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 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: 2008-09-04
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Lithuania, Slovenia, State aid, United Kingdom, agricultural holding, aid to agriculture, control of State aid, exchange of information, small and medium-sized enterprises

4.9.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 227/3

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 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 227/03)

Aid No: XA 270/07

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Region: Občina Prebold

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

Pomoč za ohranjanje in razvoj kmetijstva ter podeželja v občini
Prebold za programsko obdobje 2007–2013

Legal basis:

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

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

2007: EUR 37 000

2008: EUR 37 000

2009: EUR 39 000

2010: EUR 39 000

2011: EUR 40 000

2012: EUR 40 000

2013: EUR 40 000

Maximum aid intensity:

1. Investment in agricultural holdings for primary production:

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

— up to 40 % of eligible costs in other areas,

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

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

2. Conservation of traditional landscapes and buildings:

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

— for productive assets on farms, up to 60 % of actual
costs, or 75 % in less-favoured areas, 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 actual costs where the relocation simply
consists of the dismantling, removal and re-erection of
existing facilities,

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

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

C 227/4

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

4.9.2008

4. Aid towards the payment of insurance premiums:

Economic sector(s) concerned: Agriculture

— 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 insurance premiums for insuring crops
and fruit and insuring livestock against disease.

co-financing of

amount of

5. Aid for land reparcelling:

Name and address of granting authority:

Občina Prebold
Hmeljarska cesta 3
SLO-3312 Prebold

Website:

— up to 100 % of actual eligible legal and administrative

costs.

http://www.uradni-list.si/1/ulonline.jsp?urlid=200785&dhid=91588

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

— up to 100 % of actual eligible costs in the form of subsi-
dised services; this must not involve direct payments of
money to producers.

7. Provision of technical support:

— aid may be granted to cover up to 100 % of costs
concerning education and training, consultancy services
provided by third parties and the organization of forums,
and
competitions,
websites. The aid is to be granted in the form of subsi-
dised services and must not involve direct payments of
money to producers

publications

exhibitions,

fairs,

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)

Vinko DEBELAK
Mayor of the municipality of Prebold

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

Duration of
31.12.2013

scheme or

individual

aid award: Until

Aid No: XA 289/07

Objective of the aid: Main objective: To support SMEs

Member State: Republic of Lithuania

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

Region: —

Chapter II of the draft Rules on granting aid for preserving and
developing agriculture and rural areas in the municipality of
Prebold 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,

— Article 5: Conservation of traditional landscapes and build-

ings,

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

— 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

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

Parama ūkiams modernizuoti 2007—2013 m.

Legal basis:

Lietuvos Respublikos žemės ūkio ministro 2007 m. rugpjūčio
24 d. įsakymas Nr. 3D-389 „Dėl paramos ūkams modernizuoti
2007—2013 metais taisyklių“ (Žin., 2007, Nr. 94-3796)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of
individual aid granted to the company: The
planned annual budget is LTL 10,5 million (EUR 3,04 million at
the official exchange rate)

Maximum aid intensity: Under these rules,
farmers are to
receive aid covering 20 % of the purchase costs of new tractors
or new combine harvesters, whilst young farmers who are
under 40 years of age at the time of submitting their application
and have been established for no more than five years before
purchasing the tractor or combine harvester concerned (herein-
after ‘young farmers’) are to receive aid covering 25 % of the
purchase costs.

4.9.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 227/5

The total amount of investment aid per beneficiary and per
application must not exceed LTL 10 000 (or LTL 15 000 for
young farmers) in the case of a tractor, and LTL 40 000 (or
in the case of a combine
LTL 50 000 for young farmers)
harvester.

The amount of aid granted to cover part of the purchase costs
of a tractor or combine harvester may not exceed 40 % of the
eligible investments (or 50 % for young farmers). None of the
aid received in respect of a tractor or combine harvester may be
cumulated with aid in respect of the same eligible expenditure,
if such cumulation would result in an aid intensity exceeding
that specified above, as indicated in Article 19 of Regulation
(EC) No 1857/2006. All investment aid received in respect of a
tractor or combine harvester is to be aggregated. This includes
the State aid received under the above-mentioned rules and any
other financial assistance received in respect of a new tractor or
combine harvester indicated in the applicant's payment request.

The maximum amount of investment aid granted to a benefi-
ciary must not exceed the sum indicated in Article 4(9) of Regu-
lation (EC) No 1857/2006 (EUR 400 000).

The amount of aid may be modified, having regard to the
number of beneficiaries and the funding requirement

Date of implementation: 14.9.2007

Duration of the aid scheme or the individual aid: Until
31.12.2013

Objective of aid:

— aid to SMEs,

— purchase of machinery and equipment,

— to reduce production costs,

— to improve the competitiveness of farms,

— to facilitate the acquisition of agricultural machinery by

farmers.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Lietuvos Respublikos žemės ūkio ministerija
Gedimino pr. 19 (Lelevelio g. 6)
LT-01103 Vilnius

Website:

http://www.zum.lt/min/Isakymai/dsp_isakymas.cfm?IsakymasID=
3602&langparam=LT

Other information: —

Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania

State Secretary
Vidmantas KANOPA

Aid No: XA 342/07

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Region: Območje občine Lovrenc na Pohorju

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

Program razvoja kmetijstva in podeželja v občini Lovrenc na
Pohorju 2007–2013

Legal basis:

Pravilnik o dodeljevanju državnih pomoči za ohranjanje in
razvoj kmetijstva in podeželja v občini Lovrenc na Pohorju
(II.A poglavje)

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

provisions

The
No 1857/2006 are to apply

of Article 4(4)(b)

of Regulation

(EC)

Eligible expenditure:

1. Special rural support programme funds are to be used to
cover part of the purchase costs of new tractors (hereinafter
‘tractors’)
towed combine
harvesters used in agricultural production (hereinafter
‘combine harvesters’), except sugar-beet harvesters, exclusive
of VAT.

and new self-propelled or

2. Beneficiaries are to receive aid only in respect of tractor or
combine harvester purchase costs which have been approved
by an order of the Director of the National Paying Agency
under the Ministry of Agriculture (hereinafter ‘the Agency’)
and which are incurred after that order enters into force. Aid
provided for under these rules is to be allocated to cover the
purchase costs of no more than one tractor or one combine
harvester per calendar year.

3. In accordance with Article 4(7) of Regulation (EC)
No 1857/2006, aid must not be granted for simple replace-
ment investments in respect of agricultural machinery

Economic
products

sector(s):

Primary production of

agricultural

2007: EUR 19 200

2008: EUR 22 200

2009: EUR 22 700

2010: EUR 22 900

2011: EUR 23 100

2012: EUR 23 300

2013: EUR 23 500

Maximum aid intensity:

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.

The purpose of the aid is to invest in the restoration of farm
features, to purchase equipment to be used for agricultural
production, to invest in permanent crops and in farmland
improvement and pasture management.

C 227/6

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

4.9.2008

2. For land reparcelling:

Aid No: XA 350/07

— up to 100 % of actual

legal and administrative costs

Member State: United Kingdom

incurred.

Region: Scotland

3. Aid for providing technical support in the agricultural sector:

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

— up to 50 % of costs concerning education and training of
farmers, consultancy services, the organisation of forums,
competitions, exhibitions and fairs, publications, catalo-
gues and websites and the dissemination of scientific
knowledge. The aid is to be granted in the form of subsi-
dised services and must not involve direct payments of
money to producers

Date of implementation: November 2007 (No aid will be allo-
cated until the summary is published on the European Commis-
sion's website)

Duration of
31.12.2013

scheme or

individual

aid award: Until

Objective of the aid: To support SMEs

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

Chapter II.A of the Rules on granting State aid for preserving
and developing agriculture and rural areas in the municipality of
Lovrenc na Pohorju includes measures constituting State aid in
accordance with the following Articles of 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,

Scottish Ewe Scheme

Legal basis:

Section 4 and 6 of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act 1911

Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006

expenditure planned under

Annual
scheme or
overall amount of individual aid granted to the company:
2007: Estimated at GBP 18 800 000

the

Maximum aid intensity: The aid will be limited to compen-
sating for
income losses caused by quarantine obligations
resulting from a disease outbreak, which has been formally
recognised by public authorities. Taken together with the Sheep
Welfare Scheme (under which farmers will receive compensation
now estimated at GBP 1,5 million), compensation will not
exceed 100 % of the costs associated with dealing with the
requirements of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Control
Measures. The Scottish Executive funds the scheme.

The Scottish Executive's economic advisors calculate that the
cost of compliance with FMD quarantine restrictions amount to
GBP 28 500 000. The total cost to the Scottish Executive of its
package of measures for the industry associated with Foot and
Mouth Disease (FMD) quarantine restrictions,
including the
Scottish Ewe Scheme and the Sheep Welfare Scheme, will be
limited to not more than GBP 25 100 000

— Article 13: Aid for land reparcelling,

Date of implementation: 28.11.2007

— Article 15: Provision of technical support in the agricultural

sector

Economic sector(s) concerned: Agriculture

Name and address of granting authority:

Občina Lovrenc na Pohorju
Spodnji trg 8
SLO-2344 Lovrenc na Pohorju

Website:

http://www.izit.si/muv/index.php?action=showIzda-
ja&year=2007&izdajaID=423 page 950

Other information: The municipality's Rules meet the require-
ments 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 monitoring of aid)

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Aid awards will
take the form of a one-off payment to producers, in November
or December 2007. The scheme will close on 31 December
2007

Objective of aid: To compensate producers for income losses
caused by movement and export restrictions imposed following
the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the United Kingdom.
This
of Regulation (EC)
No 1857/2006

complies with Article 10(2)

Eligible costs: The income losses caused by movement and
export restrictions (comprising additional maintenance require-
ments, loss in productivity and loss of market value) has been
assessed at GBP 6 per head for each breeding ewe or gimmer
declared as being present on the producers holding on 1 March
2007. These figures will be taken from the 2007 Single Applica-
tion Form submitted on the 15 May 2007 which indicate that
compensation will be paid on 3 133 000 animals given a total
cost of the scheme of ca. GBP 18 800 000. This complies with
Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 where the gross
aid intensity must not exceed 100 % and that the aid will be to
compensate for income losses due to quarantine obligations

4.9.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 227/7

Sector(s) concerned: This scheme applies to the breeding
sheep sector of the farming industry in Scotland

ment is made by young farmers within five years of
setting up.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Scottish Executive
Pentland House
47 Robb's Loan
Edinburgh EH14 1TY
United Kingdom
Contact: Brian Endicott
Tel. (44-13) 12 44 65 46

Website:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Agriculture/grants/Schemes/
ScottishEweScheme

Aid No: XA 378/07

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Region: Občina Vuzenica

The purpose of the aid is to invest in the restoration of farm
features, to purchase equipment to be used for agricultural
production, to invest in permanent crops and in farmland
improvement and pasture management.

2. Conservation of traditional landscapes and buildings:

— investment in non-productive features up to 100 % of

actual costs,

— up to 60 % of actual costs, or 75 % in less-favoured
areas, for productive assets on farms, 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.

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

3. Relocation of farm buildings in the public interest:

Pomoč za ohranjanje in razvoj kmetijstva in podeželja v občini
Vuzenica za programsko obdobje 2007–2013

Legal basis:

— up to 100 % of actual costs, where relocation simply
consists of the dismantling, removal and re-erection of
existing facilities,

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

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

— where the relocation results in the farmer benefiting
from more modern facilities, the farmer must contribute
at least 60 %, or 50 % in less-favoured areas, of the
increase in the value of the facilities concerned after relo-
cation. If the beneficiary is a young farmer, his contribu-
tion is at least 55 % or 45 % respectively,

2007: EUR 7 431

2008: EUR 16 000

2009: EUR 16 000

2010: EUR 16 000

2011: EUR 16 000

2012: EUR 16 000

2013: EUR 16 000

Maximum aid intensity:

1. Investment in farms for primary production:

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

4. Aid towards the payment of insurance premiums:

— 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 an insurance premium for insuring crops
and fruit and insuring livestock against disease.

co-financing of

amount of

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

— up to 40 % of eligible costs in other areas,

5. Aid for land reparcelling:

— up to 60 % of eligible costs in less-favoured areas and up
to 50 % of eligible costs in other areas, where the invest-

— up to 100 % of eligible costs incurred in legal and

administrative procedures.

C 227/8

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

4.9.2008

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

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

— up to 100 % of eligible costs in the form of subsidised
services; this must not involve direct payments of money
to producers.

7. Provision of technical support:

— up to 100 % of eligible costs for education and training
for farmers, consultancy services and to organise forums,
competitions, exhibitions, fairs, publications, catalogues,
websites and to fund replacement services. The aid is to
be granted in the form of subsidised services and must
not involve direct payments of money to producers

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
31.12.2013

scheme or

individual

aid award: Until

Objective of the aid: To support SMEs

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

Chapter II of the draft Rules on granting aid for preserving and
developing agriculture and rural areas in the municipality of
Vuzenica 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,

— 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 Vuzenica
Mladinska ulica 1
SLO-2367 Vuzenica

Website:

http://www.izit.si/muv/index.php?action=showIzdaja&year=2007&
izdajaID=426

Regulatory procedure No 569, page 30

Other information: The measure concerning 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 light-
ning, 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)

Miran KUS
Mayor of the Municipality of Vuzenica