29.12.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 355/27

---

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

2010/C 355/08

Aid No: XA 154/10

Member State: Slovenia

Region: Municipality of Benedikt

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Podpora programom razvoja podeželja v Občini Benedikt 2010–2013

Legal basis: Pravilnik o dodeljevanju državnih pomoči, pomoči de minimis in izvajanju drugih ukrepov za ohranjanje in razvoj kmetijstva ter podeželja v Občini Benedikt (II Poglavje)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: 2010 — EUR 17 293,00

2011 — EUR 17 293,00

2012 — EUR 17 293,00

2013 — EUR 17 293,00

Maximum aid intensity: 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,

60 % in less-favoured areas, and 50 % in other areas, in the case of investments made by young farmers.

Conservation of traditional landscapes and buildings:

up to 100 % of the real costs incurred as regards investments or capital works intended for the conservation of non-productive heritage features. These costs may include reasonable compensation for the work undertaken by the farmer himself, or his workers, up to a limit of EUR 10 000 a year,

up to 60 %, or 75 % in less-favoured areas, of the real costs incurred as regards investments or capital works intended for the conservation of heritage features of productive assets on farms, provided that the investment does not entail any increase in the production capacity of the farm,

up to 100 % to cover the extra costs incurred by using traditional materials necessary to maintain the heritage features of a building.

Aid for land re-parcelling:

up to 100 % of eligible costs.

Aid to encourage the production of quality agricultural products:

up to 100 % of eligible costs.

Provision of technical support in the agricultural sector:

up to 100 % of eligible costs in the form of subsidised services not involving direct payments of money to producers.

Date of implementation: Date of publication of the registration number of the request for exemption on the website of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development

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

Objective of aid: To support SMEs

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

The Rules on granting State aid and de minimis aid and implementing other measures for preserving and developing agriculture and rural areas in the Municipality of Benedikt (Pravilnik o dodeljevanju državnih pomoči, pomoči de minimis in izvajanju drugih ukrepov za ohranjanje in razvoj kmetijstva ter podeželja v Občini Benedikt ) include 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 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 (OJ L 358, 16.12.2006, p. 3):

—   Article 4: Investment in agricultural holdings

—   eligible costs: construction, acquisition or improvement of immovable property and general costs linked to such eligible expenditure;

—   Article 5: Conservation of traditional landscapes and buildings

—   eligible costs: investment to preserve non-productive heritage features located on agricultural holdings (sites of archaeological or historical interest) and to protect heritage features of productive assets on farms, such as farm buildings, provided the investment does not entail any increase in the production capacity of the farm;

—   Article 13: Aid for land re-parcelling

—   eligible costs: legal and administrative costs;

—   Article 14: Aid to encourage the production of quality agricultural products

—   eligible costs: costs of market research activities, product conception and design; costs of introducing traceability systems, systems to ensure respect of authenticity and marketing norms or environmental audit systems; costs of training personnel to apply schemes and systems related to the aforementioned costs; costs of charges levied by certifying bodies for the initial certification of quality assurance and similar systems. The aid is to be granted in the form of subsidised services and must not involve direct payments of money to producers;

—   Article 15: Provision of technical support in the agricultural sector

—   eligible costs: costs concerning education and training of farmers and farm workers, consultancy services which do not constitute a continuous or periodic activity, the organisation of forums for exchanging knowledge amongst farms, competitions, exhibitions and fairs and participation in such events, publications and farm replacement services. The aid is to be granted in the form of subsidised services and must not involve direct payments of money to producers.

Sector(s) concerned: All sectors of agriculture

Name and address of the granting authority:

Občina Benedikt

Čolnikov trg 5

SI-2234 Benedikt

SLOVENIJA

Website: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=201065&objava=3633

Other information: —

Aid No: XA 164/10

Member State: Slovenia

Region: Območje Občine Piran

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Podpora in ukrepi za razvoj kmetijstva in podeželja v Občini Piran

Legal basis: Pravilnik o izvajanju pomoči za razvoj kmetijstva in podeželja v Občini Piran za programsko obdobje 2011–2013 (poglavje IV)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: 2011 — EUR 75 000

2012 — EUR 82 000

2013 — EUR 90 000

Maximum aid intensity:

1.	Investment in agricultural holdings for primary production: — up to 50 % of eligible costs for investment on agricultural holdings in less-favoured areas, — up to 40 % in other areas.

2.

Aid for investment to conserve traditional landscapes and buildings: — up to 100 % of the costs of drafting project documentation for the reconstruction and renovation of non-productive heritage features located on agricultural holdings, — up to 60 %, or 75 % in less-favoured areas, of the costs of drafting project documentation for the reconstruction of productive assets on agricultural holdings, provided that the investment does not entail any increase in the production capacity of the farm.

3.	Aid for land re-parcelling: — up to 100 % of actual legal and administrative costs incurred, including inspection costs.

4.

Aid to encourage the production of quality agricultural products: — up to 100 % of the eligible costs of market research activities, product conception and design, including aid granted for the preparation of applications for recognition of geographical indications, designations of origin or certificates of specific character in accordance with the relevant Community regulations, the introduction of quality assurance schemes and training personnel to apply schemes and systems. The aid is to be granted in the form of subsidised services and does not involve direct payments of money to producers.

5.

Aid for providing technical support in the agricultural sector: — up to 100 % of eligible costs concerning education and training, consultancy services provided by third parties, the organisation of and participation in forums to share knowledge between businesses, competitions and fairs, publications, catalogues and websites. The aid is to be granted in the form of subsidised services and does not involve direct payments of money to producers.

Date of implementation: From the date on which the registration number of the exemption for the aid scheme is published on the website of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development

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

Objective of aid: To support SMEs

Reference to the applicable Article(s) and the eligible costs covered by the aid scheme or individual aid:

The draft Rules on providing aid for developing agriculture and rural areas in the municipality of Piran for the programming period 2011-2013 (Chapter IV) include 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 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 (OJ L 358, 16.12.2006, p. 3) and Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2008 of 6 August 2008 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the common market in application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty (General Block Exemption Regulation) (OJ L 214, 9.8.2008, p. 3):

—   Article 4: Investment in agricultural holdings for primary production,

—   Article 5: Investment for the conservation of traditional landscapes and buildings,

—   Article 13: Aid for land re-parcelling,

—   Article 14: Aid to encourage the production of quality agricultural products,

—   Article 15: Aid for the provision of technical support in the agricultural sector.

Sector(s) concerned: Agriculture

Name and address of the granting authority:

Občina Piran

Tartinijev trg 2

SI-6330 Piran

SLOVENIJA

Website: http://www.piran.si/index.php?page=static&item=418

Other information: When this scheme enters into force, scheme XA 418/07 will cease to apply.

The above mentioned website provides access to the legal basis: Pravilnik o izvajanju drzavne pomoci na podrocju kmetijstva_2011_2013.doc (150 KB).

Aid No: XA 165/10

Member State: Italy

Region: Veneto

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Progetti formativi rivolti a favore delle imprese attive nella produzione di prodotti agricoli.

Legal basis: L. 845/1978 «Legge quadro in materia di formazione professionale».

L.R. n. 10 del 30.1.1990«Ordinamento del sistema della formazione professionale e organizzazione delle politiche regionali del lavoro».

DGR n. 1920 del 27 luglio 2010 della Regione del Veneto.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 1 300 000

Maximum aid intensity: 100 %

Date of implementation: As from the publication of the registration number of the request for exemption on the website of the Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development

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

Objective of aid: Technical support (Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006):

The aid will serve to provide continuous training in the following areas:

training for the purposes of obtaining authorisation for the purchase and use of plant protection products,

training leading to the award of trade qualifications or certificates of competence within the meaning of applicable legislation and for which the training element or skills updating element is of prime importance,

training to update or improve subject-knowledge,

training with a view to acquiring adequate ‘occupational skill and competence’ as referred to in Community legislation and/or the certification referred to in Legislative Decree No 99/2004 (professional farmer).

Sector(s) concerned: Agriculture, forestry, fisheries

Name and address of the granting authority:

Regione del Veneto

Palazzo Balbi

Dorsoduro 3901

30123 Venezia VE

ITALIA

Tel. +39 412795030

Fax +39 412795085

E-mail: dir.formazione@regione.veneto.it

Website: http://www.regione.veneto.it/Servizi+alla+Persona/Formazione+e+Lavoro/ModulisticaREG.htm

Click on the link ‘settore primario’

Other information: For more information please contact:

Direzione Regionale Formazione

Fondamenta S. Lucia

Cannaregio 23

30121 Venezia VE

ITALIA

Tel. +39 412795029-5030

Fax +39 412795085

E-mail: dir.formazione@regione.veneto.it

Aid No: XA 169/10

Member State: The Netherlands

Region: Provincie Utrecht (Utrecht)

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Pilots duurzaam ondernemen

Legal basis: Subsidieverordening inrichting landelijk gebied 2006

Besluit subsidiekader ILG-AVP, artikel 3.2.1 Pilots duurzaam ondernemen

Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 — Technical support

This aid meets the conditions laid down in Article 15(2)(4).

In particular:

with regard to paragraph 2: aid is to be granted only in respect of the costs specified in this article,

with regard to paragraph 3: the aid intensity is less than 100 % of the project costs; the aid is to be granted to the consultancy which provides services to participating producers; it therefore takes the form of subsidised consultancy services; it does not involve direct payments of money to producers,

with regard to paragraph 4: participation in the supported project is open to all producers in the relevant sector in the area concerned.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: One-off grant not exceeding EUR 52 020 over the period from 15 July 2010 to 31 December 2012

Maximum aid intensity: 90 % of eligible costs

Date of implementation: 15 July 2010 or after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, as specified in Article 18(1) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 31 December 2012

Objective of aid: One-off grant to Wageningen — UR Livestock Research for the ‘Haal meer uit gras’ project

Objective: to teach dairy farmers to apply increased knowledge of sustainable soil management and grassland use

Sector(s) concerned: Dairy farming in the eastern part of Utrecht province

Name and address of the granting authority:

Provincie Utrecht

Postbus 80300

3508 TH Utrecht

NEDERLAND

Website: http://www.provincie-utrecht.nl/onderwerpen/landbouw/vitaal-platteland/steunregelingen/#subcontent

Other information: —

Aid No: XA 177/10

Member State: Lithuania

Region: —

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Paramos teikimas už šalutinių gyvūninių produktų, neskirtų vartoti žmonėms, pašalinimą ir sunaikinimą (schemos XA 40/10 pakeitimas).

Legal basis: Lietuvos Respublikos žemės ūkio ministro 2007 m. balandžio 13 d. įsakymo Nr. 3D-162 „Dėl paramos teikimo už šalutinių gyvūninių produktų, neskirtų vartoti žmonėms, pašalinimą ir sunaikinimą taisyklių patvirtinimo ir žemės ūkio ministro 2006 m. gegužės 26 d. įsakymo Nr. 3D-217 bei žemės ūkio ministro 2006 m. spalio 3 d. įsakymo Nr. 3D-385 pripažinimo netekusiais galios“ pakeitimo projektas.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: LTL 3 100 000 (EUR 897 822 at the official euro exchange rate)

Maximum aid intensity:

1.	Up to 100 % reimbursement of the costs of removal and destruction of fallen stock where there is an obligation to perform TSE tests on the fallen stock;

2.

Up to 100 % reimbursement of the costs of removal and up to 75 % of the costs of destruction of fallen stock: — for the removal of dead cattle, sheep or goats other than those subject to obligatory TSE testing, — for the removal of dead horses, — for the removal of dead pigs — applies to all pig keepers other than those having more than 1 000 pigs,

3.

Up to 61 % reimbursement of the costs of removal and up to 59 % reimbursement of the costs of destruction: — for the removal of dead pigs — applies to pig keepers having more than 1 000 pigs, this number being determined on the basis of data for 1 January of the current year contained in the register of farm animals kept by the State enterprise ‘Agricultural information and rural business centre’, — for the removal of dead birds.

Date of implementation: The aid scheme will enter into force after the Commission has sent a notice of receipt, assigned an identification number to the scheme and published the summary information on the Internet.

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

Objective of aid: Aid for SMEs

To provide aid for enterprises and farmers operating in the livestock sector in order to ensure a consistent programme of control and the safe removal of all fallen stock

Article 16 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 of 15 December 2006 applies

Sector(s) concerned: Primary production of agricultural produce

Name and address of the granting authority:

Lietuvos Respublikos žemės ūkio ministerija

Gedimino pr. 19

LT-01103 Vilnius

LIETUVA/LITHUANIA

Website: http://www.lrs.lt/pls/proj/dokpaieska.showdoc_l?p_id=48722

Other information: As regards the funds planned for 2010 to assist with the management of animal by-products, and in view of the fact that 1 March 2010 saw the entry into force of a new State aid scheme for the removal and destruction of animal by-products not destined for human consumption, the forecast amounts for the collection and processing of animal by-products did not correspond to reality: since greater quantities of animal by-products presenting a risk of transmitting spongiform encephalopathy (from bovine animals aged over 24 months, and sheep and goats aged over 18 months) had been anticipated, it was decided to subsidise the removal and destruction costs of these at the rate of 100 %. In view of available appropriations, it had been decided to subsidise the removal and destruction of other animal by-products — from pigs and birds found dead — at the rate of just 18 % of the costs of their collection and destruction. After the first six months of the year it was clear the amount of animal by-products for which 100 % funding had been allocated would not be reached, allowing the intensity of aid for the pig and poultry sectors, which are less well supported, to be stepped up (up to 61 % for removal and up to 59 % for destruction).

Under this scheme, the system for granting State aid for the management of animals found dead and which may be infected with spongiform encephalopathy remains unchanged, and the costs of their removal (transportation) and destruction are covered up to 100 %. Similar aid is granted to cover the cost of managing the bodies of dead laboratory animals or animals found dead by the public authorities where the owners of the animal cannot be established, if they pose a risk to human or animal health or the environment, and for wild animals found dead which are suspected of having been infected with diseases that are transmissible to humans or animals.

The costs for dealing with other cattle, sheep and goats, horses and pigs are covered up to 100 % for removal and up to 75 % for destruction.

Once this aid scheme enters into force, State aid scheme XA 40/10 will no longer apply.

Aid No: XA 197/10

Member State: Ireland

Region: Member State

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Provision of consultancy services and technical expertise to the Irish Sheep Industry

Legal basis: National Development Plan 2007-2013

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

Maximum aid intensity: Up to 100 % of eligible costs

Date of implementation:

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 1 January 2011-31 December 2013

Objective of aid: The focus of the new sheep breeding programme is to

increase the profitability and sustainability of the national sheep flock, by improving productivity and reducing the costs to the sector, with a clear focus on the requirements of the market place,

progress significant infrastructural changes and modifications to the national sheep breeding system to ensure a viable and sustainable sheep breeding structure into the future.

The aid is provided in accordance with Article 15(2)(c) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 on the provision of technical support in the agriculture sector.

Sector(s) concerned: Ovines

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

Other information: —

---