2000/148/EC: Commission Decision of 11 February 2000 on Finnish State aid for seeds (notified under document number C(2000) 358) (Only the Finnish and Swedish texts are authentic)
Date: 2000-02-11
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Finland, State aid, aid per hectare, fodder plant, seed

23. 2. 2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 50/19

COMMISSION DECISION

of 11 February 2000

on Finnish State aid for seeds

(notified under document number C(2000) 358)

(Only the Finnish and Swedish texts are authentic)

(2000/148/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(4)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2358/71 of 26
October 1971 on the common organisation of the market in
seeds (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1405/1999 (2),
and in particular Article 8 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

Under the above Regulation, Finland may, subject to
authorisation by the Commission, grant aid for certain
quantities of seeds produced solely in Finland because of
its specific climatic conditions.

In 1995, Finland notified a draft Decision granting State
aid for the production of certain forage seeds. That aid
was authorised for 1995 by Commission Decision 95/
282/EC of 17 July 1995 on Finnish State aid for
seeds (3). The Decision authorised State aid for up to a
maximum of the average areas cultivated in Finland over
the period 1989 to 1993, and covering estimated
domestic requirements in 1995, for red clover (Trifolium
pratense L.), timothy (Phleum pratense L.), meadow fescue
(Festuca pratensis huds.), cocksfoot (Dactilis glomerata L.)
and ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Authorisation was given
for varieties listed in Finland's national catalogue and
which, except for small quantities cultivated in regions
bordering on Finland, are produced solely in that
Member State.

The Finnish authorities were to send the Commission a
report on the application of Decision 95/282/EC by 30
April 1996. The report was sent on 26 October 1998.
Technical discussions were held between the Finnish
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Commis-
sion on the report, covering the amounts of aid actually
granted,
the area cultivated and the production and
marketing of each species and variety for which aid was
granted.

(1) OJ L 246, 5.11.1971, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 164, 30.6.1999, p. 17.
(3) OJ L 173, 25.7.1995, p. 58.

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

Finland adopted the maximum areas laid down by
Decision 95/282/EC and set maximum amounts of aid
for 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 on the basis that the
income of producers, after receipt of the aid, should be
no more than the average income of producers during
the reference period from 1989 to 1993. Except for
1999, the amounts of aid were calculated and paid to
producers.

According to the information sent by the Finnish
authorities, Finland applied Decision 95/282/EC for the
1995 to 1999 marketing years. The areas of red clover
for which State aid was paid exceeded the limits laid
down by the Commission in 1995 from 1997 onwards.
The same occurred with meadow fescue and ryegrass in
1998. The amounts of State aid for
the species
concerned were reduced proportionally.

The fact that State aid was set and paid to producers
beyond the period authorised by the Commission makes
the aid illegal, but not necessarily incompatible with the
second paragraph of Article 8 of Regulation (EEC) No
2358/71.

the Commission noted that,

On the basis of the information supplied by the Finnish
Government,
from 1
January 1996 to 1998, the Finnish aid was paid for
varieties of seed produced in Finland because of
its
specific climatic conditions. The Commission also noted
the
that, with regard to the period 1996 to 1998,
overrun, from 1997 for red clover and from 1998 for
meadow fescue and ryegrass, of the maximum areas for
which aid could be granted for 1995 laid down by the
Commission was offset by a proportional reduction in
the amount of aid. The calculations for 1999 have not
yet been finalised, but a maximum amount has been set
for the aid.

these

circumstances,

Under
the Commission can
authorise the aid retrospectively for the period from
1996 to 1998 and authorise the maximum amount of

L 50/20

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

23. 2. 2000

aid for 1999 within the limit of the maximum area laid
down by Decision 95/282/EC for the species other than
red clover,
the maximum authorised area of which
should be increased by 300 hectares compared with that
for the 1995 marketing year to take account of an
increase in demand and the absence on the market of
varieties suited to the specific climatic conditions of
Finland,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The aid granted by Finland, without prior authorisation from
the Commission, from 1 January 1996 to 1998 within the
limits of the areas and amounts laid down in the Annex for
certified seeds of varieties of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.),
timothy (Phleum pratense L.), meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis
huds.), cocksfoot (Dactilis glomerata L.) and ryegrass (Lolium
perenne L.)
listed in Finland's national catalogue and which,
except for small quantities cultivated in regions bordering on
Finland, are produced solely in that Member State is compatible
with the second paragraph of Article 8 of Regulation (EEC) No
2358/71 and is therefore authorised.

Article 2

The maximum amounts of aid or lower amounts set by
Finland, without prior authorisation from the Commission, for
1999 within the limits of the areas and amounts laid down in
the Annex for certified seeds of varieties of red clover (Trifolium
pratense L.), timothy (Phleum pratense L.), meadow fescue (Festuca
pratensis huds.), cocksfoot (Dactilis glomerata L.) and ryegrass
(Lolium perenne L.) listed in Finland's national catalogue and
which, except
small quantities cultivated in regions
bordering on Finland, are produced solely in that Member State
are compatible with the second paragraph of Article 8 of
Regulation (EEC) No 2358/71 and are therefore authorised.

for

This Decision is addressed to the Republic of Finland.

Article 3

Done at Brussels, 11 February 2000.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

23. 2. 2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 50/21

ANNEX

A. Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.)

Maximum area (ha)

Aid per hectare (maximum aid for 1999) (FIM)

269

1 020

521

1 658

673

1 284

620

2 700

1996

1997

1998

1999

B. Timothy (Phleum pratense L.)

1996

1997

1998

1999

Maximum area (ha)

Aid per hectare (maximum aid for 1999) (FIM)

4 776

1 351

4 900

1 383

4 295

1 350

5 000

1 350

C. Meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis huds.)

Maximum area (ha)

Aid per hectare (maximum aid for 1999) (FIM)

945

1 633

981

1 650

1 331

1 442

1 200

1 600

1996

1997

1998

1999

D. Cocksfoot (Dactilis glomerata L.)

Maximum area (ha)

Aid per hectare (maximum aid for 1999) (FIM)

15

346

10

12

30

2 000

2 000

2 000

1996

1997

1998

1999

E. Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

1996

1997

1998

1999

Maximum area (ha)

33

58

71

Aid per hectare (maximum aid for 1999) (FIM)

1 460

1 160

2 054

160

2 400