natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Fraværet af en hensigtsmæssig garanti på grundlag af aktiverne synes tydeligt at angive, at dette lån ikke blev ydet på markedsvilkår, og at det drejer sig om støtte.
The absence of appropriate asset-based security was a clear indication that the loan was not granted at market conditions and that aid was involved.
I betragtning af RTP's tekniske insolvens på tidspunktet for lånoptagelsen ville ingen finansieringsinstitution have ydet ansvarlig lånekapital til virksomheden, da udsigterne til tilbagebetaling fra RTP var yderst begrænsede.
In view of the technical bankruptcy of RTP at the time the loan was granted, no financial institution would have granted a subordinated loan to the company as there was little likelihood of RTP being able to repay it.
Lånet blev da heller ikke ydet af en privat finansieringsinstitution, men af fonden Fundo de Regularização da Dívida Pública.
Indeed, the loan was not granted by a private financial institution but by the Public Debt Stabilisation Fund.
For det andet kan det fremhæves, at rentesatsen for lånet ikke tydeligt afspejler den dermed forbundne risiko.
Secondly, it can be argued that the interest rate applied to the loan clearly does not reflect its intrinsic risk.
Den er ikke blot under den referencesats, som Kommissionen sædvanligvis anvender for at beregne støtteelementet i ordninger med rentegodtgørelse [71], men en kreditor ville under markedsvilkår — ud over sikkerhedsstillelse — kræve en rentesats, der kunne kompensere for den høje risiko forbundet med tilbagebetalingen.
Not only is it below the reference rate that the Commission normally uses to calculate the aid element in interest subsidy schemes for loans [71], but also a normal market operator would require, on the top of sound guarantees, an interest rate that compensated for such a high risk of non-repayment.
I betragtning af at RTP's økonomiske situation var så vanskelig, at virksomheden ikke kunne opnå ansvarlig lånekapital på sædvanlige vilkår, svarer lånet faktisk til et tilskud og udgør en fordel for RTP.
Given that its financial position was such that RTP would not have been able to obtain a subordinated loan under normal circumstances, the loan effectively equates to the payment of a grant and constitutes an advantage for RTP.
I lyset af ovenstående mener Kommissionen, at omlægningen af gælden til socialsikringsmyndighederne, kapitaltilførslerne i 1994-1997 og långivningen i 1998 giver en økonomisk fordel i forhold til konkurrenterne, som ikke modtog samme midler.
Accordingly, the Commission considers that the debt rescheduling with the social security scheme, the capital injections in the period 1994 to 1997 and the loan granted in 1998 provided a financial and economic advantage as compared with competitors that did not receive the same funds.
Fordrejning af konkurrencevilkårene
Distortion of competition
Det portugisiske tv-marked blev først åbnet for konkurrence i 1992, men der var dog konkurrenter på markedet i den periode, hvor RTP var genstand for de forskellige foranstaltninger.
Since the Portuguese television market was open to competition by 1992 at the latest, there were competitors on the market during the period that RTP benefited from the different measures.
I februar 1992 blev der udstedt radiospredningslicens til de private tv-selskaber, SIC og TVI, og i oktober 1992 påbegyndte SIC sine udsendelser i Portugal.
In February 1992 broadcasting licences were granted to the commercial broadcasters SIC and TVI and in October 1992 SIC started broadcasting in Portugal.
Kommissionen er ikke enig med de portugisiske myndigheders synspunkt, hvorefter aftalen om gælden til socialsikringsmyndighederne ikke skulle være omfattet af begrebet statsstøtte, da selve gælden var skabt inden åbningen af det portugisiske radiospredningsmarked for konkurrence.
The Commission does not agree with the Portuguese authorities that the agreement on the debt with the social security scheme would fall outside the concept of state aid, as the debt itself had been created before the Portuguese broadcasting market was opened up to competition.
RTP fik tildelt den økonomiske fordel i maj 1993, efter markedets åbning for konkurrence, hvorfor dette kan have udgjort en økonomisk fordel for RTP.
The financial advantage was granted to RTP in May 1993 after the opening-up of the broadcasting market and was therefore able to confer an economic advantage on RTP.
I betragtning heraf konkluderede Kommissionen, at statens foranstaltninger kan have givet en økonomisk fordel til RTP i forhold til konkurrenterne, som ikke modtog de samme midler, og dermed kan have fordrejet konkurrencen som omhandlet i artikel 87, stk. 1.
Accordingly, the Commission concludes that the measures granted by the State were able to confer an economic and financial advantage on RTP compared with competitors not receiving the same funds and thereby to distort competition within the meaning of Article 87(1).
Statslige foranstaltninger er omfattet af artikel 87, stk. 1, i det omfang, de påvirker samhandelen mellem medlemsstaterne.
State measures fall within the scope of Article 87(1) in so far as they affect trade between Member States.
Dette er altid tilfældet, når de pågældende aktiviteter er genstand for samhandel inden for Fællesskabet.
This is the case whenever the activities in question are subject to intra-Community trade.
I nærværende sag udøver modtagervirksomheden, RTP, aktiviteter på det internationale marked.
In the present case, the beneficiary RTP is itself active on the international market.
Faktisk udveksler RTP gennem UER (sammenslutning af europæiske offentlige radiospredningsvirksomheder) tv-programmer og deltager i Eurovision-systemet [72].
Indeed, through the European Broadcasting Union it exchanges television programmes and participates in the Eurovision system [72].
Herudover er RTP i direkte konkurrence med private radiospredningsvirksomheder, der er aktive på det internationale marked og har en international ejerstruktur [73].
Furthermore, RTP is in direct competition with commercial broadcasters that are active on the international broadcasting market and have an international ownership structure [73].
Det kan derfor konkluderes, at foranstaltningerne til fordel for RTP påvirker samhandelen mellem medlemsstaterne som omhandlet i artikel 87, stk. 1.
Accordingly, it can be concluded that the measures granted to RTP affect trade between Member States within the meaning of Article 87(1).
Konklusion vedrørende ad hoc-foranstaltningernes karakter af statsstøtte
Conclusion on the aid nature of the ad hoc measures
I lyset af ovenstående må det konkluderes, at ud over eventuelle public service- forpligtelser, der er pålagt RTP, er der tale om statsstøtte som omhandlet i EF-traktatens artikel 87, stk. 1, i forbindelse med følgende foranstaltninger: omlægningen af gælden til socialsikringsmyndighederne, kapitaltilførsler i perioden 1994-1997 og lånet ydet i 1998.
It transpires from the above that, leaving aside possible public service obligations imposed on RTP, the following measures involve state aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty: the debt rescheduling with the social security scheme, the capital injections during the period 1994 to 1997 and the loan granted in 1998.
Som tidligere nævnt blev RTP imidlertid pålagt en public service-forpligtelse til tv-udsendelse.
However, as mentioned above, RTP is entrusted with a public service broadcasting obligation.
EF-Domstolen erklærede i forbindelse med Altmark-dommen, at statsforanstaltninger, der kompenserer udgifter forbundet med public service, ikke er omfattet af begrebet statsstøtte som omhandlet i EF-traktatens artikel 87, stk. 1, når følgende betingelser er opfyldt samtidigt [74]:
The European Court of Justice ruled in Altmark that state measures compensating for public service costs do not qualify as state aid under Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty when the following four conditions are all satisfied [74]:
Den begunstigede virksomhed er faktisk blevet pålagt at opfylde forpligtelser til offentlig tjeneste, og disse forpligtelser er blevet klart defineret.
the recipient undertaking must actually have public service obligations to discharge, and the obligations must be clearly defined,
De kriterier, der er grundlaget for beregningen af kompensationen, er fastlagt på forhånd på en objektiv og gennemsigtig måde.
the parameters on the basis of which the compensation is calculated must be established in advance in an objective and transparent manner,
Kompensationen overstiger ikke, hvad der er nødvendigt for helt eller delvis at dække de udgifter, der er afholdt ved opfyldelsen af forpligtelserne til offentlig tjeneste, idet der skal tages hensyn til de hermed forbundne indtægter og til en rimelig fortjeneste ved opfyldelsen af forpligtelserne.
the compensation cannot exceed what is necessary to cover all or some of the costs incurred in the discharge of public service obligations, taking into account the relevant receipts and a reasonable profit for discharging those obligations,
Når udvælgelsen af virksomheden ikke gennemføres inden for rammerne af en procedure for tildeling af offentlige kontrakter, skal kompensationen fastlægges på grundlag af en analyse af de omkostninger, som en gennemsnitsvirksomhed, der er veldrevet og tilstrækkeligt udstyret, ville have ved at gennemføre forpligtelserne.
when the company is not chosen pursuant to a public procurement procedure, the level of compensation needed must be determined on the basis of an analysis of the costs which a typical undertaking, well run and adequately equipped, would have incurred in discharging those obligations.
Når der ses bort fra den første og den tredje betingelse, synes de ad hoc-foranstaltninger, der er nævnt i betragtning 151, ikke at opfylde den anden og fjerde betingelse i Altmark-dommen og det af følgende årsager.
Leaving aside the first and third conditions, the ad hoc measures mentioned in paragraph 151 do not seem to fulfil the second and fourth conditions of Altmark for the reasons given below:
Det er klart, at finansieringen via aftalen med socialsikringsmyndighederne og via lånet ikke var led i en kompensationsordning efter kriterier fastlagt på forhånd på en objektiv og gennemsigtig måde (anden betingelse).
It is clear that the financing granted by means of the agreement with the social security scheme and the loan were not part of a compensation system the parameters of which had been established beforehand in an objective and transparent manner (second condition).
Derimod var de baseret på ad hoc-beslutninger, der kan tilskrives staten.
On the contrary, they were based on ad hoc decisions attributable to the State.
Som anført i betragtning 61 indeholdt public service-aftalen herudover en specifik mulighed for finansiering af udstyr til public service-aktiviteterne på grundlag af kapitaltilførsler.
Furthermore, as stated in paragraph 61, the public service contracts provided for a specific financing possibility for investments in public service equipment by means of capital injections.
Public service-aftalerne begrænser ikke investeringerne til de offentlige tjenester og definerer heller ikke klart betingelserne og begrænsningerne for statens deltagelse, idet der kun tages højde for statens eventuelle deltagelse i RTP's investeringer i egenskab af aktionær.
They do not restrict the investments to public services or define clearly the conditions and limits of state participation; they merely refer to the possibility for the State to participate in RTP's investments as a shareholder.
Kommissionen mener derfor, at heller ikke kapitaltilførslerne kan vurderes som værende led i en kompensationsordning efter kriterier fastlagt på forhånd på en objektiv og gennemsigtig måde.
Therefore, the Commission considers that the capital injections too cannot be considered to be part of a compensation system the parameters of which have been established beforehand in an objective and transparent manner.
Endvidere er det klart, at RTP ikke blev udvalgt efter et offentligt udbud, der kunne garantere mindst mulige omkostninger.
Furthermore, it is clear that RTP was not chosen pursuant to a public procurement procedure guaranteeing the lowest possible cost.
Der foreligger ikke bevis for, at beløbet for de punktuelle betalinger blev beregnet med udgangspunkt i en gennemsnitsvirksomheds afholdte omkostninger (fjerde betingelse).
There are no indications that the amount of the ad hoc payments was determined on the basis of an analysis of the costs that a typical undertaking would incur (fourth condition).
I betragtning heraf er det klart, at samtlige betingelser i Altmark-dommen ikke er opfyldt i nærværende sag.
Accordingly, it is clear that in the present case not all the Altmark conditions are satisfied.
De i betragtning 151 nævnte foranstaltninger bør således betragtes som statsstøtte som omhandlet i EF-traktatens artikel 87, stk. 1.
Therefore, the measures mentioned in paragraph 151 must be regarded as state aid under Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty.
Vurdering af foranstaltningernes forenelighed
Assessment of the compatibility of the measures
Det er Domstolens faste retspraksis, at artikel 86 kan tillade undtagelser fra forbuddet mod statsstøtte til virksomheder, der har fået pålagt udførelsen af tjenesteydelser af almindelig økonomisk interesse.
The Court of Justice has consistently held that Article 86 may provide for an exemption from the ban on state aid for undertakings entrusted with a service of general economic interest (SGEI).
Altmark-dommen bekræftede stiltiende, at statsstøtte, der kompenserer omkostninger afholdt af en virksomhed i udførelsen af tjenesteydelser af almindelig økonomisk interesse, kan betragtes som forenelig med fællesmarkedet, når betingelserne i EF-traktatens artikel 86, stk. 2, er opfyldt [75].
It has been implicitly confirmed in Altmark that state aid which compensates for the costs incurred by an undertaking in providing an SGEI can be regarded as compatible with the common market if it meets the conditions of Article 86(2) of the EC Treaty [75].
Domstolen præciserede, at for at kunne falde ind under undtagelsesbestemmelsen er det nødvendigt, at foranstaltningen samtidigt opfylder principperne om definition, mandat og proportionalitet.
The Court of Justice has made it clear that, for a measure to benefit from such exemption, the principles of definition, entrustment and proportionality must all be fulfilled.
Kommissionen mener, at for så vidt angår disse principper, påvirkes samhandelen ikke i en grad, der skader Fællesskabets interesser.
The Commission considers that, where these principles are fulfilled, the development of trade is not affected to an extent contrary to the interests of the Community.
Kommissionens meddelelse om anvendelse af statsstøttereglerne på public service-radio- og tv-virksomhed [76] forklarer, hvordan disse principper bør anvendes på radiospredningssektoren.
The way these principles apply in the broadcasting sector is explained in the Commission communication on the application of state aid rules to public service broadcasting [76].
I henhold til meddelelsen skal Kommissionen vurdere om [77]:
According to the communication, the Commission has to assess whether or not [77]:
RTP's aktiviteter svarer til en public service-forpligtelse, der klart er defineret af medlemsstaten (definition)
the activities of RTP are public service obligations clearly defined as such by the Member State (definition),
udførelsen af tjenesteydelsen udtrykkeligt af de portugisiske myndigheder er overdraget til RTP (mandat)
RTP is officially entrusted by the Portuguese authorities with the provision of that service (entrustment),
finansieringen står i rimeligt forhold til nettoudgifter forbundet med udførelsen af public service.
the funding is proportionate to the net cost of providing the public service.
Som bekræftet i Amsterdam-protokollen [78] og i meddelelsen om radio- og tv-virksomhed [79] er det op til medlemsstaterne at definere public service-mandatet for public service-radio- og tv-selskabet.
As stated in the Amsterdam Protocol [78] and the communication on broadcasting [79], it is for the Member States to define the public service remit of the public service broadcaster.
I radio- og tv-sektoren er Kommissionens rolle begrænset til at kontrollere, at der ikke findes klare fejl i definitionen af public service.
In the broadcasting sector the role of the Commission is limited to checking whether the public service definition contains any manifest error.
En sådan fejl vil udgøre misbrug af definitionen på public service.
Such error would constitute an abuse of the definition of the public service.
I betragtning af radio- og tv-sektorens særlige karakter finder Kommissionen det legitimt med en definition, der pålægger et givet selskab at udbyde et afbalanceret og varieret program i overensstemmelse med de fortolkende bestemmelser i protokollen [80].
Given the specific nature of the broadcasting sector, the Commission considers, in view of the interpretative provisions of the Protocol, a definition entrusting a given broadcaster with the task of providing balanced and varied programming to be legitimate [80].
En sådan definition ville være i overensstemmelse med målsætningen om at opfylde de demokratiske, sociale og kulturelle behov i et givent samfund.
Such a definition would be consistent with the objective of fulfilling the democratic, social and cultural needs of a particular society.
Som beskrevet i betragtning 51 og 52, er RTP i medfør af lov nr. 21/92 og public service-aftalerne forpligtet til inden for rammerne af generelt public service-tv at tilvejebringe to kanaler med generel dækning.
As described in paragraphs 51 and 52, RTP is, by virtue of Law No 21/92 and the public service contracts, obliged to ensure as a general public television service the broadcasting of two channels with general coverage.
Mens den første kanal skal tilbyde en mere generel programlægning, skal den anden kanal henvende sig til mere specifikke seergrupper.
Whereas the first channel has to offer more general programming, the second channel has to aim more at specific audiences.
Som beskrevet i betragtning 53 og 54 fastlægger lov nr. 21/92 og public service-aftalerne endvidere i detaljer RTP's forpligtelser med hensyn til programindholdet, det internationale samarbejde og visse specifikke forpligtelser.
Furthermore, as described in paragraphs 53 and 54, Law No 21/92 and the public service contracts impose more detailed obligations on RTP regarding programme content and international cooperation, as well as some other specific obligations.
Selv om definitionen på RTP's public service-forpligtelser er af kvalitativ karakter og meget bred, i overensstemmelse med Amsterdam-protokollens fortolkningsbestemmelser, finder Kommissionen denne »brede« definition legitim [81].
Although the definition of RTP's public service broadcasting is of a qualitative and rather broad nature, the Commission, in view of the interpretative provisions of the Amsterdam Protocol, considers such a ‘broad’ definition to be as legitimate [81].
Kommissionen finder således legitim den generelle definition, der er fastlagt for RTP's public service-forpligtelse til at forestå to tv-kanaler med national dækning, en mere generel og en mere fokuseret på specifikke seergrupper.
Therefore, it also considers the general definition of RTP's public service remit to provide two television channels of national coverage, one more general and the other more focused on specific audiences, to be legitimate.
En sådan definition kan anses for at opfylde de demokratiske, sociale og kulturelle behov i det portugisiske samfund.
Such a definition can be regarded as fulfilling the democratic, social and cultural needs of Portuguese society.
Kommissionen finder ligeledes legitime de forpligtelser, der nærmere fastlægger, hvordan RTP skal opfylde sin public service-forpligtelse til tv-virksomhed.
Furthermore, the Commission regards as legitimate the obligations which determine in detail how RTP should perform the general public service broadcasting remit.
Disse forpligtelser kan også anses for at være i overensstemmelse med Amsterdam-protokollens tekst og for at opfylde de demokratiske, sociale og kulturelle behov i det portugisiske samfund.
Indeed, in line with wording of the Amsterdam Protocol, these obligations can also be considered to fulfil the democratic, social and cultural needs of Portuguese society.
Selv om Kommissionen anser RTP's public service-opgave for at være legitim, skal det dog efterprøves, hvorvidt definitionen er befængt med klare fejl.
Although the Commission regards the public service mission of RTP as legitimate, it must, however, ascertain whether or not this definition contains any manifest errors.
Under hensyntagen til betragtning 45 i direktivet om »fjernsyn uden grænser« kan Kommissionen acceptere, at definitionen af public service-forpligtelser for radio- og tv-virksomheder, der udfører public service, indeholder en forpligtelse til i betydeligt omfang at bidrage til investeringer i europæisk audiovisuel produktion, i det omfang filmrettighederne giver mulighed for udsendelse på public service-tv [82].
Taking into account recital 45 to the Television without Frontiers Directive, the Commission could accept, in so far the resulting film rights are shown on public service television, that the public service definition of public service broadcasters includes the obligation to contribute substantially to investment in European audiovisual production [82].
Kommissionen finder, at RTP's forpligtelse til at støtte filmproduktion falder ind under public service-tv, da RTP efterfølgende på public service-tv udsender de film, som den har erhvervet rettigheder til.
The Commission considers that the obligation imposed on RTP to promote the cinema falls within the scope of public service broadcasting, as RTP subsequently broadcasts on public service television the films for which it acquired the distribution rights.
Kommissionen kan derfor ikke være enig i de direkte interesseredes bemærkninger, hvorefter RTP's filmforpligtelser og finansieringen heraf skulle være diskriminerende.
The Commission cannot, therefore, agree with the comments by interested parties that RTP's obligation regarding cinema promotion and its financing is discriminatory.
De direkte interesserede hævdede, at private tv-selskaber også indgår protokoller om støtte til filmproduktion med de portugisiske myndigheder, men at disse ikke indeholder bestemmelser om nogen kompenserende betaling.
The parties argued that private broadcasters also concluded protocols on cinema promotion with the Portuguese authorities that do not provide for compensation.
Kommissionen finder, at der bør skelnes mellem frivillige aftaler mellem staten og private tv-selskaber om støtte til filmproduktion og en public service-forpligtelse, der er pålagt RTP, til at udsende filmproduktion og finansiere denne.
The Commission is of the opinion that a distinction has to be made between the voluntary agreements on cinema promotion concluded between the State and the private broadcasters, on the one hand, and the public service broadcasting obligations imposed on RTP to broadcast cinema productions and to finance them, on the other.
Det er klart, at der udtrykkeligt blev pålagt RTP en public service-opgave med hensyn til at støtte visse filmiske produktioner, som efterfølgende skulle udsendes som public service-tv-programmer, hvorimod de private tv-selskaber ikke var blevet pålagt en sådan public service-opgave.
It is clear that RTP is explicitly entrusted with a public service task to support certain film productions that are subsequently broadcast as public service television programmes, whereas no such public service task is entrusted to private broadcasters.
Faktisk brugte staten således RTP som et instrument til at støtte filmproduktionen.
In fact, RTP becomes an instrument used by the State to support the cinema.
Eventuelle fordele fra RTP til filmproduktionen kan udgøre statsstøtte og bør undersøges som sådan.
Any resulting advantages granted by RTP to the cinema could constitute state aid and should be assessed as such.