ISSN 1725-2423

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 274

European flag  

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 51
29 October 2008


Notice No

Contents

page

 

IV   Notices

 

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

 

Commission

2008/C 274/01

Euro exchange rates

1

 

NOTICES FROM MEMBER STATES

2008/C 274/02

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

2

2008/C 274/03

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

6

2008/C 274/04

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

10

 

V   Announcements

 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

 

Commission

2008/C 274/05

Operation of scheduled air services between Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi and Figari on the one hand and on the other Marseille, Nice and Paris (Orly) — Notice of competitive public tenders issued by France pursuant to Article 4(1)(d) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 for the delegation of a public service ( 1 )

15

 

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPETITION POLICY

 

Commission

2008/C 274/06

Communication from the Minister for Economic Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on the basis of Article 3(2) of Directive 94/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conditions for granting and using authorisations for the prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons

17

2008/C 274/07

Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.5367 — BC Funds/SGB Group) — Candidate case for simplified procedure ( 1 )

19

 

2008/C 274/08

Note to the reader(see page 3 of the cover)

s3

 


 

(1)   Text with EEA relevance

EN

 


IV Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

Commission

29.10.2008   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 274/1


Euro exchange rates (1)

28 October 2008

(2008/C 274/01)

1 euro=

 

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,2526

JPY

Japanese yen

119,42

DKK

Danish krone

7,4549

GBP

Pound sterling

0,7979

SEK

Swedish krona

9,9473

CHF

Swiss franc

1,452

ISK

Iceland króna

305

NOK

Norwegian krone

8,55

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CZK

Czech koruna

24,34

EEK

Estonian kroon

15,6466

HUF

Hungarian forint

262

LTL

Lithuanian litas

3,4528

LVL

Latvian lats

0,7096

PLN

Polish zloty

3,7003

RON

Romanian leu

3,725

SKK

Slovak koruna

30,479

TRY

Turkish lira

1,9571

AUD

Australian dollar

2,0037

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,6133

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

9,7118

NZD

New Zealand dollar

2,2684

SGD

Singapore dollar

1,8864

KRW

South Korean won

1 828,8

ZAR

South African rand

13,2494

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

8,5665

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,2006

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

13 528,08

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

4,4874

PHP

Philippine peso

61,59

RUB

Russian rouble

34,1862

THB

Thai baht

43,753

BRL

Brazilian real

2,757

MXN

Mexican peso

16,5468


(1)  

Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.


NOTICES FROM MEMBER STATES

29.10.2008   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 274/2


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

(2008/C 274/02)

Aid No: XA 236/08

Member State: Italy

Region: Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta

Title of aid scheme: Incentivi per il pagamento di premi assicurativi

Legal basis: Legge regionale 4 settembre 2001, n. 21 «Disposizioni in materia di allevamento zootecnico e relativi prodotti» e successive modificazioni e integrazioni [in particolare, l'articolo 2, comma 1, lettera g), e comma 1 bis, l'articolo 3 e l'articolo 6, comma 1, lettera d)] e deliberazione della Giunta regionale del 13 giugno 2008, n. 1814 «Precisazioni in merito alla concessione degli incentivi previsti per il settore della zootecnia dalle leggi regionali 4 settembre 2001, n. 21 e 22 aprile 2002, n. 3, e successive modificazioni e integrazioni»

Planned annual expenditure under the scheme: EUR 1,5 million

Maximum aid intensity:

1.

80 % of the cost of insurance premiums, where the policy specifies that it provides cover only against losses caused by adverse climatic events which can be assimilated to natural disasters;

2.

50 % of the cost of insurance premiums, where the policy specifies that it provides cover against:

(a)

losses referred to in point 1 and other losses caused by climatic events; and/or

(b)

losses caused by animal diseases

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: Under the scheme, aid may be granted until 31 December 2013 and for six months thereafter

Objective of aid: We intend, through incentives to cover the insurance expenses borne by agricultural associations to protect their members against damage to animal farms by chance events, infectious and non-infectious diseases, to promote the taking-out of insurance policies against the risks for animal farms resulting from adverse weather conditions and animal diseases.

Aid will not hamper the functioning of the internal market for insurance services, will not be limited to only one insurance company or insurance group comprising various companies and will not be depend on taking out an insurance contract with a company established in Valle d'Aosta.

Reference to Community legislation: Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

Please note that Article 2(1a) of Law No 21/2001 makes explicit reference to the above-mentioned Article and thus to all the conditions set out previously and laid down therein

Sector(s) concerned: Species as listed in Regional Law No 17 of 26 March 1993 establishing the regional register of livestock and livestock farms (bovine, equine, pig, sheep and goat and other livestock species)

Name and address of the granting authority:

Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta

Assessorato Agricoltura e Risorse naturali

Dipartimento Agricoltura

Direzione investimenti aziendali e sviluppo zootecnico

Loc. Grande Charrière, 66

I-11020 Saint-Christophe (Aosta)

Website: http://www.regione.vda.it/gestione/sezioni_web/allegato.asp?pk_allegato=1348

Saint-Christophe

Emanuele DUPONT

Il Coordinatore del Dipartimento Agricoltura

Aid No: XA 237/08

Member State: Italy

Region: Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta

Title of aid scheme: Incentivi per le rassegne e i concorsi zootecnici

Legal basis: Legge regionale 4 settembre 2001, n. 21 «Disposizioni in materia di allevamento zootecnico e relativi prodotti» e successive modificazioni e integrazioni [in particolare, l'articolo 2, comma 1, lettera e), e comma 1 bis, l'articolo 3 e l'articolo 6 comma 1, lettera b)] e deliberazione della Giunta regionale del 13 giugno 2008, n. 1814 «Precisazioni in merito alla concessione degli incentivi previsti per il settore della zootecnia dalle leggi regionali 4 settembre 2001, n. 21 e 22 aprile 2002, n. 3, e successive modificazioni e integrazioni»

Planned annual expenditure under the scheme: EUR 280 000

Maximum aid intensity: 70 % of eligible costs

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: Under the scheme, aid may be granted until 31 December 2013 and for six months thereafter

Objective of aid: To grant aid in the form of incentives for zootechnical competitions and reviews to cover eligible costs related to the organisation of and participation in such events.

The following costs are eligible:

The aid is to be granted in kind in the form of subsidised services, does not involve direct payments of money to producers and is accessible to all eligible entities in the area involved on the basis of objectively defined criteria. The organisation of these events by producers' organisations does not imply that membership of these organisation is a prerequisite for access to the service, and the non-members' contributions towards the association's or organisation's administrative costs are limited to the costs of the service provided.

Reference to Community legislation: Article 15(1), (2)(d), (3) and (4) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

Please note that Article 2(1a) of Law No 21/2001 makes explicit reference to the above-mentioned Article and thus to all the conditions set out previously and laid down therein

Sector(s) concerned: Species as listed in Regional Law No 17 of 26 March 1993 establishing the regional register of livestock and livestock farms (bovine, equine, pig, sheep and goat and other livestock species)

Name and address of the granting authority:

Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta

Assessorato Agricoltura e Risorse naturali

Dipartimento Agricoltura

Direzione investimenti aziendali e sviluppo zootecnico

Loc. Grande Charrière, 66

I-11020 Saint-Christophe (Aosta)

Website: http://www.regione.vda.it/gestione/sezioni_web/allegato.asp?pk_allegato=1348

Saint-Christophe

Emanuele DUPONT

Il Coordinatore del Dipartimento Agricoltura

Aid No: XA 238/08

Member State: Italy

Region: Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta

Title of aid scheme: Incentivi per l'effettuazione di controlli sanitari e di qualità sui prodotti della filiera zootecnica

Legal basis: Legge regionale 22 aprile 2002, n. 3 «Incentivi regionali per l'attuazione degli interventi sanitari a favore del bestiame di interesse zootecnico» e successive modificazioni e integrazioni [in particolare l'articolo 2, comma 1, lettera d), comma 2 e comma 4 bis] e deliberazione della Giunta regionale del 13 giugno 2008, n. 1814 «Precisazioni in merito alla concessione degli incentivi previsti per il settore della zootecnia dalle leggi regionali 4 settembre 2001, n. 21 e 22 aprile 2002, n. 3, e successive modificazioni e integrazioni»

Planned annual expenditure under the scheme: EUR 800 000

Maximum aid intensity: 70 % of eligible expenditure

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: Under the scheme, aid may be granted until 31 December 2013 and for six months thereafter

Objective of aid: We intend, through incentives for health and quality checks on the products of the livestock sector, to guarantee the improvement of product quality and health so as to protect the health of the consumer.

In particular, the incentives must be granted in kind by means of subsidised services, must not involve direct payments of money to producers and are accessible to all eligible subjects of the area involved on the basis of objective criteria. If the services are organised by producers' organisations, membership of these organisations is not a prerequisite for access to such services, and the non-members' contributions towards the association's or organisation's administrative costs are limited to the costs of the service provided.

The incentives will not cover the cost of checks undertaken by producers themselves, nor apply where Community legislation provides that the cost of checks is to be borne by producers, without specifying the actual level of charges. The aid must be granted only in relation to the costs of services provided by third parties and/or for checks carried out by or on behalf of third parties. The aid will not be granted for investment expenses or routine checks on milk quality.

Costs arising from the following are eligible:

initiatives for the introduction of quality assurance schemes, systems based on hazard analysis and critical control points, traceability systems, systems to assure respect of authenticity and marketing standards, or environmental audit systems,

mandatory inspections, unless Community legislation requires such costs to be borne by the farmers themselves.

Reference to Community legislation: Article 14(1), (2)(b) and (e), (3), (4), (5) and (6) and Article 16(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

Please note that Article 2(4a) of Law No 3/2002 makes explicit reference to the above-mentioned Article and thus to all the conditions set out previously and laid down therein

Sector(s) concerned: Species as listed in Regional Law No 17 of 26 March 1993 establishing the regional register of livestock and livestock farms (bovine, equine, pig, sheep and goat and other livestock species)

Name and address of the granting authority:

Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta

Assessorato Agricoltura e Risorse naturali

Dipartimento Agricoltura

Direzione investimenti aziendali e sviluppo zootecnico

Loc. Grande Charrière, 66

I-11020 Saint-Christophe (Aosta)

Website: http://www.regione.vda.it/gestione/sezioni_web/allegato.asp?pk_allegato=1349

Saint-Christophe

Emanuele DUPONT

Il Coordinatore del Dipartimento Agricoltura

Aid No: XA 239/08

Member State: Italy

Region: Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta

Title of aid scheme: Incentivi per la rimozione e la distruzione dei capi deceduti

Legal basis: Legge regionale 22 aprile 2002, n. 3 «Incentivi regionali per l'attuazione degli interventi sanitari a favore del bestiame di interesse zootecnico» e successive modificazioni e integrazioni [in particolare, l'articolo 2, comma 1, lettera d bis), comma 2 e comma 4 bis] e deliberazione della Giunta regionale del 13 giugno 2008, n. 1814 «Precisazioni in merito alla concessione degli incentivi previsti per il settore della zootecnia dalle leggi regionali 4 settembre 2001, n. 21 e 22 aprile 2002, n. 3, e successive modificazioni e integrazioni»

Planned annual expenditure under the scheme: EUR 450 000

Maximum aid intensity:

100 % of the costs incurred in removing fallen stock,

75 % of the costs of destroying the carcasses

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: Under the scheme, aid may be granted until 31 December 2013 and for six months thereafter

Objective of aid: Through incentives for the removal and destruction of fallen stock, to avoid environmental and health risks caused by incorrect disposal.

The aid does not involve direct payment of money to producers. It is granted to livestock farmers' associations carrying out the removal and destruction of fallen stock on behalf of livestock farms. In other words, the service will be provided to producers by the local livestock farmers' association.

Costs relating to the collection, transport and disposal of carcasses are eligible.

Reference to Community legislation: Article 16(1)(d), (2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

Please note that Article 2(4a) of Law No 3/2002 makes explicit reference to the above-mentioned Article and thus to all the conditions set out previously and laid down therein

Sector(s) concerned: Species as listed in Regional Law No 17 of 26 March 1993 establishing the regional register of livestock and livestock farms (bovine, equine, pig, sheep and goat and other livestock species)

Name and address of the granting authority:

Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta

Assessorato Agricoltura e Risorse naturali

Dipartimento Agricoltura

Direzione investimenti aziendali e sviluppo zootecnico

Loc. Grande Charrière, 66

I-11020 Saint-Christophe (Aosta)

Website: http://www.regione.vda.it/gestione/sezioni_web/allegato.asp?pk_allegato=1349

Saint-Christophe

Emanuele DUPONT

Il Coordinatore del Dipartimento Agricoltura

Aid No: XA 240/08

Member State: Italy

Region: Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta

Title of aid scheme: Incentivi per la tenuta dei libri genealogici e dei registri anagrafici e relativi controlli funzionali

Legal basis: Legge regionale 4 settembre 2001, n. 21 «Disposizioni in materia di allevamento zootecnico e relativi prodotti» e successive modificazioni e integrazioni [in particolare l'articolo 2, comma 1, lettera a), e comma 1 bis, l'articolo 3 e l'articolo 6, comma 1, lettera a)] e deliberazione della Giunta regionale del 13 giugno 2008, n. 1814 «Precisazioni in merito alla concessione degli incentivi previsti per il settore della zootecnia dalle leggi regionali 4 settembre 2001, n. 21 e 22 aprile 2002, n. 3, e successive modificazioni e integrazioni»

Planned annual expenditure under the scheme: EUR 1,65 million

Maximum aid intensity: 100 % of eligible expenditure (70 % for functional checks)

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: Under the scheme, aid may be granted until 31 December 2013 and for six months thereafter

Objective of aid: Through incentives for the maintenance of herd books and registers and the corresponding functional checks, to finance the costs of these activities, which are considered essential for the maintenance and development of animal husbandry and the improvement of local breeds in the Region.

The aid shall not involve direct payments of money to producers.

The administrative costs related to the establishment and maintenance of herd books and the corresponding functional checks are eligible.

Reference to Community legislation: Article 16(1)(a) and (b) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

Please note that Article 2(1a) of Law No 21/2001 makes explicit reference to the above-mentioned Article and thus to all the conditions set out previously and laid down therein

Sector(s) concerned: Species as listed in Regional Law No 17 of 26 March 1993 establishing the regional register of livestock and livestock farms (bovine, equine, pig, sheep and goat and other livestock species)

Name and address of the granting authority:

Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta

Assessorato Agricoltura e Risorse naturali

Dipartimento Agricoltura

Direzione investimenti aziendali e sviluppo zootecnico

Loc. Grande Charrière, 66

I-11020 Saint-Christophe (Aosta)

Website: http://www.regione.vda.it/gestione/sezioni_web/allegato.asp?pk_allegato=1348

Saint-Christophe

Emanuele DUPONT

Il Coordinatore del Dipartimento Agricoltura


29.10.2008   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 274/6


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

(2008/C 274/03)

Aid No: XA 250/08

Member State: Spain

Region: Catalonia

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Ayudas para programas de auditoria y asesoramiento de las explotaciones de ovino y caprino

Legal basis: Orden AAR/…/2008, de …, por la que se aprueban las bases reguladoras de las ayudas para programas de auditoria y asesoramiento de las explotaciones de ovino y caprino, y se convocan las correspondientes al año 2008

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 260 000 per marketing year in 2008 and 2009

Maximum aid intensity: The aid intensity is variable, subject to a limit of 100 %

Date of implementation: The Order will enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Gazette of the Generalitat de Cataluña (DOGC).

The Order will be published in the DOGC on the date of publication on the website of DG AGRI of the registration number of the exemption request provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

Publication is expected in June 2008

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 31 December 2009

Objective of aid: Provision of technical support in the agricultural sector under Article 15(2)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

The Order introduces an aid scheme for audit and consultancy programmes for sheep and goat farms defined as small or medium-sized enterprises in accordance with Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC, with the aim of improving the production, technical-economic and health conditions on the farms involved in those programmes.

This aid is to be used to subsidise the fees of the groups, cooperatives, professional organisations and natural and legal persons who provide consultancy or audit services to producers, so that the latter receive aid in kind. No direct cash payments will be made to the producers.

Subsidised consultancy services will be available to all sheep and goat producers.

Services provided by a producer group or professional organisation must not be restricted to members

Sector(s) concerned: Sheep and goat sectors

Name and address of granting authority:

Departamento de Agricultura, Alimentación y Acción Rural

Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 612-614

E-08007 Barcelona

Website: http://www20.gencat.cat/docs/DAR/02 %20DAR_Serveis %20i %20tramits/DAR_01 %20Ajuts %20i %20subvencions/DAR_05 %20Ajus %20pendents %20publicacio/Documents/Fitxers %20estatics/t08154055.pdf

Other information: —

Aid No: XA 251/08

Member State: Spain

Region: Comunidad Autónoma de Canarias

Title of aid scheme: Subvenciones destinadas a la financiación de los Servicios de Asesoramiento Técnico en Materia de Control Integrado de Plagas en los Cultivos Agrícolas

Legal basis: Proyecto de Orden de la Consejería de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Alimentación, por la que se convocan las subvenciones destinadas a la financiación de los Servicios de Asesoramiento Técnico en Materia de Control Integrado de plagas en los Cultivos Agrícolas

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: One million two hundred and fifty-three thousand euro (EUR 1 253 000)

Maximum aid intensity: Under Article 3 of the above draft Order, the aid referred to in the Article 1 may cover up to 100 % of the salaries of the technical staff recruited, up to a maximum of EUR 15 000 per person

Date of implementation: From the date of publication on the website of the Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the registration number of the request for exemption provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 31 December 2008 or before that date if the appropriation allocated to fund the aid (EUR 1 253 000) is used up

Objective of aid: Aid for the provision of technical assistance in the agricultural sector, to cover the cost of consultancy services provided by third parties. Article 15(2)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

(a)

using the most appropriate means of plant protection, including plant-health products, with the aim of achieving high-quality harvests while ensuring the utmost respect for the environment and minimising and rationalising treatment costs;

(b)

providing know-how on integrated pest control, with particular emphasis on biological control;

(c)

applying the new Community food safety and hygiene standards to plant health and the sustainable use of pesticides;

(d)

implementing all measures designed to improve the health and safety of workers involved in plant health and, in particular, the safety of plant-health product applicatorsp;

(e)

carrying out studies or trials on ‘pilot’ holdings for the introduction of new pest-control technologies;

(f)

establishing health programmes for the holdings using the service, setting out all the procedures for pest control, health and safety and product quality.

The aid may cover up to 100 % of the salaries of the technical staff recruited, up to a maximum of EUR 15 000 per person.

Membership of beneficiary organisations must not be a condition for access to the service and the contribution of non-members towards administrative costs must be limited to the proportional costs of providing the service

Sector(s) concerned: In accordance with Rule 2(1) of the draft Order, the aid will be paid direct to natural and legal persons, local authorities in the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands or any other body specified in Article 11(3) of Law No 38/2003 of 17 November laying down general rules on aid that provide the technical consultancy services provided for in Article 1(2) of the draft Order to small and medium-sized holdings engaged in agricultural production, which, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006, will be deemed to be the final beneficiaries of the aid, provided that, in accordance with Article 15 of that Regulation, the aid is obtained in kind by means of the subsidised services and they fulfil the conditions laid down in Annex I to Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 of 12 January 2001 (OJ L 10, 13.1.2001)

Name and address of the granting authority:

Consejería de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Alimentación (Dirección General de Agricultura)

Edificio Usos Múltiples II

Avda. José Manuel Guimerá, 8, 3a planta

E-38071 Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Website: http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/agricultura/otros/reglamento_CE_pymes.htm

Other information: —

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 2 June 2008.

Ildefonso Socorro Quevedo

Director General de Asuntos Económicos con la Unión Europea

Aid No: XA 252/08

Member State: Spain

Region: Galicia

Title of aid scheme: Ayudas para la compra de ganado bovino, ovino y caprino que tenga por objeto la reposición de las reses como consecuencia del sacrificio obligatorio en ejecución de los programas de control y erradicación de enfermedades de los animales

Legal basis: Orden … de …, por la que se establecen las bases reguladoras de las ayudas para la compra de ganado bovino, ovino y caprino que tenga por objeto la reposición de las reses como consecuencia del sacrificio obligatorio en ejecución de los programas de control y erradicación de enfermedades de los animales

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: EUR 440 000

Maximum aid intensity: The difference between the compensation and the purchase price

Date of implementation:

Duration of scheme: Until 31 December 2013

Objective of aid: The rules at present in force expressly recognise the right of owners to compensation for losses caused by the slaughter of livestock but the methods currently used to assess the value of livestock do not result in compensation sufficient to cover the actual financial loss suffered.

Therefore, aid is required to facilitate the replacement of livestock that has been slaughtered compulsorily where compensation for compulsory slaughter is not sufficient to cover the purchase of new animals similar to those slaughtered and precludes actual replacement.

The scheme is in keeping with Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006, which states that aid to compensate farmers for losses caused by animal diseases is compatible with the common market

Sector(s) concerned: Livestock production

Name and address of the granting authority: Xunta de Galicia. Consellería de Medio Rural

Dirección General de Producción Industrias y Calidad Agroalimentaria

Website: http://mediorural.xunta.es/externos/borrador_orde_reposicion_2008.pdf

Other information: E-mail address:

dxpica.mediorural@xunta.es

Maria.soledad.castro.diaz@xunta.es

The Regional Minister

pp (Order of 12 August 2005)

O Secretario Xeral

Alberte Souto Souto

Aid No: XA 253/08

Member State: Italy

Region: Piemonte

Title of aid scheme: Programma di meccanizzazione agricola

Legal basis: Articolo 10 della legge regionale 23 maggio 2008, n. 12

Planned annual expenditure under the scheme: EUR 4 000 000.

In order to respect the ceiling imposed by the stability pact, annual expenditure has been reduced as follows: EUR 2 000 000 for 2008, EUR 3 000 000 for 2009 and EUR 3 000 000 for 2010

Maximum aid intensity: Contribution to interest payments on five-year loans, granted as a discount, the equivalent of which in capital grants may not exceed 40 % of eligible costs

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: Until 31 December 2010, the year of the last payment instalment provided by the 2008-2010 multi-annual budget for funding this programme

Objective of aid: In application of Article 4(4)(b) of the Regulation, to provide a contribution to interest payments on five-year loans to purchase agricultural machinery and equipment, to attain the following objectives:

to reduce production costs,

to improve and convert production,

to improve quality,

to preserve and improve the natural environment, or improve hygiene conditions or animal welfare standards

Sector(s) concerned: All agricultural production sectors

Name and address of the granting authority:

Regione Piemonte Direzione Agricoltura

Corso Stati Uniti, 21

I-10129 Torino

Website: http://arianna.consiglioregionale.piemonte.it/ariaint/TESTO?LAYOUT=PRESENTAZIONE&TIPODOC=LEGGI&LEGGE=12&LEGGEANNO=2008

Other information: The Piedmontese provinces will be responsible for conducting inquiries and checking purchases. Regional financial resources will be employed and disbursed by the Agricultural Directorate of the Piedmontese Region Assessorato Agricoltura, Tutela della Fauna e della Flora (Office for Agriculture and the Protection of Flora and Fauna)

Aid No: XA 254/08

Member State: France

Regions: Département du Puy-de-Dôme

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Lutte contre certaines maladies contagieuses animales et autres actions sanitaires spécifiques

Legal basis:

Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006,

articles L 1511-1 et suivants et articles L 3231-1 et suivants du code général des collectivités territoriales

délibération du 14 décembre 2007 et projet de délibération du 29 avril 2008 du Conseil général du Puy-de-Dôme

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: EUR 500 000

Maximum aid intensity: In compliance with the limits set in Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006, i.e. 100 %

Date of implementation: From the date of publication of the registration number of the exemption request 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: The aid is based on Article 10(1) and (4) to (8) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006. It helps support the department's epidemiological surveillance and environmental-protection-related tasks (mandatory activities). Introducing this agricultural policy will help guarantee better public health by improving the health of cattle, sheep, goat, pig and bee populations through screening for illnesses:

screening for causes of abortions in ruminants (only for illnesses included in the OIE list or in the Annex to Decision 90/424/EEC),

analyses in connection with a mucosal disease control plan,

analyses in connection with an anti-paratuberculosis plan,

analyses in connection with screening for brucellosis in small ruminants,

analyses in connection with screening for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis,

aid for purchasing anti-varroa-mite products, and the carrying out of sporadic health analyses on apiaries,

autopsy, bacteriological analysis, decerebration analysis,

collection of veterinary waste (increasing the security of the recycling loop for infectious waste produced by livestock farmers in the course of their professional activity).

No aid will be paid to the farmers themselves. It will instead be given to the organisations that will be given responsibility for carrying out the aforementioned subsidised operations. It will be ensured that farmers will benefit from these subsidies only if their farm complies with the Community criteria for small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Subject to this caveat, the aid will be granted in the form of subsidised services available to all livestock farmers regardless of whether they belong to a producers' organisation or another structure

Sector(s) concerned: The cattle, sheep, goat and pig breeding sectors and the beekeeping sector

Name and address of the granting authority:

Conseil général du Puy-de-Dôme

24, rue Saint Esprit

F-63033 Clermont-Ferrand Cedex 1

Website: http://deliberations.cg63.fr/NetelibInternetDocs/ConseilGeneral/2008/04/29/Deliberation/T010M.pdf

http://deliberations.cg63.fr/NetelibInternetDocs/ConseilGeneral/2008/04/29/Annexestandardword/F010M.pdf


29.10.2008   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 274/10


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

(2008/C 274/04)

Aid No: XA 255/08

Member State: Italy

Title of aid scheme: Decreto ministeriale disciplinante la concessione di aiuti a favore delle forme associate delle organizzazioni di produttori (Organizzazioni Comuni) di nuova costituzione e riconosciute, ai sensi del decreto legislativo n. 102 del 27 maggio 2005, per la copertura delle spese sostenute per la costituzione e l'avviamento

Legal basis: Decreto legislativo 27 maggio 2005, n. 102, recante ‘Regolazioni dei mercati agroalimentari, a norma dell'articolo 1, comma 2, lettera e), della legge 7 marzo 2003, n. 38’

Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006. Article 9(2): Aid for producer groups

Annual expenditure planned: The funds for the 2008 financial year are approximately EUR 400 000.

The following costs are considered eligible:

(a)

purchase of office equipment (calculators, photocopiers, typewriters, etc.);

(b)

purchase of computers (hardware and software);

(a)

notarial and other expenditure to establish the Articles of Association, cost of registration at a court and expenditure for the approval of the books (even for subsequent years);

(a)

postal and telecommunications expenditure relating to the common market organisations;

(b)

mission expenses. The contribution corresponding to expenditure incurred by technical staff missions will be accepted on a flat-rate basis according to the following parameters:

6 % up to EUR 120 000 of eligible expenditure,

3 % above EUR 120 000 of eligible expenditure

Maximum aid intensity: Aid will be granted according to the provisions of Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

Aid will be granted for a five-year period at maximum levels of 100 %, 80 %, 60 %, 40 % and 20 % of actual establishment and start-up costs, incurred and accepted as eligible in the first year and the four years following legal recognition, until the fifth year.

The total amount of the aid granted to producer groups cannot exceed EUR 400 000 over the five-year period following their recognition

Date of implementation: This Decree shall enter into force the day after its publication in the Official Gazette of the Italian Republic

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 5 years

Objective of aid: Aid for the establishment of producer groups or producer associations (Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006. Article 9(2): Aid for producer groups or producer associations)

Sectors concerned: The entire agricultural sector

Name and address of the granting authority:

Ministero delle politiche agricole alimentari e forestali

Dipartimento delle Politiche di Sviluppo Economico e Rurale

Direzione Generale dello sviluppo agroalimentare, qualità e tutela del consumatore

Via XX Settembre n. 20

I-00187 Roma

Website: http://www.politicheagricole.it in the section ‘Sviluppo rurale e infrastrutture’ — subsection ‘Aiuti di Stato’ — ‘Disposizioni nazionali’

Dr. Giuseppe BLASI

Il Direttore Generale

Aid No: XA 256/08

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Region: Območje občine Mokronog–Trebelno

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Sofinanciranje programov na področju kmetijstva občine Mokronog–Trebelno

Legal basis: Pravilnik o sofinanciranju programov na področju kmetijstva v Občini Mokronog-Trebelno za programsko obdobje 2008–2013

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

 

2008: EUR 23 500

 

2009: EUR 25 700

 

2010: EUR 25 700

 

2011: EUR 30 000

 

2012: EUR 30 000

 

2013: EUR 31 000

Maximum aid intensity:

1.   Investment in agricultural holdings:

(a)

up to 40 % of the eligible investment costs. The aid is granted for investment to renovate and upgrade farm buildings, to purchase equipment to be used for agricultural production, to invest in permanent crops and to improve farmland.

2.   Aid for land reparcelling:

(a)

up to 100 % of the legal and administrative costs actually incurred.

3.   Assistance towards the payment of insurance premiums:

(a)

the amount co-financed by the municipality comprises the difference between the co-financing of insurance premiums from the national budget and the subsidy limit (up to 50 %) applying to the eligible costs of insurance premiums for crops, fruit and cases of disease among animals.

4.   Provision of technical support:

(a)

up to 100 % of the eligible costs for the training and qualification of farmers, consultancy services, the organisation of fora, competitions, exhibitions and fairs, the dissemination of scientific findings, publications, catalogues and web sites. The aid is to take the form of subsidised services and must not involve direct payments of money to producers

Date of implementation: July 2008 (the aid will not be granted until a summary has been published on the European Commission's website)

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

Objective of aid: Support for SMEs

Reference to Articles of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 and eligible costs: Chapter II of the draft Pravilnik o sofinanciranju programov na področju kmetijstva v občini Mokronog-Trebelno za programsko obdobje 20082013 (Rules on the cofinancing of agricultural development programmes in the municipality of Mokronog-Trebelno over the 2008-2013 programming period) includes 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 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,

Article 13: Aid for land reparcelling,

Article 12: Aid towards the payment of insurance premiums,

Article 15: Provision of technical support in the agricultural sector

Sector(s) concerned: Agriculture

Name and address of the granting authority:

Občina Mokronog–Trebelno

Pod gradom 2

SLO-8230 Mokronog

Website: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=200862&objava=2673

Other information: The measure relating to payment of insurance premiums to insure crops and fruit covers the following adverse climatic events which can be assimilated to natural disasters: spring frosts, hail, lightning, fires caused by lightning, storms and floods.

The municipality's Rules meet the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 on the measures to be adopted by the municipality and the general provisions applicable (procedure prior to the aid grant, cumulation of aid, transparency and monitoring of aid)

Mojca PEKOLJ

Direktorica občinske uprave

Aid No: XA 257/08

Member State: France

Region: Rhône-Alpes

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Assistance technique dans le cadre de la reprise des exploitations

Legal basis: Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

Délibérations du Conseil régional no 07.05.918 des 29 et 30 novembre 2007 et no 08.05.371 du 29 mai 2008

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 2 900 000

Maximum aid intensity: Once the self-diagnosis demonstrating that their project is mature has been carried out, project implementers will be able to receive technical support to help them implement and subsequently monitor their take-over projects.

The support will include:

These services will be provided by agricultural organisations, to which the public aid will be paid. The project implementers will receive the aid in kind

Date of implementation: From 1 July 2008 onwards, subject to publication of the registration number of the exemption request 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: The aid in the form of technical support will be granted in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 and will enable the take-over of holdings in the region to be assisted and encouraged by giving those interested the right support and advice for their project. With this regional aid, those wishing to take over holdings will have access to quality advice and a range of support measures to help them to develop, structure and calculate the figures for their project, followed by ongoing monitoring to provide the best chance of success for themselves and the local community

Sector(s) concerned: All SME agricultural holdings in the Rhône-Alpes region

Name and address of the granting authority:

Monsieur le Président du Conseil Régional Rhône-Alpes

Direction de l'agriculture et du développement rural

Service Agriculture

78, route de Paris

F-69751 Charbonnières les Bains Cedex

Website: http://www.rhonealpes.fr/TPL_CODE/TPL_AIDE/PAR_TPL_IDENTIFIANT/270/PAG_TITLE/Accompagnement+au+Parcours+Installation+en+Agriculture/ID_AIDESDOMAINEMDL/3/ID_AIDESPROFILMDL//RETURN/1/18-les-aides-de-la-region.htm

Aid No: XA 259/08

Member State: Spain

Region: —

Title of aid scheme: Ayudas para la mejora de la capacidad técnica de gestión de subproductos de origen animal no destinados al consumo humano

Legal basis: Real Decreto por el que se establecen las bases reguladoras de las ayudas destinadas a las explotaciones ganaderas, las industrias agroalimentarias y establecimientos de gestión de subproductos para la mejora de la capacidad técnica de gestión de subproductos de origen animal

Annual expenditure planned under the aid scheme: EUR 6 million per year, as provided for in the General State Budget

Maximum aid intensity: The aid per beneficiary shall not exceed EUR 6 000 and in no case 75 % of the eligible investments in less-favoured areas or the areas referred to in Article 36(a)(i), (ii) and (iii) of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, or 60 % in other areas

Where the total amount of aid entails a level of aid intensity above the maximum limits laid down in the Royal Decree or in the State or Community applicable, it shall be reduced to the aforementioned limit. Specifically, the aid scheme will be adjusted to comply with the provisions of Article 19 Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006

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: Until 2009. This can be extended on an annual basis, subject to the provisions of the General State Budget, but in no case beyond 31 December 2013

Objective of the aid: To improve by-product management capacity and promote proper classification at source of the different by-products produced on livestock farms, the aim being to improve by-product management conditions and, while obtaining the best return from these products, protect animal health and the environment.

The aid is granted on the basis of Article 4(4)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

The following will be eligible:

Sector(s) concerned: Livestock farming (inasmuch as it covers by-products of animal origin, the scheme concerns all sectors of livestock farming)

Name and address of the granting authority:

Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino

Dirección General de Recursos Agrícolas y Ganaderos

Subdirección General de Mercados Exteriores y Producciones Porcina, Avícola y Otras. C/ Alfonso XII, 62 — 5a planta E

E-28071 Madrid

Website: http://www.sandach.com.es/Documentos/PROYECTO %20RD %20AYUDAS %20SANDACH %20FINAL.doc

Other information: —

Aid No: XA 261/08

Member State: Spain

Region: Comunidad Valenciana

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Ayudas a la suscripción de seguros agrarios del Plan Anual de Seguros Agrarios Combinados

Legal basis: The implementing legislation on technical matters is the following:

Directrices Comunitarias sobre ayudas estatales al sector agrario y forestal (2007/2013) 2006/C 319/2001;

La Ley 87/1978 de 28 de diciembre de Seguros Agrarios Combinados y el Real Decreto 2329/1979 de 14 de septiembre por el que se aprueba el Reglamento de desarrollo; La Ley 5/1983, de 30 de diciembre, del Consell; el Decreto Legislativo de 26 de junio de 1991 por el que se aprueba el Texto Refundido de la Ley de Hacienda Pública de la Generalitat; la Ley 38/2003 de 17 de noviembre, General de Subvenciones y el Real Decreto 887/2006 de 21 de julio por el que se aprueba el Reglamento de la Ley de Subvenciones

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: For the 2008 call for proposals, EUR 32 000 000

Maximum aid intensity: The percentages stipulated in the Community guidelines for State aid in the agriculture sector 2007 to 2013, and in Articles 12 and 16 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

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

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The period set down in the Community guidelines for State aid in the agriculture and forestry sector 2007 to 2013

Objective of aid: The objective of the aid is to facilitate the effecting of the farm insurance included in the National Combined Farm Insurance Plan within the territorial limits of the Comunitat Valenciana.

Aid for effecting farm insurance complies with the provisions of Articles 12 and 16 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

Eligible costs are the payment of a portion of the premium of insurance to provide protection against damage caused by adverse weather conditions which can be classed as natural disasters, other losses caused by adverse weather conditions, losses caused by parasitic infestations and diseases, and for the removal and destruction of fallen stock

Sector(s) concerned: Natural or legal persons and communities of property deemed to be small and medium-sized enterprises in accordance with the definition contained in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 70/2001

Name and address of the granting authority:

Conselleria de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación

C/ Amadeo de Saboya, no 2

E-46010 Valencia

Website: http://www.agricultura.gva.es/especiales/ayudas_agrarias/pdf/Orden %20seguros %20agrarios.pdf

Other information: —

Valencia, 30 June 2008.

Director-General for Agricultural Production


V Announcements

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

Commission

29.10.2008   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 274/15


Operation of scheduled air services between Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi and Figari on the one hand and on the other Marseille, Nice and Paris (Orly)

Notice of competitive public tenders issued by France pursuant to Article 4(1)(d) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 for the delegation of a public service

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 274/05)

1.   Introduction: In accordance with the decisions of the Corsican regional authorities of 19 June 2008 and 9 October 2008, France has decided to amend, from 29 March 2009, the public service obligations imposed on certain scheduled air services from Corsica pursuant to Article 4(1)(a) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 of 23 July 1992 on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes. The standards required by these new public service obligations were published in Official Journal of the European Union C 273 of 28.10.2008.

Separate invitations to tender are being issued for each of the following routes:

Ajaccio-Paris (Orly),

Ajaccio-Marseille,

Ajaccio-Nice,

Bastia-Paris (Orly),

Bastia-Marseille,

Bastia-Nice,

Calvi-Paris (Orly),

Calvi-Marseille,

Calvi-Nice,

Figari-Paris (Orly),

Figari-Marseille,

Figari-Nice.

If on 28 February 2009 no air carrier has commenced or is about to commence operating scheduled air services in accordance with the public service obligation imposed on each of the above routes and without requesting financial compensation, France has decided, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 4(1)(d) of Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92, to limit access to each of these routes to a single air carrier and to offer the right to operate such services from 29 March 2009 by public tender.

Tenderers may present bids to operate more than one of the abovementioned routes, particularly where this results in a reduction in the overall compensation required.

However, they must set out clearly the amount of compensation required in respect of each route, where appropriate specifying different rates depending on which parts of their bid are accepted (in the event that they are awarded a contract covering some but not all of the routes for which they have bid).

2.   Subject of the invitations to tender: For each of the routes listed in paragraph 1 above, the operation from 29 March 2009 of scheduled air services in accordance with the relevant public service obligation, as published in Official Journal of the European Union C 273 of 28.10.2008.

3.   Participation in the tender procedure: Participation is open to all Community air carriers who hold a valid operating licence issued in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 2407/92 of 23 July 1992 on licensing of air carriers.

4.   Tender procedure: Each invitation to tender is subject to the provisions of Article 4(1)(d), (e), (f), (g), (h) and (i) of Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92.

5.   Tender dossier: The full tender dossier, including the model public service delegation agreement and the specific rules for this invitation to tender, is obtainable free of charge from:

Office des transports de la Corse

19, avenue Georges Pompidou

Quartier Saint-Joseph

BP 501

F-20186 Ajaccio Cedex

E-mail: evelyne.mariani@otc-corse.fr.

6.   Financial compensation: Tenders must explicitly state the amount of compensation required for the operation of each route from 29 March 2009 until the day before the start of the IATA 2012 summer scheduling season, with three annual breakdowns for the following twelve-month periods: from 29 March 2009 to the day before the start of the 2010 summer scheduling season, from the first day of the 2010 summer scheduling season to the day before the start of the 2011 summer scheduling season, and from the first day of the 2011 summer scheduling season to the day before the start of the 2012 summer scheduling season.

The exact amount of compensation finally granted will be determined for each of the twelve-month periods ex post on the basis of the documented costs and revenue actually generated by the service, within the limits of the amount given in the tender, which may not exceed the result of a calculation based on the maximum unit price per paying passenger on each route:

EUR 27,00 for services between Paris (Orly) and airports in Corsica,

EUR 25,50 for services between Marseille and Ajaccio or Bastia,

EUR 48,50 for services between Nice and Ajaccio, Bastia or Figari,

EUR 53,50 for services between Marseille and Calvi or Figari,

EUR 68,50 for services between Nice and Calvi.

7.   Fares: Tenders must indicate the proposed fare structure, which must comply with the public service obligations published in Official Journal of the European Union C 273 of 28.10.2008.

8.   Duration and amendment of the contract: The contract will commence on 29 March 2009. It will end no later than the day before the start of the IATA 2012 summer scheduling season. The operation of the contracted services will be the subject of an annual examination in cooperation with the carrier during the two months following the anniversary of the starting date.

Any amendment to the contract must comply with the public service obligations published in Official Journal of the European Union C 273 of 28.10.2008. Any amendment to the contract will take the form of a supplementary agreement.

9.   Failure to honour the contract: Carriers will be responsible for the proper performance of their obligations under the contract.

In the event of failure to perform such obligations properly for reasons other than force majeure, i.e. abnormal and unforeseeable circumstances beyond their control which the carrier has been unable to overcome despite taking all reasonable measures to do so, the contract may be terminated without advance notice by the Corsican Transport Board.

Failure to perform contractual obligations properly may give rise to the payment of damages and interest to compensate for the injury suffered by the island community. The amount of such damages shall be laid down by the competent courts.

Without prejudice to any claim for damages and interest, any interruption in services or improper performance of services will give rise to a reduction in the amount of financial compensation in proportion to the capacity lacking.

10.   Presentation of tenders: Tenders must be handed in at the following address before 17.00 (local time):

Office des Transports de la Corse

19, avenue Georges Pompidou

Quartier Saint-Joseph

F-20000 Ajaccio

at the latest within six weeks of the date of publication of this invitation to tender in the Official Journal of the European Union; a receipt must be obtained.

11.   Validity of the invitation to tender: In accordance with the first sentence of Article 4(1)(d) of Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92, the validity of each of these invitations to tender is subject to the condition that no Community carrier presents by 28 February 2009 — one month being a reasonable period of advance notice — an operating schedule for the route in question from 29 March 2009 in accordance with the public service obligation imposed, without receiving any financial compensation, and without requiring access to this route to be limited to a single carrier.

NB: Appeals against acts relating to the invitation to tender, including decisions rejecting tenders and public service agreements, may be brought before the administrative court of Bastia within two months. Actions under the precontractual interlocutory procedure may also be brought before the court from the date of the beginning of the procedure for the conclusion of agreements up to the time they are signed. Information on lodging appeals may be obtained from:

Tribunal administratif de Bastia

Villa Montepiano

F-20407 Bastia Cedex

Tel. (33) 495 32 88 66

Fax (33) 495 32 38 55


PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPETITION POLICY

Commission

29.10.2008   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 274/17


Communication from the Minister for Economic Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on the basis of Article 3(2) of Directive 94/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conditions for granting and using authorisations for the prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons

(2008/C 274/06)

The Minister for Economic Affairs hereby gives notice that an application has been received for authorisation to prospect for hydrocarbons in the area delimited by the following vertices and the lines connecting them.

Vertex

X

Y

A

264590,00

472234,01

B

200000,00

345240,22

C

189000,00

373000,00

D

164000,00

421000,00

E

164000,00

435000,00

F

189000,00

460500,00

G

192500,00

484000,00

H

220500,00

500000,00

I

231525,76

500038,73

J

246555,67

496603,03

K

250398,55

492577,42

L

250398,55

478000,00

The abovementioned vertices are defined by their geographical coordinates, calculated according to the National Triangulation System (Rijks Driehoeksmeting).

The surface area of the area defined above is approximately 6 500 km2.

With reference to the Directive mentioned in the introduction and Article 15 of the Mining Act (Mijnbouwwet) (Bulletin of Acts and Decrees (Staatsblad) 2002, No 542), the Minister for Economic Affairs hereby invites interested parties to submit a competing application for authorisation to prospect for hydrocarbons in the area delimited by the vertices and coordinates listed above.

The Minister for Economic Affairs is the competent authority for the granting of authorisations. The criteria, conditions and requirements referred to in Articles 5(1), 5(2) and 6(2) of the abovementioned Directive are set out in the Mining Act (Bulletin of Acts and Decrees 2002, No 542).

Applications may be submitted during the 13 weeks following the publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union and should be sent to:

De Minister van Economische Zaken

ter attentie van J.C. De Groot, directeur Energiemarkt

ALP A/562

Bezuidenhoutseweg 30

Postbus 20101

2500 EC Den Haag

Nederland

Applications received after the expiry of this period will not be considered.

A decision on the applications will be taken not later than 12 months after this period has expired.

Further information can be obtained by telephoning Mr E.J. Hoppel: (31-70) 379 77 62.


29.10.2008   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 274/19


Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5367 — BC Funds/SGB Group)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 274/07)

1.

On 21 October 2008, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which BC Funds, private equity funds managed by CIE Management II Limited (CIEM) and advised by BC Partners Limited (United Kingdom) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of Starkstrom Gerätebau GmbH (Germany) and its subsidiaries (the SGB Group) by way of purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

for BC Funds, managed by CIE Management II Limited: private equity investment funds investing in companies active in various sectors mainly throughout Europe,

for the SGB Group: manufacture of electrical power transformers and the maintenance thereof.

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax ((32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5367 — BC Funds/SGB Group, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel


(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.


29.10.2008   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 274/s3


NOTE TO THE READER

The institutions have decided no longer to quote in their texts the last amendment to cited acts.

Unless otherwise indicated, references to acts in the texts published here are to the version of those acts currently in force.