8.5.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 106/1

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OPINION OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK

of 20 April 2009

on a proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 332/2002 establishing a facility providing medium-term financial assistance for Member States' balances of payments

(CON/2009/37)

2009/C 106/01

Introduction and legal basis

On 17 April 2009 the European Central Bank (ECB) received a request from the Council of the European Union for an opinion on a proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 332/2002 establishing a facility providing medium-term financial assistance for Member States' balances of payments (1) (the proposed regulation (2)).

The ECB’s competence to deliver an opinion is based on Article 105(4) of the Treaty establishing the European Community because the ECB administers assistance granted under this facility. In accordance with the first sentence of Article 17.5 of the Rules of Procedure of the European Central Bank, the Governing Council has adopted this opinion.

1.   General observations

The ECB considers that, in the present financial circumstances, non-euro area Member States are more likely to make requests under the medium-term financial assistance facility than was previously envisaged, and their requests for assistance are likely to involve higher amounts than had been anticipated in 2002 when Regulation (EC) No 332/2002 entered into force and in December 2008 when it was amended. Therefore, the ECB is of the opinion that, in view of international economic and financial developments, the potential demand for assistance might exceed the current ceiling of EUR 25 billion, and welcomes the proposed increase in the ceiling to EUR 50 billion so as to enable the Community to accede to potential requests for financial assistance.

In this context, the ECB notes that the procedure foreseen in the proposed regulation must fully comply with the prohibition on monetary financing laid down in Article 101(1) of the Treaty, read in conjunction with Council Regulation (EC) No 3603/93 of 13 December 1993 specifying definitions for the application of the prohibitions referred to in Articles 104 and 104b(1) of the Treaty (3). In particular, the ECB understands that the increase in the amount of assistance available to EUR 50 billion as envisaged in the proposed regulation will be exclusively financed from the Member States’ budgets and that this will not include any bridge financing or refinancing by the European System of Central Banks. In this respect, it is expected that the Community’s account at the ECB and the Member States’ accounts at national central banks (NCBs) will be fully funded at all relevant times.

2.   Specific observations

2.1.   Proposed new Article 9a

The ECB fully understands the need to ensure the sound management of Community medium-term financial assistance. Nevertheless, the ECB notes that the proposed new Article 9a could be read to mean that the European Court of Auditors would have the competence to carry out financial audits on the ECB’s and NCBs’ accounts. The ECB accordingly suggests that, in recognition of the existing legal framework of Article 27 of the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank that applies to the ECB and NCBs, the proposed new Article 9a should expressly limit its scope to the Member States receiving Community medium-term financial assistance.

2.2.   Requirement to consult the Commission

Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 332/2002 requires a Member State that has not adopted the euro to consult the Commission if that Member State ‘proposes to call upon sources of financing outside the Community which are subject to economic policy conditions’. It is suggested that the phrase ‘economic policy conditions’ should be amended to make clear that ‘economic policy conditions’ includes ‘ex ante eligibility criteria’ which would therefore unambiguously include the type of conditionality that will be used in new-style International Monetary Fund arrangements (4).

2.3.   Availability of Community medium-term financial assistance on a precautionary basis

It is noted that the proposed amended Articles 3(2) and 5(1) of Regulation (EC) No 332/2002 do not contain the references to ‘back-up programme’ that are contained in the current versions of those Articles. These omissions suggest a change in the scope of applicability of Community medium-term financial assistance in that such assistance would only be available for actual, as opposed to potential, balance of payments problems. In this regard, Article 119(1) of the Treaty expressly refers to assistance being available if a Member State is ‘seriously threatened’ with difficulties as regards its balance of payments. Article 3(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 332/2002 also refers to assistance being available if a Member State is ‘seriously threatened’ with (as opposed to actually experiencing) difficulties as regards its balance of payments. The references to a ‘back-up programme’ that are currently contained in Articles 3(2) and 5(1) of Regulation No 332/2002 essentially made provision for a framework within which precautionary assistance could be made available. The references to a ‘back-up programme’ could be helpfully reinserted into Articles 3(2) and 5(1).

2.4.   Nature of the proposed new ‘memorandum of understanding’

It would be desirable to enhance consistency in describing the ‘memorandum of understanding’ that would be required by the proposed new Article 3a. Specifically, recital 2 refers to this memorandum as being ‘negotiated’, whereas the proposed new Article 3a suggests that the memorandum will be more in the nature of a unilateral document that details ‘the conditions laid down by the Council’. Since the wording of Article 3a essentially tracks that of Article 119(2) of the Treaty, it is suggested that recital 2 should be brought into line with the wording of the proposed new Article 3a.

3.   Drafting proposals

Where the above advice would lead to changes in the proposed regulation, drafting proposals are set out in the Annex.

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(1)  Regulation (EC) No 332/2002 of 18 February 2002 establishing a facility providing medium-term financial assistance for Member States’ balances of payments (OJ L 53, 23.2.2002, p. 1).

(2)  COM(2009) 169 final.

(3)  OJ L 332, 31.12.1993, p. 1.

(4)  See ‘IMF Overhauls Lending Framework’, Press Release No 09/85, 24 March 2009, on the International Monetary Fund’s website at (http://www.imf.org).

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8.5.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 106/6

---

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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(Text with EEA relevance)

2009/C 106/02

Date of adoption of the decision	18.12.2008
Reference number of the aid	N 369/08
Member State	United Kingdom
Region	—
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	Scottish R&D&I Programme
Legal basis	Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990 as amended by Scottish Statutory Instrument 2001 N. 126; Science and Technology Act 1965 Section 5t
Type of measure	Aid scheme
Objective	Research and development
Form of aid	Direct grant
Budget	Annual budget: GBP 31 million Overall budget: GBP 155 million
Intensity	100 %
Duration (period)	30.9.2008-31.12.2013
Economic sectors	All sectors
Name and address of the granting authority	Scottish Government 5 Cadogan Street Glasgow G2 6AT UNITED KINGDOM Scottish Enterprise 150 Broomielaw 5 Atlantic Quay Glasgow G2 8LU UNITED KINGDOM Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Cowan House, Inverness Retail & Business Park Inverness IV2 7GF UNITED KINGDOM
Other information	—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/index.htm

Date of adoption of the decision	11.2.2009
Reference number of the aid	N 453/08
Member State	Germany
Region	Sachsen
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	Sunfilm AG
Legal basis	Investitionszulagengesetz 2007; Investitionszulagengesetz 2010; 35. Rahmenplan der Gemeinschaftsaufgabe — Verbesserung der regionalen Wirtschaftsstruktur; 36. Rahmenplan der Gemeinschaftsaufgabe — Verbesserung der regionalen Wirtschaftsstruktur
Type of measure	Individual aid
Objective	Regional development
Form of aid	Direct grant, Tax allowance
Budget	Overall budget: EUR 56,05 million
Intensity	14,01 %
Duration (period)	2007-2011
Economic sectors	Manufacturing industry
Name and address of the granting authority	Sächsische Aufbaubank Pirnaische Straße 9 01069 Dresden DEUTSCHLAND Finanzamt Hoyerswerda Pforzheimer Platz 1 02977 Hoyerswerda DEUTSCHLAND
Other information	—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/index.htm

Date of adoption of the decision	20.3.2009
Reference number of the aid	N 47a/09
Member State	Austria
Region	—
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	‘Regelung zur vorübergehenden Gewährung geringfügiger Beihilfen im Geltungsbereich der Republik Österreich während der Finanz-und Wirtschaftskrise’ (Österreichregelung Kleinbeihilfen)
Legal basis	‘Regelung zur vorübergehenden Gewährung geringfügiger Beihilfen im Geltungsbereich der Republik Österreich während der Finanz-und Wirtschaftskrise’ (Österreichregelung Kleinbeihilfen)
Type of measure	Aid scheme
Objective	Aid to remedy serious disturbances in the economy
Form of aid	Direct grant, Guarantee, Interest subsidy
Budget	Overall budget: EUR 150 million
Intensity	—
Duration (period)	until 31.12.2010
Economic sectors	All sectors
Name and address of the granting authority	—
Other information	—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/index.htm

Date of adoption of the decision	20.3.2009
Reference number of the aid	N 117/09
Member State	Belgium
Region	Flanders
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	Guarantee scheme under the Temporary Framework (Verhoogde Crisis Waarborg)
Legal basis	Amendment 11 februari 2009 van ‘Decreet betreffende een waarborgregeling voor kleine, middelgrote en grote ondernemingen’, 6 februari 2004 (Art. 22/1 – 22/3)
Type of measure	Aid scheme
Objective	Aid to remedy serious disturbances in the economy
Form of aid	Guarantee
Budget	Overall budget: EUR 1 500 million
Intensity	—
Duration (period)	until 31.12.2010
Economic sectors	All sectors
Name and address of the granting authority	Guarantee Fund ‘Waarborgfonds’, Flemish Region
Other information	—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/index.htm

Date of adoption of the decision	11.3.2009
Reference number of the aid	N 128/09
Member State	Luxembourg
Region	—
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	Régime temporaire relatif aux aides sous forme de garanties
Legal basis	L’aide sera octroyée sur la base d'une loi instituant un régime temporaire de garanties en vue du redressement économique
Type of measure	Aid scheme
Objective	Aid to remedy serious disturbances in the economy
Form of aid	Guarantee
Budget	Overall budget: EUR 500 million
Intensity	—
Duration (period)	until 31.12.2010
Economic sectors	All sectors
Name and address of the granting authority	Ministère de l'économie et du commerce extérieur
Other information	—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/index.htm

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8.5.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 106/11

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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(Text with EEA relevance)

2009/C 106/03

Date of adoption of the decision	28.11.2008
Reference number of the aid	N 297/08
Member State	Germany
Region	—
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	3. Verkehrsforschungs-programm der Bundesregierung, (hier Projektförderung des BMWi)
Legal basis	Bundeshaushaltsplan Kapitel 0902 Titel 68311
Type of measure	Aid scheme
Objective	Research and development
Form of aid	Direct grant
Budget	Annual budget: EUR 60 million Overall budget: EUR 360 million
Intensity	100 %
Duration (period)	1.1.2009 - 31.12.2014
Economic sectors	All sectors
Name and address of the granting authority	Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Technologie 11019 Berlin DEUTSCHLAND
Other information	—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/index.htm

Date of adoption of the decision	27.2.2009
Reference number of the aid	N 351/08
Member State	Latvia
Region	87(3)(a)
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	Enerģijas ražošana no lauksaimnieciskas un mežsaimnieciskas izcelsmes biomasas
Legal basis	Ministru kabineta noteikumu “Valsts un Eiropas Savienības atbalsta Lauku attīstības programmas 2007-2013. gadam pasākuma”“Atbalsts uzņēmumu un radīšanai (ietverot ar lauksaimnicību nesaistītu darbību dažādošanu)” apakšpasākumam “Enerģijas ražošana no lauksaimnieciskas un mežsaimnieciskas izcelsmes biomasas piešķiršanas kārtība projekts;” Ministru kabineta 2008. gada 21. aprīļa noteikumi Nr. 298 “Kārtība, kādā piešķir valsts un Eiropas Savienības atbalstu atklātu projektu konkursu veidā lauku un zivsaimniecības attīstībai”
Type of measure	Aid scheme
Objective	Regional development
Form of aid	Direct grant
Budget	Overall budget: LVL 43,38 million
Intensity	40 %
Duration (period)	until 31.12.2013
Economic sectors	Energy
Name and address of the granting authority	Lauku atbalsta dienests Republikas laukums 2 Rīga, LV-1981 LATVIJA
Other information	—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/index.htm

Date of adoption of the decision	19.3.2009
Reference number of the aid	N 124/09
Member State	Latvia
Region	—
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	‘Limited amounts of compatible aid in the form of guarantees during the financial and economic crisis’
Legal basis	Regulation of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia ‘Regulations on Guarantees for Development of Enterprise Competitiveness’ approved on 17 February 2009
Type of measure	Aid scheme
Objective	Aid to remedy serious disturbances in the economy
Form of aid	Guarantee
Budget	Overall budget: LVL 20 million
Intensity	—
Duration (period)	Until 31.12.2010
Economic sectors	All sectors
Name and address of the granting authority	Latvian Guarantee Agency 11/13;15, Tirgonu Str. Riga, LV-1050 LATVIA
Other information	—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/index.htm

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8.5.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 106/14

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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(Text with EEA relevance)

2009/C 106/04

Date of adoption of the decision	3.3.2009
Reference number of the aid	N 372/07
Member State	Lithuania
Region	—
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	Pagalba biokuro gamybos plėtojimui
Legal basis	Lietuvos Respublikos biokuro įstatymo. Biokuro gamybos ir naudojimo skatinimo metais 2004–2010 programa.
Type of measure	Aid scheme
Objective	Environmental protection
Form of aid	Direct grant
Budget	Overall budget: LTL 310,41 million
Intensity	—
Duration (period)	until 31.12.2012
Economic sectors	Agriculture
Name and address of the granting authority	Lietuvos Respublikos Žemės Ūkio Ministerija Gedimino pr. 19 (Lelevelio g. 6) LT-01103 Vilnius LIETUVA/LITHUANIA
Other information	—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/index.htm

Date of adoption of the decision	11.2.2009
Reference number of the aid	N 414/08
Member State	United Kingdom
Region	England, Wales
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	Renewable Obligation
Legal basis	32 Electricity Act 1989, as amended by Energy Act 2004. Currently subject to amendment by the Energy Bill 2008. Implemented by Renewables Obligation Order 2006 (No 1004), amended by Renewables Obligation Order 2006 (Amendment) Order 2007 (No 1078)
Type of measure	Aid scheme
Objective	Environmental protection, energy saving
Form of aid	Transactions not on market terms
Budget	Overall budget: GBP 23 200 million
Intensity	—
Duration (period)	1.4.2009-31.3.2027
Economic sectors	Energy
Name and address of the granting authority	Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 1 Victoria Street London SW1H 0ET UNITED KINGDOM
Other information	—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/index.htm

Date of adoption of the decision	25.2.2009
Reference number of the aid	N 513/08
Member State	United Kingdom
Region	Clackmannanshire and Fife, Scotland
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	Regional Investment Aid to Babcock Marine Rosyth Ltd
Legal basis	Industrial Development Act 1982, section 7
Type of measure	Individual aid
Objective	Regional development
Form of aid	Direct grant
Budget	Overall budget: GBP 0,175 million
Intensity	12,5 %
Duration (period)	Until 31.3.2011
Economic sectors	Shipbuilding
Name and address of the granting authority	Scottish Government
Other information	—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/index.htm

Date of adoption of the decision	8.12.2008
Reference number of the aid	N 613/08
Member State	France
Region	—
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	Dispositif de renforcement des fonds propres des banques
Legal basis	Article 6, III de la loi no 2008-1061 du 16 octobre 2008 de finances rectificative pour le financement de l'économie
Type of measure	Aid scheme
Objective	Aid to remedy serious disturbances in the economy
Form of aid	Other forms of equity intervention
Budget	EUR 21 000 million
Intensity	—
Duration (period)	4.12.2008-4.6.2009
Economic sectors	Financial intermediation
Name and address of the granting authority	Société de prise de participation de l'Etat France
Other information	—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/index.htm

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8.5.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 106/17

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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(Text with EEA relevance)

2009/C 106/05

Date of adoption of the decision	10.3.2009
Reference number of the aid	N 304/08
Member State	Germany
Region	—
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	Richtlinie zur Förderung von Umschlaganlagen des Kombinierten Verkehrs
Legal basis	Richtlinie zur Förderung von Umschlaganlagen des Kombinierten Verkehrs Allgemeine Verwaltungsvorschriften zu §§ 23, 44 BHO
Type of measure	Aid scheme
Objective	To develop combined transport in order to achieve a traffic shift of freight away from road transport to other modes of transport
Form of aid	Non-reimbursable subsidies
Budget	EUR 115 million annually
Intensity	Up to 85 % for construction and extension of transhipment terminals and the purchase of loading equipment
Duration (period)	2009-2011
Economic sectors	Transport sector
Name and address of the granting authority	Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Bau und Stadtentwicklung Invalidenstr. 44 10115 Berlin DEUTSCHLAND

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/index.htm

Date of adoption of the decision	10.3.2009
Reference number of the aid	N 409/08, N 410/08, N 411/08
Member State	Czech Republic
Region	Regiony úrovně NUTS II Jihovýchod, Jihozápad, Moravskoslezsko,Severozápad, Severovýchod, Střední Čechy, Střední Morava
Title	N 409/08 – Pořízení a obnova železničních kolejových vozidel, N 410/08 – Pořízení a obnova vozidel pro městskou dopravu, N 411/08 – Pořízení a obnova vozidel pro regionální dopravu
Legal basis	Zákon č. 248/2000 Sb., o podpoře regionálního rozvoje, ve znění pozdějších předpisů; zákon č. 250/2000 Sb., o rozpočtových pravidlech územních rozpočtů, ve znění pozdějších předpisů; zákon č. 266/1994 Sb., o dráhách, ve znění pozdějších předpisů; vyhláška č. 241/2005 Sb., o prokazatelné ztrátě ve veřejné drážní osobní dopravě a o vymezení souběžné veřejné osobní dopravy; zákon č. 586/1992 Sb., o daních z příjmů, ve znění pozdějších předpisů; vyhláška č. 500/2002 Sb., kterou se provádějí některá ustanovení zákona č. 563/1991 Sb., o účetnictví, ve znění pozdějších předpisů, pro účetní jednotky, které jsou podnikateli účtujícími v soustavě podvojného účetnictví, ve znění pozdějších předpisů; vyhláška č. 504/2002 Sb., kterou se provádějí některá ustanovení zákona č. 563/1991 Sb., o účetnictví, ve znění pozdějších předpisů, pro účetní jednotky, u kterých hlavním předmětem činnosti není podnikání, pokud účtují v soustavě podvojného účetnictví, ve znění pozdějších předpisů; vyhláška č. 175/2000 Sb., o přepravním řádu pro veřejnou drážní a silniční osobní dopravu; usnesení vlády České republiky ze dne 20. prosince 2006 č. 1461 o operačních programech České republiky pro čerpání prostředků ze strukturálních fondů a Fondu soudržnosti Evropské unie pro období let 2007 až 2013; usnesení vlády České republiky ze dne 17. května 2006 č. 560 o Strategii regionálního rozvoje České republiky; usnesení vlády České republiky ze dne 15. listopadu 2006 č. 1302 k postupu přípravy operačních programů pro čerpání prostředků ze strukturálních fondů a Fondu soudržnosti v letech 2000–2013
Type of measure	Aid scheme
Objective	The main objective of support for the acquisition and modernisation of vehicles and rail rolling stock is to enhance integrated passenger transport systems in the Czech Republic
Form of aid	Investment grants
Budget	N 409/08 — Max. CZK 4 323,24 million (EUR 156,73 million) over 5 years N 410/08 — Max. CZK 1 157,03 million (EUR 41,95 million) over 5 years N 411/08 — Max. CZK 1 179,54 million (EUR 42,76 million) over 5 years
Intensity	40 % of the eligible costs except for the region of Jihozápad, where it will be 38 %
Duration (period)	1.1.2009-31.12.2014
Economic sectors	Transport sector
Name and address of the granting authority	Orgánem udělujícím podporu je regionální rada příslušného regionu úrovně NUTS II: Regionální rada regionu soudržnosti Jihovýchod CZ06 Jihovýchod Kounicova 13 602 00 Brno ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA Regionální rada regionu soudržnosti Jihozápad CZ03 Jihozápad Jeronýmova 1750/21 370 01 České Budějovice ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA Regionální rada regionu soudržnosti Moravskoslezsko CZ08 Moravskoslezsko Hrabákova 1/1861 702 00 Ostrava – Moravská Ostrava ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA Regionální rada regionu soudržnosti Severovýchod CZ05 Severovýchod Pražská 320/8 PSČ 500 04 Hradec Králové ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA Regionální rada regionu soudržnosti Severozápad CZ04 Severozápad Mírové náměstí 37 400 01 Ústí nad Labem ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA Regionální rada regionu soudržnosti Střední Čechy CZ02 Střední Čechy Zborovská 11 150 21 Praha 5 ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA Regionální rada regionu soudržnosti Střední Morava CZ07 Střední Morava Jeremenkova 40b 779 00 Olomouc ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA
Other information	—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/index.htm

Date of adoption of the decision	10.3.2009
Reference number of the aid	N 457/08
Member State	The Netherlands
Region	—
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	Nederland — Vermindering van de tonnagebelasting voor grote schepen en scheepsbeheer
Legal basis	Wet inkomstenbelasting 2001
Type of measure	Fiscal measure
Objective	Sectoral development
Form of aid	Replacement of the corporation tax by a lump sum basis
Budget	EUR 0,5 million per year
Intensity	—
Duration (period)	10 years
Economic sectors	Maritime transport
Name and address of the granting authority	—
Other information	—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/index.htm

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8.5.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 106/21

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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(Text with EEA relevance)

2009/C 106/06

Date of adoption of the decision	23.2.2009
Reference number of the aid	N 141/08
Member State	Luxembourg
Region	—
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	Régime d'aide à la protection de l'environnement, à l'utilisation rationnelle de l'énergie et à la production d'énergie de sources renouvelables
Legal basis	Loi du 22 février 2004 instaurant un régime d'aide à la protection de l'environnement, à l'utilisation rationnelle de l'énergie et à la production d'énergie de source renouvelables Loi du 15 juillet 2008 relative au développement économique régional
Type of measure	Aid scheme
Objective	Environmental protection
Form of aid	Direct grant
Budget	Annual budget: EUR 2 million Overall budget: EUR 2 million
Intensity	—
Duration (period)	until 31.12.2009
Economic sectors	All sectors
Name and address of the granting authority	Ministère de l'Économie et du Commerce extérieur 19-21, boulevard Royal 2914 Luxembourg LUXEMBOURG
Other information	—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/index.htm

Date of adoption of the decision	19.1.2009
Reference number of the aid	N 363/08
Member State	Spain
Region	Andalusia
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	Ayudas estatales para el medio ambiente y el desarrollo energético sostenible
Legal basis	Proyecto de Decreto, por el que se establece el marco regolador de las ayudas a favor del medio ambiente y del desarrollo energetico sostenible de Andalucia que se concedan por la Junta de Andalucia
Type of measure	Aid scheme
Objective	Energy saving, Environmental protection
Form of aid	Direct grant, Interest subsidy
Budget	Overall budget: EUR 770,375 million
Intensity	50-80 %
Duration (period)	1.1.2009 – 31.12.2015
Economic sectors	Energy
Name and address of the granting authority	Junta de Andalucia
Other information	—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/index.htm

Date of adoption of the decision	28.1.2009
Reference number of the aid	N 467/08
Member State	Portugal
Region	—
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	AWARE-P (Advanced Water Asset Rehabilitation in Portugal) — Reabilitação de infraestruturas de abastecimento de água e de drenagem de águas residuais em Portugal
Legal basis	Protocolo no. 38A ao Acordo EEE (JO L 130 de 29.4.2004, p. 3)
Type of measure	Individual aid
Objective	Research and development
Form of aid	Direct grant
Budget	Overall budget: EUR 747 841
Intensity	57 %
Duration (period)	until 30.4.2011
Economic sectors	Electricity, gas and water supply
Name and address of the granting authority	Mecanismo financeiro do EEE
Other information	—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/index.htm

Date of adoption of the decision	3.2.2009
Reference number of the aid	N 11/09
Member State	France
Region	—
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	Régime temporaire de prêts bonifiés pour les entreprises fabriquant des produits verts.
Legal basis	Article 20 de la constitution du 4 octobre 1958; articles L. 2251-1, L. 3231-1 et L. 4211-1 du Code général des collectivités territoriales; articles L. 1511-1 à L. 1511-5 du Code général des collectivités territoriales tels que modifiés par l’article 1er de la loi no 2004-809 du 13 août 2004 relative aux libertés et responsabilités locales pour les collectivités territoriales et leurs groupements; circulaire du ministre de l’intérieur du 3 juillet 2006 sur la mise en œuvre de la loi du 13 août 2004 relative aux libertés et responsabilités locales en ce qui concerne les interventions économiques des collectivités territoriales et de leurs groupements et ses annexes; circulaire du Premier ministre du 26 janvier 2006 rappelant la réglementation communautaire de la concurrence applicable aux aides publiques aux entreprises; circulaires DIACT du 30 novembre 2007 et du 24 décembre 2008 relatives à l’application de la règlementation des aides publiques aux entreprises
Type of measure	Aid scheme
Objective	Aid to remedy serious disturbances in the economy
Form of aid	Soft loan
Budget	Overall budget: EUR 500 million
Intensity	—
Duration (period)	until 31.12.2010
Economic sectors	All sectors
Name and address of the granting authority	—
Other information	—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/index.htm

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8.5.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 106/24

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Euro exchange rates (1)

7 May 2009

2009/C 106/07

1 euro =

	Currency	Exchange rate
USD	US dollar	1,3363
JPY	Japanese yen	132,72
DKK	Danish krone	7,4487
GBP	Pound sterling	0,88470
SEK	Swedish krona	10,4770
CHF	Swiss franc	1,5166
ISK	Iceland króna
NOK	Norwegian krone	8,6200
BGN	Bulgarian lev	1,9558
CZK	Czech koruna	26,463
EEK	Estonian kroon	15,6466
HUF	Hungarian forint	276,60
LTL	Lithuanian litas	3,4528
LVL	Latvian lats	0,7091
PLN	Polish zloty	4,3038
RON	Romanian leu	4,1180
TRY	Turkish lira	2,0601
AUD	Australian dollar	1,7591
CAD	Canadian dollar	1,5569
HKD	Hong Kong dollar	10,3566
NZD	New Zealand dollar	2,2385
SGD	Singapore dollar	1,9591
KRW	South Korean won	1 681,34
ZAR	South African rand	11,1581
CNY	Chinese yuan renminbi	9,1160
HRK	Croatian kuna	7,3629
IDR	Indonesian rupiah	13 891,45
MYR	Malaysian ringgit	4,7098
PHP	Philippine peso	63,152
RUB	Russian rouble	43,6295
THB	Thai baht	46,630
BRL	Brazilian real	2,8060
MXN	Mexican peso	17,3576
INR	Indian rupee	65,6120

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(1)  Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

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8.5.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 106/25

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Ex post publicity of Eurostat grants in 2008

2009/C 106/08

In accordance with Article 110(2) of the Financial Regulation and Article 169 of its implementing rules, the public is hereby informed of the actions subsidised by Eurostat in the year 2008.

The electronic file showing the actions concerned can be found in list form on the EUROPA server (http://europa.eu.int). You can access this list via ‘Services’, ‘Grants’, ‘Statistics’, ‘Eurostat Grants’ and the file ‘List of grants awarded in 2008’.

The list gives the file number, the unit concerned, the name and country of the beneficiaries, the title of the action, the amount of the grant and the rate of Community co-financing for the action.

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8.5.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 106/26

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5467 — RWE/Essent)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2009/C 106/09

1.

On 29 April 2009, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking RWE Aktiengesellschaft (‘RWE’, Germany) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Essent N.V. (‘Essent’, the Netherlands) by way of purchase of shares.

2.	The business activities of the undertakings concerned are: — RWE: electricity and natural gas, — Essent: electricity, natural gas and heating.

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.

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 2964301 or 2967244) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5467 — RWE/Essent, to the following address: European Commission Directorate-General for Competition Merger Registry J-70 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel BELGIQUE/BELGIË

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

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8.5.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 106/27

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Publication of an application pursuant to Article 8(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 509/2006 on agricultural products and foodstuffs as traditional specialities guaranteed

2009/C 106/10

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 9 of Council Regulation (EC) No 509/2006 (1). Statements of objection must reach the Commission within six months from the date of this publication.

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF A TSG

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 509/2006

‘SKILANDIS’

EC No: LT-TSG-007-0032-15.6.2005

1.   Name and address of the applicant group:

Name of group/or organisation (if relevant)	:	Lietuvos mėsos perdirbėjų asociacija.
Address	:	A. Vienuolio g. 8 LT-01104 Vilnius LIETUVA/LITHUANIA
Tel.	:	+370 52126814
Fax	:	+370 52126814
E-mail	:	lmpa@takas.lt

2.   Member State or third country:

Lithuania

3.   Product specification:

3.1.   Name(s) to be registered (Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1216/2007):

‘Skilandis’

3.2.   Name:

	is specific in itself
	expresses the specific character of the agricultural product or foodstuff

Reference material at the Lithuanian Folk Life Museum at Rumšiškės indicates that the word ‘skilandis’ is mentioned in written records from various places in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania dating from the 16th to 18th centuries. The name appears in Theodor Lepner’s Prūsų-lietuvių kalbų žodynas [Prussian-Lithuanian Dictionary] of 1680 and in Lithuanian-German dictionaries published by Philipp Ruhig in 1747, Christian Moeleke in 1800 and Friedrich Kurschat in 1883. It is used to denote the product throughout Lithuania. The product name is unique, has stood the test of time and is still used.

3.3.   Whether reservation of the name is sought under Article 13(2) of Regulation (EC) No 509/2006:

	registration with reservation of the name
	registration, without reservation of the name

3.4.   Type of product [as in Annex II]:

Class 1.2:

Meat-based products (cooked, salted, smoked, etc.)

3.5.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff to which the name under point 3.1. applies (Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1216/2007):

‘Skilandis’ is a smoked meat product in a natural casing, bound with string, with an uneven, rough surface, in the shape of a compressed tear or smallish courgette. It has a diameter of at least 80 mm, and its weight may vary. In bygone days, ‘skilandis’ was produced using a pig’s stomach for the casing but, since the early 20th century, pigs’ bladders or cows’ caecums have been used as casings. Home-made skilandis is usually made from pork only, whereas meat-processing firms use both pork and beef in its production.

An acidic, spicy, savoury, salty taste and the specific flavour and aroma that develop during maturing and drying are characteristic of ‘skilandis’, as is its colour in cross-section, which ranges from pinkish red to dark red and may be more intense closer to the edges. It has a discernible spicy and slightly smoky aroma. It has a rigid consistency. Pieces of fat no bigger than 20 mm are distributed unevenly in lean meat.

The physico-chemical characteristics of ‘skilandis’ are as follows:

—	maximum moisture content: 40 %,

—	minimum meat protein content, excluding collagen: 16 %,

—	maximum common salt content: 5 %,

—	maximum fat content: 35 %,

—	pH: at least 5,0;

—	product weight: 0,4-2,0 kg.

‘Skilandis’ may also be presented for sale in halves or sliced, vacuum-packed or in modified-atmosphere packaging.

3.6.   Description of the production method of the agricultural product or foodstuff to which the name under point 3.1. applies (Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1216/2007):

Ingredients:

—	lean pork, the visible intramuscular fat content of which does not exceed 5 %. The following parts of the carcass may be used: leg, shoulder without shank and loin. Lean pork makes up about half of ‘skilandis’;

—

up to 60 % of the lean pork may be replaced by the same quantity of lean beef, the visible fat and fine vein content of which does not exceed 5 %. The following parts of the carcass may be used: inside cap off, outside meat, knuckle, striploin, eye of rump, cube roll, blade bolar, blade oyster and blade undercut;

—	semi-fatty pork, the intermuscular and subcutaneous fat content of which does not exceed 30 %. The following parts of the carcass may be used: shoulder inside, shoulder lower half and neck;

—	fatty pork without rind, the fat content of which does not exceed 55 %. Semi-fatty and fatty pork together make up about one quarter of ‘skilandis’;

—	back fat without rind. Back fat makes up about one quarter of ‘skilandis’;

—	common salt: 26–30 g to 1 kg of meat;

—	spices, i.e. black pepper, white pepper and allspice: 2–3 g to 1 kg of meat. These are added ground or whole, as peppercorns;

—	garlic: 2–3 g to 1 kg of meat;

—	sugar: 2–5 g to 1 kg of meat;

—	preservative E250 (sodium nitrite): 50–180 mg to 1 kg of meat;

—	antioxidants E300 (ascorbic acid) and E301 (sodium ascorbate): 0,5–1 g to 1 kg of meat;

—	caraway, ground bay leaf and ground nutmeg may also be added in a quantity of up to 2–3 g to 1 kg of meat.

Production method:

‘Skilandis’ is produced using a traditional method. It is recommended that the meat of adult animals be used.

Chilled pork is cut up into 10–30 mm pieces, manually or with the aid of special machines, and the fat is cut up into 5–20 mm pieces. Chilled beef is passed through a mincer fitted with a 2–5 mm hole disc.

The chopped and minced meat is mixed with common salt and sodium nitrite, sugar, spices and food additives in a blender or food mill. Mixing takes at least 10 minutes. The stuffing thus produced is allowed to stand for at least six hours at a temperature no higher than + 4 °C. Using stuffing machines, the meat is stuffed into natural pigs’ bladders or cows’ caecums, the diameter of which is greater than that of casings normally used for cold-smoked sausages. When stuffing the meat into a bladder or caecum, it is very important to prevent the inclusion of air. During the subsequent stage in the production process, the inner parts of the ‘skilandis’ undergo slow drying and intensive fermentation, and this is what determines the characteristic organoleptic properties of ‘skilandis’. The stuffing is fed slowly into the casing, and pressed into the bladder or caecum. Any air which has entered with the stuffing is removed by squeezing the casing. The casing has to be stuffed so tightly that no gap forms between the surface of the product and the casing owing to shrinkage of the stuffing during smoking and drying.

The stuffed bladder or caecum is bound with natural thick thread or string. The stuffed product is manually bound with string along its length, dividing the product into four parts. If stuffed into a caecum, the product is additionally bound crosswise every 4–5 cm.

The bound ‘skilandis’ is hung on frames in such a way that they do not touch each other and are matured at a temperature no higher than + 4 °C for at least three days. During this operation, the stuffing in the casing becomes more compact, the colour of the product stabilises and selective development of micro-organisms occurs, which helps to create the conditions that impart the product's specific taste and aroma.

After maturing, ‘skilandis’ is smoked at 18–30 °C in smoke obtained from burning sawdust from the wood of deciduous trees (alder, aspen, birch, beech, poplar, oak). Initial maturing and smoking may be carried out in climatic chambers and in dryers of various designs. ‘Skilandis’ is smoked discontinuously, with intervals, during which it is dried at a temperature of 18–28 °C. The length of the smoking process (including intervals) depends on the smoking equipment used and the size of the ‘skilandis’, and may be 2–15 days. The length of time for which ‘skilandis’ is smoked determines the intensity of its colour, and the product acquires a characteristic smoky smell by the end of the process.

Smoked ‘skilandis’ is dried at a temperature of 8–18 °C and a relative humidity of 90–75 %. The biochemical processes brought on by the development of micro-organisms and the action of tissue ferments continue during the drying process, as a result of which ‘skilandis’ acquires its characteristic taste and aroma. ‘Skilandis’ is dried for at least 30 days, until it attains the required moisture content and acquires its typical organoleptic characteristics.

‘Skilandis’ is left to hang indoors at a temperature of 0-15 °C.

3.7.   Specific character of the agricultural product or foodstuff (Article 3(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1216/2007)

The most important specific properties characteristic of ‘skilandis’ are:

Appearance — ‘skilandis’ is a smoked meat product in a natural pig’s bladder or cow’s caecum casing, bound with string, with an uneven, rough surface, in the shape of a compressed tear or a smallish courgette. It has a diameter of at least 80 mm and weighs 0,4-2 kg.

Appearance in cross-section — the colour of slices varies from pinkish red to dark red and may be more intense around the edges. Pieces of fat no bigger than 20 mm are distributed unevenly in lean meat. Inclusions of various spices may be visible.

Production method — pork and beef is coarsely chopped by hand or coarsely minced in a mincer, seasoned with traditional spices and stuffed into a natural pig’s bladder or cow’s caecum casing. After drying, ‘skilandis’ is smoked several times in smoke from the wood of deciduous trees, and after smoking, it is dried for at least 30 days.

Taste and smell — an acidic, spicy, savoury, salty taste and the specific flavour and aroma resulting from specific and exceptional fermentation processes that take place during maturing and drying are characteristic features of ‘skilandis’. It has a discernible spicy and slightly smoky aroma. The above mentioned fermentation processes essentially depend on the ingredients included in the recipe, which are very commonly found in the Lithuanian climate.

Consumption traditions — mainly served up during festivals, on special occasions, at gatherings and during busy periods in the farming calendar. It is sliced thinly and eaten with brown bread.

3.8.   Traditional character of the agricultural product or foodstuff (Article 3(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1216/2007):

‘Skilandis’ is considered to be a national dish in Lithuania. In Lietuvos kulinarijos paveldas by B. Imbrasienė (publ. Baltos lankos, 2008), ‘skilandis’ is the first of several traditional meat products to be mentioned. Since days of old, it has been put aside in Lithuanian villages for busy period on farms in summer (haymaking, the rye harvest) and to offer to guests. In Būdas senovės lietuvių, kalnėnų ir žemaičių, published in 1845, the Lithuanian author Simonas Daukantas wrote that in bygone Lithuania ‘skilandis’ was a food that was offered to guests. ‘Skilandis’ is also mentioned in many other classics of 19th and 20th-century Lithuanian literature. A map in Lietuvių kalbos atlasas (Atlas of the Lithuanian Language) (Vilnius, 1977) showing the distribution of the word ‘skilandis’ reveals that the name of this foodstuff was known in all parts of Lithuania apart from the north-west.

In bygone days, ‘skilandis’ was produced using a pig’s stomach for the casing but, since the early 20th century, pigs’ bladders or cows’ caecums have been used as casings. Home-made ‘skilandis’ is usually made from pork only, whereas meat-processing firms use both pork and beef in its production.

The Lietuviška tarybinė enciklopedija (Soviet Lithuanian Encyclopaedia) (Vilnius, 1983) describes ‘skilandis’ as follows: ‘a raw or smoked sausage of coarsely chopped meat. It is made from semi-fatty pork (≈ 85 %) and beef (≈ 15 %). The meat is cut up into pieces measuring 2-3 cm by 1,5 cm. Salt is added (≈ 3,5 % of the meat mixture), saltpetre (sodium nitrate), sugar, black pepper, allspice and garlic. The stuffing is forced into a pig’s stomach or bladder or a cow’s rectum or caecum casing. It is normally smoked. It is produced in meat-processing plants or made in people’s homes.’

3.9.   Minimum requirements and procedures to check the specific character (Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1216/2007):

The checks carried out cover:

—	conformity of the raw materials to the requirements laid down;

—	adherence to the correct order of the steps in the production process;

—	compliance with production process parameters;

—	product drying time;

—	the organoleptic properties of the finished product (appearance, taste, aroma, colour, consistency);

—	the physico-chemical indicators of the finished product (moisture content, protein content excluding collagen, common salt content, pH, fat content);

—	storage of the final product. The ambient temperature and humidity are checked during storage.

The inspection authority will carry out the necessary checks, which are to be performed at least once a year. The inspection authority will review producers’ monitoring systems and critical control point checks and check producers’ documentation.

4.   Authorities or bodies verifying compliance with the product specification:

4.1.   Name and address:

Name	:	Lietuvos Respublikos valstybinė maisto ir veterinarijos tarnyba
Address	:	Siesikų g. 19 LT-07170 Vilnius LIETUVA/LITHUANIA
Tel.	:	+370 52404361
E-mail	:	vvt@vet.lt

Public Private

4.2.   Specific tasks of the authority or body:

The inspection authority referred to under point 4.1 1is responsible for monitoring all the criteria set out in the specification.

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(1)  OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12.

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