Summary information on 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: 2006-02-22
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Italy, State aid, agricultural holding, aid to agriculture, control of State aid, livestock farming, reparcelling

22.2.2006

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 44/5

Summary information on 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

(2006/C 44/04)

Aid No: XA 6/04

Member State: Italy

Region: Lombardy — Directorate-General for Agriculture

— Article 7 (Limits, exclusions, eligibility): 7.1 excluding bene-

ficiaries under point 2.2

Planned annual
expenditure under
planned initial budget is EUR 5 000 000

the

scheme: The

Title of the aid scheme: Support for the implementation of
programmes to produce energy from renewable sources

Eligible expenditure may not exceed the limits in the regional
development plan:

Legal basis:

— Legge regionale del 7 febbraio 2000, n. 7, «Norme per gli
interventi regionali in agricoltura» Art. 4, Comma 1, Lett. e)

— For small agricultural holdings in the disadvantaged areas
referred to in Article 18 of the Regulation, whose viability
is defined in point 4.1.1.a of the Plan: the maximum eligible
investment for the whole period of application of the Plan
is EUR 350 000 per holding

— Deliberazione n. VII/14019 dell'8.8.2003 dal Titolo:
«Approvazione dei criteri riguardanti “Sostegno per l'attua-
intesi a produrre energia da fonti
zione di programmi
rinnovabili”».

— In other cases: the maximum eligible for the whole period
of application of the Plan is EUR 800 000 per holding, and
EUR 1 000 000 if the investment also concerns the proces-
sing of a farm product

— Regolamento (CE) n. 1/2004 della Commissione del 23
dicembre 2003 relativo all'applicazione degli articoli 87 e
88 del trattato CE agli aiuti di Stato a favore delle piccole e
medie imprese attive nel settore della produzione, trasfor-
mazione e commercializzazione dei prodotti agricoli.

Assistance covered by the Decision is eligible for finance with
the exclusion of assistance for incineration or coincineration,
which will be the subject of separate aid.

Assistance is eligible under:

— For associated and cooperative holdings: EUR 1 500 000
per project for the whole period of application of the Plan

— For firms engaged in the processing and marketing of agri-
cultural products the maximum is as provided for in Article
1(3) of the exemption Regulation (EC) No 1/2004

Under Article 17(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004, it is certi-
fied that the funds actually available in the regional budget at
31 December 2003 for this initiative were:

— Article 1 (Purpose): first four types of eligible assistance

— chapter 5405 — equipment grants EUR 2 330 000

— Article 2 (Beneficiaries): 2.1-2.3 excluding those under

point 2.2.

— chapter 1550 — grants for interest relief on mortgages

EUR 8 612 000

The aid is intended only for small and medium-sized firms
with a turnover of less than EUR 40 million and which are
economically viable under the criteria set out in Article 5 of
Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 as amended and as specified
in the regional development plan

— Article 3 (Types of assistance): 3.1 — 3.2 — 3.3 — 3.4

— chapter 1770 — grants for interest relief on mortgages

EUR 1 503 000

— chapter 1946 — grants for interest relief on mortgages

EUR 8 315 000

— Article 4 (Size of contribution): 4.1

EUR 1 583 000

— chapter 2328 — grants for interest relief on mortgages

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giving a total in grants for interest relief of EUR 20 013 000;
assuming contributions to grants for interest relief on mort-
gages (e.g.
ten-year mortgages) annual availability is about
EUR 2 020 000

Assuming an average contribution of 30 %, the investment
possible would be:

— from grants for interest relief EUR 2 020 000

— from equipment grants EUR 2 330 000

The following are not eligible for finance:

— the purchase of land, live animals, production rights, used
and instruments, non-agricultural
computer
machinery (trailers, etc.) which cannot be registered with
the UMA (users of agricultural machinery);

apparatus

— maintenance work;

— replacement investments which do nothing to improve the

agricultural production situation.

total
availability
EUR 14 500 000

EUR 4 350 000/30 % = investment of

Pursuant to Article 4(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004, we
confirm that ‘normal market outlets for the products concerned
exist for the future’. (See Annexes I and II)

Maximum intensity of aid:

Sectors concerned: The aid scheme applies to the processing
and marketing of agricultural products

— The value of the aid as a percentage of eligible expenditure

is 30 % for works.

Name and address of the authority granting the aid:

— For applications by young farmers within five years of
establishment and aged between 18 and 40, the value of
the aid as a percentage of eligible expenditure is 45 % for
works

Date of application: Aid may be granted after the scheme has
been introduced and published in the Official Journal of the Euro-
pean Union,
in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC)
No 1/2004

Region Lombardy — Direzione Generale Agricultura
Piazza IV Novembre, 5
I-20124 Milano

Website: www.agricoltura.regione.lombardia.it

Duration of the scheme: The aid scheme should be regarded
as unlimited in time and so having the duration laid down by
Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 as amended

Aid No: XA 8/04

Member State: Italy

Purpose of the aid: The aim of this initiative is to encourage
agricultural holdings and firms engaged in the processing and
marketing of agricultural products (Article 4 of Regulation (EC)
No 1/2004) to reduce energy production costs, to promote the
use of agricultural products, excluding waste,
for energy
purposes and introduce systems to limit pollution and the
environmental
to reduce energy
consumption

in any case,

impact or,

Eligible costs covered by the scheme:

Region: Autonomous Region of Valle d'Aosta

Title of aid scheme: Investments in agricultural holdings

Legal basis:

— Regolamento (CE) n. 1257/1999 del Consiglio

— Orientamenti comunitari per gli aiuti di Stato nel settore

agricolo (2000/C 20/02 dell'1.1.2000)

Aid will be granted for the following types of assistance:

— Regolamento (CE) n. 1783/2003 del Consiglio

— assistance required for the implementation and correct
operation of power generators using vegetable biomass;

— the use of renewable energy to rationalise energy consump-
such as: heat pumps,

tion on agricultural holdings
combined heat and power, insulation;

— assistance for insulation and the reduction of heat losses
and the application of technologies to produce renewable
energy in greenhouses;

— assistance to recover biogas from new or existing plants,
including those of a simplified type, included in the digester
chamber

— Regolamento (CE) n. 1/2004 della Commissione

— Decisione della Commissione relativa all'aiuto di Stato n.
368/2000 trasmessa con lettera SG (2001) D/285819 del
2.2.2001.

Annual
me: EUR 4 000 000 per year (see attached table).

expenditure

planned

under

the

sche-

This is an amendment of an existing state aid scheme already
authorised by the Commission. The planned expenditure over
the years 2004 to 2006 is less than that given in the notifica-
tion of state aid No 368/2000 for the measure ‘Investments in
agricultural holdings’, approved by Commission Decision noti-
fied by letter No SG (2001) D/285819 dated 2 February 2001

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Maximum aid intensity: 60 % of eligible expenditure for all
investments in agricultural holdings carried out by young
farmers as defined in Article 8(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1257/
1999

Date of implementation: The aid scheme will enter into force
after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Duration of scheme: Until 31 December 2006

Objective of aid: The principal objective is to adjust
in
accordance with Community rules (in particular Regulations
(EC) Nos 1/2004 and 1783/2003) the rate of aid for invest-
ments carried out by young farmers for the construction and
restructuring of farm buildings and infrastructures, compliance
with health, hygiene and animal-welfare standards and mechan-
isation (increase of rate of aid from 55 % to 60 %)

As already stated, this is an amendment, within the meaning of
Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004, of an existing state aid
scheme already authorised by the Commission. The general

objectives of the measure are to improve and rationalise farm
buildings,
improve hygiene, animal-welfare conditions and
competitiveness and increase farmers' incomes

Sector(s) concerned: The measure is aimed at small and
medium-sized agricultural production holdings in all sectors in
the
fruit production, wine
growing, etc.)

region (forage-stockfarming,

Name and address of the granting authority:

Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta — Assessorato dell'Agricol-
tura, Protezione civile e Risorse naturali — Dipartimento Agri-
coltura — Direzione Politiche Agricole e Sviluppo zootecnico.
Località Grande Charrière 66
I-11020 St Christophe (Aosta)

Web address:

http://www.regione.vda.it/

INVESTMENTS IN AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS (EUR)

Year

Total cost

Private
contribution

Total public expenditure

EC

National public contribution

Total

% total
cost

Total

% total
cost

State

Regions

Local
authori-
ties

2004

2005

2006

8 500 000

4 000 000

8 500 000

4 000 000

8 500 000

4 000 000

Total

25 500 000

12 000 000

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4 000 000

4 000 000

4 000 000

12 000 000

47

47

47

47

0

0

0

0

4 000 000

4 000 000

4 000 000

12 000 000

0

0

0

0

Public
expenditure

4 500 000

4 500 000

4 500 000

13 500 000

the

sche-

Aid No: XA 9/04

Member State: Italy

Region: Autonomous Region of Valle d'Aosta

Title of aid scheme: Reparcelling

Legal basis:

— Regolamento (CE) n. 1257/1999 del Consiglio

Annual
under
me: EUR 900 000 per year (see attached table).

expenditure

planned

This is an amendment to an existing state aid scheme already
authorised by the Commission. The planned expenditure over
the years 2004 to 2006 is not significantly different from that
given in the notification of state aid No 368/2000 for the
measure ‘Reparcelling’, approved by Commission Decision noti-
fied by letter No SG (2001) D/285819 dated 2 February 2001

— Orientamenti comunitari per gli aiuti di Stato nel settore

agricolo (2000/C 20/02 dell'1.1.2000)

Maximum aid intensity: 100 % of the cost of implementing a
Reparcelling Plan,
including preliminary studies, drawing up
the draft plan and the transfer of ownership rights and other
property rights

— Regolamento (CE) n. 1/2004 della Commissione

— Decisione della Commissione relativa all'aiuto di Stato n.
368/2000 trasmessa con lettera SG (2001) D/285819 del
2.2.2001

Date of implementation: The aid scheme will enter into force
after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union

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Duration of scheme: Until 31 December 2006

Objective of aid: The problem of reparcelling is particularly
grave in Valle d'Aosta because of the serious structural limita-
tions placed on the agricultural sector by the small size and
fragmentation of holdings, which are generally made up of
several plots of land, often lying far apart.

The measure aims to provide support to small and medium-
sized holdings for the consolidation of their land and property
in order to reduce production costs and labour time

As stated above,
scheme already authorised by the Commission.

this is an amendment

to an existing aid

The amendment, proposed under Article 12 of Regulation (EC)
No 1/2004, extends the measure to associated agricultural
holdings and to owners of agricultural land and rectifies and
redefines some of the conditions to be fulfilled by the above
beneficiaries and by individual holdings.

The financing of the cost of the transfer of ownership rights
and other property rights for the purpose of reparcelling by
single and associated agricultural holdings with the minimum
level of profitability and by landowners may be granted
provided that:

a) consolidation involves two or more plots of land all located
in zones classified as category E in the relevant PRGC
(municipal development plans);

b) the consolidation enables a minimum size of agricultural

plot to be achieved;

c) the beneficiary formally undertakes:

— to maintain the consolidated land for agricultural use
and cultivate it in accordance with good farming prac-
tice, either directly or by third parties,
least
15 years;

for at

— not to break up the consolidated land (by sale, bequest,

etc.) for at least 15 years.

Sector(s) concerned: The measure is aimed at small and
medium-sized agricultural production holdings in all sectors in
the
fruit production, wine-
growing, etc.)

region (forage-stockfarming,

Name and address of
the granting authority: Regione
Autonoma Valle d'Aosta — Assessorato dell'Agricoltura, Prote-
zione civile e Risorse naturali — Dipartimento Agricoltura —
Servizio Promozione e Sviluppo Agricolo

web address:

http://www.regione.vda.it/

Year

Total cost

Public
expenditure

EC

REPARCELLING (EUR)

Private contribution

National public contribution

State

Region

Local
authorities

Total

% total
cost

Total

% total
cost

2004

2005

2006

Total

1 300 000

900 000

1 300 000

900 000

1 300 000

900 000

3 900 000

2 700 000

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

900 000

900 000

900 000

2 700 000

69

69

69

69

0

0

0

0

900 000

900 000

900 000

2 700 000

0

0

0

0

Total public
expenditure

400 000

400 000

400 000

1 200 000

Aid No: XA 11/04

Member State: Italy

Region: Marche

the Regulation providing for exemption and will be applied in
2004, providing in that year for an overall commitment of
EUR 1 612 290,02 of which not more than EUR 100 000 will
be for this scheme.

Title of aid scheme or name of the company qualifying for
a single aid payment:
‘Technical assistance in the zootech-
nical sector’

Expenditure under
the law overall may reach an annual
maximum of EUR 4 000 000 of which not more than
EUR 300 000 will be for assistance under this aid scheme.

Legal basis: Art. 6 della Legge Regionale 22.12.2003, n. 27
«Interventi regionali nel settore della zootecnia».

Planned annual expenditure under the scheme or total
annual amount of individual aid granted to the compa-
ny: The regional law referred to under legal basis also concerns
other aid schemes not all of which are provided for in detail in

Maximum intensity of aid: The aid scheme provides for the
stock farmers and
to associations of
grant of payments
zootechnical producer organisations for the provision of ancil-
lary and replacement services to farmers and for the organisa-
tion of competitions, exhibitions and fairs.

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The activities and services referred to above are accessible to all
stock farmers as final beneficiaries.

The payments are granted up to 100 per cent of expenditure
considered eligible, up to a maximum of EUR 100 000 per
beneficiary for each three-year period.

Date of application: From 2004 and 10 working days after
the dispatch of this form, as provided for in Article 19(1) of
Regulation (EC) No 1/2004.

Duration of scheme or of individual aid: The duration is
indeterminate and linked to the annual allocations from the
budget decided on by the Region of Marche and to the period
of validity of the Regulation providing for exemption (Regu-
lation (EC) No 1/2004).

in order to obtain access to the service. Contributions from
non-members towards the administrative costs of the asso-
ciation or organisation concerned must be limited to the
costs of providing the service.

3. If need be, the provider of technical support will be selected
and paid on the basis of market principles, in a non-discri-
minatory way, where necessary by a tendering procedure in
accordance with Community rules, and in any case using
forms of advertising enabling the market in services to be
opened up to competition and allowing the rules on
tendering to be verified impartially.

Purpose of the aid: The support is for individual small and
medium-sized farm enterprises and associations thereof.

Aid No: XA 12/04

the aid scheme are to encourage the
The special aims of
upgrading and updating of agricultural holdings and the quality
and improvement of zootechnical production.

Member State: Italy

Region: Marche

The eligible costs will consist exclusively of those provided for
the legal basis and in Article
in paragraphs 1 and 2 of
14(2)(a)(iii) and (d) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 and in par-
ticular those relating to:

a) the provision of ancillary and replacement services when
farmers and/or their workers are participating in training
activities or in the event of absence on holiday or because
of sickness;

b) the organisation of and/or participation in zootechnical
competitions, exhibitions and fairs by those entered in
genealogical and public registers (registration and travel
expenses, advertising costs, stand rental costs).

Aid for replacement services will not be granted where stock
farmers and/or their workers are absent because they are parti-
cipating in zootechnical exhibitions, competitions and fairs.

Sectors concerned: The aid scheme will apply to all forms of
zootechnical production and cover all types of stock farming.

Name and address of the authority granting the aid:

Regione Marche — Servizio Gestione Attività Agricole e Rurali.
Via Tiziano 44, I-60100 Ancona (Italia)

Website: www.agri-marche.it

Other information:

Title of aid scheme or name of the company qualifying for a
single aid

‘Investments in zootechnical holdings specialising in the rearing
of cows and calves’

Legal basis: Artt. 9 e 3 della Legge Regionale 22.12.2003, n.
27 «Interventi regionali nel settore della zootecnia».

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or total
annual amount of individual aid granted to the compa-
ny: The regional law referred to under legal basis also concerns
other aid schemes not all of which are specified in the Regu-
lation providing for exemption. The law will be applied in 200.
It provides
in 2004 of
EUR 1 612 290,02 of which not more than EUR 1 000 000 is
for assistance under this scheme

commitment

an overall

for

Annual expenditure under
the law overall may reach a
maximum of EUR 4 000 000 of which not more than EUR 3
million will be for investments under this aid scheme

Maximum intensity of aid: The aid will be granted to cover
not more than 40 % of the volume of investment, and not
more than 50 % in less-favoured areas. For investments by
young farmers within five years of setting up, the percentages
will be 45 % and 55 % respectively.

1. The regional law referred to under legal basis provides for a
range of other aid schemes, not provided for in detail in
Regulation (EC) No 1/2004, which will therefore be notified
separately in accordance with the Guidelines for State aid in
the agriculture sector.

2. The aids will be accessible to all eligible persons in the area
concerned on the basis of objectively set criteria. Member-
ship of an association or organisation will not be required

If the investments include additional costs for the protection
and improvement of the environment and the improvement of
the health and welfare conditions of the animals, the maximum
percentages of 40 % and 50 % may be increased by 20 % or
25 % only for investments needed to comply with the new
minimum Community requirements or to exceed those require-
ments.
In any case aid will not be granted to cover the
increased costs of the supply and production of electricity,
together with the supply of water.

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The increase in aid will be granted only for the additional
eligible costs necessary and will not apply to investments invol-
ving an increase in production capacity.

Date of application: From 2004 and,
working days after the dispatch of this form,
with Article 19(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004

in any case,

ten
in accordance

Duration of aid scheme or of individual aid: The duration
is indeterminate and is linked to the annual budget allocations
adopted by the Region of Marche and to the period of validity
of the Regulation providing for exemption (Regulation (EC) No
1/2004)

the aid: The aid is intended for small and
Purpose of
medium-sized farm enterprises and associations thereof which
satisfy the profitability requirements established in the RSP for
the Region of Marche, approved by the Commission by Deci-
sion C(2000) 2726 DEF of 26.9.2000 and is based on Article 4
of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004

The objectives of the regional law referred to in the legal basis
for the aid scheme are to improve the quality of livestock
production and the livestock gene pool, provide assurances of
food safety, protect the environment and develop extensive
livestock farming in upland and less-favoured areas

The specific objectives of the aid scheme are to support the
categories of investment listed in detail in Article 9(1) of the
legal basis, with the sole exception of those referred to in point
(h) [first purchase of
livestock)] and point (i) [purchase of high-
quality male and female reproducing animals entered in genealogical
books or public registers]

For these latter two categories the aid scheme approved by the
Commission [Aid No 110/03 –Commission Decision C(2003)
2915 of 4.8.2003] will be taken as a basis

The eligible expenses, in accordance with Article 4 of Regu-
lation (EC) No 1/2004 will include:

— the construction, acquisition and improvement of immo-

vable property;

— the purchase or lease-purchase of new machinery and
equipment, including computer software up to the market
value of the asset; other costs connected with a leasing
interest refinancing costs,
contract

lessor's margin,

(tax,

overheads, insurance charges, etc.) do not constitute eligible
expenditure;

— general costs, such as architects', engineers' and consultation
fees,
the acquisition of patents and
licences, up to 12 % of the expenditure referred to in the
preceding points

feasibility studies,

Sectors concerned: The aid scheme applies to zootechnical
production and covers all types of livestock rearing

Name and address of the authority granting the aid:

Regione Marche — Servizio Gestione Attività Agricole e Rurali.
Via Tiziano 44, I-60100 Ancona (Italia)

Website:

www.agri-marche.it
www.regione.marche.it

Other information:

1. The regional law referred to in the legal basis provides for
other aid schemes which are not provided for in detail in
Regulation (EC) No 1/2004, which will therefore be notified
separately in accordance with the Guidelines for State aid in
the agriculture sector.

2. The aid will be granted exclusively to small and medium-
sized enterprises in the agricultural sector whose financial
viability can be shown for products for which there are
normal outlets or will be in the future, provided the invest-
ments do not result in an increase of more than 20 % in the
production capacity of the small and medium-sized enter-
prises to be calculated in livestock units in the case of live-
stock production and as area cultivated in the case of plant
production;

The criteria and procedures governing the evaluations and
measures for verifying compliance with the above requirements
(provided for in Article 4(5), (6) and (8)(a) of Regulation (EC)
No 1/2004 will be those laid down in the RSP for the Region
of Marche,
referred to in Regulation (EC) No 1257/99,
approved by the Commission by Decision C(2000) 2726 DEF
of 26.9.2000 and published on the Internet at the following
address: www.agri.marche.it