CMO wine - aid measure investments - 2023/24 wine year

This aid finances the purchase of tangible and intangible assets aimed at improving the overall performance of the enterprise, especially in terms of adapting to market demand, and increasing its competitiveness and concerns the production and/or marketing of products also with a view to improving energy savings, overall efficiency and sustainable treatments.

Applications may be submitted concerning:

- annual projects to be completed by 30 June 2024;

- two-year projects to be completed by 30 June 2025.

The above-mentioned tangible and/or intangible investments must be maintained in the farm for a minimum period of five years from the date of final payment. Pursuant to Article 11(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 2022/126, the investment, which is the subject of aid, must retain its intended use, nature and the specific purposes for which it was made, and may not be alienated, sold or transferred for any reason whatsoever, except in cases of force majeure and exceptional circumstances, unforeseeable at the time of submitting the aid application and/or request for final payment, pursuant to Article 2) - paragraph 1) of Regulation (EU) No 2021/2116.

Therefore, in the five years following the date of payment of the final balance, for the assets realised or purchased thanks to the public contribution received, it is mandatory and compulsory to comply with the constraint set forth in Article 71 of Regulation (EU) No. 1303/2013.

The asset must maintain its intended use, nature and the specific purpose for which it was made. In cases of force majeure and exceptional circumstances, Article 3(1) of Regulation (EU) No. 2021/2116 as well as Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No. 640/2014 shall apply.

They may apply:

1. Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises; as defined in Article 2(1) of Title I of the Annex to Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC, dated 06 May 2003, whose activity is at least one of the following

(a) the production of grape must obtained by processing fresh grapes which they have themselves obtained, purchased or contributed by their members, including for the purpose of marketing it
(b) the production of wine obtained from the processing of fresh grapes or grape must which they have themselves obtained, purchased or contributed by their members, including for the purpose of marketing it
(c) the processing, ageing and/or packaging of wine, whether or not for the purpose of marketing it, provided by the members and/or purchased, also for the purpose of marketing it.

The following are excluded (c) the processing, ageing and/or packaging of wine, conferred by the members and/or purchased, also for the purpose of marketing it;

(d) the production of wine through the processing of their own grapes by third party winemakers, where the application is for the setting up ex novo of a processing plant or wine infrastructure, including for the purpose of marketing.
2. Intermediate enterprises; which employ less than 750 persons or whose annual turnover does not exceed EUR 200 million, whose classification is not indicated in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC dated 06 May 2003, but is also provided for in Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 in paragraph 2 of Article 50. Whose intended activity is at least one of the following:
(a) the production of grape must obtained from the processing of fresh grapes obtained by them, purchased or contributed by their members, including for the purpose of marketing it;
(b) the production of wine obtained from the processing of fresh grapes or grape must which they have themselves obtained, purchased or contributed by their members, including for the purpose of marketing it
(c) the processing, ageing and/or packaging of wine, whether or not for the purpose of marketing it, provided by the members and/or purchased, also for the purpose of marketing it.

The following are excluded from the subsidy are companies that carry out only the marketing of the products subject to the
supported;
(d) the production of wine through the processing of their own grapes by third party winemakers, where the application is for the setting up ex novo of a processing plant or wine infrastructure, including for the purpose of marketing.
3. Large enterprises employing more than 750 employees or whose annual turnover exceeds €200 million.

Whose planned activity is at least one of the following
(a) the production of grape must obtained from the processing of fresh grapes which they themselves have obtained, purchased or contributed by their members, including for the purpose of marketing it;
(b) the production of wine obtained from the processing of fresh grapes or grape must which they have themselves obtained, purchased or contributed by their members, including for the purpose of marketing it
(c) the processing, ageing and/or packaging of wine, whether or not for the purpose of marketing it, provided by the members and/or purchased, also for the purpose of marketing it.

The following are excluded from the subsidy are companies that carry out only the marketing of the products subject to the
supported;
(d) the production of wine through the processing of their own grapes by third party winemakers, where the application is for the setting up ex novo of a processing plant or wine infrastructure, including for the purposes of marketing.

In order to apply for aid, applicants

- must hold a VAT number;
- be registered in the business register of the C.C.I.A.A;
- be in order with the electronic business file in accordance with Presidential Decree No 503/1999 and Legislative Decree No 99/2004 updated and valid;

- they must be in order with the current legislation on compulsory declarations as per Regulation (EC) No 436/2009 and subsequent amendments and additions.

- must be enrolled in the Provincial Archive of Agricultural Enterprises (A.P.I.A.) or alternatively have carried out the activity of wine grower for at least three years (demonstrable by compulsory wine production declarations) or have a qualification in agricultural subjects or have among their employees a technician with a qualification in agricultural subjects.

In order to submit the application, the aspiring beneficiary gives a mandate to a CAA that will make use of the IT procedures set up on SIAN.

Support applications must be submitted to the AGEA paying agency only through the computerised procedure available on the National Agricultural Information System (S.I.A.N.), following the circulars/instructions provided.

Applications must be submitted through an Authorised Agricultural Assistance Centre (A.A.C.) mandated by the applicant.

The aid application must be accompanied by the documentation required by A.G.E.A. in its own circulars/operational instructions.

Depending on the accounting regime adopted, the applicant must produce a declaration signed by the legal representative stating which books and records are compulsory for the company applying for the aid.

In the case of uniqueness of the asset referred to in A.G.E.A. Circular No 27/2023, point 10.3(o), a copy of the patent certificate must be provided as proof of uniqueness.

- accompanying form of all documentation sent to the competent PAT office

- annexes as provided for by AGEA - Operating Instructions no. 27 of 28 March 2023

1. Advance payment.

Applications for advance payments, if any, must be submitted exclusively electronically through the appropriate service made available on the S.I.A.N. (Sistema Informativo Agricolo Nazionale - National Agricultural Information System) portal, using the prescribed computerised procedure through an Authorised Agricultural Assistance Centre (A.A.C.) mandated by the applicant.
Applications for advance payments must be accompanied by an appropriate policy/guarantee in favour of A.G.E.A., drawn up according to the scheme provided by the same Agency and downloaded directly from the S.I.A.N. portal.

The submission of applications for advance payments and the respective payment must take place no later than the marketing year in which the application for aid is made.

2. Completion of operations - deadlines

Operations and/or interventions must be completed

- by 30 June 2024 forannual applications

- by 30 June 2025 for biennial applications

and by the same dates the relevant applications for payment of the balance must be submitted using the computerised service provided on the S.I.A.N. portal, using the computerised procedure through an Authorised Agricultural Assistance Centre (A.A.C.) mandated by the applicant.

3. Modalities for submitting an application for payment of the balance.

The application for payment of the balance must be accompanied by the documentation required by A.G.E.A. in its circulars/operating instructions.

In order to carry out the preliminary investigation as provided for by the same circular, the following must be provided:
1. copy of the bank statement pertaining to all payments of invoices relating to purchases (the account statement must show the account holder, IBAN, date, number and reason for and amount of the transaction)
2. copy of the page of the VAT register where the invoice for the purchase of the goods being financed was recorded, date, stamp and legal representative signature at the bottom
3. copy of the page of the depreciable assets register where the goods subject to financing were recorded, date, stamp and legal representative signature at the bottom
4. copy of the supplier's ledger, date, stamp and legal representative's signature at the bottom;
5. purchase summary as shown in the diagram with serial numbers of the goods, date, stamp and legal representative signature at the bottom;
6. photographic documentation showing the presence of the asset being financed, of the plate bearing "Intervention financed pursuant to Reg. (EU) no. 2021/2115 art. 58 paragraph 1 lett. b) - Investments camp. 2023/2024" and the nameplate with the identification data;
7. transmission note of documents for payment of the balance of the contribution signed by the person in charge of the C.A.A..

The accounting documents foreseen in points 2, 3, 4 shall be produced according to the accounting regime adopted by the beneficiary.
The expenditure documents (invoices), in addition to the wording foreseen by the A.G.E.A. with its own operating instructions, to be affixed to the purchase invoices "Reg. (EU) no. 2021/2115 art. 58 paragraph 1 lett. b) - Investments camp. 2023/2024" must report the Unique Project Code (CUP) that the Provincial Administration will communicate to each applicant.

The expenditure documents (subsidies and reba) must report the Unique Project Code (CUP) in addition to the invoice number and date of reference.

4. Transmission of balance payment applications to the Province

Applications for payment of the balance, in paper form, accompanied by the annexes, all the documents indicated in the application itself and foreseen by this deliberation of criteria and by the A.G.E.A. Operational Instructions, must be transmitted, without fail, by the C.A.A., to the Rural Development Policy Service - Office for the Protection of Agricultural Production - within three working days following the last date of presentation of the application for payment.