Summary information communicated by 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: 2006-04-07
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: State aid, aid to agriculture, aid to undertakings, control of State aid, small and medium-sized enterprises

C 84/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

7.4.2006

Summary information communicated by 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

(2006/C 84/02)

Aid No: XA 48/05

Member State: Germany

Region: Rhineland-Palatinate

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an indi-
vidual aid: Provision of guarantees to support agriculture
(Landesbürgschaftsprogramm) [Land guarantee programme]

Legal basis: Ermächtigung durch das jeweilige Landeshaushalts-
gesetz und nach Maßgabe des Landesbürgschaftsprogramms
(Verwaltungsvorschrift des rheinland-pfälzischen Ministeriums
der Finanzen)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of individual aid granted to the company:

Guarantees

The framework for providing guarantees totals up to EUR 20
million per year

The aid value of the guarantee is calculated using the standard
assessment method in accordance with the Commission Notice
on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to
State aid in the form of guarantees (Official Journal C 71 of
11.3.2000 p. 14-18)

Tax treatment

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

The eligible expenditure (in each case exclusive of VAT)
comprises

— Investment for the construction, acquisition or improve-
ment of immovable property; purchase of new machinery
and new technical equipment and

— Up to 12 % of the eligible investment expenditure, as well
as the relevant fees for architects/engineers and the costs of
business advice, design and study outlines

It is necessary to observe the minimum requirements (including
hygiene and environmental protection) in the Rhineland-Palati-
nate development plan ‘Zukunftsinitiative
für den Ländlichen
Raum’ [Future-Oriented Initiative for Rural Areas] (ZIL), which
have been drawn up in accordance with Regulation (EC) No
1257/1999

Economic sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to all
sectors involved in the processing and/or marketing of agri-
cultural products

Name and address of the granting authority:

Ministerium der Finanzen
Frau Dr. Tytko
Abteilung 3
Referat 431
Kaiser-Friedrich-Straße 5
D-55116 Mainz

No special tax treatment is envisaged as regards funding for
which a Land guarantee has been given

or the body which the Finance Minister publicises and tasks
with fiduciary implementation

Maximum aid intensity: The guarantee covers a maximum of
80 % of default of payment of the principal, of the interest
charged at market rate, and of the costs associated with termi-
nation and legal proceedings. However, the costs attract only
up to 2 % of the maximum guarantee for the principal. The
lender's contribution is at least 20 %

The maximum permitted gross aid intensity must not exceed
40 %, including when combined with other aid

Date of implementation: After receipt of the identification
number issued by the Commission once the summary informa-
tion has been received

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The assistance
guidelines are valid until 31 December 2006. Applications
received by this date may be approved

Objective of aid: The main objectives for SMEs in the agri-
cultural sector are to improve conditions for the processing
and marketing of agricultural products, and to increase the
value added in the primary sector. Secondary objectives are to
enhance the value chain between producers, marketers and
processors, improve quality and hygiene, protect the environ-
ment and natural habitats and safeguard and create jobs

Internet address:

http://www.isb.rlp.de/aktuelles_2.html?id=508

Other information:

— For specialist enquiries

Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Verkehr, Landwirtschaft und
Weinbau
Herr Hardt
Abteilung 6
Referat 8601
Kaiser-Friedrich-Straße 5a
D-55116 Mainz

— Reference for the Rhineland-Palatinate Development Plan
‘Zukunftsinitiative für den Ländlichen Raum’ (ZIL), drawn
up in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999

http://www.mwvlw.rlp.de/Inhalt/Themen/Landwirtschaft/
laendlicher_raum.asp

7.4.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84/3

Aid No: XA 2/06

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: Cheshire, Warrington and Halton

Title of Aid scheme or name of company receiving an
individual aid: Cheshire & Warrington Farm Business Develop-
ment Programme

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

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of individual aid granted to the company:

2005/2006: GBP 250 000

2006/2007: GBP 250 000

Maximum aid intensity: 40 % with an additional ceiling of
GBP 62 500 per individual grant

Date of implementation: The scheme will open to new appli-
cations from 1 February 2006

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The closing
date for applications will be 31 December 2006

Final claims for grant payments will be 30 June 2007

Objective of aid: Sectoral development

The grant scheme will be implemented under Article 4 of
Regulation (EC) No 1/2004

The eligible expenses are as per Article 4

a) the purchase of new or used capital equipment and

b) general costs, such as architects, engineers and consultation
fees, feasibility studies and the acquisition of patents and
licences (up to 12 % of the expenditure referred to above)

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme will apply to the production
of agricultural products only. All subsectors are eligible

Name and address of the granting authority:
Northwest Regional Development Agency
Renaissance House
PO Box 37
Centre park
Warrington
WA1 1XB
United Kingdom

Internet address: www.blinkcw.co.uk

(go to the left hand side menu and click on Finance and Grants
then click on Cheshire & Warrington Farm Business Develop-
ment Programme)

Alternatively, you can visit the UK's central page for exempted
agricultural State aids at

www.defra.gov.uk/farm/state-aid/setup/exist-exempt.htm

Other information: Enterprises which apply to the scheme
will also receive an element of consultancy advice. This aid will
be made available in line with Regulation (EC) No 1860/2004

Signed and dated on behalf of the Department for Environ-
ment, Food and Rural Affairs (UK competent authority)

Stephen Anderson
Agricultural State aid Team Leader
Defra
Area 8e
9 Millbank
London
SW1P 3JR
United Kingdom