Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 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 of agricultural products and amending Regulation (EC) No 70/2001
Date: 2007-08-29
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Austria, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, State aid, United Kingdom, aid to agriculture, control of State aid, small and medium-sized enterprises

29.8.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 201/11

NOTICES FROM MEMBER STATES

Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regu-
lation (EC) No 1857/2006 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 of agricultural products and amending
Regulation (EC) No 70/2001

(2007/C 201/03)

XA Number: XA 114/07

Internet address: http://www.noe.gv.at

Member State: Austria

Region: Niederösterreich

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving indivi-
dual aid: Richtlinie für die Gewährung eines Zuschusses des
Landes Niederösterreich für die Teilnahme an Messen und
Ausstellungen außerhalb Österreichs

Legal basis: NÖ Landwirtschaftsgesetz

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
In
amount of
Lower Austria the resulting annual
is
EUR 375 000.

individual aid granted to the company:
funding requirement

Maximum aid intensity: Support comprises up to 50 % of net
costs, subject to maximum support of EUR 1 500 for each
applicant and application.

Date of implementation: Beginning of May 2007

Duration of scheme or individual aid: May 2007 until 2013

Objective of aid: This measure is intended to give farmers the
opportunity of receiving appropriate support
for presenting
products at trade fairs and exhibitions outside Austria. Support
is granted for renting space, renting a stand and having it
erected by a stand construction firm, travel to and from the
event by public transport and the costs of staying overnight.

Sector(s) concerned: The aid is restricted to enterprises in
in the production, processing and
Lower Austria
marketing of agricultural products
(Annex I). The aid is
restricted to small and medium-sized enterprises within the
meaning of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 70/2001.

active

Name and address of the granting authority:

Amt der Niederösterreichischen Landesregierung
Abteilung Landwirtschaftsförderung
Landhausplatz 1
A-3109 St. Pölten

Other information: —

XA number: XA 115/07

Member State: Austria

Region: Niederösterreich

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving indivi-
dual aid: Richtlinie für die Gewährung eines Zuschusses des
Landes Niederösterreich für Investitionen in landwirtschaftlichen
Betrieben

Legal basis: NÖ Landwirtschaftsgesetz

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
In
amount of
Lower Austria the expected annual
is
EUR 500 000.

individual aid granted to the company:
funding requirement

Maximum aid intensity: Support comprises up to 40 % of net
costs.

Date of implementation: Beginning of May 2007

Duration of scheme or individual aid: May 2007 until 2013

receiving support

Objective of aid: This measure is intended to provide the
opportunity of
in farm
installations,
buildings
machinery, equipment and technical plant for indoor work and
machinery and equipment for outdoor work. At least one of the
following objectives must be achieved:

investment

including

technical

requisite

the

for

— reduction of production costs,

— improvement and conversion of production,

— improvement of quality,

— conservation and improvement of the natural environment
or improvement of hygiene conditions or of animal welfare.

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Official Journal of the European Union

29.8.2007

Sector(s) concerned: Agriculture and forestry, especially plant
production and livestock rearing.

(A) Business advice and grant facilitation service

Name and address of the granting authority:

Amt der Niederösterreichischen Landesregierung
Abteilung Landwirtschaftsförderung
Landhausplatz 1
A-3109 St. Pölten

Internet address: http://www.noe.gv.at

Other information: —

XA Number: XA 116/07

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: Cumbria

All advice will be given and final payments made by
31st May 2008.

(B) FCC Development Grants

The last date for FCC Development Grant Applications is
31st March 2007 and all claims must be submitted and
final payments made by 31st March 2008.

(C) FCC Technical Consultancy Grants

The last date for FCC Technical Consultancy Grant Applica-
tions will be 31st March 2008 and all claims must be
submitted and final payments made by 31st May 2008.

Objective of aid:

The objective is to support the long term sustainable develop-
ment of Cumbria's rural economy by promoting:

— within agriculture, diversification of agricultural businesses,

Title of Aid scheme or name of company receiving an indi-
vidual aid: Farming Connect Cumbria (FCC).

— improved business efficiency,

— enhancements to animal welfare conditions,

Legal basis: Sections 4 and 5 of the Regional Development
Agencies Act 1998.

— protection of the rural environment.

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

(A) Business advice and grant aid facilitation service

The eligible costs will be consultancy fees in line with
Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

Financial year

Budget

2007/2008

GBP 2 850 000

(B) FCC Development Grants

Maximum aid intensity:

(A) Business advice and grant facilitation service

The aid intensity will be 100 % in line with Article 15 of
Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

the

will

costs

eligible

be
immovable property,

construction,
The
acquisition or improvement of
the
purchase or lease-purchase of new machinery and equip-
ment, including computer software and general costs, such
as architects, engineers and consultation fees,
feasibility
studies, the acquisition of patents and licences. This is in
line with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

(B) FCC Development Grants

(C) FCC Technical Consultancy Grants

The maximum aid intensity will be 40 % or for young
farmers
(as defined in Article 8 of Regulation (EC)
No 1257/1999 as amended) within 5 years of setting up
50 % in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC)
No 1857/2006. The level of grant per project will be
capped at GBP 16 000 for all applicants. Applicants may
apply for grants for more than one project, but no applicant
may receive more than GBP 30 000 in total under this
item.

(C) FCC Technical Consultancy Grants

The maximum aid intensity will be 50 % this is in line with
Article 15 of the Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006. The level
of grant per project will be capped at GBP 1 300.

Date of implementation: 1st July 2007

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Initial applica-
tions to join the FCC programme need to be received by
31st March 2008

These will comprise subsidised consultancy services in line
with Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to production of agri-
cultural products.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Cumbria Vision
Gillan Way
Penrith 40 Business Park
Penrith CA11 9BP
United Kingdom

Formerly:

Rural Regeneration Cumbria
Hackthorpe Business Centre
Hackthorpe CA10 2HX
Cumbria
United Kingdom

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 201/13

Web address: www.crea.co.uk

Alternatively, you can go to the UK's central website for
exempted agricultural State aid at:

http://defraweb/farm/policy/state-aid/setup/exist-exempt.htm

Click on the link ‘Farming Connect Cumbria 2006’.

Other
measures:

information: The

scheme consists of 3 separate

(A) Business advice and grant aid facilitation service

A flexible business advice and support service to farmers
and other agricultural producers and processors, tailored to
the specific needs of the business to enable the preparation
of a formal business plan with the aim of improving busi-
ness efficiency.

(B) FCC Development Grants

The business will then be able to apply for grants to help
them implement that business plan by investing in their
holding in order to develop their business for the future.

(C) FCC Technical Support Grants

Alternatively, farmers may be given a grant towards the cost
of more in depth consultancy to help them implement their
business plan.

A considerable proportion of the aid consists of grants which
will be paid in arrears on presentation of receipted invoices and
the business plan)
only once stage 1 (preparation of
is
completed. Therefore, more of
the expenditure will occur
towards the end of the scheme's period of operation.

This scheme extends XA 104/06.

Signed on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs, UK competent authority:

Neil Marr
State Aid Adviser
Defra
Area 1B, Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
United Kingdom

XA Number: XA 119/07

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving indivi-
dual aid: Podpora ohranjanju in spodbujanju razvoja kmetijstva
in podeželja v Mestni občini Novo mesto 2007-2013

Legal basis: Pravilnik o ohranjanju in spodbujanju razvoja
kmetijstva in podeželja v mestni občini Novo mesto za
programsko obdobje 2007-2013 (II. Poglavje), Uradni list RS, št.
51/2007

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
individual aid granted to the company: The
amount of
annual expenditure planned for
the period 2007-2013 is
EUR 249 000.

Maximum aid intensity:

1. Investment in agricultural holdings:

— up to 40 % or a maximum of EUR 400 000 for a

three-year period;

2. Conservation of traditional landscapes and buildings:

— up to 100 % for non-productive features, up to 60 % for
on-farm productive features and up to 100 % of addi-
tional aid to cover extra costs incurred by using tradi-
tional materials;

3. Aid towards the payment of insurance premiums:

— municipality support in line with the Decree on co-finan-
cing of insurance premiums for agriculture production
for the current year, adopted by the Slovenian Govern-
ment, brings the balance of aid to up to 50 % of eligible
costs before deduction of tax;

4. Aid for land reparcelling:

— up to 100 % of eligible costs actually incurred in carrying

out such activities;

5. Aid to encourage the production of quality agricultural

products:

— up to 100 % of costs incurred in connection with
improving the quality of agricultural products. The aid is
granted in the form of subsidised services and must not
involve direct payments to farms;

6. Provision of technical support in the agricultural sector:

— the aid may be granted to cover up to 100 % of eligible
costs in the form of subsidised services and must not
involve direct payments to farms.

Date of implementation: Starts June 2007 (or the day that the
Rules enter into force)

Duration of
31 December 2013

scheme or

individual

aid award: Ends

Region: Municipality of Novo mesto

Objective of aid: To support SMEs

C 201/14

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Official Journal of the European Union

29.8.2007

Reference to articles in Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 and
eligible costs: Chapter II of the draft Pravilnik o ohranjanju in
spodbujanju razvoja kmetijstva in podeželja v mestni občini Novo mesto
za programsko obdobje 2007-2013 (Rules on conserving and
promoting agriculture and rural development in the munici-
pality of Novo mesto for
includes
measures constituting State aid under the following Articles of
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 of 15 December
2006 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty to
State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the
production of agricultural products and amending Regulation
(EC) No 70/2001 (OJ L 358, 16.12.2006, p. 3):

the period 2007-2013)

— Article 4: Investment in agricultural holdings,

— Article 5: Conservation of traditional landscapes and build-

ings,

— Article 12: Aid towards

the payment of

insurance

premiums,

Legal basis: Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of
aid granted to the company:
1.7.2007-30.6.2008: GBP 75 000

individual

Maximum aid intensity: The aid intensity is 100 %

Date of implementation: The scheme will start on the 1st July
2007.

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The scheme
will begin on the 1st July 2007. It will close on the 30th June
2008. The last payment will be made on the 30th June 2008,
the last date advice will be provided will be the 30th June 2008.

Objective of aid: Provision of information and advice on the
food and drink sector.

— Article 13: Aid for land reparcelling,

Maintenance of database of food and drink suppliers.

— Article 14: Aid to encourage the production of quality agri-

cultural products,

Advice on accessing training and provision of training events
where no service is available.

— Article 15: Provision of technical support in the agricultural

sector.

Economic sector(s) concerned: Agriculture

Sub-sectors: Livestock farming (cattle, pigs, sheep and goats,
bees and small animals), agriculture (tilling fields, meadows and
pastures), permanent crops (orchards, vineyards) and horticul-
ture.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Mestna Občina Novo Mesto
Seidlova 1
SLO-8000 Novo Mesto

Web address:

http://www.uradni-list.si/1/ulonline.jsp?urlid=200751&dhid=89880,
www.novomesto.si

Other information: —

Director of the municipal administration

Sašo MURTIČ

XA Number: XA 120/07

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: South West of England

Title of Aid scheme or name of company receiving an indi-
vidual aid: Somerset Food Links — Food sector Support
Service (FS4).

in line with Article 15 of Regulation (EC)
This aid is
No 1857/2006 and the eligible costs will be the costs of orga-
nising training programmes. Aid to non-agricultural rural busi-
nesses and agricultural processing and marketing businesses will
be provided in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1998/2006.

Sector(s) concerned: The
to businesses
involved in agricultural production, processing and marketing.
The scheme will apply to all subsectors.

scheme

applies

Name and address of the granting authority:

The statutory body responsible for the scheme is:

Somerset County Council
The Fire Station
George Street
Glastonbury TA10 9PR
Somerset
United Kingdom

The organisation operating the scheme is:

Somerset Food Links Ltd
The Old Town Hall
Bow Street
Langport TA10 9PR
Somerset
United Kingdom

Web address:

http://www.foodlinks.org.uk/reports/FS4 %20Replacement %
20text %2012 %20June %2007.pdf

Alternatively, you can visit the UK's central register for exempted
agricultural State aid at:

http://defraweb/farm/policy/state-aid/setup/exist-exempt.htm

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Other information: Further and more detailed information
relating to eligibility and rules for the scheme can be found in
the web links above. No direct payments will be made to produ-
cers.

Signed and dated on behalf of the Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs, UK competent authority:

Neil Marr
State Aid Adviser
Defra
Area 1B, Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
United Kingdom

XA Number: XA 121/07

Member State: Italy

Region: Regione Liguria

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an indi-
vidual aid award: Agevolazioni a favore di PMI per l'acquisto o
il leasing di nuove macchine utensili o di produzione

Legal basis: Deliberazione della giunta regionale n. 615 dell'8
giugno 2007, attuativa della legge 28 novembre 1965, n. 1329
(c.d. «legge Sabatini») e s.m.i.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
annual amount granted to the company: EUR 1,5 million (*)

Maximum aid intensity: The gross aid intensity must not
exceed 40 % of eligible investments or 50 % of eligible invest-
ments in less-favoured or areas referred to in Article 36(a)(i), (ii)
and (iii) of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, as designated by the
Member States in accordance with Articles 50 and 94 of that
the maximum amount of aid
Regulation and,
granted
exceed
enterprise must not
EUR 400 000 over any period of
three financial years, or
EUR 500 000 if the enterprise is situated in a less-favoured area
or in areas referred to in Article 36(a)(i), (ii) or (iii) of Regulation
(EC) No 1698/2005, as designated by Member States in accord-
ance with Articles 50 and 94 of that Regulation.

an individual

in any case,

to

new production machines or tools in accordance with Article 4
of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 via an interest rate subsidy.

The aid scheme is implemented using mechanisms either with
or without
in both cases
according to similar methods specified in two technical fact
sheets approved under the same legal basis.

the issue of promissory notes,

Sector(s) concerned: The
to small and
medium-sized enterprises engaged in the production of agri-
cultural products.

scheme applies

Name and address of the granting authority:

industria, commercio,

Regione Liguria
Assessorato allo Sviluppo economico,
commercio equo e solidale, artigianato
Dipartimento Sviluppo economico e politiche dell'occupazione
Via Fieschi, 15
I-16121 Genova
Tel. (39) 010 548 54 39 — Fax (39) 010 548 80 99
E-mail: gianni.dellacasa@regione.liguria.it

Website: www.incentivi.mcc.it

Other information: —

(*) The annual expenditure includes the annual expenditure provided for
under the scheme, with the same legal basis,
intended for SMEs
covered by Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 and SMEs (including aid for
investment in the processing and marketing of agricultural products),
which is the subject of a separate notification.

(**) The abovementioned Decision will be published in the Official
Journal of the Region of Liguria once the European Commission
communicates
the
summary information.

an identification number

receiving

after

XA number: XA 122/07

Member State: Germany

Region: Baden-Württemberg

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving indivi-
dual aid: Gewährung von Beihilfen und sonstigen Leistungen
durch die Tierseuchenkasse Baden-Württemberg

Date of implementation: The day following the publication of
‘Deliberazione della Giunta regionale’ No 615 of 8 June 2007 in
the Official Journal of the Region of Liguria (**).

Legal basis:

— § 71 Tierseuchengesetz der Bundesrepublik Deutschland

Duration of the scheme or the individual aid award: Until
31 December 2013

— §§ 8 und 9 Ausführungsgesetz zum Tierseuchengesetz des

Landes Baden-Württemberg

Objective of the aid: Investment aid. The purpose of the aid
scheme is to provide an incentive for the purchase or leasing of

— Leistungssatzung und Leistungsverzeichnis der Tierseuchen-

kasse Baden-Württemberg.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of individual aid granted to the company: Total aid
of approximately EUR 2,900 million a year (financed from
contributions to the Baden-Württemberg Animal Diseases Fund
by livestock owners — no funding from other sources is
involved).

Maximum aid intensity: Up to 100 %

Date of implementation: From 1 January 2006

Duration
31 December 2010

of

scheme

or

individual

aid:

Until

Objective of aid: Aid to combat animal diseases in accordance
with Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

— Ausführungsgesetz

zum Tierseuchengesetz

des

Landes

Baden-Württemberg

http://www.tsk-bw.de/download/Documents/Ausfuehrung.
pdf

— Leistungssatzung mit Leistungsverzeichnis

http://www.tsk-bw.de/download/Documents/Leistungssatz-
ung_neu.pdf

Other information: —

Dr Klaus Gossger

Manager

Tierseuchenkasse Baden-Württemberg

— Aid to compensate for livestock losses resulting from infec-

Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts

tious diseases and their treatment.

— Aid for measures to prevent, detect and combat animal

diseases.

— Aid in the form of payment of the costs of laboratory diag-

nostic measures to detect animal diseases.

Sector(s) concerned: All holdings with horses, cattle, pigs,
sheep, bees, poultry or fish in Baden-Württemberg.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Tierseuchenkasse Baden-Württemberg
Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts
Hohenzollernstraße 10
D-70178 Stuttgart
E-mail: info@tsk-bw.de

Internet address:

— Tierseuchengesetz

http://www.tsk-bw.de/download/Documents/TSG.pdf

Year

Scheme entrants

Total participants

1 (2007/8)

2 (2008/9)

3 (2009/10)

4 (2010/11)

5 (2011/12)

6 (2012/13)

7 (2013/14)

164

11

0

0

0

0

0

164

175

175

175

175

175

11

XA Number: XA 123/07

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: Northern Ireland

Title of Aid scheme or name of company receiving an indi-
vidual aid: Financial Assistance for Young Farmers Scheme
(Northern Ireland) 2007-2014

Legal basis: Financial Assistance for Young Farmers (Northern
Ireland) Order 2004 (SI 2004/3080) (NI 21), Financial Assis-
tance for Young Farmers Scheme Order (Northern Ireland) 2005
(SR 2005/69) and Financial Assistance for Young Farmers
Scheme (Amendment) Order
(Northern Ireland) 2005 (SR
2005/540)

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

Average total loan
repayments

Average annual
loan repayments
per applicant

16 363

—

Sum

0 (*)

16 363

3 273

536 772

16 363

3 273

572 775

16 363

3 273

572 775

16 363

3 273

572 775

16 363

3 273

572 775

16 363

3 273

36 003

(*) As the aid is payable annually in arrears there will be no payments in year 1.

Total amount of aid payable is GBP 2,9 million.

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Maximum aid intensity: The scheme allows for an interest rate
subsidy on loans taken out by young farmers. The maximum
amount of aid available is GBP 17 000 over 5 years. The
interest rate for which subsidy is payable is capped at 3,5 %
above the Bank of England Base Rate (approximately 2,5 %
above the Base Rate of local
lending institutions). Applicants
who secure loans above this rate are liable for the excess interest
payment.

Date of implementation: The scheme will start on 1 July
2007.

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The maximum
duration of subsidised interest payment is 5 years, and the final
payments will be made no later than 31 March 2014. There is
no restriction on the amount of loan or on the term of the
loan, but the scheme will be closed to new entrants by 5 June
2008, or sooner if all available funds have been committed.

Objective of aid: Sectoral development. In line with Article 7
of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006, the eligible costs will be an
interest rate subsidy on a loan to cover the costs of setting up
for new entrant farmers under 40 years of age setting up as the
head of holding for the first time. This will promote additional
farm investment which will generate new activities or add value
to farming in Northern Ireland.

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to young farmers
who will predominately be involved in production. The scheme
applies to all types of production.

Name and address of the granting authority:

The statutory body responsible for the scheme is:

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Dundonald House
Upper Newtownards Road
Belfast BT4 3SB
United Kingdom

The organisation operating the scheme is:

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Dundonald House
Upper Newtownards Road
Belfast BT4 3SB
United Kingdom

Web address:

http://www.dardni.gov.uk/financial_assistance_for_young_far-
mers_for_northern_ireland.doc

Alternatively, you can go to the UK's central
exempted Agricultural State aid at:

register

for

http://defraweb/farm/policy/state-aid/setup/exist-exempt.htm

Other information: Further and more detailed information
relating to eligibility and rules for the scheme can be found in
the web links above.

Signed on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs, UK competent authority:

Neil Marr
Agricultural State Aid
Area 1B, Nobel House
17 Smith Square
Westminster
London SW1P 3JR
United Kingdom