximum EUR 1 million, and maximum EUR 330 000 can be paid out annually
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 193/10

No State aid within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement

2013/C 193/06

The EFTA Surveillance Authority considers that the following measure does not constitute State aid within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement:

Date of adoption of the decision : 21 November 2012 Case number : 68640 Decision number : 410/12/COL EFTA State : Iceland Title (and/or name of the beneficiary) : Alleged State aid through subsidised lease of optical fibres previously operated on behalf of NATO Legal basis : Article 61(1) EEA Type of measure : No aid Economic sectors : Telecommunication

The authentic text of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found on the EFTA Surveillance Authority’s website:

http://www.eftasurv.int/state-aid/state-aid-register/
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 263/6

No State aid within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement

2013/C 263/07

The EFTA Surveillance Authority considers that the following measure does not constitute State aid within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement:

Date of adoption of the decision : 24 April 2013 Case number : 68086 Decision number : 160/13/COL EFTA State : Norway Title (and/or name of the beneficiary) : Alleged aid to lessors of premises to public schools Form of aid : n.a. Duration : n.a. Name and address of the granting authority : n.a.

The authentic text of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found on the EFTA Surveillance Authority’s website:

http://www.eftasurv.int/state-aid/state-aid-register/
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 229/17

No State aid within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement

2013/C 229/08

The EFTA Surveillance Authority considers that the following measure does not constitute State aid within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement:

Date of adoption of the decision : 10 April 2013 Case number : 70521 Decision number : 145/13/COL EFTA State : Iceland Title (and/or name of the beneficiary) : Alleged State aid to Landsbankinn through the forgoing of an expected return on public funds Legal basis : Article 61(1) EEA Type of measure : No aid Economic sectors : Financial services

The authentic text of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found on the EFTA Surveillance Authority’s website:

http://www.eftasurv.int/state-aid/state-aid-register/
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 343/54

EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY DECISION

No 28/13/COL

of 30 January 2013

amending for the eighty-eight time the procedural and substantive rules in the field of state aid by introducing a new chapter on short-term export-credit insurance

THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY,

Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (1), in particular to Articles 61 to 63 and Protocol 26 thereof,

Having regard to the Agreement between the EFTA States on the Establishment of a Surveillance Authority and a Court of Justice (2), in particular its Articles 5(2)(b) and 24,

Recalling the Procedural and Substantive Rules in the Field of State Aid adopted on 19 January 1994 by the Authority (3),

Whereas:

Under Article 24 of the Surveillance and Court Agreement, the Authority shall give effect to the provisions of the EEA Agreement concerning state aid,

Under Article 5(2)(b) of the Surveillance and Court Agreement, the Authority shall issue notices or guidelines on matters dealt with in the EEA Agreement if that Agreement or the Surveillance and Court Agreement expressly so provides or if the Authority considers it necessary,

On 6 December 2012, the European Commission adopted a new Communication on the application of Article 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to short-term export-credit insurance (4).

That Communication is also of relevance for the European Economic Area,

Uniform application of the EEA State aid rules is to be ensured throughout the European Economic Area,

According to point II under the heading “GENERAL” at the end of Annex XV to the EEA Agreement, the Authority, after consultation with the Commission, is to adopt acts corresponding to those adopted by the European Commission,

The European Commission and the EFTA States have been consulted,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The State Aid Guidelines shall be amended by introducing a new chapter on short-term export-credit insurance. The new chapter is contained in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

Only the English version is authentic.

Done at Brussels, 30 January 2013. For the EFTA Surveillance Authority Oda Helen SLETNES President Sabine MONAUNI-TÖMÖRDY College Member

(1) The “EEA Agreement”.

(2) The “Surveillance and Court Agreement”.

(3) Guidelines on the application and interpretation of Articles 61 and 62 of the EEA Agreement and Article 1 of Protocol 3 to the Surveillance and Court Agreement, adopted and issued by the Authority on 19 January 1994, published in the Official Journal of the European Union (hereinafter referred to as OJ) L 231 of 3.9.1994 p. 1 and EEA Supplement No 32 of 3.9.1994 p. 1. Hereinafter referred to as the State Aid Guidelines. The updated version of the State Aid Guidelines is published on the Authority’s website: http://www.eftasurv.int/state-aid/legal-framework/state-aid-guidelines/

(4) Communication from the European Commission to the Member States on the application of Article 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to short-term export-credit insurance, (OJ C 392, 19.12.2012, p. 1).
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 330/8

Information communicated by the EFTA States regarding State aid granted under the Act referred to in point 1j of Annex XV to the EEA Agreement (Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2008 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the common market in application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty (General Block Exemption Regulation))

2013/C 330/07

PART I

Aid No GBER 11/13/INN EFTA State Norway Granting authority Name Buskerud fylkeskommune (Buskerud County) Address Postboks 3563 3007 Drammen NORWAY Web page http://www.bfk.no Title of the aid measure Aid to Driv Inkubator AS in Buskerud county National legal basis (reference to the relevant national official publication) Letter of Commitment from Buskerud County to Driv Inkubator AS, 8 July 2013 Web link to the full text of the aid measure http://www.bfk.no/Politikk-1/Motekalender/Hovedutvalget-for-regionalutvikling-og-kultur/#moter/2013/513 ‘PS 13/8 (08/1795) Tilskudd til innovasjonsselskapene i Buskerud i 2013’ Type of measure Ad hoc aid X Date of granting Ad hoc aid 8.7.2013 Economic sector(s) concerned All economic sectors eligible to receive aid All sectors Type of beneficiary SME SME Budget Annual overall amount of the budget planned under the scheme NOK 1 million Aid instrument (Article 5) Grant NOK 1 million

PART II
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 27/11

Information communicated by the EFTA States regarding State aid granted under the Act referred to in point 1j of Annex XV to the EEA Agreement (Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2008 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the common market in application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty (General Block Exemption Regulation))

(2014/C 27/09)

PART I

Aid No GBER 15/13/R&D EFTA State Norway Region Name of the region (NUTS) Regional aid status Hemnes municipality Granting authority Name Ministry of Trade and Industry Address PO Box 8014 Dep. 0030 Oslo NORWAY Webpage http://www.nhd.no Title of the aid measure Næringsfond for Hemnes Kommune National legal basis (reference to the relevant national official publication) Proposition No 67 (2008-2009) to the Parliament ‘Additional allowance and reprioritisation in the national budget 2009’, ch. 932 ‘Extraordinary industry development measures’ (1), item 70 ‘Trade fond for preservation of Vefsna waterway’ Web link to the full text of the aid measure http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/nhd/dok/lover-og-regler/retningslinjer/2013/revidert-regelverk-for-naringsfond-for-k.html?id=738885 Type of measure Scheme X Amendment of an existing aid measure Modification X Duration Scheme 9.7.2009 — not limited in time Economic sector(s) concerned All economic sectors eligible to receive aid X Type of beneficiary SME X Large enterprises X Budget Overall amount of the ad hoc aid awarded to the undertaking NOK 22,5 million Aid instrument (Article 5) Grant X Interest rate subsidy X Loan X Guarantee/reference to the EFTA Surveillance Authority’s decision X

PART II

General objectives (list) Objectives (list) Maximum aid intensity in % or maximum aid amount in NOK SME — bonuses in % Regional investment and employment aid (Article 13) Scheme 15 % 10 %/20 % SME investment and employment aid (Article 15) 20 % 10 % (small companies) Aid for small enterprises newly created by female entrepreneurs (Article 16) 15 % Aid for consultancy in favour of SMEs and SME participation in fairs (Articles 26-27) Aid for consultancy in favour of SMEs (Article 26) 50 % Aid for SME participation in fairs (Article 27) 50 % Aid for research, development and innovation (Articles 30-37) Aid for research and development projects (Article 31) Fundamental research (Article 31(2)(a)) 100 % Industrial research (Article 31(2)(b)) 80 % 10 %/20 % Experimental development (Article 31(2)(c)) 60 % 10 %/20 % Aid for technical feasibility studies (Article 32) 75 % 10 % Aid for industrial property rights costs for SMEs (Article 33) 75 % 10 % Aid to young innovative enterprises (Article 35) EUR 1 000 000 Aid for innovation advisory services and for innovation support services (Article 36) EUR 200 000 Aid for the loan of highly qualified personnel (Article 37) 50 % Training aid (Articles 38-39) Specific training (Article 38(1)) 80 % 10 %/20 % General training (Article 38(2)) 45 %

(1) St. Prp. Nr. 67 (2008-2009) ‘Tilleggsbevilgninger og omprioriteringer i statsbudsjettet for 2009’, Kap. 932 ‘Ekstraordinære næringsutviklingstiltak’, Post 70 ‘Næringsfond ved vern av Vefsnavassdraget’.
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 81/6

State aid — Decision to raise no objections

2014/C 81/05

The EFTA Surveillance Authority raises no objections to the following State aid measure:

Date of adoption of the decision : 18 December 2013 Case number : 71513 Decision number : 540/13/COL EFTA State : Iceland Title : Restructuring aid to Vestmannaeyjar Savings Bank Legal basis : Article 61(3)(b) EEA Objective : Remedy a serious disturbance in the economy Form of aid : Conversion of claims Amount of aid : Gross value of claims converted: ISK 2 215 million (EUR 13,4 million) Duration : Not relevant Economic sectors : Financial services Name and address of the granting authority : Central Bank of Iceland Kalkofnsvegi 1 150 Reykjavík ICELAND

The authentic text of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found on the EFTA Surveillance Authority’s website:

http://www.eftasurv.int/state-aid/state-aid-register/
2.

The representatives of the EFTA States and the EFTA Surveillance Authority agree with the Commission that the anticompetitive behaviour covered by the draft decision constitutes an agreement and/or concerted practices between undertakings within the meaning of Article 101 of the TFEU and Article 53 of the EEA.
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 217/9

State aid — Decision to raise no objections

(2014/C 217/05)

The EFTA Surveillance Authority raises no objections to the following State aid measure:

Date of adoption of the decision : 19 March 2014 Case number : 74977 Decision number : 123/14/COL EFTA State : Norway Title (and/or name of the beneficiary) : NCE Micro and Nanotechnology innovation cluster Legal basis : Article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement Type of measure : Individual aid for cluster animation Objective : Promotion of innovation Form of aid : Grant Budget : Overall budget: NOK 60 million Duration : Until July 2016 Economic sectors : Manufacturing industry. Electrical and optical equipment Name and address of the granting authority : Innovation Norway PO Box 448 Sentrum, Akersgata 13 NO-0104 Oslo NORWAY

The authentic text of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found on the EFTA Surveillance Authority’s website:

http://www.eftasurv.int/state-aid/state-aid-register/
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 414/4

Information communicated by the EFTA States regarding State aid granted under the Act referred to in point 1j of Annex XV to the EEA Agreement (Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty) (General Block Exemption Regulation)

2014/C 414/03

PART I

Aid reference GBER 10/2014/REG EFTA State Norway Region Name of the Region(s) Regional aid map, cf 91/14/COL Regional aid status C Granting authority Name Innovation Norway Postal address P.O. Box 448 Sentrum, NO-0104 Oslo NORWAY Web address www.innovasjonnorge.no Title of the aid measure Regional investment aid scheme National legal basis (Reference to the relevant national official publication) — Regulation on eligible areas for investment aid and transportation aid (1) (the regional aid map) (FOR-2014-06-17-807) — Regulation on regional aid funds (2) (FOR-2013-12-11-1574) — Annual grant offer letters Web link to the full text of the aid measure http://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2014-06-17-807 http://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2013-12-11-1574 http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/kmd/tema/regional-_og_distriktspolitikk/bakgrunn-og-malsettinger-i-distrikts--og/tilskotsbrev/tilskotsbrev-2014/tilskuddsbrev-kapittel-551-post-60.html?id=748475 Type of measure Scheme Amendment of an existing aid scheme or ad hoc aid EFTA Surveillance Authority aid reference Prolongation Cf. 406/06/COL and letter from the Ministry of Local Governments and Regional Development, 19 January 2007, case no 06/2699 Modification New regional aid map, cf. 91/14/COL. Amalgamation of two schemes Duration Scheme 1.7.2014 to 31.12.2020 Economic sector(s) concerned All economic sectors eligible to receive aid Eligible sectors will comply with section 1.1 in the Authority’s guidelines on regional state aid for 2014-2020 (consolidated version) and with Article 13 of the GBER. Type of beneficiary SME Large undertakings Budget Total annual amount of the budget planned under the scheme NOK 300 million Aid instrument Grant/Interest rate subsidy Loan/Repayable advances





PART II

Primary objective — General objectives (list) Objectives (list) Maximum aid intensity in % or Maximum annual aid amount in national currency (in full amounts) SME — bonuses in % Regional aid — investment aid (Article 14) Scheme 15 % 10 % for medium sized enterprises, 20 % to small enterprises

(1) Forskrift om virkeområde for distriktsrettet investeringsstøtte og regional transportstøtte.

(2) Forskrift for distrikts- og regionalpolitiske virkemidler.
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 193/8

State aid — Decision to close an existing aid case as a result of the acceptance of appropriate measures by an EFTA State

(2015/C 193/06)

The EFTA Surveillance Authority has proposed appropriate measures, which were accepted by Norway, on the following State aid measure:

Date of adoption of the decision : 25 February 2015 Case number : 72678 Decision number : 64/15/COL EFTA State : Norway Title : Financing of Analysis Centre Trondheim Legal basis : The 1933 Act on the Supervision of Foodstuffs The 1978 Act on the Coordinated Foodstuffs Control The 1999 Tax Act The 2003 Food Safety Act Objective : n.a. Form of aid : Tax exemption and cross-subsidisation Economic sectors : Laboratory services Other information : Based on the acceptance of the appropriate measures by the Norwegian authorities to amend the current financing regime of the economic activities of the Analysis Centre Trondheim, the Authority’s concerns regarding the incompatibility of the financing of the Analysis Centre Trondheim with the EEA Agreement are dispelled. The Authority concludes that there are no grounds for pursuing the matter further and has consequently decided to close the case.

The authentic text of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found on the EFTA Surveillance Authority’s website:

http://www.eftasurv.int/state-aid/state-aid-register/
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 59/4

State aid — Decision to raise no objections

(2015/C 59/05)

The EFTA Surveillance Authority raises no objections to the following state aid measure:

Date of adoption of the decision : 26 November 2014 Case No : 75701 Decision No : 518/14/COL EFTA State : Norway Title : Aid scheme for the development, promotion and distribution of interactive productions Legal basis : Regulation for the support to audiovisual productions nr 1169 of 7 September 2009 Annual state budget (Chapter 0334 regarding film and media) Type of measure : Aid scheme Objective : Culture Form of aid : Direct grants Budget : NOK 20 million annually Duration : Until 31 December 2020 Economic sectors : Cultural Name and address of the granting authority : Norwegian Film Institute P.O. Box 485 Sentrum N-0105 Oslo NORWAY

The authentic text of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found on the EFTA Surveillance Authority’s website:

http://www.eftasurv.int/state-aid/state-aid-register/
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 282/4

EFTA Surveillance Authority notice on state aid recovery interest rates and reference/discount rates for the EFTA States applicable as from 1 April 2015

Published in accordance with the rules on reference and discount rates set out in Part VII of the Authority’s State Aid Guidelines and Article 10 of the Authority’s Decision No 195/04/COL of 14 July 2004 (OJ L 139, 25.5.2006, p. 37 and EEA Supplement No 26/2006, 25.5.2006, p. 1)

(2015/C 282/05)

Base rates are calculated in accordance with the Chapter on the method for setting reference and discount rates of the Authority’s State Aid Guidelines as amended by the Authority’s Decision No 788/08/COL of 17 December 2008. To obtain the applicable reference rates, appropriate margins shall be added to the base rate in accordance with the State Aid Guidelines.

Base rates have been determined as follows:
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 320/8

EFTA Surveillance Authority notice on State aid recovery interest rates and reference/discount rates for the EFTA States applicable as from 1 January 2016

Published in accordance with the rules on reference and discount rates set out in Part VII of the Authority’s State Aid Guidelines and Article 10 of the Authority’s Decision No 195/04/COL of 14 July 2004 (OJ L 139, 25.5.2006, p. 37 and EEA Supplement No 26/2006, 25.5.2006, p. 1)

(2016/C 320/09)

Base rates are calculated in accordance with the Chapter on the method for setting reference and discount rates of the Authority’s State Aid Guidelines as amended by the Authority’s Decision No 788/08/COL of 17 December 2008. To obtain the applicable reference rates, appropriate margins shall be added to the base rate in accordance with the State Aid Guidelines.

Base rates have been determined as follows:
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 195/7

Information notice from the EFTA Surveillance Authority based on Article 16(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for the operation of air services in the Community

Establishment of public service obligations in respect of scheduled air services

(2016/C 195/05)