Summary information communicated by the Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 of 23 December 2003 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products
Date: 2005-06-24
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: State aid, agri-foodstuffs, aid to agriculture, control of State aid, small and medium-sized enterprises

24.6.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 153/11

Summary information communicated by the Member States regarding State aid granted under
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 of 23 December 2003 on the application of Articles 87
and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the produc-
tion, processing and marketing of agricultural products

(2005/C 153/06)

Aid No: XA 11/05

Member State: Spain

Region: La Rioja

Title of Aid scheme or name of company receiving an
individual aid: Framework for the grant of aid to promote the
food industry based on calls for proposals and in the form of
interest subsidies on loans to finance investments in fixed
assets.

Legal basis: Resolución del Presidente de la Agencia de Desarrollo
Económico de La Rioja de 11 de febrero de 2005 por la que se
aprueban las Bases Reguladoras para el Fomento de la Industria
Agroalimentaria, de la concesión de subvenciones de capital, en
régimen de concurrencia competitiva, y en forma de bonificación de
intereses de préstamos destinados a financiar inversiones en activos
fijos.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of
compa-
ny: EUR 2 464 272,00

aid granted to the

individual

— Diversification of products and re-directing of production

in line with market trends.

— Improving and rationalising marketing channels.

— Improving and re-directing processing procedures which

help lower production costs.

— Implementing new technologies.

— Protecting the environment and the natural landscape.

— Maintaining and reinforcing a viable social fabric in rural

areas.

— Strengthening the value chain between the production of
Riojan agricultural
raw materials and the processing
industry thus contributing to the diversification of farming
activities.

Application of Article 7 of Commission Regulation (EC) No
1/2004.

Maximum aid intensity: 40 % of the eligible investment

The eligible costs are:

Date of application: from 1 April 2005.

— Construction, acquisition and improvement of buildings.

Duration of the scheme: The aid scheme is expected to run
until 31 December 2006.

Objective of aid: The main objective is to foster and improve
conditions for the processing and wholesale marketing of agri-
cultural and food products in the Autonomous Community of
La Rioja in a way that helps stimulate investments in the
purchase and modernisation of fixed assets.

The general objectives are:

— Creation of new industries

— Creation and/or maintenance of jobs

— Promoting access to greater added value by the primary

sector thanks to the processing of products.

— Improvements in quality: health conditions, packaging and

presentation of products.

— Raising of compulsory safety and traceability standards for
products launched on the market as an additional criterion
of greater added value for these products.

— Purchase or lease-purchase of new machinery and equip-
including software, up to the market value of the

ment,
product.

— General costs, such as architects', engineers' fees, feasibility
studies, the acquisition of patents and licences, up to 8 % of
the expenditure referred to above.

Sector(s) concerned: The aid scheme applies to the proces-
sing and marketing mainly of food products.

Name and address of the granting authority:
Agencia de Desarrollo Económico de La Rioja
C/ Muro de la Mata 13-14
26071-Logroño
Spain

Web address: more information at www.ader.es

C 153/12

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

24.6.2005

Aid No: XA 12/05

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: England

Title of Aid scheme or name of company receiving an
individual aid: Conservation Advice Programme — Practical
Advice for Land Managers (England)

Legal basis: The scheme is non-statutory. The Agriculture Act
1986 (Section 1) provides the legal base for the provision by
Government of advice in connection with any agricultural
activity.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of individual aid granted to the company: The
total value of the aid is GBP 2 463 167 over 3 programme
years. The funding is provided from 4 financial years listed
below:

04/05 — GBP 224 120

05/06 — GBP 902 496

06/07 — GBP 812 846

07/08 — GBP 523 705

Name and address of the granting authority:
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Farm Advice Unit
Rural Development Service
Area 4A, Ergon House
Horseferry Road
London
United Kingdom
SW1P 2AL

Web
exempt.htm.

address: www.defra.gov.uk/farm/state-aid/setup/exist-

Click on ‘Conservation Advice Programme — Practical Advice
for Land Managers’. Alternatively, you can go direct to:

www.defra.gov.uk/farm/state-aid/setup/schemes/conservadvi-
ce.pdf.

Other information: The scheme will be made available to all
land managers, not just farmers. Aid to non-agricultural busi-
nesses will be paid with regard to Commission Regulation (EC)
No 69/2001 on de minimis aid.

Beneficiaries will not be able to choose the service provider.
The service provider will be ADAS Consulting Ltd., who were
selected by a tender exercise.

Maximum aid intensity: The aid intensity is 100 %.

Date of implementation: Farmers will be able to sign up
from 4 April 2005. The first meetings will take place after this
date.

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The scheme
will be open to new participants throughout. Activities funded
under the scheme will take place after 4 April 2005 until 30
June 2007.

Objective of aid: Sectoral development. This is a programme
for land managers. The purpose of the programme, consisting
of a range of conferences, workshops, farm walks, self-help
group meetings, training seminars and other events, is to help
land managers understand current issues that may impact upon
their businesses, such as the introduction of the new Environ-
mental Stewardship Schemes and what they mean in terms of
management requirements. This will
increase the profession-
alism of the sector.

Aid No: XA 15/05

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: England

Title of Aid scheme or name of company receiving an
individual aid: Environment Sensitive Farming — Practical
Advice for Land Managers Programme (England)

Legal basis: The scheme is non-statutory. The Agriculture Act
1986 (section 1) provides the legal base for the provision by
Government of advice in connection with any agricultural
activity.

Expenditure planned under the scheme: Total value of GBP
2 528 367 over 3 programme years. The funding is provided
from 4 financial years listed below:

The aid will be paid in line with Article 14 of Regulation (EC)
No 1/2004 and the eligible costs will be the costs of organising
and delivering training programmes.

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to businesses active
in the production of agricultural products only. The scheme is
open to businesses producing any type of agricultural product.

04/05 — GBP 468 685

05/06 — GBP 774 736

06/07 — GBP 739 315

07/08 — GBP 545 631

24.6.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 153/13

Maximum aid intensity: The aid intensity is 100 %.

Aid No: XA 21/05

Date of implementation: Farmers will be able to sign up
from 4 April 2005. The first meetings will take place after this
date.

Member State: Netherlands

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The scheme
will be open to new participants throughout. Activities funded
under the scheme will take place after 4 April 2005 and until
30 June 2007.

Objective of aid: Sectoral development. The purpose of the
programme, consisting of a range of conferences, workshops,
farm walks, advice visits, group meetings and seminars, is to
help farmers and other land managers understand the effects of
farm practices on the wider environment. This will
their
increase the professionalism of the sector.

The aid will be paid in line with Article 14 of Regulation (EC)
No 1/2004 and the eligible costs will be costs of organising
and delivering training programmes.

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to businesses active
in the production of agricultural products only. The scheme is
open to businesses producing any type of agricultural product.

Name and address of the granting authority:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Farm Advice Unit
Rural Development Service
Area 4A, Ergon House
Horseferry Road
London
United Kingdom
SW1P 2JR

Web
exempt.htm.

address: www.defra.gov.uk/farm/state-aid/setup/exist-

Click on Environment Sensitive Farming — Practical Advice for
Land Managers Programme (England).

Alternatively, you can go direct to:

www.defra.gov.uk/farm/state-aid/setup/schemes/envsensiti-
ve.pdf.

Other information: The scheme will be made available to all
land managers, not just farmers. Aid to non-agricultural busi-
nesses will be paid with regard to Commission Regulation (EC)
No 69/2001 on de minimis aid.

Beneficiaries will not be able to choose the service provider.
The service provider will be ADAS Consulting Ltd. who were
selected by a tender exercise.

Region: Province of North Brabant

Title of aid scheme: Technical assistance provided by the
Agro & Co foundation

Legal basis: Subsidieverordening Economische Zaken en arbeids-
marktbeleid Provincie Noord-Brabant

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: Total
annual budgetary provisions amount to EUR 500 000

Maximum aid intensity: The aid involves technical support
for SMEs in the agricultural sector (in accordance with Annex I
to the Treaty) in the form of consultancy services, provided
that they neither constitute a continuous or periodic activity
nor relate to the enterprise's usual operating expenditure.

In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1/2004, aid is granted
to SMEs in the agricultural sector at a rate of 100 % of consul-
tancy fees where public support over the past three years does
not exceed the limit of EUR 100 000, and at a rate of 50 % of
subsidisable fees where eligible costs do exceed EUR 100 000.

Expenditure may also relate to:

— consultancy services to (small and medium-sized) enter-
prises (with the exception of agriculture, fisheries and aqua-
culture, and logistics).

The maximum amount and intensity of aid granted to those
enterprises are subject to Regulations (EC) Nos 69/2001 and
70/2001. For those types of aid, summary information will be
sent separately, in accordance with the relevant Regulation.

Date of granting of aid: 15 May 2005

Duration of
December 2007 inclusive (1)

the measure: From 15 May 2005 until

Objective of aid:

— primary objective:

to support SMEs in the agricultural

sector;

— secondary objective: technical support in connection with
consultancy services which neither constitute a continuous
or periodic activity nor relate to the enterprise's usual oper-
ating expenditure.

C 153/14

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

24.6.2005

Economic sectors concerned: The scheme is applicable to all
sectors involved in the production, processing and marketing
of agricultural products.

Eligible costs are fees for the supply of consultancy services
which neither constitute a continuous or periodic activity nor
relate to the enterprise's usual operating expenditure.

Sectors concerned: Production, processing and marketing of
agricultural products

Name and address of the granting authority:
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Tìšnov 17
117 00 Prague 1
Czech Republic

address: www.mze.cz/Dotace

Web
programy/Národní
podpory/Zásady poskytování dotací pro rok 2005 Národní
podpory

a

Other data: The Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
declares that the conditions of Commission Regulation (EC) No
1/2004 will be met, i.e. the aid will be targeted at small and
medium-sized enterprises and will comply with the limit of
EUR 100 000 per recipient per three years.

In accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003,
the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic has focussed
on aid for services in the field of water protection, welfare and
organic farming. The proposed aid extends the supply of
consultancy services aimed at the economic optimisation of
agricultural holdings.

Name and address of the granting authority:
Province of North Brabant
Brabantlaan 1
Postbus 90151
5200 MC 's-Hertogenbosch

Web address: www.brabant.nl

(1) The scheme and all individual measures based on the scheme lasting
beyond 31 December 2006 will be adapted in accordance with
Regulation (EC) No 1/2004. The obligation includes notifying the
European Commission of amendments pursuant to Regulation (EC)
No 1/2004 or its successor.

Aid No: XA 26/05

Member State: Czech Republic

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving indivi-
dual aid: Consultancy aid in the agricultural sector — opti-
mising farm management

Legal basis: Zákon č. 252/1997 Sb., o zemědělství

Annual expenditure planned or overall amount of indivi-
dual aid granted to the company: Up to CZK 6 million

Aid No: XA 28/05

Maximum aid intensity: Up to 80 % of eligible expenditure,
maximum CZK 20 000 per recipient

Member State: United Kingdom.

Region: Cumbria.

Date of implementation: From 1 May 2005

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Up to 31
December 2006

Objective of aid: Economic consultancy aid for small and
medium-sized enterprises. This will involve assessing the feasi-
bility of
including its consistency with
various other types of public support. The outcome will be a
recommendation to reduce some types of production or a
proposal to take up new activites.

the business plan,

This
support complies with Council Regulation (EC) No
support
1782/2003 establishing common rules
schemes under the Common Agricultural Policy and estab-
lishing certain support schemes for farmers (Title II, Chapter 3,
Article 13 et seq.)

for direct

Under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 of 23
December 2003, Article 14 (‘Provision of technical support in
the agricultural sector’) is applicable.

Name of company receiving an individual aid: Junction 38
Partnership.

Legal basis: Section 5 of Regional Development Agencies Act
1998.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of individual aid granted to the company: The
total amount of aid granted to the partnership will be GBP
243 200. The whole amount of aid will be paid in the financial
year 2005/2006.

Maximum aid intensity: 40 %

Date of implementation: The first payment will be made
after 18 May 2005.

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Aid will be
paid in monthly instalments in arrears upon receipt of a claim
form and evidence of progress made. The last instalment will
be made by 31 March 2006.

24.6.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 153/15

Objective of aid: Sectoral development. Rural Regeneration
Cumbria is providing funding to a co-operative of farmers to
build and commission a red meat processing and chilling
facility. This will assist them to promote and market quality
agricultural products, thus supporting the long term develop-
ment of Cumbria's rural economy.

The aid is being made available in line with Article 7 of Regu-
lation (EC) No 1/2004. The eligible costs are:

— the construction, acquisition and improvement of immo-

vable property;

Sector(s) concerned: The aid is being provided for
processing of beef, lamb and pork.

the

Name and address of the granting authority:
Rural Regeneration Cumbria
Hackthorpe Business Centre
Hackthorpe
Cumbria
United Kingdom
CA10 2HX

Web
exempt.htm.

address: www.defra.gov.uk/farm/state-aid/setup/exist-

— the purchase/lease-purchase of new machinery and equip-

ment, including, computer software;

Click on ‘Junction 38 Partnership’. Alternatively, you can go
direct to:

— general costs (architects, engineers and consultation fees).

http://defraweb/farm/state-aid/setup/schemes/junction38.pdf.