natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Kommissionen har derfor draget den konklusion, at foranstaltningerne til fordel for TV2 påvirkede samhandelen mellem medlemsstaterne som omhandlet i artikel 107, stk. 1, i TEUF.
The Commission therefore concludes that the measures granted to TV2 had an effect on trade between Member States within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU.
Da alle betingelserne i artikel 107, stk. 1, i TEUF er opfyldt, må Kommissionen konkludere, at de ovenfor beskrevne foranstaltninger til fordel for TV2 udgør statsstøtte efter artikel 107, stk. 1, i TEUF.
Since all the conditions of Article 107(1) TFEU are fulfilled, the Commission concludes that the measures described above in favour of TV2 qualify as State aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU.
Eftersom TV2 begyndte at sende i 1989, er alle de foranstaltninger, der er truffet for TV2, iværksat efter Danmarks tiltrædelse af Den Europæiske Union.
As TV2 started broadcasting in 1989, all the measures for TV2 were taken after Denmark’s accession to the European Union.
Disse foranstaltninger, herunder også licensmidlerne, udgør følgelig ny statsstøtte (og ikke eksisterende statsstøtte efter artikel 108, stk. 1, i TEUF).
Consequently, the measures, including the licence fee resources, constitute new State aid (rather than existing aid within the meaning of Article 108(1) TFEU).
Kommissionen finder, at det er helt klart, at artikel 107, stk. 2, og artikel 107, stk. 3, litra a), b), c) og d), i TEUF ikke finder anvendelse, og hverken de danske myndigheder eller TV2 har da heller argumenteret for, at det skulle være tilfældet.
The Commission considers that Article 107(2) and Article 107(3)(a), 107(3)(b), 107(3)(c) and 107(3)(d) TFEU are manifestly not applicable and neither the Danish authorities nor TV2 have put forward any arguments to this effect.
Kommissionen vil derfor tage stilling til, om artikel 106, stk. 2, i TEUF kan finde anvendelse.
The Commission will therefore assess whether Article 106(2) TFEU might apply.
I artikel 106, stk. 2, i TEUF fastsættes det, at »virksomheder, der har fået overdraget at udføre tjenesteydelser af almindelig økonomisk interesse, eller som har karakter af fiskale monopoler, er underkastet denne traktats bestemmelser, navnlig konkurrencereglerne, i det omfang anvendelsen af disse bestemmelser ikke retligt eller faktisk hindrer opfyldelsen af de særlige opgaver, som er betroet dem. Udviklingen af samhandelen må ikke påvirkes i et sådant omfang, at det strider mod Fællesskabets interesse«.
Article 106(2) TFEU reads: ‘Undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest or having the character of a revenue-producing monopoly shall be subject to the rules contained in the Treaties, in particular to the rules on competition, in so far as the application of such rules does not obstruct the performance, in law or in fact, of the particular tasks assigned to them. The development of trade must not be affected to such an extent as would be contrary to the interests of the Union.’
For at denne undtagelsesbestemmelse skal kunne bringes i anvendelse, skal alle de nedennævnte betingelser være opfyldt:
For a measure to benefit from this derogation, all the following conditions must be fulfilled:
Den pågældende tjenesteydelse skal være en tjenesteydelse af almindelig økonomisk interesse og klart være defineret som sådan af medlemsstaten (»definition«).
the service in question must be a service of general economic interest (‘SGEI’) and clearly defined as such by the Member State (‘definition’),
Den pågældende virksomhed skal udtrykkeligt af medlemsstaten have fået overdraget at udføre denne tjenesteydelse (»mandat«).
the undertaking in question must be explicitly entrusted by the Member State with the provision of that service (‘entrustment’),
Anvendelsen af traktatens konkurrenceregler skal hindre opfyldelsen af de særlige opgaver, virksomheden er betroet, og fritagelsen fra disse regler må ikke påvirke udviklingen i samhandelen i et sådant omfang, at det strider mod Unionens interesser (»proportionalitet«).
the application of the competition rules of the Treaty must obstruct the performance of the particular tasks assigned to the undertaking and the exemption from such rules must not affect the development of trade to an extent that would be contrary to the interests of the Union (‘proportionality’).
Radio- og tv-meddelelsen fra 2001 [56] indeholder de principper og metoder, som Kommissionen agter at følge for at sikre, at de ovennævnte betingelser opfyldes.
The 2001 Broadcasting Communication [56] sets out the principles and methods which the Commission intends to apply to ensure compliance with the conditions referred to above.
I henhold til lov om radio- og fjernsynsvirksomhed (1994-loven) [57] er TV2 en selvejende institution, der gennem selvstændig programvirksomhed har til formål at tilvejebringe og sprede landsdækkende og regionale fjernsynsprogrammer.
Under the Broadcasting Act (1994) [57], TV2 is an independent institution whose object is to produce and disseminate national and regional television programmes through independent programme activities.
Ved programlægningen skal der lægges afgørende vægt på kvalitet, alsidighed og mangfoldighed.
The range of the programmes provided must principally focus on quality, versatility and diversity.
Ved programlægningen i de regionaleTV2-stationer skal der endvidere lægges vægt på tilknytning til regionen.
Regional relevance must also be given priority in the planning of programmes for the regional TV2 stations.
Public service-virksomheden er nærmere fastlagt i TV2's vedtægter, ifølge hvilke TV2 er forpligtet til over for hele befolkningen at tilvejebringe og udsende fjernsynsprogrammer omfattende nyhedsformidling, oplysning, underholdning, kunst og kultur [58].
The public service mission is specified in more detail in TV2’s Statutes, which state that TV2 has to provide programmes comprising news coverage, information, entertainment, art and culture to the entire Danish population [58].
Kommissionen har noteret sig, at Retten i sin dom [59] tog stilling til TV2's lovfæstede public service-forpligtelse.
The Commission takes note that the Court discussed the public service that TV2 is obliged by law to provide in its judgment [59].
Retten erindrede indledningsvis om, at medlemsstaterne har en stor skønsbeføjelse med hensyn til definitionen af det, de anser for at være tjenesteydelser af almen økonomisk interesse.
First, the Court recalled that Member States enjoy broad discretion when defining what they regard as services of general economic interest.
Kommissionen kan således kun sætte spørgsmålstegn ved en medlemsstats definition af disse tjenesteydelser i tilfælde af en åbenbar fejl [60].
Thus the definition of such services by a Member State can be queried by the Commission only in the event of manifest error [60].
Som anført i punkt 33 i radio- og tv-meddelelsen var det desuden op til medlemsstaterne at definere en public service tv-stations public service-opgave.
Furthermore, as stated in paragraph 33 of the Broadcasting Communication, it is for the Member States to define the public service remit of a public broadcaster.
Hvad nærmere bestemt angår tjenesteydelser af almen økonomisk interesse med hensyn til radio- og tv-virksomhed, har Domstolen i sin retspraksis anerkendt, at medlemsstaterne legitimt kunne definere en opgave med tjenesteydelser af almen økonomisk interesse vedrørende radio- og tv-virksomhed, der dækkede en generel programflade [61].
More specifically, as regards SGEIs in the field of broadcasting, the case-law of the Court has recognised that Member States could legitimately define an SGEI so as to cover the broadcasting of full-spectrum programming [61].
I den bestemmelse, der blev indføjet i Amsterdamtraktaten [62], om at »offentlig radio- og tv-virksomhed i medlemsstaterne hænger direkte sammen med de demokratiske, sociale og kulturelle behov i de enkelte samfund og med nødvendigheden af at bevare mediepluralisme«, henviste medlemsstaterne direkte til de public service radio- og tv-ordninger, de havde indført, og de virksomheder, der havde fået overdraget at tilvejebringe en komplet programflade for hele befolkningen i medlemsstaterne.
When the Member States stated in the Amsterdam Protocol [62] that ‘the system of public broadcasting in the Member States is directly related to the democratic, social and cultural needs of each society and to the need to preserve media pluralism’, they were making a direct reference to the public service broadcasting systems they had introduced and the organisations entrusted with broadcasting full-spectrum television programmes for the benefit of the entire population of those States.
I sin dom statuerede Retten, at medlemsstaternes kompetence til at definere tjenesteydelser af almen økonomisk interesse med hensyn til radio- og tv-virksomhed på en bred og kvantitativ måde, således at definitionen omfatter sending af en bred vifte af programmer, ikke kan anfægtes, og det kan medlemsstaternes mulighed for ved finansiering af disse tjenesteydelser at anvende reklamebaseret finansiering heller ikke [63].
In its judgment, the Court ruled that the Member States’ power to define broadcasting SGEIs in broad qualitative terms, so as to cover the broadcasting of a wide range of programmes, cannot be disputed, nor can the Member States’ freedom to use advertising revenue to finance such SGEIs [63].
Muligheden for en medlemsstat for at definere tjenesteydelser af almen økonomisk interesse med hensyn til radio- og tv-virksomhed i brede vendinger som omfattende sending af bredspektrede programmer kan der ikke rejses tvivl om ved den omstændighed, at public service-operatøren desuden udøver kommercielle aktiviteter, navnlig salg af reklametid.
The possibility open to Member States to define broadcasting SGEIs broadly so as to cover the broadcasting of full-spectrum programming cannot be called into question by the fact that the public service broadcaster also engages in commercial activities, in particular the sale of advertising space.
Retten slog endvidere fast, at Kommissionen ikke behøver at sammenligne TV2's programflade med de kommercielle stationers.
Furthermore, the Court made it clear that the Commission does not have to compare TV2’s programming with that of the commercial stations.
Hvis definitionen af public service-opgaven — gennem en komparativ analyse af programflader — blev gjort betinget af de kommercielle operatørers programflader, ville medlemsstaterne få frataget den beføjelse, de har til at definere public service.
To make the definition of the public service mission dependent on the range of programming offered by the commercial broadcasters — through a comparative analysis of programming — would deprive the Member States of their power to define the public service.
Denne definition ville da i sidste ende komme til at afhænge af kommercielle operatører og deres beslutninger om, hvorvidt de ville sende bestemte programmer eller ej.
In the final analysis, the definition would depend on the commercial operators and their decisions as to whether or not to broadcast certain programmes.
Retten [65] bekræftede også, at de forpligtelser, som de kommercielle tv-selskaber er underlagt, ikke kan sammenlignes med de public service-forpligtelser, TV2 er pålagt.
The Court [65] also confirmed that the obligations imposed on commercial broadcasters are not comparable with the public service obligations imposed on TV2.
Disse public service-forpligtelser har til formål at tilvejebringe en varieret programflade til hele den danske befolkning, som lever op til kravene om kvalitet, alsidighed og mangfoldighed.
The aim of those public service obligations is to provide the entire Danish population with varied programming that satisfies the requirements of quality, versatility and diversity.
De stiller krav til hele TV2's fjernsynsaktivitet og dette på en mere bindende måde end de minimumsforpligtelser, som følger af de krav, der i dansk ret stilles til tildeling af en radio- og tv-tilladelse.
Those public service obligations determine all of TV2’s broadcasting activities and do so more inflexibly than the minimal obligations prescribed by Danish law for the granting of a broadcasting licence.
Retten konkluderede [66] derfor, at »den definition, de danske myndigheder har anvendt, er bred, idet den på grund af sin i det væsentlige kvalitative karakter overlader det til tv-selskabet frit at fastsætte sin programflade, men den lever ikke op til sagsøgernes anbringende om manglende præcision. TV2's mandat er tværtimod helt klart og præcist: at sikre den danske befolkning et bredt udbud af tv-programmer med vægt på kvalitet, alsidighed og mangfoldighed.«
The Court therefore concluded [66] that ‘the definition chosen by the Danish authorities is broad since, being essentially qualitative, it leaves the broadcaster free to establish its own range of programmes. None the less, it cannot be called imprecise. On the contrary, TV2’s mandate is perfectly clear and precise: to offer the entire Danish population varied television programming which aims to provide quality, versatility and diversity’.
I lyset af det ovenstående og under hensyn til tv-sektorens særlige karakter finder Kommissionen, at en »bred« definition, der giver en tv-station til opgave at tilvejebringe en afbalanceret og varieret programflade i overensstemmelse med sit mandat, i lyset af fortolkningsbestemmelserne i protokollen er legitim i relation til artikel 106, stk. 2, i TEUF.
In view of the foregoing, and given the specific nature of the broadcasting sector, the Commission considers that a ‘broad’ definition entrusting a broadcaster with the task of providing balanced and varied programming in accordance with its remit, is legitimate under Article 106(2) TFEU in the light of the interpretative provisions of the Protocol.
En sådan definition vil stemme overens med målet om at tilgodese de demokratiske, sociale og kulturelle behov i et bestemt samfund og garantere pluralisme, herunder kulturel og sproglig mangfoldighed.
Such a definition would be consistent with the objective of fulfilling the democratic, social and cultural needs of a particular society and guaranteeing pluralism, including cultural and linguistic diversity.
I lyset af det ovenstående finder Kommissionen derfor, at definitionen af den public service, som TV2 tilvejebringer, kan accepteres.
Therefore, on the basis of the foregoing, the Commission considers that the definition of the public service provided by TV2 can be accepted.
Det bør tilføjes, at TV2 i den undersøgte periode drev en internetside som led i sin public service-virksomhed.
It should be added that, during the period under consideration, TV2 operated an Internet site as part of its public service mission.
Denne internetside informerer brugerne om TV2's public service tv-programmer.
The Internet site informs users about TV2’s public service television programmes.
Kommissionen kan acceptere, at denne internetside, som alene skal informere brugerne om TV2's public service-programmer, falder inden for rammerne af TV2's public service-opgave.
The Commission can accept that the Internet site that is limited to informing users about TV2’s public service television programmes falls within TV2’s public service broadcasting tasks.
At driften af denne intertside indgår som led i public service-mandatet, kan derfor ikke betegnes som en åbenbar fejl.
Therefore, treating the operation of this site as part of the public service remit cannot be termed a manifest error.
Desuden har TV2 drevet en kommerciel internetside med spil osv. Denne kommercielle internetside bør betragtes som en rent kommerciel aktivitetet, da den tilbyder interaktive on demand-produkter som f.eks. spil eller chatrooms, som ikke adskiller sig fra tilsvarende kommercielle produkter.
In addition, TV2 operated a commercial Internet site with games etc. This commercial Internet service should be regarded as a purely commercial activity, as it offers interactive products on individual demand, such as games or ‘chat rooms’, which do not differ from similar commercial products.
Sidstnævnte aktiviteter falder derfor ikke ind under TV2's public service-virksomhed.
These latter activities therefore fall outside the scope of TV2’s public service mission.
MANDAT
ENTRUSTMENT
For at kunne være omfattet af undtagelsesbestemmelsen i artikel 106, stk. 2, i TEUF skal public service-opgaven være overdraget TV2 ved en officiel retsakt.
In order to benefit from the exemption under Article 106(2) TFEU, TV2 should be assigned its public service remit by means of an official legal act.
Kommissionen bemærker, at den danske radio- og fjernsynslov [67] formelt overdrager en public service-fjernsynsopgave til TV2.
The Commission notes that the Broadcasting Act [67] formally assigns a public service television broadcasting mission to TV2.
Kommissionen henviser tillige til, at Retten i sin dom udtalte, at »det er klart, at TV2 er tildelt sådanne [public service-]opgaver« [68].
The Commission also takes note of the Court’s judgment, in which it held that ‘[i]t is obvious that TV2 was entrusted with such a [public service] remit’ [68].
Men eftersom det ikke af definitionen i loven fremgår tilstrækkeligt klart, hvilke andre former for aktiviteter, der må udføres som public service-virksomhed, er det nødvendigt, at der formelt forudgående gives et mandat til enhver yderligere aktivitet, som TV2 ønsker at tage op som public service-aktivitet.
However, as the definition in the law does not make it sufficiently clear which kinds of other services are allowed as public services, a formal remit must be given prior to any additional activity that TV2 wants to embark on as a public service.
Kommissionen bemærker, at TV2 i undersøgelsesperioden ikke udbød nogen sådanne andre tjenesteydelser ud over sin public service-fjernsynsvirksomhed.
The Commission notes that TV2 did not offer any other services beyond its public service broadcasting mission in the period under investigation.
Internetsiden med spil osv. var således en kommerciel tjenesteydelse, mens den internetside, der alene informerede brugerne om TV2's public service-fjernsynsprogrammer, kan anses at indgå i public service-fjernsynsopgaven, da den ikke kan adskilles fra fjernsynsvirksomheden.
The Internet site offering other services such as games was operated as a commercial activity, while the Internet site that simply informed users about TV2’s public service television programmes can be considered part of its public service broadcasting remit, as it cannot be separated from the broadcasting service.
Kommissionen konkluderer derfor, at public service-opgaven i undersøgelsesperioden var korrekt overdraget til TV2.
The Commission therefore concludes that the public service broadcasting remit was legitimately entrusted to TV2 during the period under investigation.
Som anført i punkt 41-43 i radio- og tv-meddelelsen fra 2001, skal public service-opgaven imidlertid ikke alene være formelt overdraget til tv-selskabet, men det er også nødvendigt, at den udføres som fastsat i den retsakt, hvorved den blev overdraget.
However, as stated in paragraphs 41 to 43 of the 2001 Broadcasting Communication, not only should the public service be formally entrusted to the broadcaster, it must also be delivered as prescribed in the act by which it is entrusted.
Eftersom Kommissionen ikke kan bedømme, om eventuelle kvalitetskrav er opfyldt, er det ønskeligt, at der findes en passende tilsynsmyndighed, og det er op til medlemsstaten at bestemme, hvordan den kan sikre et effektivt tilsyn, forudsat at den pågældende myndighed er uafhængig af den virksomhed, der har fået overdraget opgaven.
Since it is not for the Commission to judge whether any quality standards have been met, it is desirable that an appropriate monitoring authority should exist, and it is for the Member State to choose the mechanism to ensure effective supervision, provided that the authority is independent from the undertaking entrusted with the service.
Kommissionen bemærker i den forbindelse, at Rigsrevisionen i 2000 gennemførte en særlig undersøgelse af indholdet og karakteren af TV2's public service-opgave samt af, hvordan disse forpligtelser blev opfyldt i praksis.
In this connection, the Commission notes that in 2000 the National Audit Office carried out a specific investigation into the substance and nature of TV2’s public service obligations and how they were met in practice.
Der blev ved denne undersøgelse ikke afdækket nogen mangler ved TV2's opfyldelse af sine public service-forpligtelser.
The investigation found no failure on the part of TV2 to comply with its public service obligations.
Mellem 2001 og 2002 fandtes der desuden et Public Service Råd, der skulle sikre, at TV2 overholdt sine public service-forpligtelser, selv om dette råd aldrig udsendte nogen rapport herom i sin korte levetid.
Moreover, between 2001 and 2002, a Public Service Council existed to ensure that TV2 complied with its public service obligations, although that body never published any reports on this question during its short lifetime.
Kommissionen har heller ikke fundet nogen indikationer af, at TV2 ikke opfyldte sine forpligtelser, eller at TV2 opererede på en sådan måde, at stationens virksomhed ikke længere kunne betragtes som en tjenesteydelse af almindelig økonomisk interesse i henhold til artikel 106, stk. 2, i TEUF.
Nor has the Commission found any indication that TV2 failed to comply with its obligations or that its performance was such that its activities could no longer be considered an SGEI under Article 106(2) TFEU.
Med hensyn til den finansielle kontrol med public service-fjernsynsvirksomheden bemærker Kommissionen, at TV2's regnskaber i hele undersøgelsesperioden er blevet revideret af Rigsrevisionen.
As regards financial control of the public broadcasting service, the Commission notes that the National Audit Office audited TV2’s accounts throughout the entire period under investigation.
Revisionen har omfattet såvel økonomisk revision som forvaltningsrevision, selv om Rigsrevisionen ikke havde nogen beføjelse til at forhindre en overkompensering for TV2’s public service-omkostninger.
The audits included both financial audits and management audits, although the National Audit Office had no power to prevent overcompensation of TV2’s public service costs.
Hvad angår spørgsmålet om statsstøttens proportionalitet, har Kommissionen derimod kompetence til at foretage en vurdering.
The Commission does, however, have the power assess the proportionality of the State aid.
Kommissionen bemærker, at transparensdirektivet er gennemført i Danmark.
The Commission notes that the Transparency Directive has been transposed in Denmark.
Kommissionen har også modtaget oplysninger fra de danske myndigheder, ud fra hvilke den er i stand til at vurdere proportionaliteten af den statslige finansiering.
It has also received data from the Danish authorities enabling it to assess whether or not the State funding is proportionate.
I lyset af Rettens dom og radio- og tv-meddelelsen fra 2001 skal Kommissionen vurdere, om proportionalitetskravet er opfyldt, ud fra to aspekter.
In light of the Court’s judgment and the 2001 Broadcasting Communication, the proportionality assessment that the Commission must carry out is twofold.
Kommissionen skal for det første beregne nettoomkostningerne ved den public service-opgave, TV2 har fået overdraget, og undersøge, om der i forhold til TV2's behov til opfyldelse af sin public service-forpligtelse er ydet overkompensation for disse omkostninger eller ej.
First, the Commission has to calculate the net cost of the public service mission entrusted to TV2 and verify whether or not this cost has been overcompensated compared with TV2’s needs in order to fulfil its public service tasks.
For det andet skal Kommissionen analysere TV2's adfærd på reklamemarkedet.
Second, the Commission has to analyse TV2’s behaviour in the advertising market.