ACCEPTANCE OF COMMUNITY GUIDELINES FOR STATE AID IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

(2004/C 263/07)

In accordance with Article 26(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty (1), the Commission announces the following:

A.   Community guidelines for State aid for TSE tests, fallen stock and slaughterhouse waste (2)

Pursuant to point 52 of these guidelines, Member States were asked to confirm in writing that they accept these proposals for appropriate measures no later than 31 March 2003.

All the Member States have notified their acceptance of these guidelines, by letter on the following dates: 14 March 2003 (France), 26 March 2003 (Spain), 31 March 2003 (Austria), 31 March 2003 (Sweden), 31 March 2003 (United Kingdom), 4 April 2003 (Ireland), 4 April (Belgium), 10 April 2003 (Portugal), 6 May 2003 (Italy), 12 May 2003 (Greece), 15 May 2003 (Denmark), 23 May 2003 (Netherlands), 22 September 2003 (Finland), 3 March 2004 (Germany) and 30 March 2004 (Luxembourg).

B.   Community guidelines applicable to State aid for publicity for products listed in Annex I to the EC Treaty and certain products not listed in Annex I (3)

Pursuant to point 72 of the guidelines, Member States were all asked to confirm in writing that they accept these proposals for appropriate measures no later than 1 October 2001. Failure to do so by any Member State would be taken by the Commission to signify acceptance of the proposals, unless that Member State had notified the Commission in writing of their explicit disagreement.

Since it has not received any letters to this effect, the Commission must assume that the Member States have all accepted the proposals and that all current aid schemes were brought in line with the guidelines by 31 December 2001.

C.   Community guidelines for State aid in the agriculture sector (4)

Pursuant to point 23.4 of the guidelines, Member States were asked to confirm in writing that they accept these proposals for appropriate measures no later than 1 March 2000.

Failure to do so by any Member State would be taken by the Commission to signify acceptance of the proposals, unless that Member State had notified the Commission in writing of their explicit disagreement.

Since it has not received any letters to this effect, the Commission must assume that the Member States have all accepted the proposals and that all current aid schemes were brought in line with the guidelines by 30 June 2000 and 31 December 2000 respectively.

(1)  OJ L 83, 27.3.1999, p. 1.

(2)  OJ C 324, 24.12.2002, p. 2.

(3)  OJ C 252, 12.9.2001, p. 5.

(4)  OJ C 28, 1.2.2000, p. 2.