natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
For det femte må støtteforanstaltningen ikke påvirke samhandelsbetingelserne på en sådan måde, at det strider mod den fælles interesse.
Consequently, the sale-and-lease-back transaction involved state resources.
Mål af fælles interesse
As regards imputability to the State, the Commission notes that the available information indicates that the City of Neubrandenburg was significantly involved in the conclusion of the sale-and-lease-back transaction.
I henhold til artikel 3 og 174 i TEUF er økonomisk og social samhørighed et mål for Unionen.
Entering into this transaction required the approval of NEUWOGES’ Supervisory Board, whose members acted on behalf of the City.
Styrkelsen af den økonomiske og sociale samhørighed implicerer en forbedring af bymiljøet og byboernes livskvalitet.
The records also show that the Supervisory Board was actively involved in negotiating the contracts.
Samhørighedspolitikken kan bidrage til at skabe bæredygtige fællesskaber, da den sikrer, at økonomiske, sociale og økologiske problemer løses ved hjælp af integrerede strategier for fornyelse, regenerering og udvikling af både bymæssige og landlige områder.
The Commission therefore finds that the conclusion of the sale-and-lease-back contract is imputable to the State.
Dette kan gøres på flere måder [127].
Selectivity
Kommissionen konstaterer, at NEUWOGES' lovfæstede mål består i at sikre en tilstrækkelig boligforsyning i regionen.
Under Article 107(1) TFEU, a measure counts as state aid only if it favours ‘certain undertakings or the production of certain goods’.
Kommissionen konstaterer desuden, at NEUWOGES med indgåelsen af salg og tilbagelejningshandelen forfulgte bestemte (kommunal-)politiske mål.
Hence, only measures granting undertakings a selective advantage come under the heading of state aid.
NEUWOGES gør gældende, at
Since the measure in question was a bilateral transaction between NEUWOGES and BAVARIA, any advantage granted by NEUWOGES to BAVARIA would have been selective, in that no other undertakings would have had access to it.
det i 1990'erne efter genforeningen var et vigtigt politisk mål, at boligforholdene i Østtyskland og boligforholdene i Vesttyskland skulle nærme sig hinanden.
Distortion of competition and effect on trade
Dette medførte, at privatiseringen og renoveringen af boligbestanden i Østtyskland skred frem, uafhængigt af om dette var økonomisk fornuftigt eller ej
Public support to undertakings amounts to state aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU only if it ‘distorts or threatens to distort competition’ and only insofar as it ‘affects trade between Member States’.
privatiseringen og renoveringen af bygningerne, der var en del af salg og tilbagelejningshandelen, og som havde til formål at sikre fremskridtsperspektiver for byen Neubrandenburg.
A measure granted by a State is considered to distort or to threaten to distort competition when it is liable to improve the competitive position of the recipient compared to other undertakings with which it competes [125].
Ved at gøre billige boliger med en høj boligkvalitet tilgængelige og ved at privatisere dem (som BAVARIA var forpligtet til), var det NEUWOGES håb at gøre Neubrandenburg mere attraktiv for sine borgere.
Distortion of competition is thus assumed to take place as soon as a State grants a financial advantage to an undertaking in a liberalised sector where there is, or could be, competition.
Desuden konstaterer Kommissionen, at BAVARIA havde overtaget forpligtelsen til at forsøge at sælge et bestemt antal lejligheder til de daværende lejere.
The case-law of the European Courts has established that any grant of aid to an undertaking exercising its activities in the internal market can be liable to affect trade between Member States [126].
Derved måtte BAVARIA ikke forlange en fri markedsbestemt pris, men skulle derimod overholde bestemte maksimalgrænser [128].
BAVARIA competes for investors and investment opportunities with other real-estate funds and corporate investors from Germany and other Member States of the Union.
Kontrakten, som indeholdt disse påbud, gav dermed de omtalte bygningers lejere en vis fordel.
A financial advantage granted to BAVARIA would strengthen that undertaking’s competitive position and would therefore be liable to distort competition.
Hvis salg og tilbagelejningshandelen mellem NEUWOGES og BAVARIA virkelig skulle kategoriseres som statsstøtte, hvilket ikke er tilfældet, ville denne støtte være blevet givet til gennemførelse af de ovennævnte politiske mål.
Since the market for real-estate investments is Union-wide, any financial advantage for BAVARIA would strengthen the latter’s market position in comparison with its competitors from other Member States, thereby having an impact on trade between Member States.
Forsyning af en region med tilstrækkelige boliger, bidrag til gennemførelsen af et nationalt politisk mål (udligning af boligforholdene i Øst- og Vesttyskland efter genforeningen) og sikring af fremtidsperspektiverne for byen Neubrandenburg ved at gøre billige boliger af høj kvalitet tilgængelige for befolkningen (og begunstigelse af de daværende lejere i de pågældende bygninger) kan alt sammen ses som præcist definerede mål af fælles interesse.
Assuming that, contrary to the Commission’s primary conclusion outlined above, the sale-and-lease-back transaction did not comply with the rational MEO principle and therefore granted an advantage to BAVARIA, it would have to be concluded that the sale-and-lease-back transaction involved state aid.
Efter Kommissionens opfattelse er handelen derfor en foranstaltning til gennemførelse af et mål af fælles interesse.
Consequently, it must be assessed whether, on this hypothesis, the state aid could be considered as being compatible with the internal market.
Foranstaltningernes relevans
Compatibility with the internal market pursuant to Article 107(3)(c) TFEU
Det kan ikke bestrides, at salg og tilbagelejningshandelen mellem NEUWOGES og BAVARIA har opfyldt det tilstræbte mål.
Under Article 107(3)(c) TFEU, an aid measure may be considered compatible with the internal market where it ‘facilitate[s] the development of certain economic activities or of certain economic areas, where [it] does not adversely affect trading conditions to an extent contrary to the common interest’.
Således har handelen medført, at de af BAVARIA købte bygninger blev omfattende renoveret og privatiseret og tilbudt til de daværende lejer til en lav købspris, samt at udbuddet af boliger af god kvalitet i regionen blev øget, og dermed blev fremtidsperspektiverne for byen Neubrandenburg forbedret.
The application of Article 107(3)(c) requires the Commission to weigh the positive and desired effects of an aid measure against the adverse effect on trading conditions that results from its implementation.
Dermed foreligger der ingen tegn på, at denne støtte, hvis salg og tilbagelejningshandelen omfattede støtte, ville være gået ud over det nødvendige minimum.
Second, it must be an appropriate instrument for achieving that objective.
Analysen i afsnit 7.3, hvori salg og tilbagelejningshandelen blev sammenlignet med forskellige andre alternativer (som en lånebaseret renovering af bygningerne eller et direkte salg), har vist, at der ikke ville have været nogen alternativer, som ville have muliggjort, at disse mål blev opfyldt, uden at der blev ydet støtte, eller med et lavere støttebeløb.
Third, it must be necessary and have an incentive effect.
Salg og tilbagelejningshandelen og enhver eventuel ydet støtte var dermed et egnet instrument til at opnå målene af fælles interesse.
Fourth, it must proportionate.
Nødvendighed og tilskyndelsesvirkning
Fifth, it must not affect trading conditions to an extent contrary to the common interest.
Hvis det antages, at salg og tilbagelejningshandelen rent faktisk omfattede statsstøtte, skulle det desuden undersøges, om denne støtte havde en tilskyndelsesvirkning.
Objective of common interest
NEUWOGES og BAVARIA har forhandlet betingelserne for handelen i et tidsrum på flere måneder.
Under Articles 3 and 174 TFEU, economic and social cohesion is a Union objective.
Proportionalitet
Strengthening economic and social cohesion implies the improvement of the urban environment and the quality of life of urban dwellers.
Kommissionen har allerede henvist til, at de mål, som NEUWOGES forfulgte ved indgåelsen af denne handel, skal anses for at være vigtige.
Cohesion policy can help create sustainable communities by ensuring that economic, social and environmental issues are tackled through integrated strategies for renewal, regeneration and development in both urban and rural areas.
Renoveringen og privatiseringen af bygningerne og salget til lejerne til en lavere pris, har ydet et vigtigt bidrag til forbedringen af den økonomiske og sociale samhørighed i Unionen.
This can be accomplished in several ways [127].
Samtidig var det støttebeløb, der måtte være indeholdt i den salg og tilbagelejningshandel, som begunstigede BAVARIA, under alle omstændigheder begrænset, hvorved eventuelle konkurrencefordrejende konsekvenser af foranstaltningen også ville have været begrænsede.
The Commission observes that NEUWOGES’ statutory purpose is to secure a ‘sufficient housing supply’ in the region in which it is active.
På denne baggrund var enhver eventuel støtte indeholdt i salg og tilbagelejningshandelen mellem NEUWOGES og BAVARIA proportionel i forhold til det forfulgte mål.
The Commission also observes that, in concluding the sale-and-lease-back transaction, NEUWOGES pursued certain public policy objectives.
Ingen konsekvenser for samhandelsbetingelserne, som ville være i modstrid med den fælles interesse
NEUWOGES explains that:
Der skal huskes på, at det i salg og tilbagelejningshandelen indeholdte støttebeløb til begunstigelse af BAVARIA var meget lavt.
in the 1990s, after German reunification, it was an important political project to bring housing conditions in East Germany into line with those in West Germany, with the consequence that buildings in East Germany were hurriedly privatised and modernised, regardless of whether or not this made economic sense;
Konsekvenserne af foranstaltningen for handelsbetingelserne var dermed også begrænsede.
the efforts to privatise and modernise the buildings that were the subject of the sale-and-lease-back transaction were also directed at enhancing the future prospects of the City of Neubrandenburg: by offering people high-quality, affordable housing and by privatising it (as BAVARIA was obliged to do), NEUWOGES hoped to make Neubrandenburg more attractive to its citizens.
Men enhver støtte indeholdt i salg og tilbagelejningshandelen ville have forbedret BAVARIAs konkurrenceevne, og da BAVARIA i det mindste potentielt konkurrerede med andre virksomheder (også virksomheder fra andre medlemsstater), afhænger omfanget af støttens konsekvenser af, hvor stort et beløb, virksomheden modtog i støtte.
Finally, the Commission observes that BAVARIA accepted the obligation to attempt to sell a certain number of the apartments to the current tenants.
Da BAVARIAs konkurrenceposition kun blev forbedret meget lidt, kan det konkluderes, at salg og tilbagelejningshandelen, selv hvis den skulle have indeholdt en støtte, ikke har påvirket samhandelsbetingelserne i et sådant omfang, at det ville være i modstrid med den fælles interesse.
In doing so, BAVARIA could not ask for a price freely determined by the market, but rather had to respect certain price ceilings [128].
Konklusion på de øvrige støtteelementer og foreneligheden med det indre marked
The contract imposing these conditions thus granted a certain advantage to the current tenants of the buildings in question.
Skulle salg og tilbagelejningshandelen have givet BAVARIA en fordel, så er Kommissionen af de i afsnit 7.5.2 nævnte årsager kommet til den konklusion, at der ikke ville være tale om statsstøtte i henhold til artikel 107, stk. 1, i TEUF.
If the sale-and-lease-back transaction between NEUWOGES and BAVARIA were, in actual fact, classified as state aid, which it is not, this aid would have been granted in pursuit of the policy objectives listed above.
Kommissionen konstaterer dog også, at enhver indeholdt statsstøtte i salg og tilbagelejningshandelen i henhold til artikel 107, stk. 3, litra c), i TEUF ville være forenelig med det indre marked.
Supplying a region with sufficient housing, helping to achieve a national public policy objective (bringing the housing conditions in East Germany into line with those in West Germany following reunification), enhancing the future prospects of the City of Neubrandenburg by offering its population attractive and affordable housing (including by favouring the current tenants of the buildings in question) all qualify as well-defined objectives of common interest.
KONKLUSION PÅ SPØRGSMÅLET OM STATSSTØTTE OG FORENELIGHED
The Commission therefore considers that the measure is to be regarded as pursuing an objective of common interest.
Ud fra analysen af salg og tilbagelejningshandelens værdi for NEUWOGES, sammenligningen med andre mulige handler og undersøgelsen af handelens overensstemmelse med praksis på markedet kan det konkluderes, at handelen er i overensstemmelse med princippet om den markedsøkonomiske aktør.
Appropriateness of the measures
Med indgåelsen af salg og tilbagelejningshandelen har NEUWOGES udvist en adfærd, som en markedsøkonomisk aktør også ville have valgt.
It is not disputed that the sale-and-lease-back contract concluded by NEUWOGES and BAVARIA achieved the desired objectives, in that the transaction ensured that the buildings bought by BAVARIA were comprehensively modernised, privatised and offered to the current tenants at a capped price, and that this led to the increased supply of quality housing in the region, thereby enhancing the City of Neubrandenburg’s future prospects.
Særligt skal det fremhæves, at der hverken var et mere økonomisk attraktivt alternativ til rådighed, eller at betingelserne for salg og tilbagelejningshandelen på det pågældende tidspunkt (1997/1998) set i lyset af de tilgængelige sammenligningsmuligheder samt de andre tilbud, som fremgik af udbudsproceduren, kan betragtes som værende i uoverensstemmelse med praksis på markedet.
In seeking a buyer for the buildings and evaluating its options, NEUWOGES took a series of steps that, in effect, ensured that, if the sale-and-lease-back transaction involved any aid, this would be limited to the amount necessary to achieve the desired objectives.
Det må derfor konkluderes, at handelen med NEUWOGES ikke har indrømmet BAVARIA nogen fordel, da NEUWOGES' adfærd svarede til en markedsøkonomisk aktørs adfærd.
In particular, NEUWOGES carried out a limited bidding process, negotiated the terms of the transaction with BAVARIA over several months, and was finally convinced that the transaction represented the best offer on the market.
Da der ikke blev indrømmet nogen fordel inden for rammerne af de omtalte foranstaltninger, er en af forudsætningerne for kategoriseringen som statsstøtte ikke opfyldt, og dermed udgør foranstaltningen ikke statsstøtte, jf. artikel 107, stk. 1, i TEUF.
There is, then, no indication that, even if aid was involved in the sale-and-lease-back transaction, this aid exceeded the minimum required.
I tillæg til den primære konklusion, at salg og tilbagelejningshandelen ikke har indrømmet BAVARIA nogen fordel, og dermed ikke indebar statsstøtte, er Kommissionen nået til den supplerende konklusion, at hvis salg og tilbagelejningshandelen havde indrømmet BAVARIA en fordel, ville den have udgjort statsstøtte.
The analysis above (see section 7.3) comparing the sale-and-lease-back transaction to various alternatives (such as a loan-based modernisation of the buildings or an outright sale) demonstrated that no alternative was available that would have achieved the same objectives without aid being granted or with a lower amount of aid being granted.
Denne statsstøtte ville dog i henhold til artikel 107, stk. 3, litra c), i TEUF være forenelig med det indre marked —
The sale-and-lease-back transaction and any aid it may have contained were thus appropriate instruments for achieving the objectives of common interest.
VEDTAGET DENNE AFGØRELSE:
Necessity and incentive effect
Artikel 1
Assuming that the sale-and-lease-back transaction involved state aid, it must further be examined whether this aid had an incentive effect.
Den handel af 21. januar 1998, som blev indgået mellem Neubrandenburger Wohnungsgesellschaft mbH, Bavaria Immobilien Trading GmbH & Co, Immobilien Leasing Objekt Neubrandenburg KG og Bavaria Immobilien Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Objekte Neubrandenburg KG i form af en grundlejekontrakt og en forvaltningskontrakt, kan ikke betragtes som statsstøtte, jf. artikel 107, stk. 1, i TEUF.
NEUWOGES and BAVARIA negotiated the terms of the transaction over several months.
Artikel 2
It appears that BAVARIA would not have entered into a transaction that did not fit in with its ‘real-estate leasing model’.
Hvis den handel af 21. januar 1998, som blev indgået mellem Neubrandenburger Wohnungsgesellschaft mbH, der Bavaria Immobilien Trading GmbH & Co, Immobilien Leasing Objekt Neubrandenburg KG og Bavaria Immobilien Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Objekte Neubrandenburg KG i form af en grundlejekontrakt og en forvaltningskontrakt, alligevel skulle blive betragtet som statsstøtte i henhold til artikel 107, stk. 1, i TEUF, ville den i henhold til artikel 107, stk. 3, litra c), i TEUF være forenelig med det indre marked.
If the transaction that was eventually concluded, which was based on BAVARIA’s ‘real-estate leasing model’, involved state aid, then there is no doubt that, without this aid, BAVARIA would not have engaged in the transaction.
Artikel 3
Proportionality
Denne afgørelse er rettet til Forbundsrepublikken Tyskland.
The Commission has already indicated that the policy objectives pursued by NEUWOGES in entering into this transaction must be viewed as being important.
Udfærdiget i Bruxelles, den 16. september 2014.
The modernisation and privatisation of the buildings, including their sale at a capped price to the tenants, made an important contribution to improving economic and social cohesion within the Union.
På Kommissionens vegne
At the same time, the amount of aid in favour of BAVARIA contained in the sale-and-lease-back transaction — if any — was, at most, limited — a state of affairs that also limited any distortion of competition by the measure.
EUT C 141 af 17.5.2012, s. 28.
No effect on trading conditions that is contrary to the common interest
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).
It should again be pointed out that the amount of aid in favour of BAVARIA involved in the sale-and-lease-back transaction — if any — was, at most, limited.
Domstolens kendelse af 9. januar 2012, sag T-407/09, Neubrandenburger Wohnungsgesellschaft mod Kommission, ECLI:EU:T:2012:1.
The effect of the measure on trading conditions was thus also limited.
Se fodnote 1.
While any aid contained in the sale-and-lease-back transaction would have improved the competitive position of BAVARIA, which was at least potentially in competition with other undertakings (including undertakings from other Member States), the extent of this effect depends on the amount of aid received.
Domstolens kendelse af 15. november 2012, sag C-145/12 P, Neubrandenburger Wohnungsgesellschaft mod Kommission, ECLI:EU:C:2012:724.
Since BAVARIA’s competitive position would thus have been only marginally improved, it can be concluded that the sale-and-lease-back transaction, even if it contained aid, did not affect trading conditions to a degree contrary to the common interest.
Kommissionen har i denne afgørelse omregnet alle beløb, som oprindeligt var angivet i DM, til euro i henhold til den officielle omregningskurs 1 EUR = 1,95583 DM.
Conclusion concerning the remaining state aid elements and compatibility with the internal market
Herved kan der opstå mindre fejl på grund af afrunding.
On the basis of the reasons stated in section 7.5.2, the Commission has concluded that, if the sale-and-lease-back transaction granted an advantage to BAVARIA, it would amount to state aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU.
Der tages i denne afgørelse ikke hensyn til tal efter kommaet.
The Commission further finds, however, that any state aid contained in the transaction would be compatible with the internal market under Article 107(3)(c) TFEU.
Altschuldenhilfegesetz af 23. juni 1993 (BGBl.
CONCLUSION REGARDING THE EXISTENCE OF AID AND COMPATIBILITY WITH THE INTERNAL MARKET
I, Tysklands lovtidende, s. 944, 986), der senest er ændret den 31. oktober 2006 (BGBl.
On the basis of the analysis of the value of the sale-and-lease-back transaction for NEUWOGES, the comparison with possible alternative transactions, and the examination of the transaction’s conformity to market practices, it can be concluded that the transaction complies with the MEO principle.
I, s. 2407).
In concluding the sale-and-lease-back transaction, NEUWOGES’ actions were such as a MEO would have chosen to engage in.
Se brev fra forbundsministeriet for fysisk planlægning »Anerkendelse af privatiseringsformer for til fordel for lejere«( »Anerkennung mieternaher Privatisierungsformen«) af 18. maj 1995 og fra KfW »Referencedokument om lejerprivatisering, privatiseringsformer til fordel for lejere og subsidiære salg til tredjepart« ( »Merkblatt zu Mieterprivatisierung, mieternahen Privatisierungsformen und subsidiärem Drittverkauf«) af 22. december 1995.
Crucially, it is apparent neither that an economically more attractive option was available, nor that, in the light of the available benchmarks and of the other offers that had emerged from the bidding process, the conditions of the sale-and-lease-back transaction at the relevant time (1997/98) were out of line with market conditions.
Brev fra forbundsministeriet »Anerkennung mieternaher Privatisierungsformen« af 18. maj 1995, s. 183.
It must therefore be concluded that the transaction with NEUWOGES did not confer an advantage on BAVARIA, since NEUWOGES’ behaviour corresponded to that of a MEO.
KfW »Merkblatt zu Mieterprivatisierung, mieternahen Privatisierungsformen und subsidiärem Drittverkauf« af 22. december 1995, s. 5-6.
As the measure in question did not grant an advantage, it does not fulfil one of the conditions for being classified as state aid and does not, therefore, constitute state aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU.
NEUWOGES forklarede først, at den samlede støtte var på i alt […] EUR, og at den andel, som kunne betragtes som støtte, var […] EUR.
In addition to the primary finding that the sale-and-lease-back transaction did not confer an advantage on BAVARIA and did not, therefore, involve state aid, the Commission reaches the additional conclusion that if the sale-and-lease-back transaction did, however, confer an advantage on BAVARIA, the transaction would indeed amount to state aid.
Dog korrigerede NEUWOGES senere denne andel til […] EUR.
This state aid would, however, be compatible with the internal market under Article 107(3)(c) TFEU,
Hvis man går ud fra, at denne rettelse er resultatet af en rettelse af den samlede støtte, blev det endelige beløb rettet tilsvarende.
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Se LG Rostock dom af 28. november 2008 (herefter benævnt »LG Rostock dom«), s. 24.
Article 1
EUT C 209 af 10.7.1997, s. 3.
The legal transaction concluded on 21 January 1998 between Neubrandenburger Wohnungsgesellschaft mbH, Bavaria Immobilien Trading GmbH & Co, Immobilien Leasing Objekt Neubrandenburg KG and Bavaria Immobilien Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co.
NEUWOGES baserer deres beregninger på en diskonteringssats på 5 %.
Objekte Neubrandenburg KG in the form of a land-lease and sale contract and a general management contract does not constitute state aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU.
Forvaltningskontrakt med […] af 19. december 1997.
Article 2