SV Europeiska unionens officiella tidning C 291/5

STATLIGT STÖD – FÖRENADE KUNGARIKET

Statligt stöd nr C 39/06 (f.d. NN 94/05)

Stödordning för nya andelsägare

Uppmaning att inkomma med synpunkter enligt artikel 88.2 i EG-fördraget

(2006/C 291/04)

(Text av betydelse för EES)

Genom den skrivelse, daterad den 13 september 2006, som återges på det giltiga språket på de sidor som följer på denna sammanfattning, underrättade kommissionen Förenade kungariket Storbritannien och Nordirland om sitt beslut att inleda det förfarande som anges i artikel 88.2 i EG-fördraget avseende ovannämnda stöd.

Berörda parter kan inom en månad från dagen för offentliggörandet av denna sammanfattning och den därpå följande skrivelsen inkomma med sina synpunkter. Synpunkterna skall sändas till följande adress:

Europeiska kommissionen Generaldirektoratet för fiske DG FISH.D.3, Rättsliga frågor B-1049 Bryssel Fax: (32-2) 295 19 42

Synpunkterna kommer att meddelas Förenade kungariket Storbritannien och Nordirland. Den tredje part som inkommer med synpunkter kan skriftligen begära konfidentiell behandling av sin identitet, med angivande av skälen för begäran.

SAMMANFATTNING

I juni 2004 underrättades kommissionen om stöd till fiskerisektorn som beviljats av Shetland Islands Council, den offentliga myndigheten på Shetlandsöarna i Förenade kungariket. Det kunde eventuellt röra sig om olagligt statligt stöd.

Inom ordningen för nya andelsägare gavs stöd som bidrag för att komplettera den egna ekonomiska insatsen för köp av en andel i ett befintligt eller nytt fiskefartyg. Personer över 18 år som ännu inte ägde någon andel i ett fiskefartyg beviljades stöd som motsvarade 50 % av inköpskostnaderna för en andel. Det maximala stödbeloppet var 7 500 brittiska pund för befintliga fartyg och 15 000 brittiska pund för nya fartyg, och stödet fick motsvara högst 25 % av fartygets värde. Stödet gavs på villkor att fartyget användes på heltid för fiske under de följande fem åren och att mottagaren behöll sin andel i fartyget under fem års tid efter mottagandet av stödet.

Enligt artikel 88.3 i EG-fördraget skall medlemsstaterna underrätta kommissionen om alla planer på att vidta eller ändra stödåtgärder. Enligt Förenade kungariket har stödordningen tillämpats från 1982 till den 14 januari 2005. Förenade kungariket har dock bekräftat att ordningen aldrig anmälts till kommissionen, varför stödåtgärden måste betraktas som nytt stöd.

I rådets förordning (EG) nr 659/1999 (1) anges inte någon preskriptionstid för granskning av olagligt stöd. Enligt artikel 15 i den förordningen gäller dock en preskriptionstid på tio år för kommissionens befogenheter att återkräva stöd. Denna preskriptionstid börjar den dag då stödet beviljas mottagaren, och den avbryts av varje åtgärd som vidtas av kommissionen. Kommissionen anser därför att det i detta fall inte är nödvändigt att granska stöd som beviljats mer än tio år innan kommissionen vidtagit någon åtgärd avseende det. Kommissionen anser att preskriptionstiden avbröts genom dess begäran om upplysningar som sändes till Förenade kungariket den 24 augusti 2004. Följaktligen har preskriptionstiden gått ut för stöd som beviljats mottagare före den 24 augusti 1994, och kommissionen bedömer i fortsättningen endast stöd som beviljats genom beslut som fattats mellan den 24 augusti 1994 och den 14 januari 2005. Enligt de uppgifter kommissionen har tillgång till förefaller under denna tid cirka 8 000 000 brittiska pund ha beviljats inom stödordningen.

Stödåtgärderna förefaller vara statligt stöd enligt artikel 87 i EG-fördraget. Statligt stöd kan förklaras vara förenligt med den gemensamma marknaden om det kan omfattas av något av de undantag som fastställs genom EG-fördraget. Statligt stöd till fiskerisektorn kan anses vara förenligt med den gemensamma marknaden om det uppfyller villkoren i de riktlinjer för granskning av statligt stöd inom sektorn för fiske och vattenbruk som var i kraft vid den tid då stödet beviljades (2).

När det gäller det stöd som beviljats för köp av en andel i ett befintligt fartyg får enligt riktlinjerna från 1994, 1997 och 2001 stödet betraktas som förenligt med den gemensamma marknaden om det är avsett att ge havsfiskare möjlighet att förvärva delägarskap eller för att ersätta ett fartyg som gått helt förlorat. Fartyget som andelen avser får inte vara äldre än 20 år och skall kunna användas under minst ytterligare tio år. Riktlinjerna från 2004 innehåller striktare krav med hänvisning till villkoren i artikel 12.3 d och 12.4 f i förordning (EG) nr 2792/1999, som innehåller ytterligare krav beträffande stödmottagarens ålder och fartygets totala längd. Enligt riktlinjerna från 1994 och 1997 får det totala stödbelopp som beviljas inte överstiga 30 % av de faktiska kostnaderna för förvärvet av fartyget. I 2001 års riktlinjer har denna procentandel sänkts till 20 %.

Enligt vad som hittills framkommit förefaller det stöd som beviljats för köp av andelar i befintliga fartyg inte uppfylla villkoren i riktlinjerna. Dessutom är stöd upp till högst 25 % av den faktiska kostnaden för förvärvet av fartyget tillåtet enligt stödordningen, vilket inte är förenligt med kraven i 2001 års riktlinjer.

När det gäller stöd som beviljats för andelar i nya fartyg får enligt punkt 2.2.3.1 i riktlinjerna från 1994 och 1997 stöd till byggande av nya fiskefartyg anses vara förenligt med den gemensamma marknaden om det uppfyller de relevanta villkoren i förordning (EG) nr 3699/93. Fartygen måste byggas i enlighet med målen för det fleråriga utvecklingsprogrammet samt förordningarna och direktiven om arbetarskydd och gemenskapsbestämmelserna om fartygens dimensioner. Fartygen skall registreras i fartygsregistret.

I 2001 års riktlinjer hänvisas till villkoren i förordning (EG) nr 2792/1999, där det anges att tillförsel av ny kapacitet skall kompenseras genom indragning av kapacitet utan statligt stöd som är åtminstone lika med den nya kapacitet som tillförts det berörda segmentet. Fram till den 31 december 2001 skulle, om målen för utvecklingsprogrammet ännu inte iakttogs, indragningen av kapacitet vara minst 30 % större än den införda nya kapaciteten, Ytterligare villkor är att stöd endast får beviljas om medlemsstaten har lämnat den information om tillämpningen av det fleråriga utvecklingsprogrammet som krävs enligt artikel 5 i samma förordning och uppfyllt sina förpliktelser enligt förordning (EEG) nr 2930/86 beträffande fiskefartygens egenskaper samt genomfört ordningar enligt artikel 6 i förordning (EG) nr 2792/1999 och uppnått de övergripande målen för utvecklingsprogrammet.

Eftersom stödordningen inte innehåller någon hänvisning till referensnivån för fiskeflottans storlek eller till arbetarskyddskravet och det inte finns någon skyldighet att registrera fartyget i fartygsregistret har kommissionen i detta skede allvarlig anledning att betvivla att stöd som beviljats för förvärv av andelar i nya fartyg under tiden efter den 1 juli 2001 är förenligt med den gemensamma marknaden.

Utifrån den analys som redovisats ovan har kommissionen beslutat att inte göra invändningar mot stödordningen i den utsträckning det gäller stöd till förvärv av andelar i nya fiskefartyg som beviljats före den 1 juli 2001. När det gäller stöd som beviljats enligt ordningen för förvärv av andelar i nya fartyg efter den 1 juli 2001 och allt stöd som beviljats för förvärv av andelar i befintliga fartyg har dock kommissionen i detta skede allvarlig anledning att betvivla dess förenlighet med den gemensamma marknaden.

I enlighet med artikel 14 i rådets förordning (EG) nr 659/1999 kan allt olagligt stöd komma att återkrävas från mottagaren.

SJÄLVA SKRIVELSEN

”(1) The Commission wishes to inform the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that, having examined the information supplied by your authorities on the measure referred to above, it has decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88 (2) of the EC Treaty. 1. PROCEDURE (2) By letter of 15 June 2004 the Commission was informed by a citizen of the UK of unlawful aid granted by the authorities of the Shetland Islands of the UK. By letters of 24 August 2004, 4 February, 11 May and 16 December 2005 the Commission has requested the UK authorities to provide information about these measures, to which the UK authorities responded by letters of 10 December 2004, 6 April, 8 September 2005 and 31 January 2006. 2. DESCRIPTION (3) The Shetland Islands Council (SIC), the public authority in Shetland, has made payments to the fisheries sector under the scope of two general aid measures named “Aid to the Fish Catching and Processing Industry” and “Aid to the Fish Farming Industry”, which actually consisted of several different types of aid schemes. One of these schemes is the so-called First time shareholders scheme. Under the First time shareholders scheme, which was applied from 1982 until 14 January 2005, grants could be given as contribution to matching own financial contribution for the purchase of a share in an existing or new fishing vessel. Aid was only granted to persons over 18 years old that did not yet own a share in a fishing vessel. (4) Aid was granted for 50 % of the acquisition costs of the share, with a maximum of GBP 7 500 in case of an existing vessel and GBP 15 000 in case of a new vessel. The other 50 % may only be financed by the beneficiaries own contribution, derived either from his own savings or from any interest-free family loan. The amount of aid may never exceed 25 % of the value of the vessel. (5) The aid was granted under the condition that the vessel is used for full time fishing for the next 5 years and that the beneficiary retained his share in the vessel for a period of five years from receipt of the aid. 3. COMMENTS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM (6) The United Kingdom states that the aid measures concerned have already been applied already before the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community. The United Kingdom is however not able to provide any evidence of the existence of these measures at the time of accession. (7) The United Kingdom confirms that the aid measures have been changed over the years and that these changes have not been notified to the Commission in accordance with Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty (former Article 93(3)). The United Kingdom states however that the expenditure and application of the measures have been reported yearly to the Commission by way of the annual State aid inventory and that the officials responsible for the aids believed that by transmitting the annual reports no notification of the aid would be necessary. (8) Finally the United Kingdom states that where the measures and the amendments to the schemes might have been applied without prior notification to the Commission, they were applied in accordance with the conditions laid down in the Guidelines for the examination of State aid to fisheries and aquaculture applicable at the time aid was granted under the measures. (9) In addition, with regard to the First time shareholder scheme the United Kingdom states that the scheme was in operation until 14 January 2005, but that actually no assistance has been awarded during the financial years 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 as there were no applications. Furthermore, they state that they consider the aid to have been compatible with Guidelines for the examination of State aid to fisheries and aquaculture applicable at the times concerned. 4. ASSESSMENT (10) It must be determined first if the scheme can be regarded as State aid and if this is the case, if this aid is compatible with the common market. (11) Aid has been granted to a limited number of companies within the fisheries sector and is thus of a selective nature. The aids have been granted by the Shetland Islands Council, the public authority of Shetland, from State resources and are in the benefit of these companies which are in direct competition with other companies in the fisheries sector of both within the United Kingdom as well as in other Member States. Therefore, the measures distort or threaten to distort competition and appear to be State aid in the sense of Article 87 of the EC Treaty. 4.1. Legality (12) According to the United Kingdom, the two general schemes have been applied before the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community. However, the Commission notes that according to the provided information, the First time shareholders scheme was put in place only 1982. In any event, due to the absence of past records, the United Kingdom acknowledged that it is not able to provide evidence that the aid measures existed already before the United Kingdom joined the union and thus would have to be regarded as existing aids. In addition, the United Kingdom confirmed that the aid schemes have been changed over the years and that these changes have not been notified to the Commission in accordance with Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty (former Article 93(3)). As a result, the aid measures have to be considered as new aid. (13) The Commission regrets that the United Kingdom did not respect Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty, under which Member State are obliged to inform the Commission of any plans to grant or alter aid. In this respect the United Kingdom has stated that its authorities were mistakenly convinced that the inclusion of the measures into the annual State aid inventory, yearly submitted to the Commission, would be sufficient to inform the Commission of the aid in question. It must be noted however that such reporting to the Commission can not be considered as notification of the aid as required under Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty. 4.2. Basis for the assessment (14) Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 (3) does not lay down any limitation period for the examination of unlawful aid within the meaning of Article 1(f) thereof, i.e. aid implemented before the Commission is able to reach a conclusion about its compatibility with the common market. However, Article 15 of that Regulation stipulates that the powers of the Commission to recover aid is subject to a limitation period of ten years, that the limitation period begins on the day on which the aid is awarded to the beneficiary and that that limitation period is interrupted by any action taken by the Commission. Consequently, the Commission considers that it is not necessary in this case to examine the aid covered by the limitation period, i.e. aid granted more than ten years before any measure taken by the Commission concerning it. (15) The Commission considers that in this case the limitation period was interrupted by its request for information sent to the United Kingdom on 24 August 2004. Accordingly, the limitation period applies to aid granted to beneficiaries before 24 August 1994. Consequently, the Commission will asses below only the aid granted by decisions taken between 24 August 1994 and January 2005. It seems that during that time approximately GBP 8 000 000 have been granted under the scheme. (16) State aid can be declared compatible with the common market if it complies with one of the exceptions foreseen in the EC Treaty. As regards the State aid to the fisheries sector, State aid measures are deemed to be compatible with the common market if they comply with the conditions of Guidelines for the examination of State aid to fisheries and aquaculture. According to point 5.3 of the current Guidelines (4) an “unlawful aid” within the meaning of Article 1(f) of Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 will be appraised in accordance with the guidelines applicable at the time when the administrative act setting up the aid has entered into force. The aid is thus to be assessed on the compatibility with the Guidelines of 1994, 1997 and 2001 (5). 4.3. Used vessels 4.3.1. Guidelines of 1994, 1997 and 2001 (17) With regard to aid for the acquisition of a share in a second hand vessel, according to point 2.2.3.3 of the 1994, 1997 and 2001 Guidelines, such aid may be deemed compatible with the common market when the vessel can be used for at least another 10 years. Under the 1994, 1997 Guidelines the vessel has to be at least 10 years old, under the 2001 Guidelines 20 years. According to all guidelines the aid should be intended to enable sea-fishermen to acquire part ownership or to replace a vessel after its total loss. (18) With regard to the aid rate, under the 1994 and 1997 Guidelines the total amount of aid to be granted may not exceed 50 % of the participation rate provided for in Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 3699/93, applying the scale relating to construction aid set out in that Annex. As Shetland is an Objective I region, the maximum participation rate is set at 60 %. Thus the aid for sea-fishermen to acquire part ownership of a second hand vessel may not exceed 30 % of the actual costs of the acquisition of the vessel. (19) Under the 2001 Guidelines this provision is amended and it is stated that the rate of the aid may not exceed in subsidy equivalent 20 % of the actual cost of the acquisition of the vessel. 4.3.2. Compatibility (20) Under the scheme aid was granted for individuals who acquired for the first time a share in a second hand vessel. According to the Guidelines aid could only be granted with regard to vessels, not older than 20 years, that could be used for at least another 10 years. The scheme does not contain any conditions with regard to the age of the vessels. The fact that the beneficiaries of the aid are obliged to keep their share in the vessel for at least another five years and to use the vessel for fishing during those years seems to insure that aid is granted for vessels that are still operational and to be used for some years. However, this condition is insufficient to comply with the requirements established in point 2.2.3.3. of the 1994, the 1997 as well as the 2001 Guidelines. (21) In addition, according to the information provided, under the scheme the aid may not exceed 25 % of the value of the vessel. Under to the 1994 and 1997 Guidelines, applicable until 1 July 2001, it is allowed to grant aid with a maximum of 30 % of the actual costs of the acquisition of the vessel and thus the aid rate of the scheme of 25 % is compatible with that condition. (22) However the 2001 Guidelines, which Member States were to apply as from 1 July 2001, require that the aid shall not exceed 20 % of the actual costs of the acquisition of the vessel. The aid rate of the scheme of 25 % therefore no longer complies with the conditions established under the Guidelines. Therefore, from 1 July 2001, the aid rate of the scheme of 25 % exceeds seems no longer compatible. (23) With regard to the above, the Commission at this stage has serious doubts on the compatibility with the common market of the aid granted for the acquisition of a share in used vessels. 4.4. New vessels 4.4.1. Guidelines of 1994 and 1997 (24) With regard to aid for the acquisition of a share in new vessels, point 2.2.3.1 of the 1994 and the 1997 Guidelines apply. According to those guidelines, aid for the construction of new fishing vessels may be deemed compatible with the common market provided that it complies with the relevant conditions of Regulation (EC) No 3699/93 (6). Regulation (EC) No 3699/93 (25) According to the conditions laid down in Articles 7 and 10 and Annex III (paragraph 1.3) of Regulation (EC) No 3699/93, the vessels must be built in compliance with the objectives set for the size of the fishing fleet of the Member State concerned under the mulitannual guidance programme (MAGP) and must comply with the regulations and directives governing hygiene and safety and Community provisions concerning the dimension of vessels. The vessels have to be registered in the fleet register. 4.4.2. Guidelines of 2001 (26) With regard to aid for the acquisition of a share in new vessels, point 2.2.3.1 of the 2001 Guidelines applies. According to those guidelines, aid for the construction of new fishing vessels may be deemed compatible with the common market provided that it complies with the relevant conditions of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 (7). Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 (27) Articles 6, 7, 9 and 10 and Annex III (point 1.3) of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 (8), as applicable until 1 January 2003, require that the entry of new capacity is compensated by the withdrawal of a capacity without public aid which is at least equal to the new capacity introduced in the segments concerned. Until 31 December 2001, where the objectives were not yet respected, the withdrawal of capacity should at least be 30 % more than the new capacity introduced. (28) The aid may only be granted where the Member State has submitted the information concerning the application of the Multi-annual Guidance Programme (MAGP) as required under Article 5 of that Regulation and furthermore, has complied with its obligations under Regulation (EEC) No 2930/86 concerning the characteristics of fishing vessels, has implemented the arrangements under Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 and has complied with the overall MAGP-objectives. (29) When the vessel is deleted from the fishing vessel register of the Community, within 10 years from construction, the aid should be recovered pro rata temporis. (30) Finally, the vessels must be built to comply with the regulations and directives governing hygiene and safety and Community provisions concerning the dimension of vessels. The vessels have to be registered in the fleet register and must be entered in the Community fishing fleet register. (31) With regard to the compatibility of aid for the construction of new fishing vessels with the common market, the 2001 Guidelines aid also make reference to the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 as mentioned above. Regulation (EC) No 2369/2002 (32) However, on 1 January 2003 the relevant Articles and Annex of Regulation (EC) No. 2792/1999 were amended by Regulation (EC) No 2369/2002 (9). This amendment introduced the phasing out of aid for construction of new fishing vessels. According to the amended provisions, the conditions have been broadened in the sense that aid for the renewal of fishing vessels may only be granted until 31 December 2004 and for vessels of less than 400 GT. 4.4.3. Compatibility (33) Under the scheme grants can be given for the purchase of a share in a new fishing vessel. Aid can only be granted to persons over 18 years old that do not yet own a share in a fishing vessel. The beneficiary is obliged to use the vessel for fishing for the following 5 years and must retain their share in the vessel for at least the same period. In case of breach of the conditions under the scheme the authorities can require pro rata temporis repayment of the aid. (34) As the scheme seems to make no reference to the reference level for the size of the fishing fleet nor to the hygiene and safety requirement and there is obligation for the registration of the vessel in the fleet register, the Commission at this stage has serious doubts that the conditions for the acquisition of a share in a new vessel during the period starting from 1 July 2001 can be considered compatible with the Guidelines for the examination of State aid to fisheries and aquaculture. (35) Furthermore the scheme does not seem to contain any provisions with regard to the additional requirements introduced by Regulation (EC) No 2369/2002 (point 32), applicable as from 1 January 2003. Although the United Kingdom has stated that no aid has been granted under the scheme during the financial years 2003/2004 and 2004/2005, aid has been granted during the financial year 2002/2003 which could include aid granted after 1 January 2003. Therefore at this stage the Commission also has doubts whether the additional conditions established by Regulation (EC) No. 2369/2002 have been complied with. (36) With regard to the above, the Commission at this stage has serious doubts on the compatibility with the common market of the aid granted for the acquisition of a share in new vessels after 1 July 2001. Aid granted before that date however is deemed to be compatible with the guidelines in force at the time the aid was granted and thus compatible with the common market. 5. DECISION (37) In view of the foregoing analysis the Commission has decided not to raise any objections to this aid scheme as far as it concerns the aid granted for the acquisition of a share in a new vessel granted before 1 July 2001. (38) With regard to the aid granted under the scheme for the acquisition of a share in a new vessel after 1 July 2001 and all aid granted for the acquisition of a share in second hand vessels, the Commission observes that there exist, at this stage of the preliminary examination, as provided for by Article 6 of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 88 of the EC Treaty, serious doubts on the compatibility of these aids with the Guidelines for the examination of State aid to Fisheries and aquaculture and, therefore, with the EC Treaty. (39) In the light of the foregoing conditions, the Commission, acting under the procedure laid down in Article 88 (2) of the EC Treaty and Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 659/1999, requests the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to submit its comments and to provide all such information as may help to further assess the aid, within one month of the date of receipt of this letter. It requests your authorities to forward a copy of this letter to the recipients of the aid immediately. (40) The Commission wishes to remind the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that Article 88 (3) of the EC Treaty has suspensory effect and would draw your attention to Article 14 of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999, which provides that all unlawful aid may be recovered from the recipient. (41) The Commission warns the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that it will inform interested parties by publishing this letter and a meaningful summary of it in the Official Journal of the European Union. It will also inform interested parties in the EFTA countries which are signatories to the EEA Agreement, by publication of a notice in the EEA Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union and will inform the EFTA Surveillance Authority by sending a copy of this letter. All such interested parties will be invited to submit their comments within one month of the date of such publication.”

(1) Rådets förordning (EG) nr 659/1999 av den 22 mars 1999 om tillämpningsföreskrifter för artikel 93 i EG-fördraget, EGT L 83, 27.3.1999, s. 1. Förordningen ändrad genom anslutningsakten från 2003.

(2) EGT C 260, 17.9.1994, s. 3, EGT C 100, 27.3.1997, s. 12, EGT C 19, 20.1.2001, s. 7 och EUT C 229, 14.9.2004, s. 5.

(3) Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty, OJ L 83, 27.3.1999, p. 1. Regulation as amended by the Act of Accession of 2003.

(4) OJ C 229, 14.9.2004, p. 5.

(5) OJ C 260, 17.9.1994, p. 3; OJ C 100, 27.3.1997, p. 12 and OJ C 19, 20.1.2001, p. 7.

(6) Council Regulation (EC) 3699/93 of 21 December 1993 laying down the criteria and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries and aquaculture sector and the processing and the marketing of its products, OJ L 346, 31.12.1993, p. 1.

(7) Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector OJ L 337, 30.12.1999, p.10, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 485/2005, OJ L 81, 30.3.2005, p. 1.

(8) Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector OJ L 337, 30.12.1999, p.10, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 485/2005, OJ L 81, 30.3.2005, p. 1.

(9) OJ L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 49.