State aid for agro-environmental measures: Britain; Germany
Authorization for State aid (cases where the Commission raises no objections) has been approved with regard to the following RTD-related projects: - Germany (Baden-Wuerttemberg): MEKA programme. An extensive series of measures to integrate the protection and preservation of the environment into all the region's agricultural production. The Community will contribute up to 50% of the cost of the programme, to a total of ECU 174 million over the period 1993-1997, in the form of a guarantee on the part of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (FEOGA); - Germany (Brandenburg): The establishment of agricultural exploitation in valley areas frequently subject to flooding, and the upkeep of abandoned areas in order to maintain traditional rural countrysides (these two actions form parts of a more extensive programme to be presented to the Commission in the future). The Community will finance up to 75% of the cost of the two measures, representing a total financial contribution of ECU 12.75 million; - United Kingdom: Five new programmes will enable farmers in various ESAs (Environmentally Sensitive Areas) to undertake, on a voluntary basis, the introduction or continuation of farming practices compatible with environmental protection and measures that will help preserve countryside features. Measures include the reduction or abandonment of the use of fertilizers, the matching of livestock densities to the supporting environment, conversion of arable land to extensive pastureland, and the maintenance of traditional rural features. A total of 20 ESAs are involved (16 in England plus 4 in Scotland) of which 18 were already covered by previous management programmes and two have been added. The total eligible cost of the programmes for 1993-1997 is in approximately ECU 76 million, of which 50% will be borne by the Community from the Guarantee Section of the EAGGF.
Countries
Germany, United Kingdom