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: 2008-04-26
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: France, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, State aid, aid to agriculture, control of State aid, exchange of information, small and medium-sized enterprises

C 106/22

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Official Journal of the European Union

26.4.2008

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

(2008/C 106/09)

Aid No: XA 323/07

Member State: Hungary

Region: Entire country

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving indivi-
dual aid:

2007. évben aszálykárt szenvedett mezőgazdasági
kedvezményes hitelhez jutási lehetőségének támogatása

termelők

Legal basis:

— Commission Regulation (EC) No 1860/2004 of 6 October
2004 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of
the
EC Treaty to de minimis aid in the agriculture and fisheries
sectors (OJ L 325, 28.10 2004, p. 4),

Upon redemption of the guarantee the guarantee institutions
transfer to the financial institution providing the financing the
full amount of
the counter-guarantee received from budget
resources.

We apply Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

The maximum aid intensity attainable (interest-rate subsidy and
provision of guarantee) is 80 % of loss of income

Sector(s) concerned: Plant production sector (field crops)

Name and address of the granting authority:

Földművelésügyi és Vidékfejlesztési Minisztérium
Kossuth Lajos tér 11.
H-1055 Budapest

— 2006. évi LXXXVIII. törvény a nemzeti agrár-kárenyhítési

Website:

rendszerről;

— 88/2006 (XII. 28.) FVM rendelet a nemzeti agrárkár-enyhí-
tési rendszerről szóló 2006. évi LXXXVIII. törvény végrehaj-
tásának szabályairól;

— A földművelésügyi és vidékfejlesztési miniszter /2007. (…..)
FVM rendelete a 2007. évben aszálykárt szenvedett mező-
gazdasági termelők kedvezményes hitelhez jutási
lehetősé-
géről

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of individual aid granted to the company: Planned
annual expenditure: HUF 200-220 million

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum intensity of the loan
and guarantee subsidy together is 80 % of the loss in yields

Date of implementation: From October 2007

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 31 December
2007

Objective of aid:

The objective of
the aid is to provide farmers (small and
medium-sized undertakings) with compensation for the drought
damage suffered in 2007.

Farmers suffered a significant reduction of their incomes (in
some cases 50-100 % of production was lost).
In order to
compensate for such loss of earnings, farmers will be entitled to
subsidised loans and such loans may also be accompanied by a
preferential guarantee.

The amount of aid included in the guarantee attached to the
loan is calculated on the basis of Commission Regulation (EC)
No 1860/2004 of 6 October 2004 on the application of Arti-
cles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to de minimis aid in the agri-
sectors. The guaranteeing institutions
culture and fisheries
provide the guarantee on the loan on the basis of Decree
No 50/2007 (VI. 27) FVM on the institutional guarantee which
may be claimed as de minimis aid by agricultural undertakings.

http://www.fvm.hu/main.php?folderID=1846&articleID=11273&c-
tag=articlelist&iid=1

András Máhr
State Secretary

Aid No: XA 337/07

Member State: Italy

Region: Umbria

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an indi-
vidual aid award:

Progetti integrati di filiera a favore delle PMI attive nel settore
della produzione,
trasformazione e commercializzazione dei
prodotti di cui all'allegato I del trattato. Criteri per la conces-
sione degli aiuti

Legal basis:

Deliberazione della Giunta Regionale n. 1798 del 12 novembre
2007 avente per oggetto ‘Modifiche ed integrazioni alla DGR
filiera a favore
1449/2007 concernente: Progetti
delle PMI attive nel settore della produzione, trasformazione e
commercializzazione dei prodotti di cui all'allegato I del trattato,
criteri per la concessione degli aiuti’

integrati di

This aid scheme must be regarded as a modification of the
preceding exempted aid scheme registered by the Commission,
pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1/2004, under XA 02/05. It
will be launched with a specific call for applications setting out
the terms and conditions for submitting applications. The call
will be published only after the Commission has confirmed, in
accordance with Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006,
receipt of this summary information sheet and its publication
on the Commission's website.

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to the Treaty,

For all aid categories relating to the processing and marketing of
the products listed in Annex I
it should be
pointed out that the legal basis, which is the above-mentioned
is being revised to take
exempted aid scheme XA 02/05,
account of Regulation (EC) No 70/2001, as amended and
supplemented by Article 21 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.
to Article 9 of Regulation (EC)
Consequently, pursuant
No 70/2001, we will send the Commission,
jointly with this
summary information, the summary information which consti-
tutes the legal prerequisite for launching the exempted aid
scheme in that sector

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of
aid granted to the company:
individual
EUR 5 450 000 broken down as follows:

— EUR 5 000 000 primarily for enterprises in the area of the
Lake Trasimeno in the province of Perugia (Magione,
Panicale, C. del Lago, Tuoro, Passignano, Città della Pieve,
Piegaro, Paciano),

— EUR 450 000 as a first allocation and according to the sche-
dule established in the 2007-2013 RDP for Umbria, which
the European Commission is currently examining for
approval,
for aid to integrated agri-food projects in the
remaining part of the region

Maximum aid intensity:

1. For primary production, the aid is granted in the form of
capital contributions for the following maximum amounts:

three financial years or EUR 500 000 if the enterprise is situ-
ated in a mountainous or less-favoured area as established in
the 2007-2013 Rural Development Plan for Umbria
to Articles 50 and 94 of Regulation (EC)
pursuant
No 1698/2005.

The primary production sector also includes any investment
in the agricultural holding needed to prepare animal or vege-
table products for the first sale. The term ‘first sale’ means
the sale effected by a primary producer to retailers or proces-
sors, including any operation needed to prepare the product
for this first sale, and the sale to the final consumer provided
it takes place in premises that are not separate from other
premises used for the primary activity.

The following are not eligible:

— the purchase of production rights, animals and annual

plants,

— drainage works,

irrigation equipment and irrigation

works,

— the planting of annual plants,

— simple replacement investments,

— investments

the manufacture and marketing of
products which imitate or substitute for milk and milk
products.

for

— 40 % of

expenditure

for

the

following

inter-

ventions/operations:

2. For processing and marketing, the aid is granted in the form
of capital contributions up to 40 % of expenditure for the
following interventions/operations:

(a) construction or improvement of immovable property
and purchase of agricultural land for up to 10 % of
the total costs borne by each implementing party;
immovable property may also be purchased, if essen-
tial to attain the aims of the project, for a maximum
eligible expenditure of EUR 516 per useable square
metre;

(b) expenditure for the introduction of company quality
systems in compliance with the ISO 9000 standard,

— 20 % of the expenditure borne to purchase machinery

and equipment, including computer equipment,

— 12 % for overheads related to the expenditure described
in points (a) and (b), including the purchase of patents
and licences.

The above rates shall be increased by 10 percentage points if
the intervention/operation takes place in mountain or less-fa-
voured areas as established in the 2007-2013 Rural Develop-
ment Programme for Umbria pursuant to Articles 50 and 94
of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 and by a further 10 points
if it is carried out by young farmers.

The maximum amount of aid granted to an individual enter-
prise must not exceed EUR 400 000 over any period of

(a) the

or

construction

improvement

immovable
property; immovable property may also be purchased, if
for a
essential
maximum eligible expenditure of EUR 516 per useable
square metre;

to attain the aims of

the project,

of

(b) expenditure for the introduction of company quality
systems in compliance with the ISO 9000 standard;

(c) the purchase of machinery,

equipment,

including

computer equipment, and technological installations;

(d) up to 12 % of overheads related to the expenditure
described in points (a), (b) and (c), including the purchase
of patents and licences.

The following expenditure is not eligible:

— investments at retail level,

— investments for processing or marketing products from

non-EU countries.

For each enterprise, maximum eligible expenditure is limited
to 40 % of the turnover of the last budget approved as of
the date of submission of the application, or to ten times the
share capital subscribed as of the same date.

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In any case, for enterprises processing and marketing agri-
cultural products listed in Annex I to the Treaty, expenditure
may only be eligible for support if in compliance with Regu-
lation (EC) No 70/2001.

(ii) factual

information on the quality systems and
nutritional benefits of these products and their
use provided that the references to the origin
correspond exactly to those references which
have been registered by the Community.

3. For integrated management relating to quality, environmental
protection, public health, animal and plant health, animal
welfare and safety at work, the aid is granted in the form of
capital contributions for the following amounts:

Aid for technical support services does not involve direct
payments to farmers except in the cases provided for in
Article 14(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006

— up to 100 % of the costs borne by individual or asso-
ciated producers, and up to EUR 30 000 for each enter-
prise, for the following interventions:

Date of implementation: 1 October 2007

Duration of scheme: 31 December 2008

(a) expenditure relating to checks carried out in connec-
tion with the issuing of the first certification required
for quality products recognised at Community level
(DOC, DOCG, PDO,
IGT, PGI, SGT, and organic
products),

— up to 50 % of

expenditure borne, up to
EUR 100 000, for each enterprise for the following inter-
ventions:

the

(b) expenditure for the introduction of environmental
quality systems in compliance with the ISO 14000
or EMAS standard,

— up to 80 % of

the

expenditure borne, up to

EUR 100 000, for each enterprise for the following:

(c) expenditure for

the introduction of certification

systems in the food chain,

— up to 70 % of expenditure borne by individual or asso-
ciated enterprises, and up to EUR 200 000, for interven-
tions relating to marketing support services, i.e.:

(d) publications,

as

such

catalogues

or websites,
presenting factual information on the sector product
provided the information is neutral and that all the
operators in the sector have equal opportunities to be
represented in the publications;

shows

and forums

(e) organising and participating in competitions, trade
for knowledge-sharing
fairs,
among businesses, provided it is for the following:
participation fees, travel costs, publication costs, the
rent of exhibition stands, symbolic prizes up to
EUR 250 per prize and per winner;

(f) quality products

(DOC, DOCG, PDO,
products):

recognised at Community level
IGT, PGI, SGT, and organic

(i) the dissemination of scientific knowledge;

Objective of aid:

Support to SMEs involved in the production, processing and
marketing of agricultural products listed in Annex I to the
EC Treaty (except
forestry, bioenergy and fishery products)
aimed at stepping up competitiveness in the main agri-food
sectors in Umbria by introducing product and process innova-
tions and integrated management relating to quality, safety and
environmental protection and support services for marketing
agricultural products, mostly quality products.

For the production sector, the legal basis for the exemption of
this aid scheme is provided by Articles 4, 14 and 15 of Regu-
lation (EC) No 1857/2006.

For the processing and marketing sector, the legal basis for the
exemption of this aid scheme is provided by Articles 4 and 5 of
Regulation (EC) No 70/2001.

Eligible costs covered by the aid scheme are indicated under
‘Maximum aid intensity’ above

Sector(s) concerned:

The sectors concerned by the aid scheme are the production,
processing and marketing of products listed in Annex I to the
EC Treaty (except forestry, bioenergy and fishery products).

For all initiatives planned under this aid scheme, evidence must
be given of the existence of normal market outlets. Investments
to increase production capacity in sectors with specific limita-
tions under common market organisations are not eligible
unless justified by the purchase of the corresponding production
quotas

Name and address of the granting authority:

Regione Umbria — Direzione regionale all'Agricoltura e foreste,
aree protette, valorizzazione dei sistemi naturalistici e paesaggis-
tici, beni ed attività culturali, sport e spettacolo
Centro Direzionale Fontivegge
I-06100 Perugia

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Website:

www.regione.umbria.it

— select ‘aree tematiche’,

— select ‘agricoltura e foreste’ on the left,

— under ‘ultime notizie’, select ‘D.G.R. del’,

— select ‘clicca qui’.

E-mail:

fgarofalo@regione.umbria.it

exempted aid pursuant

Other information: Aid for the processing and marketing of
agricultural products listed in Annex I to the Treaty is imple-
to Regulation (EC)
mented as
No 70/2001. As a consequence, in accordance with Article 9 of
the above-mentioned Regulation, the summary information on
exempted aid for this sector shall be forwarded to the Commis-
sion jointly with this summary information

Sector(s) concerned: All
the
department, provided they fall within the Community definition
of small and medium-sized enterprises

the agricultural holdings of

Name and address of the granting authority:

Monsieur le président du conseil général de la Manche
Direction des affaires économiques et du développement rural
Service du développement rural
Maison du département
Rond-point de la liberté
F-50008 Saint-Lo cedex

Website:

http://www.cg50.fr/economie/agriculture

Aid No: XA 346/07

Member State: Spain

Title of aid scheme:

Aid No: XA 344/07

Member State: France

Region: Département de la Manche

Ayudas para paliar los daños ocasionados por las tormentas de
lluvia, granizo y viento ocurridas en la segunda quincena del
mes de mayo de 2007, que afectaron a varias comunidades
autónomas

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving indivi-
dual aid:

Legal basis:

Accompagnement au développement de la Qualification Agri-
culture Raisonnée

Legal basis:

— Articles L 1511 et suivants, articles L 3231-2 et L3232-17

du Code général des collectivités territoriales

— Délibération du conseil général de la Manche no 2006-II-3/

06 du 19 juin 2006

— Convention entre l'État et le département relative à l'accom-
pagnement au développement de la qualification à l'agricul-
ture raisonnée

Orden APA/ /2007, de … de octubre, por la que se desarrolla el
artículo 4 del Real Decreto-ley no 5/2007, de 22 de junio, por el
que se adoptan medidas urgentes para reparar
los daños
causados por las tormentas de lluvia, granizo y viento, que han
afectado en la segunda quincena del mes de mayo de 2007, a
diversas comunidades autónomas

Annual expenditure planned: EUR 9,1 million

Maximum aid intensity: 80 per cent of the losses

Date of implementation: In the six months following publica-
tion of the Order

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: Annual aid
of EUR 28 750 (maximum)

Duration of scheme: December 2008

Maximum aid intensity: 100 % of the technician's fees, capped
at two days' work per holding

Date of implementation: From receipt of the acknowledge-
ment of receipt from the European Commission

Duration of aid scheme or individual aid: Until 31 December
2009 at the latest

Objective of aid: The aim of the scheme is to promote the
the sustainable agriculture qualification by
development of
having the Manche General Council cover
the cost of a
maximum of two days' work by a technician. The aid is paid to
the Council body in charge of the pre-audit and not to the agri-
cultural producer. The aid will be governed by the provisions of
Article 15 of the Agricultural Exemption Regulation (Regulation
(EC) No 1857/2006)

Objective of aid: The objective of
the aid is to offset the
harvest losses incurred by farmers as a result of the heavy rain-
storms, hailstorms and strong winds which occurred, losses that
were not covered by insurance policies.

An absolute precondition for the aid is that
the recipients
should have insured their production under the Annual Farm
Insurance Plan.

In order to qualify for the aid, the damage incurred must exceed
30 per cent of normal production.

The application of a non-reducible excess of 20 per cent of the
damage means that the aid will not exceed 80 per cent of the
losses.

The losses will be calculated by individual farm.

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The compensation received under the insurance policies will be
deducted from the amount calculated.

for investment in permanent crops, farmland improvement
and pasture management.

The aid scheme complies with Article 11 of Regulation (EC)
No 1857/2006

Sector(s) concerned:

Cereal, tomato and fruit production has been affected by these
adverse climatic conditions

Name and address of the granting authority:

Entidad Estatal de Seguros Agrarios (ENESA)
C/ Miguel Ángel, no 23 — 5a planta
E-28010 Madrid

Website:

http://oracle3.mapya.es/documentos_pwe/rd/orden_tormentas.
pdf

enesa@mapa.es

Aid No: XA 352/07

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Region: Območje občine Vransko

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

Programi razvoja podeželja v občini Vransko 2007–2013

Legal basis:

Pravilnik o dodeljevanju pomoči za ohranjanje in razvoj
kmetijstva in podeželja v občini Vransko za programsko
obdobje 2007–2013

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

2007: EUR 60 900

2008: EUR 60 900

2009: EUR 60 900

2010: EUR 65 000

2011: EUR 65 000

2012: EUR 70 000

2013: EUR 70 000

2. Aid for conservation of traditional buildings:

— for non-productive features, up to 100 % of the actual

costs incurred,

— for productive assets on farms, up to 60 % or — in
less-favoured areas — 75 % of the actual costs incurred,
provided that the investment does not entail any increase
in the production capacity of the farm,

— additional aid may be granted at a rate of up to 100 % to
cover the extra costs incurred by using traditional mate-
rials necessary to maintain the heritage features of build-
ings.

3. Relocation of farm buildings in the public interest:

— up to 100 % of the actual costs incurred if the relocation
simply consists of the dismantling, removal and re-erec-
tion of existing facilities,

— where the relocation results in the farmer benefiting
from more modern facilities, the farmer must contribute
in less-favoured areas at least 50 % and in other areas
at least 60 % of the increase in the value of the facilities
concerned after relocation. If the beneficiary is a young
farmer, this contribution shall be at least 55 % or in
less favoured areas 45 %,

— where the relocation results in an increase in production
capacity, the farmer must contribute at least 60 % or —
in less-favoured areas — 50 % of the expenses relating to
the increase. If the beneficiary is a young farmer, this
contribution shall be at least 55 % or in less-favoured
areas 45 %.

4. Aid towards the payment of insurance premiums:

— municipality aid is the difference between the level of
insurance premiums from the national
cofinancing of
budget and a sum of up to 50 % of eligible insurance
premium costs for insuring crops and fruit and insuring
livestock against disease.

5. Aid for land reparcelling:

— up to 100 % of actual administrative and legal costs

Maximum aid intensity:

incurred.

1. Investment in agricultural holdings for primary production:

— up to 50 % of eligible costs in less-favoured areas and up
to 40 % of eligible costs for investment in other areas,

— up to 60 % of eligible costs in less-favoured areas and up
to 50 % of eligible costs for investment in other areas,
where the investment is made by young farmers within
five years of setting up.

Support is granted for investment to restore farm features
and to purchase equipment for agricultural production, and

6. Aid to encourage the production of quality agricultural products:

— up to 100 % of the costs of market research activities,
product conception and design,
including aid for the
preparation of applications for recognition of geogra-
phical indications, designations of origin or certificates of
specific character, in accordance with the relevant Com-
munity regulations. The aid is granted in the form of
subsidised services and does not involve direct payments
of money to producers.

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7. Aid for the provision of technical support in the agricultural sector:

— Article 6: Relocation of farm buildings in the public interest,

— up to 100 % of costs concerning education and training
the organisation of
for farmers, consultancy services,
forums, competitions, exhibitions and fairs, publications,
catalogues, websites and the dissemination of scientific
knowledge. The aid is granted in the form of subsidised
services and does not involve direct payments of money
to producers

Date of implementation: November 2007 (No aid will be
granted until
the summary is published on the European
Commission's website)

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

Objective of aid: To support SMEs

Reference to Articles of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 and
eligible costs:

the

of Vransko

programming

Chapter II of the proposed Rules on the granting of aid for
preserving and developing agriculture and rural areas in the
Municipality
period
for
2007-2013 (Pravilnik o dodeljevanju pomoči za ohranjanje in razvoj
kmetijstva in podeželja v Občini Vransko za programsko obdobje
2007-2013) includes measures relating to State aid in accord-
ance with 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 agri-
cultural products and amending Regulation (EC) No 70/2001
(OJ L 358, 16.12.2006, p. 3):

— Article 4: Investment in agricultural holdings;

— Article 5: Conservation of traditional landscapes and build-

ings,

— Article 12: Aid towards

the payment of

insurance

premiums,

— Article 13: Aid for land reparcelling,

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

cultural products,

— Article 15: Provision of technical support in the agricultural

sector

Economic sector(s) concerned: Agriculture

Name and address of the granting authority:

Občina Vransko
Vransko 59
SLO-3305 Vransko

Website:

http://www.uradni-list.si/1/ulonline.jsp?urlid=200797&dhid=92173

Other information:

Aid for the payment of insurance premiums to insure crops and
fruit includes the following adverse climatic events which can be
assimilated to natural disasters: spring frost, hail, lightning, fire
caused by lightning, storms and floods.

The municipality's Rules meet the requirements of Regulation
(EC) No 1857/2006 concerning measures to be taken by the
municipality and the general provisions
(steps
preceding grant of aid, cumulation, transparency and moni-
toring of aid)

applicable

Mayor of the municipality of Vransko
Franc SUŠNIK