Summary information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 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 agricultural products
Date: 2007-04-28
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Belgium, Cyprus, France, Italy, State aid, agro-industry, control of State aid, exchange of information, small and medium-sized enterprises

C 94/106

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

28.4.2007

Summary information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commis-
sion Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 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
agricultural products

(2007/C 94/16)

Aid Number: XA 117/06

Member State: Italy

Region: Marche

Title of aid scheme: Aid to make good the damage caused by
natural disasters or comparable exceptional occurrences

Legal basis: Decreto legislativo 29 marzo 2004, n. 102 relativo
agli Interventi finanziari a sostegno delle imprese agricole, a
norma dell'art. 1, comma 2, lettera i) della legge 7 marzo 2003,
n. 38.

Deliberazione della giunta regionale delle Marche n. 1379 del
27.11.2006 ‘Aiuti di Stato destinati ad ovviare e prevenire i
danni arrecati dalle calamità naturali oppure da altri eventi ecce-
zionali (L.R. n. 56/97, art. 2, comma 1 lett. a). Indirizzi e criteri
di erogazione.’

Maximum expenditure planned: The total budget allocation
for 2006 is EUR 200 000

premiums when policies cover both losses caused by adverse
weather comparable to natural disasters and losses caused by
adverse weather not comparable to natural disasters and losses
caused by animal and plant diseases

Farms that benefit
from contributions to insurance policy
premiums will naturally be excluded from ex-post compensation
payments.

Date of implementation: From 2006, but no earlier than 10
working days after the submission of this form, as required by
Article 19(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: There is no set
time frame for the scheme's duration, which depends on the
funds set aside in the annual budget of the Marche Region, but
it will not exceed six years

Objective of aid: In line with European Commission guidelines
to promote and support a culture of
on natural disasters,
prevention through the use of appropriate insurance policies
rather than compensation

Expenditure thereafter will be determined by the respective
annual budget laws.

This enables the Region:

Maximum aid intensity: In line with Legislative Decree No
102 of 29 March 2004, aid is granted as a contribution to
supplement that provided under the same decree on subsidised
policies

This is up to a ceiling of 80 % of the costs actually incurred to
pay insurance premiums for policies covering only losses caused
by adverse weather comparable to natural disasters, with provi-
sion for compensation if the damage extends to at least 20 % in
disadvantaged areas or 30 % elsewhere, or 50 % of the cost of
premiums when policies cover both losses caused by adverse
weather comparable to natural disasters and other losses caused
by adverse weather and/or by animal or plant diseases.

In addition, for production in municipalities that do not qualify
for State contributions, the annual farm insurance plan provides
— in accordance with Article 4 of Legislative Decree No
102/2004 — for the Region to cover up to 80 % of the insur-
ance premiums for policies covering only losses caused by
adverse weather comparable to natural disasters, with provision
for compensation if the damage extends to at least 20 % in
disadvantaged areas or 30 % elsewhere, or 50 % of the cost of

— to better meet farmers' expectations, since compensation aid
is always paid with a significant delay from the time the
disaster occurs and, in most cases, in amounts that are insuf-
ficient to cover the damage and loss of income actually
suffered

— to contain public expenditure, since the aid granted for
insurance premiums is substantially less than the amount of
compensation that
the State
loss of
would have to pay farmers for every instance of
production caused by natural disasters, exceptional occur-
rences or adverse weather comparable to natural disasters

the Marche Region and/or

Reference articles of Commission Regulation (EC) No
1/2004: Article 11

Beneficiaries: In accordance with Article 11(4) of Regulation
(EC) No 1/2004, the beneficiaries of the aid scheme are farmers
under Article 2135 of the Civil Code that take out collective
insurance policies via defence consortia under Article 11 et seq.
of Legislative Decree No 102/04 and agricultural cooperatives
and consortia authorised by the Marche Region

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C 94/107

insurance
Eligible costs: The scheme covers the costs of
premiums for the types of policies described in point 6 above
taken out by farms operating in the Region collectively via
defence consortia or via agricultural cooperatives and consortia
recognised by the Marche Region

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Five years
2006-2010. However the continuation of the scheme after June
30 2007 will depend on the provisions of the new exemption
Regulations which will replace Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 of
23.12.2003.

The eligibility of the expenditure begins from the date on which
the aid is granted

Economic sectors: The aid scheme applies to all agricultural
production under Annex 1 of the Treaty

Name and address of granting authority:

Regione Marche
Servizio Agricoltura, Forestazione e Pesca
Posizione di Funzione Tutela del Territorio e Sviluppo Rurale
Via Tiziano 44
I-60100 Ancona

Website: www.agri.marche.it

XA Number: XA 118/06

Member State: Cyprus

Region: The scheme will be applied in all the areas of Cyprus in
which the government of the Republic of Cyprus exercises effec-
tive control

Title of Aid scheme or name of company receiving an indi-
vidual aid: Scheme to provide state aid to the Cyprus Holstein
— Friesian Breeders Association

Legal basis:

(α) Προϋπολογισμός

Άρθρο
120229.04207. Άλλες γεωργικές επιδοτήσεις: Ενίσχυση για τη
σύσταση και τη λειτουργία ένωσης εκτροφέων.

Υπουργείο

Γεωργίας.

2006.

(β) Απόφαση του υπουργικού συμβουλίου της 12/12/2006.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of
individual aid granted to the company: An
amount up to EUR 42 105 (CYP 24 000) will be granted after
June 3 annually for five years covering the period 2006-2010.
However the continuations of the scheme will depend on the
provisions of the Regulation which will replace Regulation (EC)
No 1/2004

Objective of aid: Aid to Cyprus Holstein — Friesian Breeders
Association in order to encourage activities relating to the selec-
tion, conservation and promotion of Holstein — Friesian breed.
(a) to help the new by approved Breeders
Support is given:
Association to overcome the administrative cost directly linked
to the establishment and maintenance of the held-book and (b)
to cover up to 20 % of the cost of test performed by or on
behalf of third parties to determine the genetic quality or yield
of livestock capital

The scheme is based on article 15 (a) and (b) of Commission
Regulation (EC) No 1/2004, titled ‘Support for the livestock
sector’.

Sector(s) concerned: Dairy — cattle sector. Cyprus Holstein —
Friesian Breeders Association

Name and address of the granting authority:

Διεύθυνση Γεωργίας του Υπουργείου Γεωργίας, Φυσικών Πόρων και
Περιβάλλοντος, Λευκωσία, Κύπρος/Department of Agriculture,
Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources & Environment
Τηλ.: (357) 22 40 85 19/Tél: (357) 22 40 85 19
φαξ. (357) 22 78 14 25/fax. (357) 22 78 14 25
Ηλ. Διεύθυνση.: doagrg@da.moa.gov.cy/(e-mail: doagrg@da.moa.
gov.cy)

Web-Address: www.moa.gov.cy/da

Other information: —

Aid No: XA 1/07

Member State: France

Region: Department of Loiret

Title of aid scheme:: Aid for
premiums to protect sensitive crops from hail

the payment of

insurance

Legal Basis:

— Article 11 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1/2004

Maximum aid intensity:

— Loi 64.706 du 10 juillet 1964,

(a) Aid up to the amount of €4.210 (CYP 2.400) to cover part
of the administrative cost directly linked to the establish-
ment and maintenance of herd-book.

(b) Aid to cover up to 20 % of the cost of test performed by or
on behalf of third parties to determine the genetic quality or
yield of livestock capital.

Date of implementation: December 2006

— Article L 361-8 du livre III (nouveau) du code rural,

— Article L 122.7 du code des assurances,

— Décret no 2006-370 fixant les modalités d'application de
l'article L.361-8 du livre II (nouveau) du code rural en vue
de favoriser le développement de l'assurance contre certains
risques agricoles et notamment son article 7.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: EUR 40 000

— Ceiling of 50 % for young farmers, provided investments are

made by young farmers within five years of setting up

Maximum Aid Intensity: 11 % of the amount of insurance
premiums or contributions paid in 2006 for fruit crops from
trees or bushes, fruiting vegetables, leaf-bearing vegetables and
vines.

Date of implementation: 2006

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: One year

Objective of aid: To encourage farmers who do not have the
financial means to insure themselves against a number of
climate risks, thereby entitling them to have their insurance
premiums partly covered by the State, to at least cover them-
selves against the risk of hail

Sectors(s) concerned: Fruit production from fruit-bearing trees
and bushes, fruiting vegetables, leaf-bearing vegetables and vines

Name and address of the granting authority:

Conseil Général du Loiret
15, rue Eugène Vignat
F-45010 Orléans Cedex 1

Date of
receipt by the European Commission

implementation: Following acknowledgement of

Duration of scheme: 2007-2009

Objective of aid: To extend and promote the use of grassland,
which is paramount for the preservation of water quality, and at
the same time, to improve the quality of agricultural produce
(milk and meat). Thus the objectives contribute towards preser-
ving and improving the natural environment

The aim of the plan is as follows:

— to reduce run-off in areas at risk of erosion,

— to trap suspended particles near water supply points or

karstic caves,

— a regulation area in wetlands and pasture valleys,

— to limit nitrate detergents and the use of chemical inputs,

Address of website: http://www.loiret.com/cgloiret/

— and to improve the organoleptic quality of produce

Aid No: XA 3/07

Member State: France

Region: Department of Seine-Maritime

Title of aid scheme: Aid for investment
to preserve and
improve the natural environment, under the chapter on preser-
ving water quality by extending grassland areas and investment
in equipment for such use

Legal Basis:

— Articles 4.3(d) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1/2004;

To qualify for this aid, applicants must have at least 30 % of
their farm land used for permanent pasture and 50 % must be
area under mainly grass forage at the time their application is
submitted

Aid will cover 40 % of expenditure with a ceiling for invest-
ments of €8 000. The beneficiary pledges not to receive other
public funding for the same investment. The aid will be paid
upon receipt of settled invoices in chronological order as they
are sent in, within the limits of the General Council's annual
budget for this initiative

As of 2007, the maximum amount of aid per beneficiary will
not exceed €400 000 over three financial years

The level of aid will rise to 50 % for young farmers, provided
that investments are made by young farmers within five years of
setting up.

— Articles L 1511-2 et L 1511-5 du code général des collecti-

vités territoriales,

The eligible costs will cover:

— Délibération du Conseil général de Seine-Maritime en date

du 28 mars 2006.

Annual
EUR 800 000

expenditure

planned

under

the

scheme:

— all work and equipment needed to extend grassland areas,

— purchases of the following equipment for grazing: rotary
slashers, brush cutters, dung spreading harrows, pasture
harrows, haymakers, bale-wrappers, windrowers, lamier-type
hedge-cutters (for grassland bordered with hedges), post
drivers, mowers etc.

Maximum Aid Intensity:

— Ceiling of 40 % of eligible investment;

— pasture management:

installing closures, barriers, drinking
troughs, containment areas, feeding racks, water supplies etc.

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Sectors(s) concerned:

— All economically viable farms in Seine-Maritime;

— CUMA [machinery syndicate], with its registered office in

Seine-Maritime

Name and address of the granting authority:

Monsieur le Président du Conseil Général
Conseil Général de Seine-Maritime
DAEH/SAE
Quai Jean Moulin
F-76101 Rouen Cedex 1

Address of website: http://www.seinemaritime.net

Heading ‘guide des aides’

The description will be uploaded once this exemption form is
registered by the European Commission

instelling van de communautaire steunregeling voor verv-
roegde uittreding in de landbouwsector (wijziging van de
datum voor indiening en de ingangsdatum van het pensioen
+ afwijking voor aanvragen van voor 1 juli 1998).

— Koninklijk besluit van 18 november 1998 houdende
uitvoering van artikel 13 van de wet van 23 december 1994
tot
instelling van de communautaire steunregeling voor
vervroegde uittreding in de landbouwsector (wijziging van
de datum voor indiening en de ingangsdatum van het
pensioen + afwijking van aanvragen van voor 1 maart
1999).

— Ministerieel besluit van 13 maart 1995 tot vaststelling van
nadere regels voor de indiening van de steunaanvragen voor
vervroegde uittreding in de landbouwsector, gewijzigd bij
het ministerieel besluit van 7 mei 1998 (wijziging van
bijlage 1 bij het MB van 13 maart 1995).

Annual state expenditure planned under the scheme: (no
EAFRD part-financing from 1 January 2007) in euro = the cost
of state supplements paid to those aged between 65 and 75,
over and above the normal early retirement payments:

XA number: XA 4/07

Member State: Belgium

Region: Not applicable; federal competency

Title of the aid scheme: Early retirement of farmers

Legal basis:

— Wet van 23 december 1994 tot instelling van een commu-
nautaire steunregeling voor vervroegde uittreding in de land-
bouwsector
(Belgisch Staatsblad 25.01.1995 blz. 1653)
gewijzigd bij de wet van 22 februari 1998 houdende sociale
bepalingen (Titel 2, Hoofdstuk II, art. 250).

— Koninklijk besluit van 2 maart 1995 betreffende de nadere
regels voor de toepassing van de communautaire steunre-
geling voor vervroegde uittreding in de landbouwsector,
gewijzigd bij het koninklijk besluit van 24 april 1997
(afschaffing van de drempel van 5 ha bij overdracht van een
bedrijf waarvan het inkomen uit de tuinbouw, de hop- of de
tabaksteelt meer dan 50 % van het bedrijfsinkomen bedraagt
in het jaar 1994; vaststelling van de uiterste datum voor
indiening en ingangsdatum van het pensioen, toevoeging
van een voorwaarde waardoor voor 10 % van de niet voor
agrarische doeleinden aangewende gronden de overdracht
niet gerealiseerd moet worden, wijziging van het statuut van
de landbouwer-overnemer die zich installeert aan het hoofd
van een bedrijf van de cedent-aanvrager; wijziging van het
KB van 12 maart 1995, afwijking van de termijn voor de
indiening van de dossiers voor 1 juli 1997).

— Koninklijk besluit van 13 maart 1998 houdende uitvoering
van artikel 8 van de wet van 23 december 1994 tot
instelling van de communautaire steunregeling voor verv-
roegde uittreding in de landbouwsector.

— Koninklijk besluit van 24 maart 1998 houdende uitvoering
van artikel 13 van de wet van 23 december 1994 tot

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

3 438 000

3 284 000

2 970 000

2 471 000

1 887 000

1 306 000

790 000

287 000

5 000

early

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum state supplement to a
self-employed is
state
sum is
annual
EUR 3 560,33 per
EUR 2 399,35).

retirement pension for
year

the
average

(the

Date of implementation: The date on which this supplement
for those aged between 65 and 75 becomes a purely national
matter (without part-financing from the EAFRD, formerly the
EAGGF Guarantee Section) is 1 January 2007

Objective of aid: Objectives of Regulation (EEC) No 2079/92.
Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 is applicable here: the
conditions mentioned in this Article are met

Economic sector concerned: Horizontal aid scheme for
farmers who benefit from an early retirement pension for the
self-employed under the provisions of Royal Decree No 72 of
10.11.1967 on retirement and survivor's pensions for the self-
employed

Name and address of the granting authority:

Rijksinstituut voor de Sociale Verzekeringen der Zelfstandigen
(RSVZ)/Institut National d'Assurances sociales pour travailleurs
indépendants (INASTI)
Jan Jacobsplein 6/Place Jean Jacobs 6
B-1000 Brussel/B-1000 Bruxelles
www.rsvz-inasti.fgov.be

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Other information: This relates to notification of a Com-
munity aid scheme for early retirement from farming, for which
the aid programme was already approved in 1994 by a
Commission Decision and which, from 1 January 2000 to 31
December 2006, formed part of the Belgian federal rural devel-
opment programme, as approved by the Commission. For the
new rural development period, 2007-2013, EAFRD part-finan-
cing is no longer being requested by the Belgian authorities. The
payments correspond to past expenses for applications made by
the end of 1999 with payment commitments until the end of
2014

The agriculture unit of the Federal Department for the Econo-
my's General Directorate for Economic Potential:

— guarantees funding of these state early retirement supple-

ments (to be paid from the Federal Agricultural Fund);

— guarantees the necessary contacts with the INASTI/RSVZ;

— will provide for follow-up and monitoring of the checks

carried out by the regional authorities

The competent official dealing with this notification is:

De heer ir. G. VYVEY/Monsieur G. VYVEY
Algemene Directie Economisch — Federale eenheid ‘Landbouw’/
Direction générale ‘Économie’, unité fédérale ‘Agriculture’
WTC III — 4de verdieping/WTC III — 4e étage
Simon Bolivarlaan, 30/Avenue Simon Bolivar, 30
bur. 45/Bureau 45.
B-1000 Brussel/B-1000 Bruxelles
Tel. (32-2) 277 62 34/Tél.: (32-2) 277 62 34
Fax (32-2) 277 53 18/Fax (32-2) 277 53 18
E-mail: gilbert.vyvey@economie.fgov.be

On behalf of the agriculture unit,

Brussels, 18 December 2006

A. GEERTS

General Adviser