natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Som det klart fremgår af oversigten i betragtning 52, har disse forudsigelige negative konsekvenser af formelen faktisk indfundet sig, for den af HoKaWe betalte pris lå væsentligt under den pris, som ville have været gældende ved anvendelse af prisjusteringsklausulen.
In this regard it also needs to be underlined that the price developments under the agreement were not simply the automatic result of a predetermined mathematical calculation laid down in the formula.
Desuden var prisen væsentligt lavere end gennemsnitsprisen på træ fra Brandenburgs statsskov, dvs. den pris, hvortil delstaten Brandenburg solgte træ til andre virksomheder [13].
As stated above in recital (19) it rather follows from the information provided by Germany in the formal investigation procedure that the formula was adjusted several times [12] during the course of the duration of the agreement.
Heraf følger, at staten var bekendt med, at anvendelsen af formelen ikke medførte den tilsigtede prisudvikling på grundlag af industritræprisindekset med tilsvarende fordeling af prisudsvingsrisikoen mellem parterne, og at denne kendsgerning blev accepteret.
As can clearly be seen from the table shown in recital (52), these foreseeable negative effects of applying the formula also materialized, given that the price actually paid by HoKaWe was significantly lower than the price to be charged according to the price adjustment clause.
Konklusion
It was also significantly lower than the average prices paid for wood from Brandenburg's State forest, that is to say the prices for which the Land Brandenburg sold wood to other companies [13].
Dermed kan det konkluderes, at prisjusteringsklausulen ganske vist havde medført priser under gennemsnitsprisen for delstaten Brandenburg, men at disse priser imidlertid havde været i overensstemmelse med markedsvilkårene.
It follows that the fact that the application of the formula did not lead to the intended result of a price development based on the index for industrial wood, with the risk of price fluctuations being shared between the parties, was both known and accepted by the State.
De var baseret på rimelige betragtninger og forhandlinger mellem de interesserede parter, således at det ikke kan udelukkes, at også en privat markedsdeltager ville have indgået en aftale på de samme eller sammenlignelige vilkår.
Conclusion
De af parterne faktisk foretagne prisjusteringer på grundlag af formelen afspejlede ikke disse markedskonforme vilkår og medførte priser, som var væsentligt lavere end de priser, der ville have været resultatet af anvendelsen af pristilpasningsklausulen (og i stigende grad væsentligt lavere end gennemsnitsprisen på træ i delstaten Brandenburg).
As regards the price adjustment clause, it can be concluded that although it would have led to prices below the average price for the Land Brandenburg, these prices would have been market-conform.
Mens prisudviklingen på grundlag af prisjusteringsklausulen svarer til et fornuftigt forretningsmæssigt valg og afspejler en retfærdig fordeling af risikoen for prisudsving på aftaleparterne, var de priser, som fulgte af anvendelsen af formelen, væsentligt lavere og afspejlede ikke en sådan risikofordeling.
They were based on reasonable considerations and negotiations between the parties involved and, therefore, it cannot be excluded that also a private actor on the market would have entered into an agreement with the same or comparable conditions.
I modsætning til i SA.19045 (eventuel støtte fra Bayern (Bayerns statsskovforvaltning) i form af langsigtede træleveringskontrakter med virksomheden Klausner) [14], hvor Kommissionen anså priser under markedsgennemsnittet for at være fri for statsstøtte, idet der var en overkapacitet på markedet, og fordi Freistaat Bayern prøvede at finde en langsigtet regelmæssig storaftager, har priser i den foreliggende sag, som ligger under de priser, der ville have været resultatet af prisjusteringsklausulen, ikke grundlag i de faktiske forhold.
However, the actual price adjustment implemented by the parties on the basis of the formula did not reflect such market-conform conditions and led to significantly lower prices than the ones that would have resulted from the application of the price adjustment clause (and, even more so, the average price for wood in the Land Brandenburg).
Den af parterne aftalte prisjusteringsklausul tog hensyn til aftalens langsigtede karakter og kvaliteten af det træ, der skulle sælges, og medførte allerede priser, som lå under gennemsnitsprisen i delstaten Brandenburg.
While the price development on the basis of the price adjustment clause reflects a reasonable business decision and a fair balance of risks concerning price fluctuations between the contracting parties, the prices resulting from the application of the formula were significantly lower and, furthermore, also did not reflect that balance of risks.
Intet tyder på, at en privat markedsdeltager ville have accepteret endnu lavere priser.
Contrary to the situation underlying the Commission decision in case SA.19045 (Alleged aid of the Land Bavaria (Bavarian State Forest Enterprise) in form of long-term supply agreements for wood with the company Klausner) [14] in which prices below market average were held not to contain State aid as the market suffered from overcapacities and the Land Bavaria tried to attract a significant buyer that would guarantee in the long term large and steady volumes of purchase, nothing in the facts of the present case would justify prices below the ones that would have resulted from the application of the price adjustment clause.
Dette bekræftes af Tysklands påstand, hvoraf det fremgår, at prisjusteringsklausulen afspejlede parternes egentlige hensigter.
The price adjustment clause agreed between the parties took the nature of the long term contract and the quality of wood to be sold into account and already would have led to prices below the average price in the Land Brandenburg.
Eftersom de to i betragtning 16 anførte juridiske udtalelser fra 2010 havde hentydet til en statsstøtteretlig relevans af aftalen på grundlag af anvendelsen af formelen, forhandlede delstaten Brandenburg sig i 2011 frem til en revideret aftale, hvorved den fejlagtige formel blev afskaffet.
There is nothing to indicate that a private actor on the market would have agreed to even lower prices than those.
Delstaten Brandenburg forhandlede sig altså frem til en revideret aftale uden formel for at gennemføre parternes egentlige hensigter og sætte en stopper for de statsstøtteretlige betænkeligheder.
This is furthermore confirmed by the submissions from Germany, which explicitly stated that the price adjustment clause represented the true intentions of the parties.
Heraf følger, at gennemførelsen af aftalen, navnlig prisjusteringerne på grundlag af formelen, ikke ville være blevet accepteret af en privat sælger og ikke er i overensstemmelse med markedsvilkårene.
Moreover, in 2011 the Land Brandenburg negotiated the amendment to the agreement which discarded the flawed formula, as a reaction to the two legal opinions from 2010 referred to above in recital (16) which had raised State aid concerns due to the application of the formula.
Tyskland gjorde gældende, at regeringen i Brandenburg først i forbindelse med en reorganisering af skovforvaltningen i 2009 havde fået kendskab til, at de priser, som HoKaWe faktisk havde betalt, ikke svarede til den medprisjusteringsklausulen påtænkte prisudvikling, men derimod lå væsentligt lavere end de priser, som andre virksomheder skulle give for træleverancer.
Thus, the Land Brandenburg negotiated the amendment to the agreement without the formula specifically in order to implement the true intentions of the parties and to put an end to those State aid concerns.
Med hensyn hertil har delstaten Brandenburg handlet i overensstemmelse med markedsvilkårene, idet den bestilte de to i betragtning 16 nævnte udtalelser og derefter genforhandlede aftalen, hvilket førte til en aftaleændring i 2011.
It follows that the way the agreement was implemented, more specifically the price adjustments on the basis of the formula, fails the private vendor test and is not market-conform.
Disse argumenter kan ikke stå for en nærmere undersøgelse.
Germany argued that the regional government of the Land Brandenburg only became aware of the fact that the prices actually paid by HoKaWe did not follow the price development as intended by the price adjustment clause and led to significantly lower prices than the prices for which wood was delivered to other companies in the course of a reorganisation of the forest administration in 2009 and that the Land Brandenburg subsequently acted in a market-conform manner by ordering the two expert opinions mentioned in recital (16) and then by renegotiating the agreement, leading to the amendment of that agreement in 2011.
For det første, som det fremgår af betragtning 54 til 57, kunne konsekvenserne af formelen allerede forudsiges på tidspunktet for underskrivelsen af aftalen.
These arguments, however, do not appear plausible.
For det andet ville en privat sælger på markedet, som tilstræber gennemførelsen af den aftalte løsning i form af prisjusteringsklausulen og i overensstemmelse hermed overvåger prisjusteringerne nøje, omgående have krævet en genforhandling af prisen.
First, as explained in recitals (55) to (55), the effects of the formula were foreseeable at the time of the signing of the agreement.
Som nævnt i betragtning 65 bekræfter delstaten Brandenburgs vellykkede genforhandling af aftalen snarere, at formelen ikke afspejler parternes egentlige hensigter (som fastlagt i prisjusteringsklausulen).
Secondly, a private market vendor seeking to ensure the implementation of the agreed solution found in the price adjustment clause and therefore closely monitoring the price adjustments would have reacted immediately by requesting a renegotiation of the price.
Den viser også, at HoKaWe ikke kunne modsætte sig at afskaffe formelen.
As indicated in recital (65), the successful renegotiation of the agreement by the Land Brandenburg rather confirms that the formula did not reflect the true intentions of the parties (as agreed in the price adjustment clause).
Heraf følger, at HoKaWe fik en økonomisk fordel i perioden fra aftalens ikrafttrædelsesdato (den 1.6.2006), til kontrakten blev ændret (den 30.6.2011).
It also shows that HoKaWe could not refuse to discard the formula.
Også alle andre kriterier for eksistensen af statsstøtte er opfyldt i henhold til artikel 107, stk. 1, i TEUF.
Consequently, HoKaWe benefitted from an economic advantage in the period from the date of coming into effect of the agreement (1 June 2006) until the amendment of the agreement (30 June 2011).
Fordelen var selektiv, da aftalen udtrykkeligt begunstigede en bestemt virksomhed.
Furthermore, all other criteria of Article 107(1) TFEU are fulfilled.
Fordelen blev givet af myndighederne i en medlemsstat, nemlig delstaten Brandenburg.
The advantage was selective because the agreement specifically benefitted a certain company.
Den gennemsnitlige træmængde, som blev solgt til HoKaWe i henhold til vilkårene i aftalen, var betydelig.
The advantage was granted by the authorities of a Member State, i.e. the Land Brandenburg.
Leveringen af træ på gunstige vilkår forbedrede modtagerens markedsposition i forhold til konkurrenterne og virkede dermed konkurrencefordrejende.
The average volume of wood sold to HoKaWe under the terms of the agreement was significant; the wood supply at favourable terms improved the position of the recipient in relation to its competitors and therefore distorted competition.
På træmarkedet konkurrerer virksomhederne med virksomheder fra andre medlemsstater.
The market for wood is open to competition from other Member States.
Ganske vist vedrørte leveringsaftalen kun træ fra skove i en omkreds af 70 km fra Eberswalde, men Eberswalde ligger meget tæt på grænsen til Polen (30 km).
Even taking into account the fact that the supply agreement covers only wood originating from forests not further away than 70 km from Eberswalde, the Commission notes that Eberswalde is situated very close to the Polish border (only 30 km).
Følgelig påvirker støtten også samhandelen mellem medlemsstaterne.
Therefore, the aid also affects trade between Member States.
Derfor kan det konkluderes, at gennemførelsen af aftalen, som førte til, at de betalte priser var baseret på formelen, udgjorde statsstøtte.
Consequently, it can be concluded that the implementation of the agreement leading to the prices paid on the basis of the formula constituted State aid.
Den nævnte ændring af aftalen, som trådte i kraft den 1. juli 2011, skal betragtes som foranstaltningens afslutning.
The amendment to the agreement, which entered into force on 1 July 2011, must be regarded as having brought the State aid measure to an end.
I overensstemmelse med ændringen skulle prisjusteringer fra den 1. juli 2011 ske i henhold til prisjusteringsklausulen, således at parternes oprindelige hensigter blev bekræftet og gennemført korrekt.
This amendment provides that from 1 July 2011 onwards price adjustments had to be made in accordance with the price adjustment clause and, thereby, reconfirmed and correctly implemented the initial intentions of the parties.
Aftalen er i sin reviderede form markedskonform, hvorfor Kommissionen har konkluderet, at HoKaWe efter den 30. juni 2011 ikke længere fik nogen økonomisk fordel af betalinger inden for rammerne af aftalen.
As the agreement in this form is market-conform, the Commission considers that after 30 June 2011 HoKaWe no longer received an economic advantage from payments under the agreement.
Et retsgrundlag for støttens forenelighed findes hverken godtgjort eller er i øvrigt gjort gældende af Tyskland.
A legal basis for compatibility of the aid is neither evident nor has one been claimed by the Member State.
Den fordel for HoKaWe, som opnås ved gennemførelsen af aftalen i perioden fra juni 2006 til juni 2011, udgør derfor statsstøtte, som ikke er forenelig med det indre marked.
This leads to the conclusion that HoKaWe's advantage from the implementation of the agreement between June 2006 and June 2011 constitutes incompatible State aid.
Som forklaret under betragtning 49 til 51 kan prisjusteringsklausulen anses for at være i overensstemmelse med markedsvilkårene.
As already explained in recitals (49) to (51), the price adjustment clause can be regarded as being market-conform.
Derfor består støtteelementet ifølge Kommissionens opfattelse af forskellen mellem den pris, som skulle have været betalt i henhold til prisjusteringsklausulen, og den på basis af formelen faktisk betalte pris [15].
Therefore, the Commission considers that the aid element consists of the difference between the price actually paid [15] on the basis of the formula and the price to be paid in accordance with the price adjustment clause.
Faktisk betalt pris
Price actually paid
Pris i henhold til prisjusteringsklausulen
Price calculated on the basis of the price adjustment clause
(EUR pr. rm)
(in EUR per cubic metre)
Forskel mellem a) og b) [16]
Difference between (a) and (b) [16]
Faktisk leveret mængde træ
Amount of wood actually delivered
Støtteelement: c) × d)
(in cubic metres)
(EUR) [16]
Aid element: (c) × (d)
I alt
(in EUR) [16]
Den tildelte støtte til HoKaWe beløber sig dermed til 2406415 EUR.
Total
TILBAGESØGNING
The aid granted to HoKaWe therefore amounts to EUR 2406415.
Hvis Kommissionen har konstateret, at en støtte er uforenelig med det indre marked, er den i henhold til TEUF og Domstolens faste retspraksis bemyndiget til at afgøre, at den pågældende medlemsstat skal ophæve eller ændre den [17].
RECOVERY
Det er også Domstolens faste retspraksis, at formålet med en stats forpligtelse til at afskaffe en støtte, som ved en afgørelse truffet af Kommissionen betragtes som uforenelig med det indre marked, er at genoprette den oprindelige situation [18].
According to the TFEU and the Court of Justice's established case-law, the Commission is competent to decide that the Member State concerned must abolish or alter aid [17] when it has found that it is incompatible with the internal market.
Domstolen har i den forbindelse slået fast, at dette mål er nået, når modtageren har tilbagebetalt de beløb, der blev ydet i form af ulovlig støtte, og dermed mister den fordel, vedkommende havde i forhold til sine konkurrenter på markedet, og situationen forud for støtten er genoprettet [19].
The Court has also consistently held that the obligation on a Member State to abolish aid regarded by the Commission as being incompatible with the internal market is designed to re-establish the previously existing situation.
I overensstemmelse med retspraksis fastsættes følgende i artikel 14, stk. 1, i Rådets forordning (EF) nr. 659/1999 [20]: »I negative beslutninger om ulovlig støtte bestemmer Kommissionen, at den pågældende medlemsstat skal træffe alle nødvendige foranstaltninger til at kræve støtten tilbagebetalt fra støttemodtageren […].«
In this context, the Court has established that this objective is attained once the recipient has repaid the amounts granted by way of unlawful aid, thus forfeiting the advantage which it had enjoyed over its competitors on the market, and the situation prior to the payment of the aid is restored.
Eftersom foranstaltningen i strid med artikel 108 i TEUF ikke blev anmeldt til Kommissionen og dermed udgør ulovlig og uforenelig støtte, skal støtten tilbagebetales for at genoprette markedssituationen fra før ydelsen af støtten.
[19]
Tilbagesøgningen bør derfor finde sted fra det tidspunkt, hvor støttemodtageren opnåede en fordel, dvs. perioden mellem det tidspunkt, hvor støtten blev stillet til rådighed for støttemodtageren, og frem til tilbagebetalingen.
In line with the case-law, Article 14(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 [20] laid down that ‘where negative decisions are taken in cases of unlawful aid, the Commission shall decide that the Member State concerned shall take all necessary measures to recover the aid from the beneficiary […].’
De beløb, der skal tilbagesøges, pålægges renter fra det tidspunkt, hvor de blev udbetalt til støttemodtageren, og frem til tilbagebetalingen.
Thus, given that the measure at hand was not notified to the Commission in violation of Article 108 TFEU and is, therefore, to be considered as unlawful and incompatible aid, the aid must be recovered in order to re-establish the situation that existed on the market prior to the granting of the aid.
KONKLUSION
Recovery should cover the time from when the advantage accrued to the beneficiary, that is to say when the aid was put at the disposal of the beneficiary, until effective recovery, and the sums to be recovered should bear interest until effective recovery.
Gennemførelsen af rammeaftalen mellem delstaten Brandenburg og HoKaWe fra dens undertegnelse (den 1.6.2006) til ændringen heraf (den 30.6.2011) omfattede statsstøtte, der ikke er forenelig med det indre marked.
CONCLUSION
Følgelig skal støtten inklusive inddrivelsesrenter kræves tilbagebetalt af HoKaWe —
The implementation of the framework agreement between the Land Brandenburg and HoKaWe from its signing (1 June 2006) until its amendment (30 June 2011) involved State aid not compatible with the internal market.
VEDTAGET DENNE AFGØRELSE:
Therefore, the State aid has to be recovered from HoKaWe together with recovery interest,
Den statsstøtte på 2406415 EUR, som Tyskland ulovligt har ydet HoKaWe Eberswalde GmbH i strid med artikel 108, stk. 3, i TEUF, er uforenelig med det indre marked.
Article 1
Artikel 2
The State aid amounting to EUR 2406415, unlawfully granted by Germany to HoKaWe Eberswalde GmbH in breach of Article 108(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, is incompatible with the internal market.
Tyskland kræver den i artikel 1 omhandlede støtte tilbagebetalt af støttemodtageren.
Article 2
Til det beløb, der skal tilbagesøges, lægges renter regnet fra det tidspunkt, hvor støtten blev stillet til støttemodtagerens rådighed, og indtil tilbagebetaling er sket.
Germany shall recover the aid referred to in Article 1 from the beneficiary.
Renten tilskrives med renters rente i overensstemmelse med kapitel V i Kommissionens forordning (EF) nr. 794/2004 [21] og Kommissionens forordning (EF) nr. 271/2008 [22]om ændring af forordning (EF) nr. 794/2004.
The sums to be recovered shall bear interest from the date on which they were put at the disposal of the beneficiary until their actual recovery.
Artikel 3
The interest shall be calculated on a compound basis in accordance with Chapter V of Commission Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 [21] and Commission Regulation (EC) No 271/2008 [22] amending Regulation (EC) No 794/2004.
Den i artikel 1 nævnte støtte tilbagesøges omgående.
Article 3
Tyskland sikrer, at denne afgørelse efterkommes senest fire måneder efter meddelelsestidspunktet.
Recovery of the aid referred to in Article 1 shall be immediate and effective.
Artikel 4
Germany shall ensure that this Decision is implemented within four months following the date of notification of this Decision.
Senest to måneder efter meddelelsen af denne afgørelse sender Tyskland følgende oplysninger til Kommissionen:
Article 4
det samlede beløb (hovedstol og renter), som støttemodtageren skal tilbagebetale
Within two months following notification of this Decision, Germany shall submit the following information to the Commission:
en detaljeret beskrivelse af de foranstaltninger, der er truffet eller planlagt, for at efterkomme denne afgørelse
the total amount (principal and recovery interest) to be recovered from the beneficiary;
dokumentation for, at støttemodtagerne har fået påbud om at tilbagebetale støtten.
a detailed description of the measures already taken and planned to comply with this Decision;
Tyskland underretter Kommissionen om udviklingen i de foranstaltninger, der på nationalt plan træffes for at efterkomme denne afgørelse, indtil den i artikel 1 nævnte støtte er fuldt tilbagebetalt.
documents demonstrating that the beneficiary has been ordered to repay the aid.
Efter anmodning fra Kommissionen fremsender Tyskland omgående oplysninger om, hvilke foranstaltninger der er truffet eller planlagt for at efterkomme afgørelsen.
Germany shall keep the Commission informed of the progress of the national measures taken to implement this Decision until recovery of the aid referred to in Article 1 has been completed.
Desuden fremsender Tyskland udførlige oplysninger om de støttebeløb og renter, støttemodtageren allerede har tilbagebetalt.
It shall immediately submit, on simple request by the Commission, information on the measures already taken and planned to comply with this Decision.
Artikel 5
It shall also provide detailed information concerning the amounts of aid and recovery interest already recovered from the beneficiary
Denne afgørelse er rettet til Forbundsrepublikken Tyskland.
Article 5
Bruxelles, den 6.november 2013.
This Decision is addressed to the Federal Republic of Germany.
På Kommissionens vegne
Done at Brussels, 6 November 2013.
Næstformand
For the Commission
EUT C 99 af 5.4.
Vice-President
2013, s. 79.
OJ C 99, 5.4.2013, p. 79.
Aftalen vedrører transportegnet løv- og nåletræ med en længde på 3 m og en diameter på 3-70 cm, franko skovvej.
The agreement concerned transportable hardwood or softwood of a length of 3 m with a diameter from 3 cm to 70 cm.
Forrådnelse og krumning er tilladt.
The purchase was carried out ex forest track.
Jf. Forbundsrepublikkens statistiske kontor: https://www.destatis.de/DE/ZahlenFakten/GesamtwirtschaftUmwelt/Preise/PreisindizesLandForstwirtschaft/Tabellen/ErzeugerpreiseForstwirtschaft.html
Rotten and curved wood was also acceptable.
Der blev fremlagt en ekstern udtalelse fra RAUE LLP, som er ekstern juridisk rådgiver for delstaten Brandenburg, og ovennævnte ministerium i Brandenburg udarbejder internt en yderligere udtalelse.
See Federal Statistical Office (Statistisches Bundesamt): https://www.destatis.de/DE/ZahlenFakten/GesamtwirtschaftUmwelt/Preise/PreisindizesLandForstwirtschaft/Tabellen/ErzeugerpreiseForstwirtschaft.html.