52003XC0723(02)

Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2003/C 173/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Date of adoption of the decision: 16.6.2003

Member State: Ireland

Aid No: N 163/03

Title: Development of the Organic Sector

Objective: The aim of the scheme is to support investment into the diversification of farm incomes, which is meant to help ensure the regular supply of high quality organic produce to the market.

The aid measure is a modification of aid scheme N 461/A/2000, which was approved by the Commission on 26 January 2001. the only modification consists of a change of an aid ceiling. In aid measure N 461/A/2000 the aid ceilings for on-farm investment and off-farm investment were EUR 50790 and EUR 263945, respectively. With the new notification, the Irish authorities wish to raise the investment ceiling for off-farm investment to EUR 1270000. With an aid rate of 40 %, this amounts to an aid ceiling for on-farm investment of EUR 50790 and an aid ceiling for off-farm investment of EUR 508000. All other aspects of the aid scheme remain identical to the already approved N 461/A/2000. The original aid measure N 461/A/2000 contains nine separate measures, of which Development of the Organic Sector constitutes one.

Legal basis: The scheme is implemented by administrative provision under Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 on Support for Rural Development.

Budget: The scheme is funded from exchequer sources and the indicative allocation is EUR 8252000 over the 2000 to 2006 period.

Aid intensity or amount: 40 %

Duration: 2000 to 2006

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at

http://europa.eu.int/comm/ secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids

Date of adoption of the decision: 19.6.2003

Member State: Spain

Aid No: N 90/03

Title: Aid for technical assistance in the processing and marketing sector for agricultural, forestry and food products

Objective: To implement a technical assistance plan in the sectors of processing and marketing agricultural, forestry and food products

Legal basis: Proyecto de orden por la que se establecen las bases reguladoras de las subvenciones para planes de asistencia técnica y de gestión en los sectores de transformación y comercialización de productos agrarios, silvícolas, de la pesca, la acuicultura y la alimentación y se convocan para el ejercicio 2003

Budget: EUR 1000000

Aid intensity or amount: 50 % of the cost

Duration: 2003

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at

http://europa.eu.int/comm/ secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids