FrancophonIA/DGT-Translation_Memory huggingface dataset:
English: Furthermore, on 1 December 1997, following a wide-ranging discussion on the need for coordinated action at Community level to tackle harmful tax competition, the European Council of Ministers adopted a series of conclusions and agreed a resolution on a code of conduct for business taxation [60]. As part of the agreement reached, the Commission undertook to contribute to the objective of tackling harmful tax competition by implementing a notice [61] on the application of the State aid rules to measures relating to direct business taxation, and committed itself ‘to the strict application of the aid rules concerned’. When published in December 1998, the notice stated that ‘According to well-established practice and case-law [62], a tax measure whose main effect is to promote one or more sectors of activity constitutes aid.’ [63] The Commission, therefore, committed itself to the stricter application of rules which already existed [64]. The Authority does not accept that the arguments put forward by the Liechtenstein authorities and third parties show that the criteria for establishing selectivity applied by the Commission (or the Authority) in its assessment of tax issues has changed since the adoption of the tax measures under investigation.
Lithuanian: Institucija nesutinka, kad iš Lichtenšteino valdžios institucijų ir trečiųjų šalių pateiktų argumentų matyti, kad nuo tada, kai patvirtintos tiriamos priemonės, keitėsi atrankumo nustatymo kriterijai, Komisijos (ar Institucijos) taikomi vertinant mokesčių klausimus.
English: A decision specifically concluding that tax exemptions to captive insurance companies were incompatible State aid followed on 10 July 2002. Given that the Liechtenstein tax measures are substantively the same as those proposed for captive insurance companies based in the Åland Islands, Finland, the Authority considers that all beneficiaries [80] should have been aware by the date of publication of the decision to open a formal investigation into the similar tax measures in Åland on 6 November 2001 at the latest, that the measures were likely to involve incompatible State aid.
Lithuanian: Sprendimas, kuriame konkrečiai konstatuota, kad savidraudos bendrovių atleidimas nuo mokesčių buvo nederanti valstybės pagalba, priimtas 2002 m. liepos 10 d. Atsižvelgiant į tai, kad Lichtenšteino mokesčių priemonės yra iš esmės tokios pačios kaip ir priemonės, siūlomos taikyti Alandų salose, Suomijoje, įsisteigusioms savidraudos bendrovėms, Institucija mano, kad visi pagalbos gavėjai [80] vėliausiai iki sprendimo pradėti panašių mokesčių priemonių, taikomų Alandų salose, oficialų tyrimą paskelbimo 2001 m. lapkričio 6 d. turėjo žinoti, kad priemonės greičiausiai susijusios su nederančia valstybės pagalba.
English: Any income generated by the captive insurance through transactions within the group is not ordinary income that should be subject to income taxation, as the administration of own assets does not constitute a commercial activity subject to taxation. In their view, an entity that does not exercise its activity on a market in competition with other market players cannot be considered as engaging in economic activity as an undertaking [16].
Latvian: Ciktāl tas attiecas uz selektivitāti, atsaucoties uz Ālandu salu piesaistītās apdrošināšanas sistēmu un Īrijas kontrolakciju sabiedrību nosacījumiem, Lihtenšteinas iestādes uzskata, ka piesaistītajām apdrošināšanas sabiedrībām piemērojamais nodokļu režīms nav būtiski selektīvs.
English: Even if they were to provide services on the ‘free’ market, the Liechtenstein system ensures that the regular tax rates apply to these free market activities. In the opinion of the Liechtenstein authorities, it is only to the extent that the companies engage in those ‘free’ activities that they should qualify as undertakings. The Liechtenstein authorities argued that captive insurance companies (like reinsurance companies) constitute a separate market from direct insurance due to the risk allocation within a group, the different regulatory framework, and the management function captives undertake within the group to which they belong.
Latvian: Tā pamatā ir fakts, ka šīm sabiedrībām paredzētie nosacījumi pēc būtības ir horizontāli un tos var izpildīt ikviens uzņēmums, t. i., uzņēmumiem nav vajadzīgs īpašs ekonomiskais spēks, lai izveidotu piesaistītu apdrošināšanas sabiedrību, un tādējādi tas attiecas uz visu veidu uzņēmumiem.
English: Captive insurance companies only insure their own group’s risks (where there is no market or where costs are too high) and not the risks of third parties. As far as selectivity is concerned, with reference to the Åland captive insurance system and the Irish Company Holding Regime, the Liechtenstein authorities submitted that the tax regime applicable to captive insurance companies is not materially selective. This is because the conditions for these companies are horizontal in nature and could be achieved by any undertaking, i.e. no specific economic strength is required from undertakings to set up a captive insurance company and it, therefore, applies to all sorts of companies. On that basis any legal person, irrespective of the sector of activity or size of operations, could qualify for the tax reduction through ownership of a captive insurance company.
Latvian: Uz šāda pamata ikviena juridiska persona neatkarīgi no darbības nozares vai darbības apjoma var kvalificēties nodokļu samazinājumam, iegūstot savā īpašumā piesaistītu apdrošināšanas sabiedrību.
English: Competition with other insurance providers therefore exists at the point of formation of the captive, and at each point in which the client of the captive decides to what extent it wishes to retain risk within the captive or purchase insurance (or reinsurance) on the open market. The Authority also notes that captive insurance companies are at present subject to tax in Liechtenstein, like other undertakings, albeit with exemptions and at different rates.
Latvian: Tādējādi piesaistītās apdrošināšanas sabiedrības izveides brīdī ir konkurence ar citiem apdrošināšanas sniedzējiem, tāpat kā jebkurā brīdī, kad piesaistītās apdrošināšanas sabiedrības klients lemj, ciktāl viņš vēlas nodot risku piesaistītajai apdrošināšanas sabiedrībai vai iegādāties apdrošināšanu (vai pārapdrošināties) atvērtajā tirgū.Tāpat arī Iestāde norāda, ka šobrīd piesaistītajām apdrošināšanas sabiedrībām Lihtenšteinā piemēro nodokļus tāpat kā citiem uzņēmumiem, lai gan ar izņēmumiem un atšķirīgām likmēm.
English: The Commission considered that the advantage given to a company providing a loan to a related company cannot be considered as discriminatory, since a loan to a related company cannot be compared to a loan to an unrelated company. The Commission was of the view that the requirement of exercising control of another company is a horizontal criterion applying to all companies regardless of their size, sector or of any other distinction — a different rate of taxation for debt financing between related companies, therefore, reflects objective differences and does not affect tax neutrality.
Latvian: Komisija uzskatīja, ka “priekšrocības nodrošināšanu uzņēmumam, kas izsniedz aizdevumu saistītam uzņēmumam, nevar uzskatīt par diskriminējošu, jo aizdevumu saistītam uzņēmumam nevar salīdzināt ar aizdevumu nesaistītam uzņēmumam. Komisijas skatījumā prasība par cita uzņēmuma kontroli ir horizontāls kritērijs, kas attiecas uz visiem uzņēmumiem neatkarīgi no to lieluma, darbības nozares vai jebkādām citām īpatnībām, tādējādi atšķirīga nodokļa likme finansējuma piešķiršanai aizdevuma formā starp saistītiem uzņēmumiem atspoguļo objektīvas atšķirības un neietekmē nodokļu neitralitāti”.
English: It stressed the fact that captives constitute a pooling of risks within a company group to allow for efficient risk management and financing. It also considered that the establishment of a captive creates greater transparency of risks within the group.
Maltese: Għamlet enfasi fuq il-fatt li l-captive jikkostitwixxu ġabra flimkien ta’ riskji fi ħdan grupp ta’ kumpaniji biex jippermettu immaniġġar u iffinanzjar effiċjenti tar-riskji.
English: A specific or selective tax measure can nevertheless be justified by the logic of the tax system [46]. Measures intended partially or wholly to exempt firms in a particular sector from the charges arising from the normal application of the general system can constitute State aid if there is no justification for the exemption on the basis of the nature and logic of the general tax system [47].
Maltese: Madankollu, miżura fiskali speċifika jew selettiva tista’ tkun iġġustifikata bil-loġika tas-sistema fiskali [46].. Miżuri maħsuba biex jeżentaw parzjalment jew totalment intrapriżi f’settur partikolari minn ħlas li jirriżulta mill-applikazzjoni normali tas-sistema ġenerali jistgħu jikkostitwixxu għajnuna statali jekk ma jkunx hemm ġustifikazzjoni għall-eżenzjoni fuq il-bażi tan-natura u l-loġika tas-sistema fiskali ġenerali [47].
English: ADOPTS THIS DECISION: Article 1
Maltese: TADOTTA DIN ID-DEĊIŻJONI:
English: If the Authority characterises the measures as new aid, they argued that there are sufficient grounds for not recovering the aid. This is for two reasons.
Portuguese: Mesmo que o Órgão de Fiscalização classifique as medidas como um novo auxílio, alegaram que existem motivos suficientes para não recuperar o auxílio, por duas razões.
Dutch: Zij voerden aan dat er twee redenen zijn om de steun niet terug te vorderen indien de maatregelen door de Autoriteit als nieuwe steun worden aangemerkt.
Romanian: Dacă Autoritatea caracterizează măsurile drept ajutoare noi, acestea au susținut că există motive suficiente pentru ca ajutorul să nu fie recuperat.
English: As far as selectivity is concerned, with reference to the Åland captive insurance system and the Irish Company Holding Regime, the Liechtenstein authorities submitted that the tax regime applicable to captive insurance companies is not materially selective. This is because the conditions for these companies are horizontal in nature and could be achieved by any undertaking, i.e. no specific economic strength is required from undertakings to set up a captive insurance company and it, therefore, applies to all sorts of companies.
Portuguese: No que se refere à seletividade, fazendo referência ao regime de seguros cativos das ilhas Åland e ao regime de participações das empresas da Irlanda, as autoridades do Liechtenstein alegaram que o regime fiscal aplicável às companhias de seguros cativas não é materialmente seletivo, pois as condições de existência dessas empresas são de caráter horizontal e podem ser preenchidas por qualquer empresa, ou seja, não é necessário que as empresas disponham de um poder económico específico para fundarem uma companhia de seguros cativa e, portanto, esse regime aplica-se a toda a espécie de empresas.
Polish: Jeżeli chodzi o selektywność, w odniesieniu do systemu wewnętrznych zakładów ubezpieczeń na Wyspach Alandzkich i irlandzkiego systemu podatkowego dla spółek dominujących władze Liechtensteinu stwierdziły, że system podatkowy mający zastosowanie do wewnętrznych zakładów ubezpieczeń nie jest w znaczącym stopniu selektywny, ponieważ warunki obowiązujące w przypadku tych zakładów mają charakter horyzontalny i mogą być spełnione przez każde przedsiębiorstwo, tj. od przedsiębiorstw nie wymaga się żadnej szczególnej siły gospodarczej, aby mogły założyć wewnętrzny zakład ubezpieczeń, a więc mogą to zrobić wszelkiego rodzaju przedsiębiorstwa.
Romanian: În ceea ce privește selectivitatea, referitor la sistemul societăților de asigurare captive din Åland și la regimul societăților-mamă din Irlanda, autoritățile din Liechtenstein au susținut că regimul fiscal aplicabil societăților de asigurare captive nu este selectiv din punct de vedere material deoarece condițiile aplicabile acestor societăți au caracter orizontal și ar putea fi îndeplinite de orice întreprindere, adică nu este necesară o anumită putere economică pentru ca întreprinderile să constituie o societate de asigurare captivă, aplicându-se, în consecință, tuturor tipurilor de societăți.
English: The Dutch decision was quoted as follows: ‘With respect to debt financing activities, related companies are not in a comparable legal and factual situation as unrelated companies. The reason is that related companies are not engaged in a merely commercial transaction, unlike unrelated companies, when they try to obtain loan or equity financing within the group. The parent and the subsidiary share the same interest, which is not the case of a commercial transaction with a third party provider of finance, where each party tries to maximise its profits at the expense of the other.’
Portuguese: A decisão sobre o regime neerlandês foi citada nos seguintes termos:«No que respeita às atividades de financiamento através de crédito, as sociedades associadas não estão numa situação jurídica e factual comparável à das sociedades autónomas. Isto deve-se ao facto de as sociedades associadas, ao contrário das autónomas, não estarem envolvidas numa operação meramente comercial quando tentam obter um financiamento por meio de um empréstimo ou de uma participação de capital dentro do seu grupo. A empresa-mãe e a filial partilham dos mesmos interesses, o que não acontece numa operação comercial com um financiador terceiro, em que cada parte tenta maximizar os seus lucros à custa da outra».
Swedish: ”När det gäller lånefinansiering befinner sig närstående företag inte i en jämförbar rättslig och faktisk situation som icke närstående företag. Det beror på att det för närstående företag, till skillnad från icke närstående företag som försöker få ett lån eller kapitaltillskott inom koncernen inte handlar om en uteslutande affärsmässig transaktion. Moderföretaget och dotterföretaget har gemensamma intressen, vilket inte är fallet vid en transaktion på affärsmässiga villkor med en utomstående finansiell förmedlare, då båda parter försöker maximera sin vinst på den andra partens bekostnad.”
English: Further, a coupon tax is levied on the coupons of securities or documents equal to securities issued by a ‘national’ at a rate of 4 % on any distribution of dividends or profit shares. By virtue of Article 82a of the Liechtenstein Tax Act, however, captive insurance companies (‘Eigenversicherung’) pay a reduced capital tax of 0,1 % instead of the generally applicable 0,2 % capital tax rate.
Portuguese: Além disso, é cobrado um imposto sobre cupões que incide sobre os cupões de títulos ou documentos equivalentes a títulos emitidos por uma entidade nacional, a uma taxa de 4 % sobre a distribuição de dividendos ou a participação nos lucros.Porém, nos termos do artigo 82.o, alínea a), da Lei Fiscal do Liechtenstein, as companhias de seguros cativas («Eigenversicherung») pagam imposto de capital a uma taxa reduzida de 0,1 %, em vez da taxa geralmente aplicável do imposto de capital, que é de 0,2 %.
English: The Court of Justice has held that an entity may rely on the principle of the protection of legitimate expectations where a Community authority has caused it to entertain expectations which are justified [71]. This means in this context that a State or beneficiary must have relied on the previous actions of the Authority in, for example, approving the same or a similar aid measure.
Portuguese: O Tribunal de Justiça tem decidido reiteradamente que o direito de fazer valer o princípio da proteção da confiança legítima se estende a todo o particular em cuja esfera jurídica uma instituição comunitária fez nascer esperanças fundadas [71], o que significa que neste contexto um Estado ou um beneficiário deve ter confiado na atuação anterior do Órgão de Fiscalização, que aprovou uma medida de auxílio semelhante, por exemplo.
English: The aid in question is not linked to any investment in production capital. It merely reduces the costs which companies would normally have to bear in the course of pursuing their day-to-day business activities, and is consequently to be classified as operating aid.
Romanian: Ajutorul în cauză nu este asociat niciunei investiții în capital de producție, ci doar reduce costurile pe care ar trebui să le suporte societățile în desfășurarea activităților lor cotidiene, și, prin urmare, trebuie clasificat drept ajutor de operare.
English: Selectivity For a measure to be aid it must be selective in that it favours ‘certain undertakings or the production of certain goods’.
Slovenian: Da ukrep pomeni pomoč, mora biti selektiven, tako da daje prednost „posameznim podjetjem ali proizvodnji posameznega blaga“.
English: On this basis, the Authority could not exclude that the tax rules applicable to captive insurance companies (full exemption from payment of income and coupon tax and a partial exemption from payment of capital tax) constitute State aid within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement. The Authority also had doubts that these measures could be considered compatible with the State aid provisions of the EEA Agreement, in particular Article 61(3)(c).
Swedish: Övervakningsmyndigheten tvivlade också på att dessa åtgärder skulle kunna anses vara förenliga med reglerna om statligt stöd i EES-avtalet, särskilt artikel 61.3 c.