natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Såfremt Kommissionen mener, at »forudbetalingen« ikke svarede til det, en (privat) markedsøkonomisk investor ville gøre for at maksimere tilbagebetaling og investeringsafkast, ville de græske myndigheder alternativt anmode Kommissionen om at overveje at undersøge forudbetalingen på grundlag af »rammebestemmelserne for redning og omstrukturering« som redningsstøtte, der er forenelig med fællesmarkedet i henhold til artikel 87, stk. 3, litra c).
In the alternative, if the Commission were to take the view that the advance was not consistent with what a private market economy investor would have done to maximise recovery and return on investment, the Greek authorities asked the Commission to consider whether in the light of the rescue and restructuring guidelines the advance constituted rescue aid compatible with the common market under Article 87(3)(c).
I dette tilfælde kunne de græske myndigheder hævde, at betingelserne for at yde redningsstøtte var opfyldt fra og med december 2003, og dette ville være underbygget af forretningsplaner osv.
In that event the Greek authorities would submit that the conditions for the grant of rescue aid were met from December 2003 onward, and this would be substantiated by providing business plans and the like.
Med hensyn til spørgsmålet om eventuel støtte til de fremtidige købere af nogen af Olympic-selskaberne ønskede de græske myndigheder at forsikre Kommissionen om, at de havde til hensigt at sælge NOA og alle andre aktiviteter/forretningsområder til markedspriser, og at dette vil blive gjort i overensstemmelse med gældende græsk ret og EU-ret.
On the question of possible aid to the future purchasers of any of the Olympic companies, the Greek authorities wanted to reassure the Commission that they intended to sell Olympic Airlines and any other divisions or businesses at market prices, and in accordance with the applicable Greek and Community law.
De græske myndigheder var ikke enige i konklusionen om, at den græske stat ønskede at beskytte NOA mod håndhævelsen af beslutningen fra december 2002, eftersom den forbyder alle OA's kreditorer at gøre krav gældende over for NOA.
The Greek authorities disagreed with the conclusion that in prohibiting any creditors of Olympic Airways from bringing actions against Olympic Airlines the Greek State was seeking to protect Olympic Airlines from the enforcement of the 2002 Decision.
De har gjort gældende, at dette ikke var hensigten, som derimod var at maksimere genindvindingen af investeringen.
They contended that this was not the intention, which was rather to maximise recovery of investment.
De forklarede, at den særlige konto havde til formål at sikre, at beløb op til den nominelle værdi af NOA's aktiebeholdning er tilgængelige for OA og selskabets kreditorer, hvilket sikrede en passende kreditorbeskyttelse.
They explained that the operation of the special account was such as to ensure that amounts up to the nominal value of the shareholding of Olympic Airlines were available to Olympic Airways and its creditors, which ensured an adequate level of creditor protection.
De græske myndigheder understregede, at de har ret til at afgøre, hvad der er den mest hensigtsmæssige måde til at foretage omstrukturering og privatisering, og at indførelsen af et instrument til at sikre, at OA's kreditorer har mindst samme beskyttelsesniveau, som de ellers ville have, var et lovligt tiltag fra Grækenlands side.
Greece emphasised that it was entitled to decide upon the most appropriate means of restructuring and privatisation, and that it was a legitimate step on its part to introduce a safeguard to ensure that Olympic Airways’ creditors had at least the same level of protection as they would otherwise have had.
Denne kreditorbeskyttelse må ikke forveksles med tilbagesøgningsforpligtelsen på grundlag af 2002-beslutningen.
This protection of creditors should not be confused with the obligation to recover imposed by the 2002 Decision.
Grækenland var heller ikke enig i Kommissionens konklusion om, at oprettelsen af NOA ikke er en løsning, da selskabets rentabilitet ikke er garanteret; Grækenland anførte, at man var sikker på, at NOA ville blive en succes.
Greece also disagreed with the Commission’s conclusion that the creation of Olympic Airlines was not a solution, as Olympic Airlines’ viability was not guaranteed: Greece stated that it was confident that Olympic Airlines would be successful.
Med hensyn til den foreslåede lange gennemførelsesperiode for den samlede omstrukturering og privatisering anførte de græske myndigheder, at de tog Kommissionens betænkeligheder til efterretning og ville forsøge at fremskynde processen, for så vidt det var praktisk muligt.
With respect to the proposed long implementation period for the overall restructuring and privatisation, Greece said that it noted the Commission’s concerns, and would try to accelerate the process where practicable.
Grækenland havde til hensigt at fremsende en ny tidsplan for gennemførelsen af omstrukturerings- og privatiseringsplanen og den efterfølgende likvidation af OA til Kommissionen.
Greece intended to provide the Commission with a new timetable for the implementation of the restructuring and privatisation plan and the subsequent liquidation of Olympic Airways.
Vedrørende spørgsmålet om andre love, som gav OA særlige fritagelser eller immuniteter, gentog Grækenland, at de bestemmelser i lov nr. 96/1975, som gav OA særlige privilegier (med hensyn til betaling af afgifter på transaktioner, fritagelse for betaling af stempel- og trafikafgifter og inden for statsgarantier), var blevet ophævet, og at OA er omfattet af alle generelt gældende skatter og afgifter og opererer inden for en fri markedsøkonomi.
On the question of other laws providing Olympic Airways with special exemptions or immunities, Greece reiterated that the provisions of Law 96/1975 granting special privileges to Olympic Airways (in the areas of payment of duties on transactions and exemption from payment of stamp and traffic duties and with regard to State guarantees) had been repealed, and that Olympic Airways was subject to all generally applicable taxes and duties and operated in the context of a free market economy.
BEMÆRKNINGER FRA TREDJEMAND
COMMENTS SUBMITTED BY THIRD PARTIES
Efter offentliggørelsen af brevet til de græske myndigheder i Den Europæiske Unions Tidende blev der inden for den fastsatte frist modtaget bemærkninger fra to andre interesserede parter.
Following the publication in the Official Journal of the European Union of the letter addressed to the Greek authorities, comments were received within the time allowed from two other interested parties.
De første bemærkninger blev modtaget fra et græsk luftfartsselskab ved navn Aegean Airlines (i det følgende benævnt »Aegean«).
The first set of comments was submitted by a Greek air carrier, Aegean Airlines (‘Aegean’).
Det fremsatte følgende bemærkninger.
Aegean made the following observations.
Særlige betalingsvilkår mellem OA og AIA
Preferential terms of payment between Olympic Airways and AIA
OA's forfaldne gæld til AIA blev af Aegean anslået til at være i størrelsesordenen 70-80 mio. EUR. Aegean hævdede, at OA og NOA har fået lov til at indgå betydelige forpligtelser i relation til AIA, hvori staten ejer 55 %, og at andre luftfartsselskaber ikke har denne mulighed.
Aegean alleged that AIA, which was 55 % State-controlled, had allowed Olympic Airways and Olympic Airlines to incur substantial liabilities, and that similar facilities were not available to other airlines.
Aegean har anslået, at selskabet havde haft samme muligheder, havde det fået driftskapital på 40-50 mio. EUR stillet til rådighed.
Aegean estimated that if it had been afforded the same facilities it could have had working capital of EUR 40–50 million at its disposal.
Finansielle resultater opnået af selskaber i Olympic Airways-koncernen
The financial performance of companies within the Olympic Airways group
Med hensyn til OAv har Aegean anført, at dette selskab havde tab på 32,2 mio. EUR (ud af indtægter på 83 mio. EUR — 39 %), selv om det havde modtaget en kompensation på 8,2 mio. EUR fra den græske stat for »udflytningen før tid« af dets aktiviteter fra Hellinikon lufthavn til AIA.
Aegean stated that Olympic Aviation had recorded losses of EUR 32,2 million, corresponding to 39 % of its revenues of EUR 83 million, despite having received EUR 8,2 million in compensation from the Greek State for ‘early relocation’ of its activities from Ellinikon airport to AIA.
Nedgangen var mest udtalt i forbindelse med dets europæiske rutenet med et fald på 14,4 %, mens antallet af forretningsrejsende faldt med 26 %.
The decline was most pronounced on its European network, where there had been a fall of 14,4 %; the number of business passengers had fallen by 26 %.
Efter Aegeans opfattelse betyder dette fald i passagertallet sammen med et stadig vanskeligere marked (prisstigninger på brændstoffer, øget konkurrence fra lavprisflyselskaber), at OAG 's finansielle situation er blevet forværret i løbet af 2003.
In Aegean’s opinion this decline in passenger numbers together with an increasingly difficult market (fuel price increases, increased competition from low-cost carriers) meant that the Olympic Airways group’s financial position must have deteriorated through 2003.
Mulig subsidiering af NOA gennem manglende betaling af gæld til OAS
Possible subsidisation of Olympic Airlines through non-payment of debts to Olympic Airways Services
Aegean har givet udtryk for mistanke om, at det nye selskab ikke betaler (eller ikke betaler nok) for de tjenester, det modtager fra OAS.
Aegean voiced its suspicion that the new company was not paying for the services that it received from Olympic Airways Services, or at least was not paying what it ought to pay.
Ifølge Aegean var den forudbetaling på 130312450 mio. EUR, der blev anbragt på den særlige konto, opbrugt efter otte måneder.
According to Aegean the advance of EUR 130312450 million lodged to the special account had been exhausted after eight months.
Der er vedtaget en ny lov (lov nr. 3259/2004), som beskytter OAS og OAv mod fuldbyrdelsesprocedurer.
A new law had been adopted (Law 3259/2004) protecting Olympic Airways Services and Olympic Aviation from having enforcement proceedings brought against them.
Aegean har gjort gældende, at den græske stat automatisk havde tildelt de af OAv's ruter, der er omfattet af forpligtelsen til offentlig tjeneste, til NOA uden at afholde offentligt udbud.
Aegean complained that the Greek State had awarded Olympic Aviation’s public service obligation routes to Olympic Airlines automatically, without a public tender.
Desuden er alle OA's trafikrettigheder til ikke-EØS-lande blevet overtaget af det nye selskab uden en fornyet vurdering af udpegningskriterierne, selv om andre luftfartsselskaber, herunder Aegean, havde udtrykt interesse for at blive udpeget.
In addition, all of Olympic Airways’ rights in respect of traffic to non-EEA States had been taken over by the new company without any reassessment of the criteria for designation, although other airlines, including Aegean, had expressed an interest in being designated.
Aegean er af den opfattelse, at overførslen af aktiver til NOA uden de tilsvarende forpligtelser kan være uforenelig med både traktaten og den græske forfatning.
Aegean was of the opinion that the transfer of assets to Olympic Airlines without the corresponding liabilities might be incompatible with both the Treaty and the Greek Constitution.
Ifølge en presseartikel havde MA, inden selskabet blev omdannet til NOA, akkumuleret en skattegæld på 3,5 mia. GRD, og Aegean hævder i denne henseende, at Grækenland ikke har gjort krav gældende over for NOA med hensyn til dette beløb.
According to press reports Macedonian had accumulated tax liabilities of GRD 3,5 billion before it was converted into Olympic Airlines; Aegean alleged that the Greek State had not made any claim against Olympic Airlines in respect of this sum.
Der blev også modtaget bemærkninger fra det irske lavprisflyselskab Ryanair.
Comments were also received from the Irish low-cost airline Ryanair.
Ryanair fremsatte en række generelle bemærkninger vedrørende anvendelsen af Fællesskabets statsstøtteregler i andre medlemsstater end Grækenland og i forbindelse med andre luftfartsselskaber end Olympic.
Ryanair made a number of general observations regarding the application of Community State aid rules in Member States other than Greece and in relation to airlines other than Olympic.
Med hensyn til den foreliggende sag bemærkede Ryanair indledningsvis, at man ikke var i stand til fremsætte bemærkninger til det brev, der var sendt til den græske regering, da der ikke var stillet en engelsk oversættelse til rådighed.
With regard to the case in hand, Ryanair noted at the outset that it was unable to comment on the letter sent to the Greek Government, because no English translation had been provided.
Ryanair anførte videre, at selv om det »i forbindelse med den oprindelige undersøgelse mod OA var blevet konstateret, at OA havde modtaget statsstøtte på over 1 mia. EUR, skulle selskabet alligevel kun tilbagebetale 200 mio. EUR til den græske regering«.
Ryanair went on to say that in the original investigation against Olympic Airways the amount of State aid found to have been received by Olympic Airways was over EUR 1 billion, and yet Olympic Airways had been required to repay only EUR 200 million to the Greek State.
Ryanair gjorde endvidere gældende, at andre luftfartsselskaber har været tvunget til at subsidiere det nødlidende nationale selskab gennem højere lufthavnsafgifter, da OA var bevilget »ferie« fra disse afgifter.
Other airlines had been forced to subsidise the failing national carrier through higher airport charges because Olympic Airways had been granted a ‘holiday’ from these charges.
Efter Ryanairs opfattelse underminerer den fortsatte ulovlige støtte til dette konkursramte nationale luftfartsselskab alvorligt nye og mere effektive operatørers mulighed for at komme ind på markedet.
In Ryanair’s opinion the continued illegal support given to this failed national airline seriously undermined the potential for new and more efficient operators to enter the market.
Ryanair beskrev oprettelsen af et gældfrit, nyt luftfartsselskab som uacceptabel og satte spørgsmålstegn ved, om de gældende procedurer var blevet fulgt med hensyn til artikel 4 i Rådets forordning (EØF) nr. 2407/92 af 23. juli 1992 om udstedelse af licenser til luftfartsselskaber [10] ved ansøgningen om en ny driftslicens til det nye selskab.
The creation of a new, debt-free airline was unacceptable; Ryanair wondered whether the procedures in force under Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2407/92 of 23 July 1992 on licensing of air carriers [10] had been followed with regard to the application for an operating licence for the new company.
Afslutningsvis anførte Ryanair, at Grækenland ikke skulle have lov til igen at omgå reglerne og fortsat støtte sit konkursramte nationale luftfartsselskab.
In conclusion, Ryanair stated that the Greece should not be permitted to circumvent the rules once again and to continue to prop up its failed national airline.
GRÆKENLANDS SVAR PÅ BEMÆRKNINGERNE FRA TREDJEPARTER
GREECE’S REPLY TO THIRD-PARTY COMMENTS
Efter Grækenlands opfattelse er oplysningerne i bemærkningerne fra tredjeparter unøjagtige og bidrager ikke med noget nyt til undersøgelsen.
Greece took the view that the information contained in the comments submitted by third parties was inaccurate and contributed nothing new to the investigation.
De græske myndigheder gentog, at den tidligere privatiseringsproces for luftfartsselskabet var blevet afsluttet den 6. oktober 2004, og at en ny gruppe af rådgivere var blevet udpeget til både privatiseringen af NOA og af de andre forretningsområder/divisioner.
The Greek authorities repeated that the previous privatisation process for the airline had been terminated on 6 October 2004, and that a new group of advisers had been appointed for the privatisation of both Olympic Airlines and the other businesses or divisions.
Den nye gruppe af rådgivere havde allerede påbegyndt arbejdet, og der blev gjort fremskridt med »forslagsfasen«; endvidere var der blevet udarbejdet vejledende tidsplan for privatiseringen.
The new group of advisers had already commenced work, and progress was being made on the ‘proposal phase’. An indicative timetable for the privatisation had also been drawn up.
Vedrørende de specifikke bemærkninger fra tredjeparter afgav Grækenland følgende svar.
On the specific comments made by the third parties, Greece replied as follows.
BEMÆRKNINGER FRA AEGEAN AIRLINES
AEGEAN AIRLINES’ COMMENTS
Med hensyn til den påståede særbehandling af OA i AIA anførte de græske myndigheder, at dette spørgsmål var blevet behandlet tidligere i forbindelse med denne statsstøtteundersøgelse, ved Domstolen (sag C-415/03 Kommissionen mod Grækenland) og i andre statsstøtteundersøgelser (NN 27/1996 — Anlæg og drift af den internationale lufthavn i Athen).
The issue of the alleged preferential treatment of Olympic Airways at AIA had been addressed before in the context of the present State aid investigation, before the Court of Justice (Case C-415/03 Commission v Greece), and in other State aid investigations (Case NN 27/1996 Construction and exploitation of Athens International Airport).
Selv om AIA er 55 % statsejet, drives selskabet som en privat virksomhed uden kontrol fra statens side i den daglige drift.
Although AIA was 55 % State-owned, it was operated as a private business independent of State control in its day-to-day operations.
Som sådan er AIA eneansvarlig for opkrævning af lufthavnsafgifter og afviklingsordninger ved forsinket betaling.
It therefore had sole responsibility for the collection of airport charges and for the settlement arrangements for late payment.
Af AIA's ni direktører AIA udpeges fire af staten, fire af bygherrerne, mens den sidste er uafhængigt udpeget.
Of the nine directors of AIA, four were appointed by the State and four by the developers, and the remaining one was an independent.
Grækenland gentog, at man allerede havde afklaret spørgsmålene vedrørende den forsinkede betaling af »spatosimo«.
Greece reiterated that it had already clarified the issues relating to late payment of spatosimo.
Hvad angår den mulige subsidiering af NOA gennem manglende betaling af gæld til OAS, anførte Grækenland, at alle tjenester, som OAS leverer til NOA, leveres til markedspriser og på markedsvilkår.
As regards the possible subsidisation of Olympic Airlines through non-payment of debts to Olympic Airways Services, the Greek authorities stated that all services provided by Olympic Airways Services to Olympic Airlines were provided on market terms and conditions.
De græske myndigheder fremlagde en vis dokumentation for betalinger, som NOA havde foretaget til OA.
The Greek authorities provided some documentary evidence of payments made by Olympic Airlines to Olympic Airways.
Mere generelt fremlagde Grækenland dokumenter til støtte for sin påstand om, at NOA ikke har nogen udestående betalinger i forhold til nogen statslig enhed.
More generally, Greece provided documentation in support of its assertion that Olympic Airlines had no payments outstanding with any State entity.
I denne henseende blev der fremlagt dokumentation vedrørende ajourførte betalinger til skattemyndighederne med hensyn til lønskat (FMY), moms, lufthavnsafgifter (herunder i AIA), »spatosimo« og socialsikringsbidrag (IKA).
It supplied evidence of up-to-date payments to the tax authorities in respect of salaried persons tax (FMY), VAT, airport charges (at AIA and elsewhere), spatosimo and social security contributions (IKA).
Med hensyn til den særlige konto anførte Grækenland, at beløbene på kontoen blev anvendt i overensstemmelse med lov nr. 3185/2003.
Greece stated that the sums in the special account were being used in accordance with Law 3185/2003.
Forudbetalingen til kontoen blev beskrevet som en »midlertidig foranstaltning, som enhver forsigtig markedsinvestor ville træffe«.
The advance paid into the account was a measure of a temporary nature that any prudent market investor would have taken.
Forudbetalingen var primært blevet anvendt til lønninger i både OA og OAv, leasingomkostninger i forbindelse med fly og førtidspensionering af personale i OA og OAv.
The advance had been used primarily for salaries in both Olympic Airways and Olympic Aviation, aircraft leasing costs, and early retirement of Olympic Airways and Olympic Aviation staff.
Den græske stat anførte endvidere, at NOA hverken direkte eller indirekte har modtaget midler fra den særlige konto.
Olympic Airlines had received no funds from the special account, either directly or indirectly.
Påstanden om, at NOA ikke havde fået overdraget forpligtelser ved oprettelsen, blev også kraftigt tilbagevist.
The Greek authorities also strenuously denied the allegation that when it was established Olympic Airlines had not inherited any liabilities.
Beløbet på 130312450 EUR blev tildelt i rater mellem den 24. december 2003 og den 13. maj 2004 (et tidsrum på under seks måneder).
The sum of EUR 130312450 had been granted in instalments between 24 December 2003 and 13 May 2004 (a period of less than six months).
Det var blevet udbetalt på en sådan måde, at hvis Kommissionen skulle nå frem til, at det udgjorde statsstøtte som omhandlet i traktatens artikel 87, stk. 1, ville alle betingelser for, at det kunne betragtes som redningsstøtte, være opfyldt.
It was paid out in this way so that if the Commission were to decide that it constituted State aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) of the Treaty, the conditions it needed to meet in order to qualify as rescue aid would all be met.
Til støtte for påstanden om, at kontantforskuddet kunne udgøre redningsstøtte, anførte Grækenland følgende:
In support of its contention that the advance would qualify as rescue aid, Greece drew attention to the following:
Olympic Airways var en kriseramt virksomhed som omhandlet i rammebestemmelserne om rednings- og omstruktureringsstøtte.
Olympic Airways was a company in difficulty within the meaning of the rescue and restructuring guidelines;
Forudbetalingen til Olympic Airways udgjorde af likviditetsstøtte.
the advance to Olympic Airways constituted liquidity support;
Likviditetsstøtten forventedes tilbagebetalt over en periode på højst 12 måneder efter udbetalingen af den sidste rate til OA; den sidste rate blev udbetalt i maj 2004, og tilbagebetalingen skulle efter planen foretages efter privatiseringen af NOA i maj 2005.
the sums advanced in liquidity support were expected to be reimbursed over a period of not more than 12 months after disbursement of the last instalment to Olympic Airways; the last instalment was paid in May 2004, and the reimbursement was to be carried out after privatisation of Olympic Airlines in May 2005;
Tildelingen af redningsstøtte forhindrede dybtgående og alvorlige sociale vanskeligheder i hele Grækenland.
the grant of rescue aid avoided serious and severe social difficulties throughout Greece;
OA ophørte med at være et luftfartsselskab og udførte kun andre tjenester end luftfartstjenester, hvorfor afsmitningseffekterne til andre medlemsstater er begrænsede.
Olympic Airways would cease to be an air carrier, and would operate non-flight services only, so that the adverse effects in other Member States would be limited;
Det tildelte beløb var nødvendigt for at videreføre selskabet i den begrænsede periode, hvori det blev ydet; beløbet er rimeligt og kan sammenlignes med andre redningsstøttebeløb, der er godkendt af Kommissionen til virksomheder af samme størrelse eller inden for samme sektor.
the amount of the advance was necessary to keep the company in business for the limited period for which it was granted; the amount was proportionate and was comparable to the amounts of rescue aid authorised by the Commission for other undertakings of similar size or undertakings operating in the same industry.