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: 2008-05-06
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Ireland, Netherlands, Slovenia, State aid, agricultural holding, aid to agriculture, control of State aid, exchange of information, small and medium-sized enterprises

6.5.2008

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Official Journal of the European Union

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NOTICES FROM MEMBER STATES

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 111/06)

3. Aid towards the payment of insurance premiums:

Aid No: XA 411/07

Member State: Slovenia

Region: Območje občine Brda

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving indivi-
dual aid: Podpore programom razvoja podeželja v občini Brda
2007–2013

Legal basis: Pravilnik o dodelitvi pomoči za ohranjanje in
razvoj kmetijstva in podeželja v občini Brda za programsko
obdobje 2007–2013

Annual expenditure planned or overall amount of indivi-
dual aid granted to the company:

2007: EUR 35 000

2008: EUR 35 000

2009: EUR 35 000

2010: EUR 35 000

2011: EUR 35 000

2012: EUR 35 000

2013: EUR 35 000

Maximum aid intensity:

1. Investment in agricultural holdings for primary production:

— for the modernisation of agricultural holdings and the
land and access ways, the
management of agricultural
intensity of the aid may not exceed 40 % of eligible costs
excluding VAT.

2. Conservation of traditional landscapes and buildings:

— for non-productive features, up to 100 % of eligible costs

excluding VAT,

— for productive assets on farms, up to 60 % of eligible
costs excluding VAT, 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.

— the amount of municipal co-financing is the difference
between the
insurance
premiums from the national budget and up to 50 % of
eligible costs of insurance premiums for insuring crops
and fruit and insuring livestock against disease.

co-financing of

amount of

4. Aid for land reparcelling:

— up to 100 % of eligible legal and administrative costs.

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

— up to 100 % of eligible costs excluding VAT in the form
involve direct

subsidised services;

this must not

of
payments of money to producers.

6. Provision of technical support in the agricultural sector:

— up to 100 % of eligible costs excluding VAT in the form
involve direct

subsidised services;

this must not

of
payments of money to producers

Date of implementation: October 2007 (The aid will not be
granted until a summary has been published on the European
Commission's website)

Duration of
31 December 2013

scheme or

individual

aid award: Until

Objective of aid: To support SMEs

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

Chapter III of the draft Rules on granting State aid for preser-
ving and developing agriculture and rural areas in the munici-
pality of Brda for the programming period 2007-2013 includes
measures constituting State aid in accordance 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 agricultural products and amending
Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 (OJ L 358, 16.12.2006, p. 3):

— Article 4: Investment in agricultural holdings for primary

production,

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— Article 5: Conservation of traditional landscapes and build-

2010: EUR 45 000

ings,

2011: EUR 50 000

— Article 12: Aid towards

the payment of

insurance

2012: EUR 50 000

premiums,

— Article 13: Aid for land reparcelling,

2013: EUR 60 000

Maximum aid intensity:

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

cultural products,

1. Investment in agricultural holdings for primary production:

— Article 15: Provision of technical support in the agricultural

sector

— up to 50 % of eligible costs in less-favoured areas and up

to 40 % of eligible costs in other regions.

Economic sector(s) concerned: Agriculture

Name and address of granting authority:

Občina Brda
Trg 25. maja 2
SLO-5212 Dobrovo

Website:

http://www.lex-localis.info/UradnoGlasiloObcin/VsebinaDoku-
menta.aspx?SectionID=cad347f3-53f5-403e-ab1f-b987c82cd89a

Other information:

The measure 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, storm and floods.

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

Andrej MARKOČIČ
Director of municipal administration

Aid No: XA 412/07

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Region: Območje občine Kobarid

Title of aid scheme or name of enterprise receiving an indi-
vidual grant: Pomoči za ohranjanje in razvoj kmetijstva in
podeželja v občini Kobarid za programsko obdobje 2007–2013

Legal basis: Pravilnik o dodeljevanju pomoči za ohranjanje in
razvoj kmetijstva ter podeželja v občini Kobarid za programsko
obdobje 2007–2013

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or total
amount of individual grants paid to the enterprise:

2007: EUR 35 662

2008: EUR 40 000

2009: EUR 45 000

2. Conservation of traditional landscapes and buildings:

— up to 100 % of

the eligible costs of non-productive

features,

— up to 60 % (or up to 75 % in LFAs) of the eligible costs
of on-farm productive features where investment does
not entail any increase in the farm's production capacity,

— up to 100 % may be granted in additional aid to cover
the extra costs incurred by using traditional materials
that are necessary for the conservation of the cultural
built heritage.

3. Provision of technical support in the agricultural sector:

— up to 100 % of the eligible costs of education, consul-
tancy services, the organisation of forums, competitions,
exhibitions, fairs, publications, catalogues, websites and
the popularisation of scientific knowledge

Date of implementation: October 2007 (No aid will be allo-
cated before the summary is published on the European
Commission's website)

Duration of scheme: Until 31 December 2013

Objective of aid: To support SMEs

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

Chapter III of the proposed Pravilnik o dodeljevanju pomoči za
ohranjanje
in razvoj kmetijstva podeželja v občini Kobarid za
programsko obdobje 2007-2013 contains State aid measures
corresponding to the following Articles of Commission Regu-
lation (EC) No 1857/2006 of 15 December 2006 on the appli-
cation 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 15: Provision of technical support in the agricultural

sector

Sector(s) concerned: Agriculture

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Name and address of the granting authority:

Občina Kobarid
Trg svobode 2
SLO-5222 Kobarid

Website:

http://www.uradni-list.si/1/ulonline.jsp?urlid=200791&dhid=91831

Other information:

The local
legislation satisfies the requirements of Regulation
(EC) No 1857/2006 as regards measures to be implemented by
the local authorities and the terms of general provisions
(procedure prior to the granting of aid, cumulation, transpar-
ency and the monitoring of aid)

Robert KAVČIČ
Mayor, Kobarid Municipality

Aid No: XA 413/07

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Region: Območje občine Starše

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving indivi-
dual aid: Dodeljevanje državnih pomoči za programe razvoja
kmetijstva in podeželja v občini Starše

business plan and the young farmer must meet
the
criteria laid down in Article 22 of Regulation (EC)
No 1698/2005.

The purpose of the aid is investment to restore farm features,
purchase equipment to be used for agricultural production,
manage pastures and farmland and invest
in permanent
crops.

2. Conservation of traditional landscapes and buildings:

— up to 60 % of eligible costs, or up to 75 % in less-fa-
voured areas, for investment[s] to conserve the cultural
heritage of productive assets (farm buildings), provided
that the investment does not entail any increase in the
production capacity of the farm,

— up to 100 % of eligible costs for investment for conser-
ving non-productive heritage located on farms (sites of
archaeological and historical interest),

— up to 100 % of additional aid to cover the extra costs
incurred by using traditional materials necessary to
conserve the heritage features of buildings.

3. Aid towards the payment of insurance premiums:

— the amount of municipal co-financing is the difference
insurance
between the
premiums from the national budget and up to 50 % of
eligible costs of an insurance premium for insuring crops
and fruit and insuring livestock against disease.

co-financing of

amount of

Legal basis: Pravilnik o dodeljevanju državnih pomoči, pomoči
de minimis in izvajanju drugih ukrepov razvoja kmetijstva in
podeželja v občini Starše

4. Aid for land reparcelling:

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

2007: EUR 111 332

2008: EUR 80 000

2009: EUR 80 000

2010: EUR 80 000

2011: EUR 80 000

2012: EUR 80 000

2013: EUR 80 000

Maximum aid intensity:

1. Investment in agricultural holdings for primary production:

— up to 40 % of eligible costs,

— up to 50 % of eligible costs, in the case of investments
made by young farmers within five years of setting up,

— up to 50 % of eligible costs in other areas, in the case of
investments made by young farmers within five years of
setting up. These investments must be contained in a

— up to 70 % of eligible legal and administrative costs.

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

— up to 100 % of actual costs incurred;

this is to be
provided in the form of subsidised services and must not
involve direct payments of money to producers.

6. Provision of technical support:

— up to 100 % of costs for education and training, consul-
tancy services provided by third parties and the organiza-
tion of forums, competitions, exhibitions, fairs, publica-
tions and websites. The aid is to be granted in the form
of
involve direct
payments of money to producers

subsidised services and must not

Date of implementation: November 2007 (The aid will not be
granted until a summary has been published on the European
Commission's website)

Duration of
31 December 2013

scheme or

individual

aid award: Until

Objective of the aid: To support SMEs

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

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an indi-
vidual aid: Breeding Information Campaign 2008

Chapter II of the draft Rules on granting State aid and de minimis
aid and implementing other agricultural and rural development
measures in the municipality of Starše includes measures consti-
tuting State aid in accordance 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 agricultural 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 granting authority:

Občina Starše
Starše 93/I 5
SLO-2205 Starše

Website:

http://www.starse.si/Obrazci_Vloge/PRAVILNIK_kmetijstvo_2007.pdf

Other information:

The measure 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, storm and floods.

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

Vili DUCMAN
Mayor of the municipality of Starše

Aid No: XA 415/07

Member State: Ireland

Region: Member State

Legal basis: National Development Plan 2007-2013

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of
aid granted to the company:
EUR 100 000

individual

Maximum aid intensity: 50 %

Date of implementation: 1 January 2008

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 1 January
2008-31 December 2008

Objective of aid:

The campaign aims to promote the results of the testing and
genetic evaluation of the Irish Cattle breeding Federation to
farmers to encourage the uptake of modern scientific breeding
values by beef and dairy farmers, thus contributing to their
long-term viability.

This aid is provided in accordance with Article 15(2)(d)
and 15(2)(e) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 — Provision of
technical support in the agricultural sector.

Eligible costs will be those associated with:

— organised workshops,

— advertising,

— conducting surveys

Sector(s) concerned: Bovines

Name and address of the granting authority:

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Agriculture House
Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Ireland

Website:

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/NDP_State_Aid/

(Conditions of the Scheme will be available on this weblink
when the scheme is to be implemented)

Aid No: XA 416/07

Member State: The Netherlands

Region: Provincies Utrecht, Overijssel, Gelderland, Limburg en
Noord-Brabant

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving indivi-
dual aid: Uitvoeringsbesluit inkomstenbelasting 2001

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Legal basis: Artikel 3.64 Wet
inkomstenbelasting 2001 juncto
artikel 12a, onderdeel b, Uitvoeringsbesluit inkomstenbelasting 2001.
If the draft law Overige fiscale maatregelen 2008 is passed by the
Upper House, the legal basis will change to artikel 3.54 Wet
inkomstenbelasting 2001 (1).

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
individual aid granted to the company: The
amount of
to
the
losses
tax
annual
EUR 8,7 million

covered by

amount

scheme

the basis

Maximum aid intensity: Under Article 6(2) of Regulation (EC)
No 1857/2006, aid may be granted for up to 100 % of the
costs incurred where a relocation consists of dismantling,
removal and re-erection of existing facilities. Aid scheme
XA 62/05 provides for aid to be granted for the relocation of
farm buildings used for intensive livestock farming and located
on sites designated restructuring areas under the Reconstructiewet
concentratiegebieden (Law for the restructuring of areas of agri-
cultural concentration). However,
for calculating
compensation under that aid scheme does not take account of
the tax implications for the farmers concerned of relocating the
farm buildings. Farmers who wind up their business for tax
purposes in order to relocate their farm are obliged to pay tax
on the hidden reserves and similar assets of their (old) farm. For
farmers,
is directly and inextricably
linked to the relocation of their holding. To be able to cover
both the costs of the relocation and the tax payments, farmers
have to borrow capital, which involves paying loan charges. This
aid scheme therefore provides for a top-up to aid scheme
XA 62/05. In conjunction with that aid scheme, aid will be
granted for up to 100 % of
thereby
complying with Article 6(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006

this is an expense that

the costs incurred,

Date of implementation: The scheme will be implemented
after publication of a Decree on the entry into force of the
Decree of 3 September 2007 amending the Uitvoeringsbesluit
inkomstenbelasting 2001 (2001 Income Tax Implementing
Decree), Stb. (Bulletin of Acts, Orders and Decrees) 2007, 328.
That Decree will be prepared after publication of the aid scheme
in the Official
in
Article 18(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006

the European Union, as set out

Journal of

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: This depends
on when the provinces of Limburg, North Brabant, Utrecht,
Gelderland and Overijssel open their aid schemes to applicants,
but it will not extend beyond 31 December 2013

Objective of aid: As stated in the information provided on aid
scheme XA 62/05, the aid relates to the relocation — in the
public interest — of farm buildings used for intensive livestock
farming. The objective of the aid scheme is to facilitate the relo-
cation of livestock farms under the Reconstructiewet concentratiege-
bieden. The provinces of Limburg, North Brabant, Utrecht,
Gelderland and Overijssel operate a number of aid schemes for
such relocations (see aid scheme XA 62/05), but farmers who
take advantage of those schemes and wind up their farm for tax
purposes with a view to relocating incur extra costs. Those costs
consist of borrowing capital and paying loan charges in order to
cover the compulsory tax payments incurred for hidden reserves
and similar assets as a result of winding up their business.
Consequently, relocation is often unaffordable for those farmers,
and livestock farms may, for example, remain at their old sites
(e.g. near vulnerable natural areas). This aid scheme is intended
to prevent those costs from arising. It is restricted to farmers
the aid schemes mentioned in aid
who are beneficiaries of
scheme XA 62/05

Economic sector(s) concerned: Livestock sector

Name and address of the granting authority:
Ministerie van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit
Postbus 20501
2500 EK Den Haag
Nederland

Website:
http://www.minfin.nl/nl/actueel/kamerstukken_en_besluiten,2007/
09/DB07-352.html

Other information: —

(1) Kamerstukken (Parliamentary Documents) I-2007/08, 31 206, No A,

see:
http://www.eerstekamer.nl/9324000/1/j9vvgh5ihkk7kof/
vhq6dh3ycvh1/f=y.pdf