Translation of "Directrice de la commercialisation et de l'expansion " (French → English) :

Unless specified elsewhere in these guidelines, for example for aid linked to environmental protection, the Commission will thus only authorise aid for investment for companies active in the processing and marketing of agricultural products with 750 employees and more and a turnover of EUR 200 million and more, if it fulfils all the conditions of the guidelines on national regional aid 2007–2013, up to the maximum amount determined in the regional aid map approved for the Member States concerned for the period 2007–2013, in the regions eligible for regional aid.

In particular, in the adjusted business plan, the different pillars of future development of the business were mentioned explicitly: organic growth in credit insurance business (first pillar, see recital 48), expansion into other business segments in Italy (second pillar, see recital 48) and external growth, with a mention ‘to be developed further’ (second and third pillars, see recital 48), depending on the activities of a target firm).

In accordance with point 196 of the Community guidelines for State aid in the agriculture and forestry sector 2007 to 2013 (2), Member States must amend their amend their existing aid schemes to conform with the guidelines by 31 December 2007 at the latest, except for existing aid schemes for investments in connection with processing and marketing of agricultural products, that have to be eliminated by 31 December 2008 at the latest, and for investments concerning land purchase in agricultural holdings, that have to be amended to conform with the guidelines by 31 December 2009.

For the purpose of these guidelines, ‘marketing of an agricultural product’ means holding or displaying with a view to sale, offering for sale, delivery or any other manner of placing on the market, except the first sale by a primary producer to resellers or processors and any activity preparing a product for such first sale; a sale by a primary producer to final consumers shall be considered as marketing if it takes place in separate premises reserved for that purpose.

Unless specifically provided for in these guidelines by reference to the agriculture sector as opposed to either primary production (farmers) or processing and marketing, aid in favour of agricultural processing and marketing shall only be declared compatible with Article 87(2) or (3) of the Treaty if such aid would also be declared compatible if granted in favour of non-agricultural enterprises outside specific sectors such as transport or fishery.

These Guidelines apply to the entire fisheries sector and concern the exploitation of living aquatic resources and aquaculture together with the means of production, processing and marketing of the resultant products, but excluding recreation and sport fishing which does not result in the sale of fisheries products.