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: 2008-11-20
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Italy, Slovenia, Spain, State aid, agricultural holding, animal health, control of State aid, exchange of information, small and medium-sized enterprises

C 297/6

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

20.11.2008

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 297/04)

Aid No: XA 290/08

Member State: Italy

Region: Lombardia

In particular, the aid will not be granted to holdings in difficulty
or if it is contrary to the prohibitions and restrictions provided
for by common market organisations. The aid is intended for all
agricultural sectors with specific limitations and prohibitions
due to overcapacity and lack of market outlets

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

Sector(s) concerned: Farmers for investments in mountain
agricultural holdings.

Interventi a sostegno dell'agricoltura di montagna: aiuti agli
investimenti nelle aziende agricole
e miglioramento della
produttività e funzionalità degli alpeggi e dei pascoli montani

Owners of mountain pastures for the improvement of produc-
tivity and functionality

Name and address of the granting authority:

Legal basis:

— bozza di delibera di Giunta Regionale ‘Legge regionale del 7
febbraio 2000, articolo 23 (Interventi a sostegno dell'agri-
coltura in montagna) — Disposizioni attuative’

— legge Regionale n. 7 del 7 febbraio 2000,

‘Norme per gli

interventi regionali in agricoltura’

— legge Regionale n. 25 del 15 ottobre 2007, ‘Interventi regio-

nali in favore della popolazione dei territori montani’

— legge Regionale n. 27 del 28 ottobre 2004, ‘Tutela e valoriz-
zazione delle superfici, del paesaggio e dell'economia fore-
stale’

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of
aid granted to the company:
EUR 5 million

individual

Maximum aid intensity: In accordance with Article 4 of Regu-
lation (EC) No 1857/2006:

— up to 35 % (45 % for young farmers) for investments in

agricultural holdings (measure 2.1),

— up to 50 % (75 % for additional costs for protecting and
improving the environment, hygiene conditions of livestock
enterprises and animal welfare) for investments in mountain
pastures (measure 2.2)

Date of implementation: From the date of publication of the
registration number of the request for exemption on the website
of
for Agriculture and
Rural Development

the Commission's Directorate-General

Duration of scheme or individual aid: Until 31 December
2013

Objective: Under Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006,
the purpose of the aid scheme is to support:

A. the development of agricultural holdings in mountain areas
active in the primary production of agricultural products
(measure 2.1);

B. owners of mountain pastures in improving the productivity

and functionality of mountain pastures.

Regione Lombardi
Direzione Generale agricoltura
Via Pola, 12/14
I-20124 Milano

Website:

www.agricoltura.regione.lombardia.it

(click on ‘Per saperne di più’, and then on ‘Aiuti di Stato’)

Other information: —

Enrica GENNARI
Head of the National and EU Policy Liaison Office

Aid No: XA 309/08

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Region: Območje občine Bled

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

Programi razvoja podeželja v občini Bled 2008-2013

Legal basis:

Pravilnik o dodelitvi pomoči za ohranjanje in razvoj kmetijstva,
gozdarstva in podeželja v občini Bled (II. Poglavje)

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

2008: EUR 29 000

2009: EUR 30 500

2010: EUR 32 000

2011: EUR 33 600

2012: EUR 35 300

2013: EUR 37 000

20.11.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 297/7

Maximum aid intensity:

— Article 5: Conservation of traditional landscapes and build-

1. Investment in agricultural holdings for primary production:

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

ings,

— Article 12: Aid towards

the payment of

insurance

premiums,

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

— Article 13: Aid for land reparcelling,

2. Conservation of traditional landscapes and buildings:

— Article 15: Provision of technical support in the agricultural

sector

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

tures,

Sector(s) concerned: Agriculture

— up to 60 % of eligible costs, and up to 75 % in
less-favoured areas, for investment in productive struc-
tures, provided that the investment does not entail any
increase in the production capacity of the farm.

3. Aid towards the payment of insurance premiums:

— the amount of municipal co-financing comprises the
difference between the amount of co-financing of insur-
ance premiums from the national budget and the subsidy
limit (up to 50 %) applying to the eligible costs of insur-
ance premiums for insuring crops, fruit and cases of
disease among animals.

4. Aid for land reparcelling:

— up to 50 % of actual

legal and administrative costs

incurred.

5. Provision of technical support in the agricultural sector:

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

Name and address of the granting authority:

Občina Bled
Cesta svobode 13
SLO-4260 Bled

Website:

http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=200878&objava=3503

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: hail, fire, lightning, spring frost, storms 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
applicable
(procedure prior to the aid grant, cumulation, transparency and
monitoring of aid)

general provisions

and

the

Matjaž ERJAVEC
Director of the municipal administration

Aid No: XA 310/08

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Region: Območje Občine Sveta Ana

Date of implementation: August 2008 (the aid will not be
granted until a summary has been published on the European
Commission's website)

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

Podpora programom razvoja podeželja v Občini Sveta Ana
2008-2013

Duration of
31 December 2013

scheme or

individual

aid award: Until

Legal basis:

Objective of aid: Support for SMEs

Reference to Articles of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 and
eligible costs: Chapter II of the draft Pravilnik o dodelitvi pomoči
za ohranjanje in razvoj kmetijstva, gozdarstva in podeželja v občini
Bled [Rules on granting State aid for preserving and developing
agriculture, forestry and rural areas in the municipality of Bled]
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 agri-
cultural products and amending Regulation (EC) No 70/2001
(OJ L 358, 16.12.2006, p. 3):

— Article 4: Investment in agricultural holdings,

Pravilnik o izvajanju ukrepov za pospeševanje razvoja podeželja
v Občini Sveta Ana (II. Poglavje)

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

2008: EUR 13 400

2009: EUR 20 000

2010: EUR 20 000

2011: EUR 20 000

2012: EUR 20 000

2013: EUR 20 000

C 297/8

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

20.11.2008

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.

2. Aid for conserving traditional landscapes and buildings:

— up to 100 % of

to
conserve non-productive heritage features located on
agricultural holdings,

the actual costs of

investment

— up to 60 % of the actual costs of investment for produc-
tive assets on farms, provided that the investment does
not entail any increase in the production capacity of the
farm,

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

in the municipality of Sveta Ana]

Reference to Articles of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 and
eligible costs: Chapter II of
the draft Pravilnik o izvajanju
ukrepov za pospeševanje razvoja podeželja v Občini Sveta Ana
[Rules on implementing measures to promote rural develop-
ment
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

3. Aid towards the payment of insurance premiums:

sector

— municipal support brings the amount of aid up to a
insurance

maximum of 50 % of eligible costs of
premiums.

Sector(s) concerned: Agriculture

Name and address of the granting authority:

4. Aid for land reparcelling:

Občina Sveta Ana
Sv. Ana v Slov. goricah 17
SLO-2233 Sv. Ana v Slov. goricah

— up to 50 % of actual costs incurred in legal and adminis-

Website:

trative procedures.

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

— up to 50 % of eligible costs incurred for improving the
quality of agricultural products. The aid is to be granted
in the form of subsidised services and must not involve
direct payments of money to agricultural holdings.

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

— 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 agricultural holdings

Date of implementation: August 2008 (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

http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=200870&objava=3084

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,
storms 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
applicable
(procedure prior to the aid grant, cumulation, transparency and
monitoring of aid)

general provisions

and

the

Silvo SLAČEK
Mayor of the municipality

Aid No: XA 315/08

Member State: Spain

Region: Catalunya

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

Ayudas para la incentivación de la mejora de la eficiencia ener-
gética en explotaciones agrarias

20.11.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 297/9

Legal basis:

Orden de 2008, del Departamento de Agricultura, Alimentación
y Acción Rural, por la que se aprueban las bases reguladoras de
las ayudas para la incentivación de la mejora de la eficiencia
energética en explotaciones agrarias, y se convocan las corres-
pondientes al año 2008

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of
individual aid granted to the company: The
planned annual expenditure is approximately EUR 500 000 for
each call for proposals. The total amount or expenditure for the
years in which the scheme will operate is as follows:

Year 2008: EUR 480 000

Year 2009: EUR 500 000

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum subsidy per application
will be 25 % of the eligible investment and may be increased by
5 % where the person applying for the aid is a young farmer.

Under no circumstances will the maximum eligible investment
exceed EUR 100 000 per holding. Accordingly, the maximum
amounts of aid granted to an enterprise over a period of three
fiscal years will always
specified in
Article 4(9) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006

comply with those

Date of implementation: The Order will enter into force on
the day following its publication in the Official Gazette of the
Generalitat de Cataluña (DOGC).

The Order will be published in the DOGC on the date on which
the registration number of the exemption request provided for
in Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 is published on the website
of DG AGRI.

Publication is expected in September 2008

Duration of
31 December 2009

scheme or

individual

aid award: Until

Objective of aid: The objective of the aid is to assist investment
in agricultural holdings in sectors which have undergone an
energy assessment, in accordance with the Framework Partner-
ship Agreement drawn up between the Departamento de Agri-
cultura, Alimentación y Acción Rural (DAAR) and the Instituto
Catalán de la Energía (ICAEN) and its successive addenda.

Investment relating to the improvement of installations, insula-
tion and roofing, heating systems, ventilation and materials is
eligible, as is any improvement which brings about a quantifi-
able saving and improvement in energy efficiency in sectors
which have undergone an energy assessment,
in accordance
with the Framework Partnership Agreement drawn up between
the DAAR and ICAEN and its successive addenda.

Eligible expenditure is listed in Article 4(4)(a) and (b). This
comprises the costs of construction, purchase or improvement
of installations and the costs of purchasing or leasing (with an
option to purchase) the necessary equipment and machines for
improving energy efficiency.

Overheads linked to the above expenditure, such as architects',
engineers' and consultants' fees, feasibility studies and the acqui-
sition of patents and licences, are not eligible.

Aid will not be granted to agricultural holdings which are enter-
prises in difficulty. Nor will aid be granted in contravention of
any prohibitions or restrictions laid down in Council Regula-
tions establishing common organisations of the market, even
where such prohibitions and restrictions only refer to Com-
munity support

Sector(s) concerned: Production of products listed in Annex I
fishery and aquaculture products
to the Treaty, except
covered by Council Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 and products
falling under CN codes 4502, 4503 and 4504 (cork products)

for

Name and address of granting authority:

Departamento de Agricultura, Alimentación y Acción Rural
Generalitat de Catalunya
Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 612-614
E-08007 Barcelona

Website:

http://www20.gencat.cat/docs/DAR/TR_Tramits/TR01_Ajuts%
20i%20subvencions/DAR_05%20Ajus%20pendents%20publi-
cacio/Documents/Fitxers%20estatics/2008215.pdf

Other information: —

Aid No: XA 317/08

Member State: Spain

Region: Catalunya

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

Ayudas al sector agrícola en materia de Sanidad Vegetal

Legal basis:

Proyecto de Orden de 2008, del Departamento de Agricultura,
Alimentación y Acción Rural, por la cual se aprueban las bases
reguladoras de las ayudas al sector agrícola en materia de
sanidad vegetal y se convocan las correspondientes al año 2008

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme:

2008: EUR 3 200 000

2009: EUR 3 500 000

2010: EUR 3 800 000

2011: EUR 4 000 000

2012: EUR 4 300 000

2013: EUR 4 500 000

C 297/10

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

20.11.2008

Maximum aid intensity: Up to 100 % of expenses related to
the cost of preventing and eradicating plant diseases and pest
infestations and expenses related to the provision of technical
assistance relating to plant health

These services will be provided by the plant protection associa-
tions; they will be available to all persons in Catalonia who are
eligible to benefit; membership is not required to access the
services.

Date of implementation: The aid scheme will apply from the
date of publication, on the website of the Directorate-General
for Agriculture, of the registration number of the exemption
request laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006. The Order
will enter into force following its publication in the Diario
Oficial de la Generalitat de Catalunya, which is planned for the end
of August 2008

Duration of scheme: Until 31 December 2013

Objective of aid: The objective is to improve quality and to
conserve and improve the natural environment by means of
better information management and decision-making as regards
plant health in SMEs involved in the primary production of agri-
cultural products.

This objective will be attained by means of
activity/action:

two types of

— technical consultancy services (Article 15(2)(c)),

it should be emphasised with respect

Furthermore,
to the
second activity/action that the priority campaigns referred to in
Annex III:

— are in conformity with Community, national and regional
programmes for the prevention, control and eradication of
specific diseases and pests,

— do not concern diseases in respect of which Community
legislation provides for specific charges for control measures,

— will not be conducted in respect of measures whose costs

should be borne by agricultural holdings,

— will be introduced within three years of the expenses being

incurred and payments will be made within four years

Sector(s) concerned: Crop production subsector: fruit, vines,
vegetables, olives, rice, etc.
in classes 01.11 to 01.30 of the
NACE classification (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006)

— preventive measures and collective efforts to control harmful

Name and address of the granting authority:

organisms (Article 10(1)).

Eligible costs will be:

— the fees of the technician who provides the technical assis-

tance referred to in Annex II, and

— costs relating to measures adopted under mandatory disease
and pest prevention and control campaigns regarded as prio-
rities as referred to in Annex III.

The aid to SMEs in the crop production subsector will be
granted in kind by means of subsidised services.

Departamento de Agricultura, Alimentación y Acción Rural
Generalitat de Catalunya
Gran Vía de les Corts Catalanes, núm. 612-614
E-08007 Barcelona

Website:

http://www20.gencat.cat/docs/DAR/TR_Tramits/TR01_Ajuts%
20i%20subvencions/DAR_05%20Ajus%20pendents%20publi-
cacio/Documents/Fitxers%20estatics/2008253.pdf

Other information: —