Summary information on State aid granted in conformity with Commission Regulation (EC) No 1595/2004 of 8 September 2004 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 fisheries products   (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2006-12-14
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: State aid, aid to undertakings, control of State aid, fishery product, small and medium-sized enterprises

14.12.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 305/3

Summary information on State aid granted in conformity with Commission Regulation (EC) No
1595/2004 of 8 September 2004 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
fisheries products

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2006/C 305/03)

Aid No: XF 5/06

Explanatory notes: Under Decree No 43/2006 of the Estonian
Minister for Agriculture, compensation is paid to recognised
producer organisations for part of their start-up and adminis-
trative costs. There is provision in the national budget for a
sum of EEK 2 450 000 (EUR 156 584) in aid. Producer organi-
sations recognised under the Fisheries Market Organisation Act
in the course of the previous calendar year may apply for this
aid

Member State: Republic of Estonia

for calculating aid granted by Member States to producer orga-
nisations in the fisheries and aquaculture sector (OJ L 105,
2.5.2000, pp. 15-17)

Sector(s) concerned: Fisheries and aquaculture

Name and address of the granting authority:

Põllumajanduse Registrite ja Informatsiooni Amet
Narva mnt. 3
EE-51009 Tartu

Title of aid scheme: Start-up aid for associations of producers
of fisheries products

https://www.riigiteataja.ee/ert/act.jsp?id=1017124

Website:

Legal basis: Eesti Vabariigi Põllumajandusministri 2006. aasta
määrus nr 43,
‘Kalandustoodete tootjate ühenduse tegevuse
alustamise toetuse taotlemise ja taotluse menetlemise kord’

Annual expenditure planned under
the scheme: The
scheme provides EEK 2 450 000 (EUR 156 584) in start-up aid
to producer organisations

Maximum aid intensity: Start-up aid for producer organisa-
tions is granted under Article 15(1) of Council Regulation (EC)
No 2792/1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrange-
ments regarding Community structural assistance in the fish-
eries sector (OJ L 337, 30.121999, p 10-28). Under this Regu-
lation the maximum amount of aid is 60 % of the start-up and
administrative costs in the first year, 40 % in the second year
and 20 % in the third, but not more than 3 %, 2 % and 1 %
respectively of the total value of the members' products

Date of implementation: The application round begins 8
May. The competent authority (Põllumajanduse Registrite ja Infor-
matsiooni Amet — the Estonian Agricultural Registers and Infor-
mation Board) will have 40 working days from the date of
receipt to process applications, after which the compensation
will be paid

Aid No: XF 8/06

the
Explanatory notes: Under Regulation 81 of 2006 of
Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Estonia, compensa-
tion is granted in part for the interest on long-term loans (with
a deadline for repayment of over one year) from credit or
financial institutions or the interest paid as part of a financial
leasing payment taken out by a producer of fisheries products
to develop fish farming, inland fishing activities or fishing ports
and which was paid by the producer of fisheries products in
the year preceding the application for interest subsidy. The
national budget provides
sum of EEK 1 500 000
the
(EUR 95 867,50) for this compensation, allocated to all appli-
cants on a proportional basis, based on the interest percentage
points paid by the applicants in the previous calendar year.
This compensation is available to small and medium-sized
enterprises that have a professional fishing licence for inland
fishing for 2006, work in aquaculture or own a fishing port

Member State: Republic of Estonia

Duration of scheme: Duration of
December 2006

the scheme: until 31

Title of aid scheme: Procedure for applying for interest
subsidy for producers of fisheries products and for processing
such applications

Objective of aid: The objective of the aid is to help SMEs by
compensating producer organisations for part of their start-up
and administrative costs.

Legal basis: Eesti Vabariigi Põllumajandusministri 2006. aasta
määrus nr 81,
‘Kalandustoodete tootjate ühenduse tegevuse
alustamise toetuse taotlemise ja taotluse menetlemise kord’

The aid scheme is based on Article 4 of Commission Regu-
lation (EC) No 1595/2004, the eligible costs are the start-up
and administrative expenses set out in Article 4(1) of Commis-
sion Regulation (EC) No 908/2000 laying down detailed rules

Annual expenditure planned under
the scheme: The
scheme provides for EEK 1 500 000 (EUR 95 867,50) in aid to
producers of fisheries products

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Official Journal of the European Union

14.12.2006

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum aid intensity is set at
the end of the application round in a decree issued by the
Minister of Agriculture. The amount of aid is decided in
proportion to the amount of interest paid by the applicants in
2005 on long-term loans or as part of a financial
leasing
payment. The amount of aid given is up to ten percentage
points

Date of implementation: The application round ends on 24
August 2006 and the competent authority (Põllumajanduse
Registrite ja Informatsiooni Amet — the Estonian Agricultural
Registers and Information Board) has 45 working days from
that date to process applications, after which the compensation
will be paid

Duration of scheme: Duration of the scheme: 31 December
2006

Objective of aid: The objective of the aid is to help SMEs by
compensating them wholly or in part for interest paid in 2005
on long-term loans (with a deadline for repayment of over one
year) or as part of a financial leasing payment.

than EUR 80 000 will be granted in order to carry out a
promotional campaign

Maximum aid intensity: Up to 100 % of eligible costs

Date of implementation: No earlier than 4 August 2006

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: June 2008

Objective of aid: The objective of the aid is to promote fish in
the hotel, restaurant and catering services sector. The objective
is to increase fish consumption which would improve the oper-
ating conditions of businesses throughout the sector

Indicate which one of [Article(s) 4 to 12] is used and the
eligible costs covered by the scheme or individual aid:
Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1595/2004 (Article 14 of
Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 and Annex III.3 thereto).

Eligible expenditure includes the cost of carrying out hospitality
the promotional
and seminars under
sector
campaign plan

campaigns

The aid scheme is based on Articles 9 and 11 (Commission
Regulation 1595/2004); the eligible expenditure is interest paid
on long-term loans or as part of a financial leasing payment

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to the fisheries
sector as a whole

Name and address of the granting authority:

Sector(s) concerned: Inland fisheries, aquaculture and owners
of fishing ports

Name and address of the granting authority:

Põllumajanduse Registrite ja Informatsiooni Amet
Narva mnt. 3
EE-51009 Tartu

Web address:

http://www.riigiteataja.ee/ert/act.jsp?id=1046970

Maa- ja metsätalousministeriö
Kala- ja riistaosasto
PL 30
FIN-00023 Valtioneuvosto

Web address:

http://www.mmm.fi/fi/index/etusivu/kalastus_riista_porot/elin-
keinokalatalous/elinkeinokalatalouden_tuki.html

The Web-pages of the Ministry are under construction

Aid No: XF 9/06

Member State: Finland

Aid No: XF 10/06

Member State: Finland

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an indi-
vidual aid: Pro Kala ry

Legal basis: Laki valtion tulo- ja menoarviosta (423/1988); tuki
myönnetään eduskunnan maa-
ja metsätalousministeriölle
valtion vuosittaisessa tulo- ja menoarviossa antaman yleisen
valtuutuksen perusteella kalatalouden edellytysten edistämiseen
tarkoitetulta alamomentilta.

Tuen myöntämisessä, valvonnassa ja takaisinperinnässä nouda-
tetaan valtionavustuslakia (688/2001)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of individual aid granted to the company: No more

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an indi-
vidual aid: Suomen Kalakauppiasliitto ry

Legal basis: Laki valtion tulo- ja menoarviosta (423/1988); tuki
myönnetään eduskunnan maa-
ja metsätalousministeriölle
valtion vuosittaisessa tulo- ja menoarviossa antaman yleisen
valtuutuksen perusteella kalatalouden edellytysten edistämiseen
tarkoitetulta alamomentilta.

Tuen myöntämisessä, valvonnassa ja takaisinperinnässä nouda-
tetaan valtionavustuslakia (688/2001)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of individual aid granted to the company: No more
than EUR 15 000 will be granted in order to carry out a
promotional campaign

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 305/5

Maximum aid intensity: Up to 100 % of eligible costs

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: December
2006

Date of implementation: No earlier than 4 August 2006

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: June 2008

Objective of aid: The objective of the aid is to promote fish in
the restaurant and fish-sales sectors. The objective is to increase
fish consumption which would improve the operating condi-
tions of businesses throughout the sector

Indicate which one of [Article(s) 4 to 12] is used and the
eligible costs covered by the scheme or individual aid:
Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1595/2004 (Article 14 of
Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 and Annex III.3 thereto).

Eligible expenditure includes the costs incurred on the competi-
tion ‘The Best Fish Counters in the Nordic Countries’ in accord-
ance with the promotional campaign plan

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to the fisheries
sector as a whole, in particular marketing

Name and address of the granting authority:

Maa- ja metsätalousministeriö
Kala- ja riistaosasto
PL 30
FIN-00023 Valtioneuvosto

Web address:

http://www.mmm.fi/fi/index/etusivu/kalastus_riista_porot/elin-
keinokalatalous/elinkeinokalatalouden_tuki.html

Objective of aid: Support for the internationalisation of SME
workers and others working in the sector (fact-finding trip to
Island)

Indicate which one of [Article(s) 4 to 12] is used and the
eligible costs covered by the scheme or individual aid:
Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1595/2004 (Article 14 of
Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 and Annex III.3 thereto).

Eligible expenditure includes the general costs incurred in orga-
nising the trip: costs of the trip leader and interpreter, bus hire,
lecture fees, rental of meeting rooms and other common
services.

The individual travel costs for those taking part in the trip will
not be covered by the aid. The aid does not cover the benefi-
ciary's operating costs

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to the fisheries
sector as a whole

Name and address of the granting authority:

Maa- ja metsätalousministeriö
Kala- ja riistaosasto
PL 30
FIN-00023 Valtioneuvosto

The Web-pages of the Ministry are under construction

Web address:

Aid No: XF 11/06

Member State: Finland

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an indi-
vidual aid: Pro Kala ry

Legal basis: Laki valtion tulo- ja menoarviosta (423/1988); tuki
myönnetään eduskunnan maa-
ja metsätalousministeriölle
valtion vuosittaisessa tulo- ja menoarviossa antaman yleisen
valtuutuksen perusteella kalatalouden edellytysten edistämiseen
tarkoitetulta alamomentilta.

Tuen myöntämisessä, valvonnassa ja takaisinperinnässä nouda-
tetaan valtionavustuslakia (688/2001)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of individual aid granted to the company: No more
than EUR 8 000 will be granted as a one-off aid payment

Maximum aid intensity: Up to 100 % of eligible costs

http://www.mmm.fi/fi/index/etusivu/kalastus_riista_porot/elin-
keinokalatalous/elinkeinokalatalouden_tuki.html

The Web-pages of the Ministry are under construction

Aid No: XF 12/06

Explanatory remarks: As part of
the transitional process
which the Netherlands has set in motion for the North Sea
the Minister for Agriculture, Nature and Food
cutter fleet,
Quality has decided to launch a number of pilot projects on
‘more careful
fishermen will
fishing’. During these projects,
perform scientifically-assisted experiments relating to fishing
methods that are more energy-efficient, sustainable and selec-
tive. No subsidy is planned during this pilot project for invest-
ments in equipment such as nets, gear or engines, or invest-
ments directly related to a vessel's fishing activities. The subsidy
granted by the authority consists of a guaranteed amount to
the masters/owners taking part in a pilot project

Date of implementation: No earlier than 4 August 2006

Member State: The Netherlands

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Official Journal of the European Union

14.12.2006

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving indivi-
dual aid: The aid will be awarded to the Federation of Fishery
Associations, the principal body implementing the pilot project
‘more careful fishing/outrigging’

organisations acting on behalf of the producers and serving to
attain the objectives of the CFP

Sector(s) concerned: Concerns support for fishermen working
in the sea fisheries sector

Legal basis: Artikel 2 en 5 van de Kaderwet LNV-subsidies
juncto artikel 4:23 van de Algemene wet bestuursrecht

Annual expenditure planned or overall amount of aid
granted to the company: One-off payment of EUR 150 000,
one-fifth of which is earmarked for the technical/scientific
support

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum amount of aid for the
groups implementing the pilot project plus the costs for the
scientific support
is EUR 150 000, with a maximum of
EUR 30 000 for the scientific support

Date of implementation: As from 14 August 2006

Name and address of the granting authority:

Ministerie van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit
Directie Visserij
Postbus 20401
2500 EK 's Gravenhage
Nederland

Web address:

www.hetlnvloket.nl. Please then use the search function

Other information:

Person to contact: Directie Visserij,Mr Frans Vroegop

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The pilot
project will run until the end of October 2006. Payment is
expected to take place in November-December 2006

Aid No: XF 13/06

Objective of aid: The activities to be conducted by the fishing
companies as part of the pilot project ‘more careful fishing/
adaptation of fishing gear’ are intended to provide experience
with methods of fishing which have not been used hitherto by
Dutch fishermen. These involve experiments which consistute
an alternative to traditional trawling operations and could be
introduced more widely within the industry. The investment
risks for companies have until now been reason enough for
them not to invest in new fishing methods. Now that the
government wishes to act as guarantor to support the fish-
ermen who will carry out the tests as part of the transitional
process for the North Sea cutter fleet to fishing methods that
are more energy-efficient, sustainable and selective, the fish-
ermen concerned are prepared to carry out the project. In this
pilot project, a group of five fishermen who are members of
the Federation of Fishery Assocations will for a limited period
of time (August to October 2002 inclusive) experiment with a
floating vessel which operates off the seabed. This should have
a direct positive impact on catches of immature fish and fish
quality. Other circular trawlheads and adapted beam designs to
produce lower resistance as well as less contact with the seabed
will also be tried out.

The pilot project should provide information about how to cut
costs, lower the number of discards, and reduce contact with
the seabed

Relevant Articles of Regulation No 1595/2004: The guar-
antee to the participants in the pilot project is based on Article
4 of Regulation 1595/2004, which refers to Article 15 of the
FIFG. The latter Article states that Member States may encou-
rage operations of collective interest with a broader scope than
operations normally undertaken by private businesses. The
FIFG states that these activities may be carried out with the
active contribution of members of the trade themselves or by

Explanatory remarks: As part of
the transitional process
which the Netherlands has set in motion for the North Sea
cutter fleet,
the Minister for Agriculture, Nature and Food
Quality has decided to launch a number of pilot projects on
'more careful fishing'. During these projects, fishermen will, for
a maximumof
three months, perform scientifically-assisted
experiments relating to fishing methods that are more energy-
efficient, sustainable and selective. No subsidy is planned
during this pilot project for investments in equipment such as
nets, gear or engines, or investments directly related to a
vessel's fishing activities. The subsidy granted by the authority
consists of a guaranteed amount to the masters/owners taking
part in a pilot project

Member State: The Netherlands

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving indivi-
dual aid: The aid will be awarded to the Dutch Fishermen's
Federation, the principal body implementing the pilot project
‘more careful fishing/outrigging’

Legal basis: Artikel 2 en 5 van de Kaderwet LNV-subsidies
juncto artikel 4:23 van de Algemene wet bestuursrecht

Annual expenditure planned or overall amount of aid
granted to the company: One-off payment of EUR 150 000,
one-fifth of which is earmarked for the technical/scientific
support

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum amount of aid for the
groups implementing the pilot project plus the costs for the
scientific support
is EUR 150 000, with a maximum of
EUR 30 000 for the scientific support

Date of implementation: As from 14 August 2006

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 305/7

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The pilot
project will run until the end of October 2006. Payment is
expected to take place in November-December 2006

Objective of aid: The activities to be conducted by the fishing
companies as part of the pilot project ‘more careful fishing/
outrigging’ are intended to provide experience with methods of
fishing which have not been used hitherto by Dutch fishermen.
These involve experiments which consistute an alternative to
traditional trawling operations and could be introduced more
widely within the industry. The investment risks for companies
have until now been reason enough for them not to invest in
new fishing methods. Now that the government wishes to act
as guarantor for a short period of time to support the fish-
ermen who will carry out the tests as part of the transitional
process for the North Sea cutter fleet to fishing methods that
are more energy-efficient, sustainable and selective, the fish-
ermen concerned are prepared to carry out the project. In this
pilot project, a group of four fishermen who are members of
the Dutch Fishermen's Federation will for a limited period of
time (August
to October 2002 inclusive) experiment with
outrigging, which is a new method of fishing for the Nether-
lands. This method of fishing is an alternative to beam trawling.
Fishing is carried out using so-called ‘Perfect’ kites but, unlike
with regular kite or twin rig fishing, the net is directly attached
to the seabed. In addition to cutting costs, reducing the number
of discards is an important subcomponent of this pilot project

Relevant Articles of Regulation No 1595/2004: The guar-
antee to the participants in the pilot project is based on Article
4 of Regulation 1595/2004, which refers to Article 15 of the
FIFG. The latter Article states that Member States may encou-
rage operations of collective interest with a broader scope than
operations normally undertaken by private businesses. The
FIFG states that these activities may be carried out with the
active contribution of members of the trade themselves or by
organisations acting on behalf of the producers and serving to
attain the objectives of the CFP

Sector(s) concerned: Concerns support for fishermen working
in the sea fisheries sector

Name and address of the granting authority:

Ministerie van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit
Directie Visserij
Postbus 20401
2500 EK 's Gravenhage
Nederland

Web address:

www.hetlnvloket.nl. Please then use the search function

Other information:

Person to contact: Directie Visserij, Mr Frans Vroegop