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: 2009-03-20
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Austria, Baden-Württemberg, Champagne-Ardenne, Germany, Ireland, State aid, agricultural holding, animal disease, control of State aid, exchange of information

C 66/26

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

20.3.2009

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

(2009/C 66/10)

Aid No: XA 406/08

Member State: Austria

Region: Bundesland Wien

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an indi-
vidual aid: Richtlinie für die Gewährung eines Zuschusses zu
den Versicherungsprämien für versicherbare Risiken in der Land-
wirtschaft

Legal basis: Gesetz über die Förderung der Landwirtschaft in
Wien
für Wien
Nr. 15/2000, in der geltenden Fassung

Landwirtschaftsgesetz),

(Wiener

LGBl.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
aid granted to the company:
amount of
EUR 0,13 million

individual

Maximum aid intensity: A grant of no more than 50 % of the
premium costs will be made

Date of implementation: From 1 January 2009

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 1 January 2009
to 31 December 2013

Objective of aid:

There are some 700 agricultural holdings in the Province of
Vienna, with horticulture and arable farming being among the
main production sectors. The holdings are all SMEs. Apart from
supplying the city with fresh, high-quality agricultural products
these family businesses make a significant contribution to the
appearance and maintenance of the farmed landscape of the
Vienna region through cultivating and managing the agricultural
land. The long-term security of these businesses is therefore an
important goal of Vienna Province's policies.

An important tool in the economic viability of the businesses is
the taking-out insurance policies against damage to agricultural
production caused by adverse climatic events which can be
likened to natural disasters. As climate fluctuations have become
greater in recent years good risk management
is becoming
increasingly important for agricultural holdings.

According to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 aid
to insure against risks in the form of subsidies for insurance
premiums is compatible with the common market.

Since 2001 the Province of Vienna has been subsidising horti-
cultural businesses to the tune of a maximum of 50 % of the
cost of taking out insurance against storm damage to glass-
houses.

This aid scheme approved by the Commission (State aid
N 854/2000/Austria/Vienna) has very much proved its worth
with the result that more than 90 % of the glasshouses in the
Vienna region are now insured against storm damage. To guar-
antee the continuation of the scheme aid is to continue to be
offered to the businesses under these new guidelines.

In view of the highly effective nature of the scheme and of the
increased risk of adverse climatic events caused by climate
change which may cause extensive damage to agricultural
production, particularly in the arable sector, this aid scheme is
to be extended to cover Viennese arable farms from 2009. A
multi-risk insurance policy for arable land will enable farms to
insure against not only storm and hail damage but also other
adverse climatic events such as drought, flooding, spray drift,
mud silting, storms, etc. To give Viennese arable farmers an
incentive to take out such insurance they will be granted an
annual subsidy of a maximum of 50 % of the cost of the
premium. This scheme is intended to speed up the widest
possible coverage of Viennese arable land against the above
risks thus contributing to risk management and the financial
stability of the agricultural holdings in the Province of Vienna

Sector(s) concerned: Agricultural production businesses (horti-
culture and arable farming) in Vienna

Name and address of the granting authority:

Amt der Wiener Landesregierung
Magistratsabteilung 58
Volksgartenstraße 3
1082 Wien
ÖSTERREICH

Website:

http://www.wien.gv.at/umwelt/wasserrecht/foerderrichtlinie.html

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 66/27

Other information:

Entry into force of these guidelines repeals the approved ‘Rich-
tlinie für die Gewährung eines Zuschusses zu den Versicherung-
sprämien zum Schutz vor Sturmschäden an Gewächshäusern in
der Landwirtschaft’ (State aid N 845/00/Austria/Vienna).

This scheme falls under
to Article 12 of Regulation (EC)
No 1857/2006 and meets its requirements in full. In particular,
this scheme does not jeopardise the operation of the single
market in insurance services. The granting authority guarantees
that the aid is not limited to insurance provided by a single
insurance company or group of companies, or subject to the
condition that
the insurance contract be taken out with a
company established in Austria

Aid No: XA 409/08

Member State: France

Region: Champagne-Ardenne

Title of aid scheme: Aide à la reconstitution du cheptel ovin de
la région Champagne-Ardenne à la suite de la crise de la fièvre
catarrhale ovine (F.C.O.)

Legal basis:

— Article L 1511-2 du Code Général des Collectivités

Territoriales.

— Article 10(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

— Règlement «Aide à la reconstitution des troupes ovines»
adopté par la Commission permanente du Conseil Régional
de Champagne-Ardenne du 7 juillet 2008

In the Champagne-Ardenne Region, an estimated total of
6 639 sheep on 237 holdings were declared as having died
from bluetongue in applications to the authorities for compen-
in 2008
sation (including 1 660 adult animals). In addition,
farmers applied for 2 882 fewer ewe/goat premiums (EGP = the
number of ewes that have lambed at least once or that are more
than 12 months old declared to be present on sheep farms
from 1 February to 10 May of
the year in question) than
in 2007. This crisis hit when the Region's sheep flock had been
growing since 2003 (an additional 10 000 ewes over the past
four years). The sector's regional dynamic is therefore facing a
serious threat.

That is why the Champagne-Ardenne Region is to provide aid
to sheep farmers affected by the bluetongue crisis and suffering
serious financial and health problems since September 2006.

The regional aid is intended to provide support to professional
sheep farms with a flock equivalent to 100 EGP minimum.

Beneficiaries of the regional aid must undertake to maintain
their production level for five years. A check will be carried out
on the annual declaration of the number of EGP

Sector(s) concerned: All farmers with a holding with 80 % of
its utilised agricultural area in the Champagne-Ardenne Region,
who practise farming as their main occupation and who are
60 years old or younger (or agricultural companies 50 % of
whose shares are held by natural persons who are 60 years old
or younger and members of AMEXA (the agricultural sickness
insurance scheme) as main occupation farmers)

Name and address of the granting authority:

Région Champagne-Ardenne
Hôtel de Région
5, rue de Jéricho
51037 Chalons en Champagne cedex
FRANCE

expenditure

Annual
EUR 800 000 for
January 2010

planned

under

the

the programme, which will

scheme:
end in

Website:

http://www.cr-champagne-ardenne.fr/?SID=731

Maximum aid intensity:

http://www.cr-champagne-ardenne.fr/getFile.aspx?FILEID=2808

The Region will provide aid of a maximum of 80 % of losses
for which compensation has not been received (up to EUR 200
per ewe replaced, EUR 20 per sheep and EUR 320 per registered
ram replaced).

The aid will be paid for up to the number of mortalities
declared to the groupement de défense sanitaire (health protection
group) between the date an outbreak of bluetongue is notified
and the date aid is requested

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

the Commission's Directorate-General

Duration of scheme: Until 31 January 2010

Objective of aid:

The aid is to compensate farmers for financial losses suffered as
a result of the death of livestock from bluetongue.

Aid No: XA 414/08

Member State: Federal Republic of Germany

Region: Land Baden-Württemberg

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

Legal basis: Rechtsgrundlage ist das Gesetz über die Landes-
kreditbank Baden-Württemberg — Förderbank vom 11.11.1998
für Baden-Württemberg (GBl.) vom 18.11.1998,
(Gesetzblatt
S. 581), zuletzt geändert durch Gesetz vom 11.12.2007 (GBl.
vom 14.12.2007, S. 581) in Verbindung mit dem Programm-
merkblatt Landwirtschaft — Wachstum

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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: Soft
loans will be granted with a planned aid value amounting to
between EUR 500 000 and EUR 600 000. That amount will be
made available by the Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank. L-Bank
will not be making a contribution of its own

Maximum aid intensity: Up to 20 % of the eligible costs. The
maximum amount of aid granted to an individual enterprise
must not exceed EUR 400 000 over any period of three fiscal
years. Where there is cumulation with other public funding in
respect of the same eligible costs, the thresholds laid down in
Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 will be complied with. Aid may
than land for
be granted for
the purchase of
construction purposes, costing up to 10 % of
the eligible
expenses of the investment

land, other

Date of implementation: In accordance with the time limit
laid down in Article 20(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006,
but not before 2 January 2009

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 30 June
2014

Objective of aid: To support SMEs active in the primary
production of agricultural products, as listed in Annex I to the
EC Treaty (with the exception of fisheries and aquaculture), by
promoting investment
in primary agricultural production
(Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006). The eligible
expenses cover (a) the construction, acquisition or improvement
of immovable property; (b) the purchase or lease-purchase of
machinery and equipment, including computer software, up to
the market value of the asset; and (c) general costs linked to
expenditure under points (a) and (b), such as architects, engi-
neers and consultation fees, feasibility studies, etc. Under the
scheme, aid will not be granted in contravention of any prohibi-
tions or restrictions laid down in Council Regulations estab-
lishing common organisation of the markets, even where such
prohibitions and restrictions refer only to Community support

Sector(s) concerned: Agriculture, viticulture, horticulture

Name and address of the granting authority:

Landeskreditbank Baden-Württemberg — Förderbank
Postfach 10 29 43
70025 Stuttgart
DEUTSCHLAND

Website: www.l-bank.de/landwirtschaft-wachstum

Other information: —

Aid No: XA 417/08

Member State: Federal Republic of Germany

Region: Freistaat Bayern

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving indivi-
dual aid: Bezuschussung der aufgrund gesetzlicher Testpflicht
durchgeführten BSE/TSE-Schnelltests bei Schlachtrindern über
30 Monaten entstandenen Kosten, durch Verrechnung der
Finanzhilfe der Gemeinschaft für diese BSE-Pflichttests

Legal basis:

— Article 6(1) in conjunction with Chapter A II, point 2 of

Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001

— Gesetz zum Vollzug des Tierseuchenrechts und der Verord-
nung über die Benutzungsgebühren der Gesundheits-
verwaltung

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of individual aid granted to the company: Approx.
EUR 2,3 million grant
for rapid tests for BSE in slaughter
bovine animals over 30 months; the level of grant depends on
the Community support decided on each year and the number
of tests required

Maximum aid intensity: Up to 100 %

Date of implementation: Annual implementation

Duration of
31 December 2013

scheme or

individual

aid award: Until

Objective of aid:

State grant to cover costs arising from the legal obligation to
test for TSE or BSE.

Legal basis of State aid: Article 16(1) of Regulation (EC)
No 1857/2006.

It is confirmed that aid pursuant to Article 16(3) of Regulation
(EC) No 1857/2006 does not include any direct payments to
producers

Economic sectors: Slaughterhouses and rendering plants in
Bavaria and small and medium-sized agricultural holdings. The
requirements of Article 16(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006
are met as regards slaughterhouses and rendering plants in
Bavaria

Name and address of the granting authority:

Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt und Gesundheit
Rosenkavalierplatz 2
Postfach 810140
81901 München
DEUTSCHLAND

Queries may be addressed to:

Bayerisches Staatsministerium für
Landwirtschaft und Forsten
Referat C/6
Ludwigstr. 2
80539 München
DEUTSCHLAND
Tel. +49 892182-2222

Website:

http://www.stmugv.bayern.de/tiergesundheit/krankheiten/
bsediagnostik.htm

Other information: —

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Aid No: XA 429/08

Member State: Ireland

Region: Member State

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an indi-
vidual aid: Cattle Breeding Infrastructure Program

Legal basis: National Development Plan 2007-2013

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of
aid granted to the company:
individual
Maximum of EUR 1,5 million annually

Maximum aid intensity: Up to 70 % of eligible costs

Date of implementation: 1 January 2009

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 1 January
2009-31 December 2013

Objective of aid:

The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) will administer the
Cattle Breeding Infrastructure Program. This program aims to
encourage the uptake of modern scientific breeding values by
beef and dairy farmers, thus contributing to their long-term
viability. This program comprises a number of elements relating
to testing, genetic evaluation and data collection and distribu-
tion of scientific information.

The genetic evaluation project includes researching, reviewing
and developing enhancements to the beef and dairy genetic
evaluation systems operating in Ireland, incorporating genomic
rollout of new beef evaluations,
data where appropriate,
including advertising, publication of educational material, direct
mail shots to farmers, and meetings with farmers and stake-
holders in the industry with a view to improving farmer under-
standing of the new indices.

The Data Collection and Information Distribution element of
this program aims
systems, provide
training and to support the roll-out of beef and dairy indices.

to develop computer

This aid is provided in accordance with Article 15(2)(d), 15(2)(e)
and 16(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/06 — provision of
technical support in the agricultural sector and support for the
livestock sector

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/schemes/NDP_State_Aid/
CattleBreedingInfrastructure2009_13.doc