natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Selv om denne foranstaltning blev betegnet som kompensationsforanstaltning finder Kommissionen dog, at den vil være helt utilstrækkelig.
% would be adequate for a private investor, by comparing it with the rates of return on an OAT (Obligation Assimilable du Trésor) issued by the State, and on which the return at the time was between 3,72 % and 3,95 %.
Det hedder nemlig i rammebestemmelsernes punkt 40, at »[m]odydelserne skal stå i rimeligt forhold til støttens konkurrencefordrejende virkninger (…)«.
They did not, however, provide any analyses to show that the rate of 10 % would have been acceptable for a private investor, given the risks borne by the State, e.g. the risks relating to the termination clause and those linked to the situation of the undertaking.
Som anført i betragtning 341 og 342 konstaterer Kommissionen, at de franske myndigheder havde foreslået disse foranstaltninger i forhold til støttebeløbet på 15,81 mio. EUR, hvilket svarer til den omstruktureringsstøtte, der blev ydet i 2002.
Above all, the rate of […] [60] Confidential information.
Kommissionen konstaterer følgelig, at tvivlen om, hvorvidt disse foranstaltninger skal betegnes som kompensationsforanstaltninger eller som foranstaltninger, der er nødvendige for at gøre virksomheden rentabel igen, ikke har kunnet fjernes.
Given that there is no return associated with the negative sale price of EUR 158 million or with the current account advance of EUR 38,5 million, the rate of return on the State’s entire investment in SNCM at the time of privatisation in 2006 would have been significantly lower than the rate of return on an OAT.
Under alle omstændigheder er de foreslåede foranstaltninger fortsat helt utilstrækkelige.
Given the risks involved, this rate would not have been accepted by a private investor in a market economy.
Kommissionen er af den opfattelse, at de franske myndigheder ikke i tilstrækkelig grad har påvist tilstedeværelsen og omfanget af denne risiko.
The Commission considers, therefore, that the State’s capital contribution of EUR 8,75 million confers an economic advantage on SNCM inasmuch as that contribution was made in parallel with a contribution of private capital under conditions which are not comparable within the meaning of Union case law.
Det er ligeledes karakteristisk for dette marked, at der ikke er hindringer for adgang til markedet.
Measures involving aid to individuals (EUR 38,5 million)
Uanset hvad, kan Corsica Ferries' position ikke begrunde, at konkurrencen fordrejes gennem de omtvistede foranstaltninger.
The French authorities consider that this funding constitutes aid to individuals which does not benefit the undertaking and therefore is not State aid.
På baggrund af ovenstående konkluderer Kommissionen, at de foreslåede foranstaltninger ikke opfylder kriterierne i punkt 38-42 i rammebestemmelserne.
The interested parties CCF and STIM contested the categorisation of this measure as aid to individuals because they consider that the measure could generate indirect positive effects for SNCM.
UFORENELIGHED OG TILBAGESØGNING AF DEN AF DE FRANSKE MYNDIGHEDER I 2002 ANMELDTE KAPITALTILFØRSEL OG DE TRE NYE FORANSTALTNINGER, SOM DE FRANSKE MYNDIGHEDER IVÆRKSATTE I 2006
The Commission considers that the fact that the direct beneficiaries of the aid to individuals are employees is not sufficient to demonstrate the absence of aid for the benefit of their employer.
Kapitaltilførslen på 15,81 mio. EUR, som de franske myndigheder anmeldte i 2002, og de tre nye foranstaltninger, de franske myndigheder iværksatte i 2006, dvs. 100 % salg af SNCM til en negativ pris på 158 mio. EUR, den af CGMF tegnede kapitaludvidelse på 8,75 mio. EUR og kontokurantlånet på 38,5 mio. EUR til fordel for SNCM's medarbejdere, udgør statsstøtte efter artikel 107, stk. 1, i TEUF.
The General Court held that:
Denne støtte er ikke forenelig med det indre marked.
‘the fact that the direct beneficiaries of the aid to individuals are employees is not sufficient to demonstrate that no aid had been provided to their employer.’ [155].
Med henblik på denne tilbagesøgning skal de franske myndigheder desuden tillægge støttebeløbet renter fra den dato, den omtvistede støtte blev stillet til rådighed for virksomheden, og indtil den er tilbagebetalt [166] i overensstemmelse med kapitel V i Kommissionens forordning (EF) nr. 794/2004 [167].
Furthermore, the Commission notes that, according to the memorandum of understanding, this measure is a commitment by the State towards the private partners to finance ‘the proportion of the cost of possible voluntary departures or breach of employment contracts (whatever their nature) which is in addition to sums of all kinds which must be paid by the employer …’ As the General Court states in paragraph 145 of the judgment of 11 September 2012, the inclusion of this aid to individuals in the sale agreement tends to show that it creates an advantage.
UFORENELIGHED OG TILBAGESØGNING AF REDNINGSSTØTTEN
The parties had recourse to it because they could derive a certain advantage from it.
Fra det tidspunkt, hvor de anmeldte omstruktureringsforanstaltninger ikke opfylder forenelighedskriterierne i rammebestemmelserne, skal der normalt drages konsekvenser af denne uforenelighed med hensyn til den redningsstøtte til SNCM, de franske myndigheder har tilladt, og som er genstand for Kommissionens beslutning af 17. juli 2002, idet støtten skal kræves tilbagebetalt.
This aid is therefore liable to confer an economic advantage on SNCM by releasing it from the obligation to bear all the costs connected with the potential future departure of certain employees.
Den 19. november 2002 fremsendte de franske myndigheder en kopi til Kommissionen af låneaftalerne mellem SNCM og CGMF samt dokumentation for tilbagebetalingen af CGMF's kontantlån til SNCM i to rater henholdsvis den 13. maj og den 14. juni 2002 —
If an undertaking is relieved of these costs by the State, it effectively receives an advantage.
VEDTAGET DENNE AFGØRELSE:
The Commission stresses that these supplementary social measures are intended to facilitate the implementation of the redundancy plans necessary to attain the objectives of the undertaking, and that they are not a statutory requirement.
Artikel 1
In this case, the frequency of industrial action within SNCM shows that the implementation of a social plan in the undertaking as much as guarantees the outbreak of strikes and other industrial action.
Kapitaltilførslen på 15,81 mio. EUR og de tre nye foranstaltninger, de franske myndigheder iværksatte i 2006, dvs. 75 % salg af SNCM til en negativ pris på 158 mio. EUR, den af CGMF tegnede kapitaludvidelse på 8,75 mio. EUR og kontokurantlånet på 38,5 mio. EUR til fordel for SNCM's medarbejdere, som Frankrig iværksatte til fordel for SNCM i modstrid med artikel 108, stk. 3, i TEUF, udgør ulovlig og uforenelig statsstøtte.
There is absolutely no doubt that these additional social measures constitute an advantage for SNCM.
Artikel 2
The Commission considers, therefore, that this measure constitutes aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU.
Frankrig skal tilbagesøge den i artikel 1 omhandlede støtte fra støttemodtageren.
The balance of EUR 15,81 million awarded as restructuring aid in 2002
Beløbet beregnes med renters rente i overensstemmelse med kapitel V i forordning (EF) nr. 794/2004 og Kommissionens forordning (EF) nr. 271/2008 [168] om ændring af forordning (EF) nr. 794/2004.
When privatisation was envisaged, the restructuring plan was still under way.
Artikel 3
However, the intended aim of restoring viability had not been achieved by SNCM.
Tilbagebetalingen af den i artikel 1 omhandlede støtte iværksættes omgående og effektivt.
The General Court highlighted that ‘[i]n that regard, it must be noted that the 2006 Decision is explicit on the fact that, as there are elements of aid for restructuring in the 2006 Plan, those elements ought to be analysed in conjunction with the aid for restructuring in the 2002 Plan …’ [156].
Frankrig gennemfører denne afgørelse senest fire måneder efter meddelelsen heraf.
The General Court underlines that this analysis was carried out ‘on a sound basis’.
Artikel 4
The sum of EUR 69,29 million comprises the EUR 66 million granted in 2002 as the first instalment of the restructuring plan and the EUR 3,29 million in aid granted in 2005 as the second instalment.
Frankrig underretter senest to måneder efter meddelelsen af denne afgørelse Kommissionen om følgende:
Of this amount of aid granted under the 2002 restructuring plan, EUR 53,4 million concerns in reality the public service delegation.
det samlede beløb (hovedstol og renter), som støttemodtageren skal tilbagebetale
Since the General Court judgment of 11 September 2012 confirmed the legality of this aid, the Commission must examine jointly the compatibility of the restructuring aid proper, i.e. the EUR 15,81 million granted during the 2002 restructuring operation, and the compatibility of all of the 2006 measures in the light of the 2004 guidelines.
en detaljeret beskrivelse af, hvilke foranstaltninger der allerede er truffet eller er planlagt for at efterkomme afgørelsen
EXAMINATION OF THE COMPATIBILITY OF THE RESTRUCTURING AID PAID IN 2002 AND 2006
dokumentation for, at støttemodtageren har fået påbud om at tilbagebetale støtten.
Guidelines to consider
Frankrig holder løbende Kommissionen orienteret om de nationale foranstaltninger, der træffes for at efterkomme denne afgørelse, indtil den i artikel 1 omhandlede støtte er fuldt tilbagebetalt.
The Commission notes that the 2002 restructuring plan was examined under the 1999 guidelines.
På Kommissionens anmodning giver Frankrig omgående oplysninger om de planlagte eller allerede gennemførte foranstaltninger med henblik på at efterkomme denne afgørelse.
It also notes that the new 2006 measures integrating the 2002 plan post-date the entry into force of the new 2004 guidelines and were implemented before the Commission had authorised them.
Frankrig fremsender også udførlige oplysninger om de støttebeløb med renter, der allerede er tilbagebetalt af støttemodtageren.
In accordance with the transitional rules provided for by the 2004 guidelines [157], it is these guidelines which apply to the aid, inasmuch as it is illegal aid part of which was awarded after they entered into force.
Artikel 5
Consequently, since the 2006 measures constitute aid, they are to be regarded as an integral part of the restructuring operations launched in 2002 and should be analysed alongside these.
Denne afgørelse er rettet til Den Franske Republik.
The compatibility of all of this aid will, therefore, be analysed under the 2004 guidelines.
Udfærdiget i Bruxelles, den 20. november 2013.
‘A firm in difficulty’
På Kommissionens vegne
In order to be eligible for restructuring aid, the firm must qualify as a firm in difficulty within the meaning of the guidelines.
Næstformand
In the present case, the Commission points out that fulfilment of this condition was ascertained in its decision of 17 July 2002 on rescue aid for SNCM [158] and in its decision of 19 August 2002 initiating the formal investigation procedure in respect of the recapitalisation plan on the basis of SNCM’s annual accounts for 2001.
Fra den 1. december 2009 er artikel 87 og 88 i EF-traktaten blevet til henholdsvis artikel 107 og 108 i traktaten om Den Europæiske Unions funktionsmåde (TEUF).
For the purposes of this decision, the Commission verified that SNCM satisfied the said condition by examining the company’s annual accounts for 2002.
De to sæt bestemmelser er i det væsentlige identiske.
The company’s capital (excluding regulated provisions) [159] was still negative: EUR – 26,5 million in 2002 compared with EUR – 30,7 million in 2001.
I denne afgørelse skal henvisninger til artikel 107 og 108 i TEUF efter omstændighederne forstås som henvisninger til EF-traktatens artikel 87 og 88.
That level reflects the disappearance of more than half of the company’s registered capital, more than a quarter of which disappeared during the 12 months following the notification, thus satisfying the condition set out in point 10(a) of the Guidelines.
Med TEUF er der også indført visse terminologiske ændringer, f.eks. er »Fællesskab« erstattet med »Union«, »fællesmarkedet« med »det indre marked« og »Retten i Første Instans« med »Retten«.
As well as that trend in the share capital, the Commission notes, inter alia, that:
Det er TEUF-terminologien, der anvendes i denne afgørelse.
between 2001 and 2002, pre-tax losses increased from EUR – 5,1 million in 2001 to EUR – 5,8 million in 2002, with net losses in 2002 reduced only through the sale of a number of vessels,
EUT C 303 af 13.12.2006, s. 53.
SNCM’s cash flow dropped from EUR 39,2 million at the end of 2001 to EUR 35,7 million at the end of 2002,
CGMF er et finansielt holdingselskab, der ejes 100 % af den franske stat og fungerer som dennes formidler af alle transaktioner inden for søtransport og udrustning og befragtning af skibe i Middelhavet.
financial charges (interest and similar charges) increased from EUR 7 million in 2000 to EUR 9,503 million in 2002.
EUT C 148 af 25.6.2003, s. 7
Moreover, the French authorities confirmed to the Commission that the banks were now refusing to lend money to the company because of its indebtedness, even though SNCM had offered to put up its newest vessels, free from mortgages and other encumbrances, as security.
EFT C 308 af 11.12.2002, s. 29.
The public service delegation agreement did nothing to change that analysis.
Rådets forordning (EF) nr. 659/1999 af 22. marts 1999 om fastlæggelse af regler for anvendelsen af artikel 108 i traktaten om Den Europæiske Unions funktionsmåde (EFT L 83 af 27.3.1999, s. 1).
While the agreement, in conjunction with the success of the restructuring plan, undoubtedly enabled SNCM to achieve positive operating results, the fact remains that its acute lack of capital, its growing indebtedness and the cost of operational measures under the restructuring plan can be expected — within a certain time-frame — to cause the company to fold.
Da de franske myndigheder den 11. september 2002 havde anmodet om at få rettet visse faktuelle fejl i beslutningen af 19. august 2002, vedtog Kommissionen den 27. november 2002 en beslutning om ændring af beslutningen af 19. august 2002 (offentliggjort i EFT C 308 af 11.12.2002, s. 29).
Since the restructuring period spanned the years 2002-2006, it must be verified whether SNCM fulfilled the said condition during that period and in particular at the time when the decision was taken to inject fresh public funds.
De interesserede parter blev opfordret til at fremsætte deres bemærkninger til støtteplanen med virkning fra denne dato.
The 2003 decision observed that SNCM fulfilled this criterion during the 2001 and 2002 financial years [160].
Den 11. september 2002 anmodede de franske myndigheder om forlængelse af fristen til at fremsætte kommentarer til beslutningen af 19. august 2002, hvilket Kommissionens tjenestegrene accepterede den 17. september 2002.
It must now be verified whether SNCM continued to meet the condition in the 2003-05 financial years, i.e. the last complete accounting years prior to the implementation of the new measures in 2006 relating to the privatisation of SNCM.
Registreret under ref. SG(2002) A/10050.
As already indicated in recitals 73 et seq., SNCM’s situation deteriorated significantly in 2004 and 2005.
Registreret den 15. januar 2003 under ref. TREN/A/10962.
The company’s profits before tax stood at EUR – 32,6 million in 2004 and EUR – 25,8 million in 2005.
Registreret under ref. SG(2003) A/1691.
Net profit was EUR – 29,7 million in 2004 and EUR – 28,8 million in 2005.
Registreret under ref. TREN/A/21531.
Shareholders’ equity in 2005 (EUR – 1,7 million) dropped by 25,5 million compared with 2004.
Registreret under ref. SG(2003) A/1546.
This drop saw more than half of the firm’s share capital wiped out, with more than a quarter of that capital lost over the preceding 12 months, thereby meeting the criteria set out in point 10(a) of the 2004 guidelines.
EFT C 288 af 9.10.1999, s. 2.
In the light of the foregoing, the Commission considers that SNCM can be considered a firm in difficulty within the meaning of the 2004 guidelines.
Registreret under ref. TREN/A/21701.
Own contribution
Kommissionens beslutning 2004/166/EF af 9. juli 2003 om Frankrigs påtænkte omstruktureringsstøtte til fordel for Société nationale maritime Corse-Méditerranée (SNCM) (EUT L 61 af 27.2.2004, s. 13).
Pursuant to point 43 of the guidelines, ‘The amount and intensity of the aid must be limited to the strict minimum of the restructuring costs necessary to enable restructuring to be undertaken in the light of the existing financial resources of the company, its shareholders or the business group to which it belongs.
Kommissionens beslutning 2005/36/EF af 8. september 2004 om ændring af beslutning 2004/166/EF om Frankrigs påtænkte omstruktureringsstøtte til fordel for Société Nationale Maritime Corse-Méditerranée (SNCM) (EUT L 19 af 21.1.2005, s. 70).
Such assessment will take account of any rescue aid granted beforehand.
EUT C 16 af 21.1.2006, s. 20.
Aid beneficiaries will be expected to make a significant contribution to the restructuring plan from their own resources, including the sale of assets that are not essential to the firm’s survival, or from external financing at market conditions.
Jf. Rettens dom af 15. juni 2005 i sag T-349/03, Corsica Ferries France SAS mod Kommissionen, Sml. II, s. 2197.
Such contribution is a sign that the markets believe in the feasibility of the return to viability.
Registreret under ref. TREN/A/27546.
Such contribution must be real, i.e., actual, excluding all future expected profits such as cash flow, and must be as high as possible.’
Registreret under ref. TREN/A/30842.
Point 44 of the guidelines stipulates that ‘The Commission will normally consider the following contributions to the restructuring to be appropriate: at least 25 % in the case of small enterprises, at least 40 %, for medium-sized enterprises and at least 50 % for large firms.
Yderligere oplysninger blev fremsendt den 30. november 2005 (SG(2005) A/10782), den 14. december 2005 (SG(2005)A/11122) og den 30. december 2005 (TREN/A/10016).
In exceptional circumstances and in cases of particular hardship, which must be demonstrated by the Member State, the Commission may accept a lower contribution.’
Registreret under ref. TREN/A/16904.
Point 7 of the guidelines also specifies that ‘it is appropriate to reaffirm with greater clarity the principle that [the substantial contribution from the beneficiary to the restructuring] must be real and free of aid.
Registreret under ref. TREN/A/19105.
The beneficiary’s contribution has a twofold purpose: on the one hand, it will demonstrate that the markets (owners, creditors) believe in the feasibility of the return to viability within a reasonable time period.
Domstolens dom af 24. juli 2003 i sag C-280/00, Altmark Trans GmbH mod Nahverkehrsgesellschaft Altmark GmbH, Sml. I, s. 7747.
On the other hand, it will ensure that restructuring aid is limited to the minimum required to restore viability while limiting distortion of competition …’
EUT C 103 af 29.4.2006, s. 28.
The case-law also emphasises that the own contribution must indicate that the markets believe in the feasibility of a return to viability [161].
Rådets forordning (EF) nr. 139/2004 af 20. januar 2004 om kontrol med fusioner og virksomhedsovertagelser (»EF-fusionsforordningen«) EUT L 24 af 29.1.2004, s. 1.
The Commission stresses that this requirement is particularly relevant in respect of SNCM because of the latter’s situation since 2002.
EUT C 148 af 24.6.2006, s. 42.
The Commission points out that the initial restructuring measures of 2002 did not achieve the desired results.
Registreret under ref. TREN/A/25295.
Some of them were either not complied with or not attained (see recital 351).
Registreret under ref. TREN/A/24111.
Since SNCM was not able to fully implement these initial restructuring measures, from 2004 its economic and financial situation continued to deteriorate (see recitals 73 to 75).
Se fodnote 2.
The restructuring costs amounted to EUR 46 million in 2002.
Registreret under ref. TREN/A/37907.
As for the 2006 measures, the Commission considers that the amount of the restructuring costs corresponded to the amount of the aid [162], i.e. EUR 202,5 million, plus the EUR 26,25 million capital contribution from the private partners, giving a grand total of EUR 274,8 million.
Af koncernen Stef-TFE den 28. december 2007 (A/20313) og af CFF den 27. december 2006 (A/20056).
The own contribution is made up of 42,385 million in net asset sales and the EUR 26,25 million capital increase by the private partners, giving a total own contribution of EUR 68,635 million.
Breve af 4. januar 2007 (D 2007 300067) til koncernerne Stef-TFE (D 2007 300068) og CFF.
Consequently, taking into account the new measures of 2006, the own contribution accounted for 25 % while the guidelines stipulate that it must be at least 50 %.
Den 11. januar, den 16. januar og den 9. februar 2007, registreret under henholdsvis ref. TREN/A/21142, TREN/A/21669 og TREN/A/23798.
The Commission notes that the French authorities did not invoke exceptional circumstances and cases of particular hardship, in which case the Commission is at liberty to accept a lower contribution.
Dateret den 13. februar 2007, registreret under ref. TREN/A/24473 og TREN/A/23981.
In any event, the Commission considers that there were no exceptional circumstances in this particular case which would warrant a decrease in the level of own contribution required by the 2004 guidelines.
Registreret af Kommissionens tjenestegrene under ref. TREN/A/30979.
The Commission considers, therefore, that SNCM’s own contribution to the restructuring effort is still insufficient with regard to the provisions of the guidelines.
De franske myndigheder anmodede om og fik to yderligere forlængelser af fristen på hver én måned til at fremsætte deres kommentarer ved brev af 15. marts og 19. april 2007, registreret under ref. TREN/A/27002 og TREN/A/29928.
Return to long-term viability
Jf. Rettens dom af 11. september 2012, T-565/08, Corsica Ferries France SAS (herefter benævnt »dommen af 11. september 2012«).
In its decision to open the procedure, the Commission expressed doubts about the long-term viability of SNCM, in particular in the light of the following:
Jf. Rettens dom af 9. juli 2008, i sag T-301/01, Alitalia mod Kommissionen, Sml. II, s. 1753, især præmis 137 og 146.
SNCM did not plan to discontinue all of its loss-making activities,
Jf. også Domstolens dom af 5. juni 2012 i sag C-124/10 P, EDF mod Kommissionen, præmis 83-85 og 104-105, for så vidt angår de elementer, der skal tages i betragtning for at afgøre, om en stat har ageret som en opmærksom privat investor i en markedsøkonomi.
the success of the restructuring plan was closely linked to the award of the public service delegation between Marseille and Corsica from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2012,
SNCM ejer en direkte mindretalsaktiepost på 45 % i CMN og en indirekte mindretalsaktiepost via Compagnie Générale de Tourisme et d'Hôtellerie (CGTH) på 24,1 %.
the forecast reductions in crew numbers set out in the 2002 plan were not adhered to and the 10 % increase in productivity was not achieved,
Den reelle kontrol har siden 1992 ligget hos koncernen Stef-TFE via dennes aktiepost på 49 % i Compagnie Méridionale de Participations (CMP).
the reduction of 400 full-time equivalent jobs and the productivity measures provided for in the 2006 plan were inadequate owing to the slippages from the 2002 plan.
SNCM og CMN var partnere inden for rammerne af public service-kontrakten i 2001-2006 og fik i fællesskab den nye public service-kontrakt for 2007-2012/13.
The French authorities replied that the change in shareholders and the implementation of the three measures set out in the privatisation plan would enable SNCM to develop its activity on a sound basis and that the loss-making nature of certain parts of its business were therefore not irremediable.
CGTH er et holdingselskab, der ejes 100 % af SNCM.
The Commission notes that the measures provided for in the 2002 restructuring plan could not be brought to fruition and that this led to a marked deterioration in the company’s results in 2004 and 2005.