Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises

(2005/C 181/02)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Aid No: XS 23/03

Member State: Italy

Region: Molise

Title of aid scheme: Measure 4.1.3 of the 2000-06 operational programme for Molise: Contribution to lease payments for the acquisition of premises for productive activities.

Legal basis:

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: EUR 14 269 204,00 up to 31 December 2006.

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum aid intensity in the areas eligible for exemption under Article 87(3)(c) of the EC Treaty is 20 % nge plus 10 % gge. In all the other areas which do not qualify under Article 87(3)(c) the aid intensity will be 15 % gge for small enterprises and 7,5 % gge for medium-sized enterprises.

Date of implementation:

Duration of scheme:

Objective of aid: The aid consists in contributions towards lease payments for the acquisition of premises for productive activities.

The maximum eligible investment is EUR 1 549 370,69.

The contributions are to be granted in respect of lease payments made by the assisted firms to leasing companies on the basis of amortisation schedules drawn up under property leasing contracts concluded in respect of existing premises or premises to be built by the leasing companies.

The following types of costs are eligible for aid:

Land, solely in cases where the premises covered by the leasing contract are to be newly built, for a surface area not exceeding the built area plus 30 % and for a value not exceeding 10 % of the sum of the corresponding eligible costs in respect of the building shell and general installations;

Building shell, corresponding to the construction costs or purchase value of the premises covered by the leasing contract;

General installations, namely the plumbing, electric wiring, heating, security, fire protection, waste treatment, air conditioning and/or compressed air systems of the premises concerned by the investment and covered by the leasing contract;

Technical expenditure on design, works supervision, statutory inspections and fees for permits for the premises covered by the leasing contract, up to a maximum of 5 % of the eligible costs under the other headings.

Economic sector(s) concerned: SMEs operating in the extractive and manufacturing industries (Sections C and D in the 1991 Italian Statistical Office (ISTAT) classification of economic activities), with the exclusions and restrictions laid down in the Community rules for the steel, shipbuilding, synthetic fibres, motor vehicle and transport industries.

Firms engaged in the production, processing or marketing of products listed in Annex I to the Treaty are not eligible.

Name and address of granting authority:

Other information: The leasing contracts will be concluded with leasing companies approved for the purpose by the Molise region.

The premises concerned by the investment must comply with town-planning regulations.

Aid No: XS 32/03

Member State: Italy

Region: Calabria

Title of aid scheme: Incentives under Article 13a of Regional Law 7/2001, as replaced by Article 10 of Regional Law 36/2001

Legal basis:

Annual expenditure planned: EUR 4 131 655,20

Maximum aid intensity: Interest subsidy, with a maximum aid intensity of 10 % gge

Date of implementation:

Duration of scheme:

Objective of aid: Aid under Articles 3 and 4 of Regulation (EC) No 70/2001.

Economic sector(s) concerned: Craft firms and small and medium-sized businesses, subject to the exclusions and restrictions laid down by Community law.

Name and address of granting authority:

Aid No: XS 47/03

Member State: Italy

Region: Veneto

Title of aid scheme: Aid to distributive trades and regeneration in urban centres — Action B

Legal basis:

Decreto legislativo 31 marzo 1998, n. 114 — Legge regionale 9 agosto 1999, n. 37 e successive modificazioni ed integrazioni — Legge 443/85 — Legge regionale n. 67/87 — DPR n. 288/2001.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: 2001-02: Objective 2 EUR 857 800 — transitional support EUR 323 800

2003: Objective 2 EUR 407 437 — transitional support EUR 131 023

It is too early to give the budget appropriations for subsequent years.

N.B.: Since measure 1.4 comprises Action A (infrastructure) and Action B (aid scheme), the amounts corresponding to the budget appropriations shown are estimated at 10 % of the overall amounts provided for.

Maximum aid intensity: Up to 15 % on the basis of investment costs — up to 50 % for consultancy services and other services and activities.

Date of implementation: Expenditure incurred as from the day following the application for aid (provided that it is submitted within the time limits laid down in the announcement) will be eligible.

Duration of scheme: 31.12.2006 Objective 2; 31.12.2005 Phasing out.

Objective of aid: The aid is aimed at small commercial businesses, multifunctional businesses (provided that they fall within the definition of ‘small commercial business’) and craft workshops using traditional, typical artistic techniques and providing services to individuals.

The aid is for premises (modernisation, restructuring, extension) and for equipment (purchase, renewal, expansion).

Economic sector(s) concerned: Retail trade and services

Name and address of granting authority:

Autorità di gestione

Management and implementation

Aid No: XS 68/02

Member State: Spain

Region: Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia

Title of aid scheme: Aid for improving telecom services and developing existing or new telecoms infrastructures and networks with the aim of ensuring that enterprises located in business parks and zones and in areas of high business concentration enjoy more competitive conditions in which to expand.

Legal basis: Orden de 6 de junio de 2002, de la Consejería de Ciencia, Tecnología, Industria y Comercio, reguladora de las bases y convocatoria de las ayudas para la incorporación de redes y servicios avanzados de telecomunicación a espacios industriales y parques empresariales ubicados en la Región de Murcia.

Resolución por la que se publican los anexos a la Orden de 6 de junio de 2002, de la Consejería de Ciencia, Tecnología, Industria y Comercio, reguladora de las bases y la convocatoria de las ayudas para la incorporación de redes y servicios avanzados de telecomunicación a espacios industriales y parques empresariales ubicados en la región de Murcia

Annual expenditure planned or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The total expenditure planned is EUR 600 000.

Maximum aid intensity: For private firms, not more than 40 % gross grant equivalent of eligible costs.

Date of implementation:

Duration of scheme: 15.10.2002.

Objective of aid: To establish the regulatory bases and award grants for improving telecom services and developing existing or new telecoms infrastructures and networks with the aim of ensuring that enterprises located in business parks and zones and in areas of high business concentration enjoy more competitive conditions in which to expand.

Economic sector(s) concerned: Industry

Name and address of the granting authority:

Aid No: XS 85/03

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: Wales

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Wood Energy Business Scheme

Legal basis: 1967 Forestry Act, Section 3.2 and, more specifically, the 1979 Forestry Act, Sections 1.1 and 1.2

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The total value of the scheme is GBP 13,239 million, of which GBP 6,04 milion is grant aid that is to be made available over the four years of the project (until end of March 2007).

Annual expenditure is estimated at:

Maximum aid intensity: Gross aid intensity to be within the limits for SMEs as set out in Article 4 — 15 % for small enterprises as defined in Annex I to the Regulation (7,5 % should medium-sized businesses apply) in non-assisted areas. The maximum aid intensity will be 50 % (35 % + 15 %) in Article 87(3)(a) areas and 30 % in Article 87(3)(c) areas (regional aid intensity + 10 %).

Date of implementation: Late August 2003

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Four years until 31 March 2007

Objective of aid: Diversifying and expanding SME businesses into new wood fuel based renewable energy industry within Wales. The aid will be provided to assist in the purchase of capital equipment for: installation of boilers; building of processing facilities (chipping and drying of wood); installation of wet heat systems in certain instances (maximum grant restricted to 35 %); and construction of combined heat and power (‘CHP’) plants.

Economic sector(s) concerned: Manufacturing (new and existing energy supply companies and heating engineers); forestry (through sale of small-diameter timber); processing (chipping and drying of wood, either trees or sawmill wood residues); haulage and transport.

Name and address of granting authority:

Aid No: XS 92/03

Member State: Germany

Region: Saxony-Anhalt

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual award: Guideline on the granting of aid to encourage recourse to consultancy services by small and medium-sized enterprises in Saxony-Anhalt — consultancy aid scheme

Legal basis: Mittelstandsfördergesetz des Landes Sachsen-Anhalt, vom 27. Juni 2001 (GVBl. LSA Nr. 27/2001)

Verwaltungsvorschriften zu § 44 der Landeshaushaltsordnung (VV-LHO, RdErl. des MF vom 9.8.1991, MBl. LSA S. 721, zuletzt geändert durch RdErl. des MF vom 1.2.2001, MBl. LSA S. 241)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 2,5 million

Maximum aid intensity: 50 % of eligible expenditure

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 31.12.2006

Objective: The aid relates to specific consultancy services designed to encourage enterprises to expand and improve. It is granted towards the cost of such services.

Economic sector(s) concerned: All economic sectors covered by Article 1(1) of the exemption Regulation.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Other information: Grant recipients must submit the usual proof of the use of the aid required under the budget law of the Land of Saxony-Anhalt. The annual report must include information on the success of the measures and achievement of the aid objectives.

Aid No: XS 94/03

Member State: Italy

Region: Autonomous Province of Trento

Title of aid scheme: Services for SMEs — Sectoral framework (road transport)

Legal basis:

Legge Provinciale 12 luglio 1993 n. 17 e s.m.; relativo regolamento di attuazione approvata con delibera di Giunta provinciale n. 1664 di data 30 giugno 2000 e s.m., punto 1.1.3 ‘Disciplina settoriale’

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: Maximum EUR 100 000 (annual budget allocation)

Maximum aid intensity: The sectoral aid scheme, incorporated into aid scheme N 280/98, is an extension of aid N 292/00. The notification procedure was initiated on 10 April 2000, Ref. 580/2000-D304/ES/pc. Authorisation was given by letter dated 25 April 2001, Ref. SG (2001) D/288167. The scheme provides for various types of aid.

Initial assistance services, aimed at giving an overall assessment of the firm, maximum intensity 50 %.

Basic services, providing detailed analysis of one or more business areas, maximum intensity 30 %.

Specialised services, aimed at maximising the development of the firm in terms of market presence, organisation and technology, maximum intensity 40 % of expenditure.

Specific services connected with strategic approaches, aimed at pursuing the objectives set out by the provincial development programme (quality of the firm, new entrepreneurship, integration), with a maximum intensity of 50 % for small firms and 45 % for medium-sized firms.

Investment (Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 70/2001) carried out by consortia of small and medium-sized firms; for consortia of small firms the maximum intensity is 15 %, for consortia of medium-sized firms 7,5 %.

Date of implementation: 1 January 2004.

Duration of scheme: From 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2006.

Objective of aid: Investment/consultancy aid for SMEs active in road haulage for hire or reward and consortia of SMEs active in road haulage for hire or reward.

Economic sector(s) concerned: Road haulage for hire or reward.

Name and address of granting authority:

Aid No: XS 95/03

Member State: Italy

Region: Autonomous Province of Trento

Name of company receiving an individual aid: C.T.A. Consorzio Trentino Autonoleggiatori (based in Trento, via Brennero 182).

Legal basis:

Determinazione del Dirigente del Servizio Artigianato n. 313 del 7 agosto 2003 ai sensi della Legge provinciale 13 dicembre 1999, n. 6 ‘Interventi della Provincia autonoma di Trento per il sostegno dell'economia e della nuova imprenditorialità. Disciplina dei patti territoriali in modifica della legge provinciale 8 luglio 1996, n. 4 e disposizioni in materia di commercio’

Total amount of individual aid granted to the company: Total aid of EUR 112 500, to be paid in annual instalments over five years.

Maximum aid intensity:

Date of implementation: The aid was granted by decision of the head of the Servizio Artigianato [craft industry department] No 313, dated 7 August 2003

Duration of individual aid: Date planned for payment of the last instalment: 31 December 2007

Objective of aid: Aid to a consortium of passenger transport companies (car hire companies) for an investment concerning a building.

Economic sector concerned: Transport

Name and address of granting authority:

Aid No: XS 97/03

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: North East of England

Title of aid scheme or name of Company receiving individual aid: Widening Business Brokerage in Tyne and Wear: Business Link Tyne and Wear

Legal basis: Single Programme- Regional Development Agencies Act 1998

Business Link — Section 11(1) of the Industrial Development Act 1982

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

ERDF — 2003 — GBP 1 097 350; 2004 — GBP 4 965 511; 2005 — GBP 4 873 364

Business Link — 2003 — 35 742; 2004 — GBP 584 772; 2005 — GBP 602 328

Single Programme — 2003 — GBP 269 301; 2004 — GBP 543 186; 2005 — GBP 662 857

This project will also comply with the de minimis rule. The funding outlined above refers to the total funding for both exemptions. The de minimis aid will not exceed EUR 100 000 in a three-year period.

Maximum aid intensity: Individual SMEs will receive a grant of up to 50 % of the costs of brokered consultancy support.

Date of implementation:

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 4 August 2003 — 31 December 2005

Objective of aid: The project will provide grants for new and existing businesses to purchase identified consultancy support. The initial phase of the project is diagnostic support to identify needs (this phase will operate in accordance with the de minimis rule) while the second phase is the delivery of consultancy support to SMEs through the brokerage partnership in Tyne and Wear. This second-phase delivery meets the requirements for aid to SMEs as it is a service delivered by outside consultants and so a maximum of 50 % of the costs of consultancy support is allowed.

Economic sector(s) concerned: All eligible industry sectors without prejudice to special rules concerning state aid in certain sectors — Article 1(2) of the SME Block Exemption Regulation

Name and address of granting authority:

Aid No: XS 101/03

Member State: Italy

Region: Umbria

Title of aid scheme: Support for the buying in of technical services (servizi reali), type A: measures for the certification of systems for the management of quality, environmental protection, safety and ethical conduct.

Legal basis:

Legge regionale 12 novembre 2002, n. 21; DGR 11 giugno 2003, n. 778.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: EUR 900 000 a year.

Maximum aid intensity: 50 % of the annual expenditure.

Date of implementation: Date of publication of the notice inviting applications: 9 July 2003. Aid will be granted in response to suitable applications on the part of SMEs operating in industry, crafts, the distributive trades, tourism, services and the cooperative and non-profit sector, exclusively in respect of expenditure incurred after the date of submission of the application.

Duration of scheme: Act No 12/2002 does not set any time-limit for the grant of assistance. In the Objective 2 and transitional areas in Umbria the time-limits laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 will apply during the currency of the Objective 2 single programming document (2002-2006).

Objective of aid: Assistance towards the buying in of technical services by SMEs located in Umbria. The aid is intended to facilitate the buying in of services with a view to the introduction or improvement of certified management systems, which may be integrated between themselves, in respect of quality, environmental protection, safety in the workplace and social responsibility.

Economic sector(s) concerned: All sectors, including the cooperative and non-profit sector, with some limitations in the service sector; the following are expressly excluded:

mining of mineral ores (division 13 in the 1991 Italian Statistical Office (ISTAT) classification) and production of steel within the meaning of Annex 1 to the ECSC Treaty

shipbuilding and ship repair

the production of artificial fibres

enterprises in the agro-industrial sectors specified in section D, subsection DA of divisions 15 and 16 in the 1991 ISTAT classification, i.e.:

Name and address of granting authority:

Aid No: XS 105/03

Member State: Italy

Region: Autonomous Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Title of aid scheme: Financing of consultancy services to SMEs for projects to develop and promote craft districts.

Legal basis:

Decreto del Presidente della Regione n. 0198/Pres di data 17 giugno 2003.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme:

Maximum aid intensity: The aid is in the form of a grant to SMEs of 50 % gge of the costs of consultancy services.

Date of implementation: From the date of publication in the Regional Official Gazette. The first measures will not be carried out before 30 October 2003.

Duration of scheme:

Objective of aid: The aid is intended to upgrade craft districts as centres of economic and employment development, to coordinate local initiatives in the craft sector and to create the conditions for optimum use of human and technical and production resources which are already in existence or which may be found in the district.

Intended recipients: consortia (‘consorzi e società consortili’), including cooperatives, within the definition of small or medium-sized firms laid down in Commission Recommendation No 96/280/EC of 3 April 1996.

Economic sector(s) concerned: All economic sectors, with the exception of activities relating to the production, processing or marketing of the products listed in Annex I to the EC Treaty.

Name and address of granting authority:

Other information: The scheme is in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 of 12 January 2001.

The Regional authorities undertake to amend the definition of SMEs with effect from 1 January 2005, as proposed by the Commission in its Recommendation of 6 May 2003 concerning the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (OJ L 124, 20.5.2003).

Aid No: XS 120/03

Member State: Italy

Region: Piedmont

Title of aid scheme: Automatic fiscal aid measures to support the productive base.

Legal basis:

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme

Maximum aid intensity: For tangible and intangible investments and for consultancy

the aid intensity applicable will be 8 % nge + 10 % gge for small firms and 8 % nge + 6 % gge for medium-sized firms, where the production plant is in areas of the region which fall within the scope of Article 87(3)(c);

for small and medium-sized firms with production plant in other areas of the region the aid intensity will be 15 % gge and 7,5 % gge respectively.

In any case no large individual amounts of aid will be granted, in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 of 12 January 2001.

Date of implementation: 27 October 2003 (no aid will be granted in any event before this summary has been notified to the Commission).

Duration of scheme:

Objective of aid: The aid in the form of a tax bonus is intended for tangible or intangible fixed assets for measures to set up new plant, and to expand, modernise, restructure, convert, reactivate and relocate production plant in the region.

Economic sector(s) concerned: SMES with production plant in the region operating in the following sectors

mining and quarrying, manufacturing, production and distribution of electricity, gas and water, construction covered by sections C, D, E and F of the ISTAT 1991 classification of economic activities. The sections eligible for aid under subsection DA are: 15.5.2; 15.81.1; 15.81.2; 15.82; 15.85; 15.88; 15.89.1; 15.89.2; 15.96; 15.98; 15.99. Firms operating in the following sectors are also eligible for aid:

telecommunications;

services which could have a positive influence on the development of the above production activities.

The scheme is subject to the exclusions and limitations laid down by the Community rules for the steel industry, shipbuilding, synthetic fibres, motor manufacturing and the transport industry.

Name and address of granting authority:

Other information: The aid scheme does not apply to export-related activities, i.e. aid directly linked to the quantities exported, to the establishment and operation of a distribution network or to other current expenditure linked to the export activity, and aid contingent upon the use of domestic over imported goods.

The scheme does not apply to firms active in the production, marketing or processing of agricultural products, as referred to in Annex 1 to the EC Treaty

Only expenditure incurred since the date on which the aid application was submitted is eligible.

Only consultancy services that are not continuous or regular, or connected with the normal operating expenses of the firm are eligible for aid.

Aid No: XS 131/03

Member State: Italy

Region: Calabria

Title of aid scheme: Aid for existing integrated upgrading projects for tourism capability promoted by small and medium-sized enterprises

Measure 4.4 Action a) Calabria regional operation programme 2000-06

Legal basis:

Annual expenditure planned:

Maximum aid intensity: Capital contribution amounting to 50 % of eligible expenditure, the maximum grant not exceeding 75 % of the net investment value.

Date of application:

Duration of scheme:

Objective of aid: The aid is intended to upgrade the tourism capability of the Calabria region by improving the quality and the characteristics of the accommodation already present in the region (as well as by setting up additional structures and ancillary services).

Financing is granted to projects aimed at enhancing, upgrading and modernising the structures in the sector.

The projects eligible for aid should consist in organic and operationally independent investment programmes, each one capable of achieving the production, economic and employment targets proposed.

Economic sectors concerned: Tourism, with the exception of measures in the farm and rural tourism sectors financed by the EAGGF.

Name and address of the granting authority: