52004XC0331(03)

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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2004/C 81/04)

Date of adoption of the decision: 1.3.2004

Member State: The Netherlands

Aid No: N 8/04

Title: Socio-economic plan for the livestock sector

Objective: The project is aimed at offering technical assistance on the long-term perspectives of poulty farming to farmers who have been affected by the outbreak of avian influenza

Legal basis: Kaderwet LNV-subsidies

Budget: EUR 2100000 of which EUR 1680000 in 2003 and EUR 420000 in 2004

Aid intensity or amount: 100 %

Duration: 1.1.2003-31.12.2004

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

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

Date of adoption of the decision: 1.3.2004

Member State: Italy (Veneto)

Aid No: N 289/A/03

Title: Aid to poultry farmers whose farms have been affected by avian influenza

Objective: To compensate poultry farmers for losses suffered as a result of the slaughter of infected animals by order of the public authorities and preventive measures prescribed by them during the avian influenza epidemics affecting the Veneto region from August 2000 to March 2001 and from October 2000 to October 2003

Legal basis: Delibera della Giunta regionale del Veneto n. 808 del 28 maggio 2003 di attuazione della legge regionale 7 aprile 2000, n. 8

Budget: The overall amount allocated to fund these measures in the 2003 regional budget (budget chapter No 12599) is EUR 9186158,12. The overall amount allocated for these measures in the national budget under Article 129(1)(c) of Law No 388 of 23 December 2000, as amended by Article 69(18) of Law No 289 of 27 December 2002, is estimated at EUR 5700000 (total of EUR 14886158,12)

Aid intensity or amount: Up to 80 % of the loss of income

Duration: Ad hoc measures to cover the damage suffered by poultry farms as a result of the epidemics affecting the Veneto region from the end of August 2000 to the end of March 2001 and from the end of October 2002 to the beginning of October 2003

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

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

Date of adoption of the decision: 1.3.2004

Member State: Finland

Aid No: N 635/03

Title: Amendment of Finnvera loan program for the processing and marketing of agricultural products

Objective: Granting of investment aid to companies processing agricultural products. The notification would amend the existing scheme N 552/02, approved by the Commission on 28 October 2002. Under the existing aid scheme aid is granted only to SMEs. After the notified amendment to the scheme investment and working capital loans would be granted also to enterprises that are not SMEs. No other changes would be introduced to the existing aid scheme

Legal basis: No changes to the existing aid scheme. The measure is based on law 443/1998 and law 445/1998, which regulate the operations of Finnvera plc, on Government commitment to Finnvera plc of 17 December 1998, as last amended on 15 December 2001, for payment of regional interest subsidy and special interest subsidy, on Government commitment to Finnvera plc of 17 December 1998, as last amended on 15 November 2001, on partial coverage of credit and guarantee losses, and on the Articles of Association of Finnvera plc, as of 2 August 2001

Budget: No changes to the existing aid scheme. The yearly amount of subsidised loans granted annually under the existing aid scheme has been estimated at EUR 24,5 million

Aid intensity or amount: No changes to the existing aid scheme. Up to 40 % (50 % for less-favoured areas) in investment loans

Duration: Unlimited

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

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