FrancophonIA/DGT-Translation_Memory huggingface dataset:
English: A careful reading of the decision itself shows that it challenges, generically, the new tariff scheme introduced by the 2004 Decree in favour of the beneficiaries concerned (Portovesme Srl, ILA Spa, Euroallumina Spa and Alcoa), and cannot be interpreted as challenging the Alumix scheme itself. This conclusion is substantiated by the following observations.
French: Une lecture attentive de la décision démontre que cette dernière conteste, de manière générale, le nouveau régime tarifaire institué par le décret de 2004 en faveur de plusieurs bénéficiaires (Portovesme Srl, ILA Spa, Euroalluminia Spa et Alcoa) et ne saurait être interprétée comme une mise en cause du régime Alumix en tant que tel. Cette conclusion est corroborée par les observations suivantes.
Slovak: Dôsledné znenie samotného rozhodnutia naznačuje, že vo všeobecnosti spochybňuje novú tarifnú schému zavedenú vyhláškou z roku 2004 v prospech konkrétnych príjemcov (Portovesme Srl, ILA Spa, Euroallumina Spa a Alcoa) a nemôže sa vykladať ako spochybňujúca samotnú schému podniku Alumix.
English: By letter dated 22 March 2005, it forwarded those comments to Italy, which was given the opportunity to respond. Italy’s comments were received by letter dated 20 September 2005.
Dutch: De Commissie heeft deze bij brief van 22 maart 2005 voor een reactie doorgezonden aan Italië en heeft bij brief van 20 september 2005 diens opmerkingen ontvangen.
Hungarian: Olaszország észrevételeit 2005. szeptember 20-én kelt levelében juttatta el a Bizottság számára.
English: The investigation therefore focuses on one substantive measure: the prolongation of the Alcoa tariff from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2010 under Law No 80/2005 read in conjunction with the relevant regulatory provisions adopted by the AEEG. However, given that there has been only one Alcoa tariff, regardless of the legal basis relied upon to grant it, if Italy were to consider that the 2004 Decree could be relied upon for the period January 2006-June 2007, the findings of the present decision should be considered applicable to the measure introduced by the 2004 Decree [63] as well.
Hungarian: Mindazonáltal amennyiben Olaszország úgy véli, hogy a 80/2005. sz. törvény elfogadása ellenére a 2004. évi rendelet jogalapként szolgálhat a 2006. januártól 2007. júniusig terjedő időszakra, e határozat következtetéseit a 2004. évi rendelet által bevezetett intézkedésre is alkalmazandónak kell tekinteni [63].
English: The standard tariff was divided into two parts, A and B, each consisting of several tariff components. Part A reflected fixed system costs, including general system charges, while Part B reflected variable generation costs (notably fuel costs).
Hungarian: Az átalánydíjat két részre, A-ra és B-re osztották, és mindkét rész több díjösszetevőből áll. Az A. részbe a rendszer állandó költségei tartoznak, ideértve az általános költségeket, míg a B. részbe a különböző termelési költségek tartoznak (például a tüzelőanyag ára).
English: The price set for Alcoa was shown to comply with these criteria. As for the modest annual increases in the Alcoa price set for the following ten years, the Commission considered them justified by the prediction that ENEL’s marginal cost of production would decrease over the years, thanks to improvements in the fuel mix and generation technologies.
Italian: Risultava che il prezzo stabilito per Alcoa rispondeva a tali criteri.Per quanto riguarda i modesti incrementi annui del prezzo di Alcoa previsti per i dieci anni successivi, la Commissione li aveva considerati giustificati in base alla previsione che il costo di produzione marginale di ENEL sarebbe diminuito nel corso degli anni grazie a miglioramenti nel mix di combustibili e nelle tecnologie di produzione.
Maltese: Irriżulta li l-prezz stabbilit għal Alcoa kien jikkonforma ma’ dawn il-kriterji.Għal dak li għandu x’jaqsam maż-żiediet annwali modesti tal-prezz ta’ Alcoa previsti għall-għaxar snin ta’ wara, il-Kummissjoni kienet ikkunsidrathom ġustifikati skont il-previżjoni li l-prezz marġinali tal-produzzjoni ta’ ENEL kellu jonqos tul is-snin grazzi għal titjib fit-taħlita tal-fjuwil u fit-teknoloġiji tal-produzzjoni.
English: In 1997 the standard electricity tariff [22] was restructured and divided into tariff components [23]. The Alcoa tariff underwent a first change.
Italian: Nel 1997 la tariffa elettrica standard [22] è stata ristrutturata e suddivisa in componenti tariffarie [23] Il regime Alcoa ha subito un primo cambiamento.Il prezzo Alumix, che era una cifra globale prima della riforma, è stato disaggregato in varie componenti tariffarie in modo da adattarsi alla nuova struttura tariffaria.
English: The tariff components applicable to Alcoa were reduced in such a way that the end-price corresponded exactly to that of the Alumix decision. At this stage, ENEL, as Italy’s sole electricity supplier, was still granting the tariff directly: it charged Alcoa the Alumix price, and did not receive any separate compensation in respect of its supplies to the undertaking.
Italian: In quella fase, ENEL, in quanto unico fornitore di energia elettrica in Italia, continuava a concedere direttamente la tariffa: applicava ad Alcoa il prezzo Alumix senza ricevere alcuna compensazione per le forniture a detta impresa.
English: In addition, the Commission wondered whether the measure might have the effect of reducing the level of taxation applicable to the company. Such a reduction would have to derive its legal basis from Council Directive 2003/96/EC of 27 October 2003 restructuring the Community framework for the taxation of energy products and electricity [35].
Italian: Inoltre, la Commissione ha espresso il dubbio che la misura potesse avere l’effetto di ridurre il livello di tassazione applicabile alle società.Siffatta riduzione avrebbe dovuto trovare una base giuridica nella direttiva 2003/96/CE del Consiglio, del 27 ottobre 2003, che ristruttura il quadro comunitario per la tassazione dei prodotti energetici e dell’elettricità [35].
English: However, at that date the 2004 Decree had been superseded de facto by Law No 80/2005, which took effect on 1 January 2006 (see recitals 48 and 142). Therefore, the 2004 Decree is, in substance, not relevant to the present investigation.
Italian: Tuttavia, a quella data, il decreto del 2004 era stato di fatto superato dalla legge n. 80/2005 che è entrata in vigore il 1o gennaio 2006 (cfr. considerando 48 e 142) Quindi, tale decreto, in sostanza, non è pertinente ai fini della presente indagine.
English: In the first half of 2009, prices in Sardinia continually remained above the national average (with an average price of EUR 106,60 MW/h compared with a PUN of EUR 60,50 MW/h). There are no figures concerning the prices for bilateral contracts in Sardinia, as such data is not publicly available and Italy has chosen not to provide it (see recital 63).
Italian: Nella prima metà del 2009 la Sardegna si è attestata costantemente al di sopra della media nazionale (con un prezzo medio di 106,60 EUR al MW/h rispetto a un PUN di 60,50 al MW/h) Non sono disponibili i prezzi relativi ai contratti bilaterali in Sardegna, in quanto tali dati non sono di pubblico dominio e l’Italia non ha inteso fornirli (cfr. sopra, considerando 63).
English: In the early 1990s, as part of the liquidation of the State-owned conglomerate EFIM [16], the Italian aluminium producer Alumix was restructured, privatised and sold to Alcoa. Alumix operated two primary aluminium smelters, one in Portovesme, Sardinia, and the other in Fusina, Veneto.
Lithuanian: Praėjusio amžiaus paskutinio dešimtmečio pradžioje, likviduojant valstybinį konglomeratą EFIM [16], „Alumix“ valdė dvi pagrindines aliuminio lydyklas – vieną Portovezmėje (Sardinija), o kitą Fuzinoje (Venetas).
English: However, the date was subsequently changed to 1 January 2006 by AEEG Decision No 286/05/EC on instructions from the national authorities. (49) In order to determine the price which Alcoa should pay beyond 2005, Law No 80/2005 introduced an indexation mechanism whereby, from 1 January 2006, the preferential price (that is the price set in the Alumix decision for the year 2005) was to increase by 4 % yearly, or, alternatively, by the average percentage increase in the Amsterdam and Frankfurt electricity exchanges [33].
Lithuanian: Siekiant nustatyti „Alcoa“ po 2005 m. mokėtiną kainą, Įstatymu Nr. 80/2005 buvo numatytas indeksavimo mechanizmas, pagal kurį nuo 2006 m. sausio 1 d. lengvatinė kaina (t. y. sprendimu Alumix 2005 m. nustatyta kaina) turėjo padidėti 4 % per metus arba tiek procentų, kiek ji vidutiniškai padidėjo Amsterdamo ir Frankfurto elektros energijos biržose [33].
English: The Commission classified the tariffs introduced by the 2004 Decree as operating aid and assessed whether such aid could be authorised on the basis of the regional aid guidelines [34], since in 2004 Sardinia was an assisted region pursuant to Article 87(3)(a) of the EC Treaty. The Commission expressed doubts on the possibility of authorising the aid on that basis, since such ad hoc aid, granted to a limited number of undertakings, did not seem to promote regional development.
Lithuanian: Komisija 2004 m. potvarkiu įvestus tarifus laikė pagalba veiklai ir vertino, ar leidimas tokiai pagalbai gali būti suteiktas pagal regioninės pagalbos teikimo gaires [34], kadangi 2004 m. Sardinija buvo remiamas regionas pagal EB sutarties 87 straipsnio 3 dalies a punktą, Komisija pareiškė abejonių dėl galimybės suteikti leidimą pagalbai tokiu pagrindu, kadangi tokia ad hoc pagalba, teikiama nedideliam įmonių skaičiui, vargu ar skatina regionų plėtrą.
English: In 2007, the national average price (PUN) was EUR 70,99 MW/h whereas the average Sardinian zonal price was EUR 75,00 MW/h, down from EUR 80,00 MW/h in 2006 [110]. In 2008 and 2009, average regional prices in Sardinia began to rise again.
Lithuanian: 2007 m. vidutinė nacionalinė kaina (PUN) buvo 70,99 EUR/MWh, o vidutinė Sardinijos regiono kaina – 75,00 EUR/MW/h, palyginti su 80,00 EUR/MWh 2006 m. [110] 2008 m. ir 2009 m. vidutinės regioninės kainos Sardinijoje vėl pradėjo kilti.
English: AEEG Decision No 217/05 stipulated that the annual tariff increase would follow average wholesale prices, but could not increase by more than 4 %. This updated mechanism resulted de facto in lower annual increases in the preferential tariff compared to what was originally provided for in the legislation.
Maltese: Id-deċiżjoni AEEG Nru 217/05 stipulat fil-fatt li ż-żieda annwali tat-tariffa kellha ssegwi l-prezzijiet medji bl-ingrossa, iżda mingħajr ma taqbeż l-4 %.Dan il-mekkaniżmu ta’ aġġornament fil-fatt irriżulta f’żidiet annwali iktar baxxi tat-tariffa preferenzjali meta mqabbla ma’ dak li kien oriġinarjament previst mill-liġi.
English: The surcharge on the electricity price used to finance the Alcoa tariff is imposed, as in Essent, by law. The Equalisation Fund plays the same role as SEP, as it centralises and manages the proceeds of the parafiscal charge, and is subject to the same constraints, as it cannot use the proceeds from the charge for purposes other than those provided by law (the financing of preferential tariffs).
Maltese: Is-surcharge utilizzata biex tiffinanzja l-iskema tariffarja Alcoa kienet imposta mill-liġi, bħal fil-każ Essent, Il-Cassa Conguaglio għandha l-istess rwol bħal SEP, minħabba li tiċċentralizza u tamministra d-dħul mill-imposta parafiskali, u hija suġġetta għall-istess obbligi, għaliex ma tistax tutilizza d-dħul mis-soprataxxa għal għanijiet differenti minn dawk preskritti mil-liġi (il-finanzjament tal-iskemi tariffarji preferenzjali).
English: The VPP takes the form of a contract which grants the automatic right to its purchaser to obtain the difference, when positive, between the price paid to generators in Sardinia in the day ahead market and the strike price. The purchaser pays the vendor the premium fixed by the contract awards procedure and receives from the vendor the difference, when positive, between the price on the day-ahead market and the strike price.
Polish: W tym celu Komisja oparła się na analizie przeprowadzonej przez AEEG w jego sprawozdaniach.
Maltese: Il-VPP tieħu l-forma ta’ kuntratt li jagħti lix-xerrej id-dritt awtomatiku li jieħu d-differenza, meta pożittiva, bejn il-prezz imħallas lill-produtturi f’Sardegna fis-suq ta’ jum qabel u l-istrike price Ix-xerrej iħallas lill-bejjiegħ il-premium stabbilit mill-jum ta’ qabel u l-istrike price.
English: Cost-based long-term agreements can still be offered by willing sellers in the present day, as illustrated by the agreement concluded by Alcoa in Iceland [42]. However, according to Alcoa, in the absence of cost-based contractual arrangements, smelters are forced to shut down.
Dutch: Kostengeoriënteerde langlopende overeenkomsten kunnen ook nu nog worden gesloten met leveranciers die daartoe bereid zijn, zoals blijkt uit de overeenkomst die Alcoa op IJsland heeft gesloten [42].
English: Alcoa consumes electricity not only during off-peak hours but 24 hours a day. Therefore, a representative price that would reflect perfect competition plausibly would have to be a time-weighted average. This average should include some elements of low prices for baseload times but also some elements of high prices for peak times.
Dutch: Alcoa verbruikt niet alleen stroom buiten de piekuren, maar 24 uur per dag. Wil een tarief dat een geloofwaardige afspiegeling biedt van de volmaakte concurrentie, dus representatief zijn, dient het om een gewogen gemiddelde te gaan, waarbij zowel de lage tarieven buiten de piekuren als de hoge tarieven tijdens de piekuren in rekening worden genomen.
English: As described in recital 43 the tariff under challenge is financed by means of a parafiscal charge collected by the Equalisation Fund via the A4 component of the electricity tariff. This charge is obligatory, being imposed by means of decision of the AEEG implementing national legislation.
Dutch: Zoals in overweging 43 is uiteengezet, wordt het bewuste tarief gefinancierd via een parafiscale heffing die Cassa Conguaglio via tariefcomponent A4 van het stroomtarief int. Een dergelijke heffing is verplicht op grond van delibere van AEEG, waarmee nationale wetgeving ten uitvoer wordt gelegd.
English: The judgment of the Court of Cassation was based on an analysis of the legal personality of the Equalisation Fund, and its finding with respect to State property therefore applies to all of the monies deposited with the Equalisation Fund. The same is true of the finding by the Court of First Instance that the State can control the resources administered by the Equalisation Fund.
Dutch: Het arrest van het Corte Suprema di Cassazione was gebaseerd op een analyse van de rechtspersoonlijkheid van Cassa Conguaglio en de vaststelling dat er sprake is van eigendom van de staat geldt dus ook voor de bij Cassa Conguaglio gestorte bedragen Hetzelfde geldt ook voor de conclusie van het Gerecht van eerste aanleg dat de staat controle kan uitoefenen op de door Cassa Conguaglio beheerde middelen.
English: Market concentration is high, though not the highest in Italy [107]. Owing to their control of virtually all mid-merit to peak plants, E.ON and ENEL set the price for practically all times of the day.
Dutch: De markt is sterk geconcentreerd, ook al behoort de concentratiegraad niet tot de hoogste in Italië [107].
Polish: Jednakże sytuacja na Sardynii wydaje się być mniej krytyczna niż na południu Włoch [107], gdzie ENEL cały czas samodzielnie ustala ceny.
English: For the Veneto plant, this recovery corresponds to the period from 1 January 2006 until the date of adoption of this Decision. For the plant in Sardinia, the recovery corresponds to the period prior to the 2007 letter, that is from 1 January 2006 to 18 June 2007, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The State aid unlawfully granted by Italy to Alcoa Trasformazioni from 1 January 2006 on the basis of Article 1 of the Prime Ministerial Decree of 6 February 2004 and Article 11(11) of Law No 80/2005, in breach of Article 88(3) of the Treaty, is incompatible with the common market.
Dutch: De staatssteun die Italië sinds 1 januari 2006, op grond van artikel 1 van Decreto del Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri van 6 februari 2004 en van artikel 11, lid 11, van wet nr. 80/2005, in strijd met artikel 88, lid 3, van het Verdrag, op onrechtmatige wijze heeft verleend ten gunste van Alcoa Trasformazioni, is onverenigbaar met de gemeenschappelijke markt.
English: The Commission notes, however, that the 2004 Decree was never repealed or amended in order to restrict its scope to beneficiaries other than Alcoa. The Alcoa tariff continued to be paid de facto on the basis of the regulatory framework put in place by the AEEG (and mentioned in the 2004 opening decision).
Dutch: Het Alcoa-tarief was nog steeds verschuldigd, op basis van het door AEEG ingestelde (en in het besluit tot van 2004 tot inleiding van de procedure vermelde) toezichtskader.
English: Using the following reasoning: ‘Other undertakings located on the mainland do not appear to be in the same exceptional market circumstances that prevail in Sardinia. The Directorate-General for Competition is of the opinion that there is no reason to derogate from the principles on State aid’.
Dutch: Met het argumenten dat andere ondernemingen op het vasteland niet in dezelfde uitzonderlijke marktomstandigheden leken te verkeren als de ondernemingen op Sardinië en dat de redenering van DG Concurrentie was dat er geen enkel motief was om van de beginselen inzake staatssteun af te wijken.
English: By letter dated 23 December 2005, the Commission asked for additional information, which was provided by the Italian authorities by letter dated 3 March 2006. Further clarifications were requested by letter dated 22 August 2006.
Polish: Pismem z dnia 23 grudnia 2005 r. Komisja zwróciła się o przekazanie dodatkowych informacji, które władze włoskie przesłały w piśmie z dnia 3 marca 2006 r. Pismem z dnia 22 sierpnia 2006 r. zwrócono się o przesłanie dalszych wyjaśnień.
English: Sardinia was an assisted region pursuant to Article 87(3)(a) until the end of 2006. However, the Commission expressed doubts as to the possibility of authorising the measure on the basis of the guidelines on national regional aid [37] covering that period.
Polish: Sardynia była regionem objętym pomocą w rozumieniu art. 87 ust. 3 lit. a) do końca 2006 r. Komisja wyraziła jednakże wątpliwość co do możliwości zatwierdzenia środka w oparciu o wytyczne w sprawie krajowej pomocy regionalnej [37] w odniesieniu do przedmiotowego okres czasu.
English: In Alcoa’s view, the tariff is transitory, since it is set to last until the interconnection problem with the mainland is eliminated (presumably in 2010). In addition, the Commission’s argument that the measure has been in force for more than five years is without merit, since until now the tariff has not constituted aid. (104) Finally, Alcoa contends that the 2007 guidelines on national regional aid for 2007-2013 [53] are not applicable in substance, since the tariff was granted before 2007 and must therefore be assessed in accordance with the 1998 guidelines on national regional aid [54], as specified in the transitional provisions of the 2007 guidelines.
Polish: Alcoa twierdzi wreszcie, że wytyczne w sprawie krajowej pomocy regionalnej na lata 2007–2013 [52] z 2007 r. nie mają w istocie zastosowania, ponieważ taryfę przyznano przed 2007 r., a zatem należy ją oceniać zgodnie z wytycznymi w sprawie krajowej pomocy regionalnej [53] z 1998 r. w sposób określony w przepisach przejściowych wytycznych w 2007 r.
English: Moreover, in a duopoly situation (ENEL and ENDESA, now E.ON [57], both operators may have an interest in charging a price which is higher than the economically optimal price, in order to avoid setting ‘a bad precedent’ in the rest of Italy. Given the substantial market power retained by the former monopoly, ENEL [58], Italy comes to the conclusion that there is no substantial difference between the price granted to Alcoa in a monopoly situation (approved by the Commission in Alumix) and the tariff applicable in the current, highly imperfect, market conditions.
Polish: Uwzględniając znaczącą pozycję rynkową utrzymaną przez byłego monopolistę, ENEL [57], Włochy stwierdzają, że nie ma znaczącej różnicy między ceną ustaloną dla Alcoa w sytuacji monopolu (zatwierdzonej przez Komisję w decyzji w sprawie Alumix) a taryfą obowiązującą w obecnych, w dużej mierze niedoskonałych, warunkach rynkowych.
English: The Commission recalls that the method followed in Alumix addressed a very specific situation. In Alumix, the tariff was allowed by ENEL, the then fully State-owned monopoly, in an electricity market which had yet to be liberalised [66].
Polish: W sprawie Alumix taryfa została dopuszczona przez ENEL, wówczas w pełni państwowego monopolistę na rynku energii elektrycznej, który jeszcze nie został zliberalizowany [65].
English: However, electricity from baseload plants is sold at a low price only during off-peak hours [67]. At peak times, all electricity generated (including that by baseload plants) is sold at a much higher price, since it will be set by a marginal plant which is a mid-merit or peak plant [68].
Polish: W godzinach szczytu cała wytwarzana energia (w tym wytwarzana przez elektrownie systemowe) jest sprzedawana po dużo wyższej cenie, ponieważ jest ona określana przez krańcową elektrownię, która jest elektrownią podszczytową lub szczytową [67].
English: Before examining the role played by the Equalisation Fund, the Commission has ascertained whether any of the other criteria enumerated in Pearle are met. It is clear that, unlike in Pearle, the Alcoa tariff was established at the initiative of the State, not at the initiative of an economic sector. Moreover, in Pearle the beneficiaries of the measure were also the sole contributors of the resources, so that the intervention of the public body did not tend to create an advantage which would constitute an additional burden for the State.
Polish: Odwołując się do Funduszu Wyrównawczego Komisja przypomina, że zgodnie z utrwalonym orzecznictwem „nie należy rozróżniać przypadków, w których pomoc jest przyznawana bezpośrednio przez państwo, i przypadków, w których jest ona udzielana za pośrednictwem organizacji publicznej lub prywatnej, wskazanej lub utworzonej przez to państwo” [75].
English: In the case at hand, the beneficiary Alcoa does not bear the financial burden of the levy, which rests solely on electricity consumers. Therefore, the Pearle case-law cannot validly be relied upon irrespective of whether merit can be found in Alcoa’s and Italy’s argument concerning the role of the Equalisation Fund as a mere accounting intermediary. (170) Turning now to the Equalisation Fund, the Commission recalls that, according to settled case-law, ‘no distinction should be made between cases where the aid is granted directly by the State, and cases where it is granted by a public or private body designated or established by the State’ [76]. Therefore, the public or private status of the Equalisation Fund is not determinant for the purpose of applying the State aid rules.
Polish: Dlatego publiczny lub prywatny status Funduszu Wyrównawczego nie jest decydujący dla celów zastosowania zasad pomocy państwa.
English: It will be seen in recital 214 that Italy did not notify the extension of the Alcoa tariff. According to settled case-law [85], in the event of aid which has not been notified, the Commission is not obliged to demonstrate the consequences of the measure: ‘If the Commission were required in its decision to demonstrate the real effect of aid which had already been granted, that would immediately favour those Member States which grant aid in breach of the duty to notify laid down in Article 93(3) of the Treaty, to the detriment of those which do notify aid at the planning stage’.
Polish: Zgodnie z utrwalonym orzecznictwem [84] w przypadku niezgłoszonej pomocy Komisja nie musi wykazywać konsekwencji środka: „Gdyby Komisja musiała w swojej decyzji wykazać rzeczywisty skutek już przyznanej pomocy, prowadziłoby to bezpośrednio do uprzywilejowania państw członkowskich przyznających pomoc z naruszeniem obowiązku jej zgłoszenia przewidzianego w art. 93 ust. 3 Traktatu w stosunku do państw, które zgłaszają pomoc w fazie projektu”.