Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty — Cases where the Commission raises no objections (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2004-01-17
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, State aid, aid to undertakings, control of State aid

C 13/14

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

17.1.2004

Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2004/C 13/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Date of adoption of the decision: 10.12.2003

Date of adoption of the decision: 1.12.2003

Member State: Sweden

Aid No: N 202/03

Member State: Germany

Aid No: N 341/03

Title: Reimbursement of high sickleave payment for smaller
employers

Title: SME Interest Subsidy Programme — prolongation
(Saarland)

Objective: To compensate solely small enterprises for the
increased cost of sickleave payment

Legal basis: Introduktionen av den föreslagna åtgärden – kom-
mer att ske genom ändringar i Svensk lag nr 1991:1047 an-
gående sjuklön

Objective: Supporting investment activities by small and
medium-sized enterprises in Saarland

Legal basis: Richtlinien für das Zinszuschussprogramm zur
Förderung von kleinen und mittleren Unternehmen sowie des
Fremdenverkehrs im Saarland

Budget: The budget of the scheme is estimated at SEK 250
million (± EUR 25 million) per year

Budget: EUR 885 300 p.a.

Duration: 1 January 2004 to 1 January 2005

Duration: Limited until 31 December 2006

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confi-
dential information has been removed, can be found at

Other information: Germany has to submit an annual report
on the implementation of the scheme

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confi-
dential information has been removed, can be found at

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids

Date of adoption of the decision: 1.12.2003

Member State: Italy

Aid No: N 310/03

Date of adoption of the decision: 1.12.2003

Title: Aid for sources of renewable energy

Member State: United Kingdom

Objective: To promote investment in renewable energy

Aid No: N 455/03

Legal basis: Legge n. 598/94, articolo 11; D.L. n. 516/94;
Legge n. 448/98, articolo 8, c. 10, lettera f); D.L. n. 500/99,
articolo 2, c. 1.; D.M. n. 337/2000, articolo 5

Budget: EUR 25 820 000

Aid intensity or amount: Consistent with the intensities
applicable under the Community guidelines on state aid for
environmental protection

Duration: Until 31 December 2007

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confi-
dential information has been removed, can be found at

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids

Title: Cleaner Coal R & D Programme (alteration)

Objective: Promoting the development of more environ-
mentally efficient technologies for utilising coal for electricity
generation

Legal basis: Science and Technology Act 1965

Budget: Originally anticipated GBP 4,7 million (approximately
EUR 6,8 million), 2004 budget not yet finalised, level of refi-
nancing will fall below 100 % refinancing eligibility

Aid intensity or amount: Mostly 50 % gross; 75 % for feasi-
bility studies in dioxide capture field at the R & D stage of
industrial research

Duration: Until 31 March 2005

17.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 13/15

Other information: The United Kingdom authorities have to
submit an annual report on the implementation of the scheme

Objective: Promote SME investments, facilitating SME access
to guarantees

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confi-
dential information has been removed, can be found at

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids

Legal basis: Delibera della Giunta Regionale della Regione Ba-
silicata n. 1451, 2 agosto 2002 — Approvazione preliminare
del bando

Date of adoption of the decision: 26.11.2003

Member State: Italy (Basilicata)

Aid No: N 82/03

Title: Grants to risk funds of cooperatives and collective
guarantee association for commerce and tourism

Budget: EUR 600 000

Aid intensity or amount: Within the ceilings of Commission
Regulation (EC) No 70/2001

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confi-
dential information has been removed, can be found at

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3333 — Sony/BMG)

(2004/C 13/06)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.
On 9 January 2004 the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to
Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/97 (2),
by which the undertakings Bertelsmann AG (‘Bertelsmann’, Germany) and Sony Corporation of America
belonging to the Sony group (‘Sony’, Japan), acquire, within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Regu-
lation,
joint control of the undertaking ‘Sony BMG’ by way of purchase of shares in a newly created
company constituting a joint venture.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

— Bertelsmann: Music recording and publishing, television, radio, publishing of books and magazines,

book and music clubs,

— Sony: Music recording and publishing,

industrial and consumer electronics, entertainment services,

— Sony BMG: Combination of the worldwide recorded music businesses of Sony and Bertelsmann

(excluding Sony's activities in Japan).

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified concentration could fall within

3.
the scope of Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit

4.
proposed operation.

their possible observations on the

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication.
Observations can be sent by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference
COMP/M.3333 — Sony/BMG, to:

European Commission,
Directorate-General for Competition,
Merger Registry,
J-70,
B-1049 Brussels.

(1) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 1; corrigendum: OJ L 257, 21.9.1990, p. 13.
(2) OJ L 180, 9.7.1997, p. 1; corrigendum: OJ L 40, 13.2.1998, p. 17.