natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
CSTP finder derfor, at mindst tre af betingelserne for kvalificering som statsstøtte i Domstolens dom ikke var opfyldt i denne sag.
As to the amount to be subtracted, CSTP claimed that it used a criterion that fully complied with the instructions contained in Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 which allowed the use of the tariff the company would have applied had it operated on a commercial basis, which had to cover the actual costs incurred.
CSTP anfører, at kompensationens forenelighed skal vurderes med udgangspunkt i forordning (EØF) nr. 1191/69 og ikke i henhold til traktatens bestemmelser om statsstøtte.
As far as the difference between the costs which the undertaking would have incurred by applying the most favourable existing rate or operating on a commercial basis and the costs actually incurred were concerned, CSTP considered that its calculation is fully consistent with Article 11 of Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69, as it captured the lower cost incurred by the undertaking as a consequence of the PSOs on account of the contributions received from the Region to cover operating costs.
Med hensyn til fritagelsen for underretning efter forordning (EØF) nr. 1191/69 finder CSTP, at eftersom regionen pålagde en ensidig tarifpligt, og beløbene ikke udgør forpligtelser til offentlig tjeneste i henhold til en tjenesteydelseskontrakt, men følger af den korrekte anvendelse af beregningsmetoden i artikel 11 i forordning (EØF) nr. 1191/69 inden for rammerne af en koncession, er betalingen i form af kompensation fritaget for pligten til underretning i artikel 17, stk. 2, i samme forordning.
Moreover, CSTP noted that both Articles 10 and 11 of that Regulation established the right of public transport companies subject to PSOs to be compensated for all negative financial impacts resulting from their obligations.
ITALIENS KOMMENTARER TIL BEMÆRKNINGERNE FRA DEN INTERESSEREDE PART
Fourth, concerning the state aid assessment in the opening decision, CSTP argued that the market for public transport in Italy in the period in question was not open to competition from undertakings established in other Member States.
De italienske myndigheder havde ingen kommentarer til CSTP's bemærkninger.
CSTP therefore concluded that there was no effect on trade or distortion of competition.
VURDERING AF STØTTEFORANSTALTNINGEN
Likewise, in view of the current organisation of the local public transport service based on the unilateral, exclusive concessions of certain routes, the compensation was not likely to distort competition.
SPØRGSMÅLET OM STATSSTØTTE
Furthermore, the standard cost/km was imposed by the Region and accepted by the concessionaire together with all the other PSOs, so there would therefore be no advantage.
I henhold til traktatens artikel 107, stk. 1, »er statsstøtte eller støtte, som ydes ved hjælp af statsmidler under enhver tænkelig form, og som fordrejer eller truer med at fordreje konkurrencevilkårene ved at begunstige visse virksomheder eller visse produktioner, uforenelig med det indre marked, i det omfang den påvirker samhandelen mellem medlemsstaterne«.
The tariff obligation, unlike the obligations to operate and carry, is not affected by any differentiation of the company’s transport activities.
For at en støtteforanstaltning kan betragtes som statsstøtte efter traktatens artikel 107, stk. 1, skal alle følgende betingelser følgelig være opfyldt:
Therefore, CSTP considered that at least three of the conditions laid down by the CJEU for identifying state aid were not met in the case at issue.
den skal ydes af staten eller ved hjælp af statsmidler
CSTP is of the opinion that the compatibility of the compensation had to be assessed with reference to Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 and not to the Treaty provisions on state aid.
den skal give en selektiv fordel ved at begunstige visse virksomheder eller visse produktioner
Concerning the exemption from the requirement to notify under Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69, CSTP considered that, since the Region imposed the tariff obligation unilaterally and the amounts do not constitute PSOs under a service contract but stem from correct application of the calculation under Article 11 of Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 in the framework of a concession, the payment awarded as compensation was exempted from the notification requirement of Article 17(2) of that Regulation.
den skal fordreje eller true med at fordreje konkurrencen
COMMENTS BY ITALY ON THE COMMENTS BY INTERESTED PARTIES
den skal påvirke samhandelen mellem medlemsstaterne.
The Italian authorities did not send any comments on CSTP’s comments.
Statsmidler og tilregnelighed til staten
ASSESSMENT OF THE AID
Kommissionen noterer sig, at regionen i henhold til dommen fra Consiglio di Stato skulle betale yderligere kompensation til CSTP for rutebilkørsel i den relevante periode på ruter inden for regionens kompetenceområde.
EXISTENCE OF AID
De af domstolen udpegede sagkyndige kom frem til, at CSTP kun var blevet påført en økonomisk ulempe i form af underkompensation i 1998 svarende til 4 951 838 EUR som følge af de påståede tarifpligter.
Pursuant to Article 107(1) of the Treaty, ‘any aid granted by a Member State or through state resources in any form whatsoever which distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring certain undertakings or the production of certain goods shall, in so far as it affects trade between Member States, be incompatible with the internal market’.
Den 21. december 2012 betalte regionen dette beløb til CSTP med henblik på at efterkomme dommen.
Accordingly, for a support measure to be considered state aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the Treaty, it must cumulatively fulfil all of the following conditions:
Det forhold, at en national domstol pålagde regionen at betale kompensation til et selskab, medfører ikke, at en foranstaltning, som regionen træffer for at efterkomme dommen, ikke skal tilregnes den, eftersom en stats nationale domstole betragtes som denne stats organer og derfor er bundet af forpligtelsen til loyalt samarbejde.
it must be granted by the State or through state resources;
Foranstaltningen kan derfor tilregnes staten, og de midler, der er anvendt til betaling af kompensationen, er statsmidler.
it must confer a selective advantage by favouring certain undertakings or the production of certain goods;
Selektiv økonomisk fordel
it must distort or threaten to distort competition;
Kommissionen bemærker indledningsvis, at CSTP udøver en økonomisk aktivitet, nemlig passagerbefordring mod vederlag.
it must affect trade between Member States.
CSTP skal således betragtes som en »virksomhed« efter traktatens artikel 107, stk. 1.
State resources and imputability
Ydelsen af foranstaltningen bør også betragtes som selektiv, da den kun er til fordel for CSTP.
The Commission notes that the judgment of the Consiglio di Stato requires the Region to pay additional compensation to CSTP with respect to the provision of scheduled bus services in the period under review on routes under the remit of the Region.
Med hensyn til spørgsmålet om tildeling af en økonomisk fordel følger det af Altmark-dommen, at den kompensation, der ydes af staten eller ved hjælp af statsmidler til virksomheder som vederlag for forpligtelser til offentlig tjeneste, der pålægges dem, ikke medfører en sådan fordel for de berørte virksomheder og dermed ikke udgør statsstøtte efter artikel 107, stk. 1, forudsat at følgende fire betingelser er opfyldt:
The court-appointed experts calculated that CSTP suffered an economic disadvantage in the form of undercompensation only for 1998 in the amount of EUR 4 951 838 as a result of alleged tariff obligations being imposed on it.
for det første skal den pågældende virksomhed faktisk være pålagt at opfylde forpligtelser til offentlig tjeneste, og disse forpligtelser skal være klart defineret
On 21 December 2012, the Region paid this sum to CSTP in order to comply with that judgment.
for det andet skal de kriterier, der er grundlaget for beregningen af kompensationen, være fastlagt på forhånd på en objektiv og gennemsigtig måde
The fact that the Region was obliged by a national court to pay compensation to an undertaking does not mean that the aid cannot be imputed to the Region complying with that judgment, since the domestic courts of that State are to be considered organs of that State and are thus bound by their duty of sincere cooperation.
for det tredje må kompensationen ikke overstige, hvad der er nødvendigt for helt eller delvist at dække de udgifter, der er afholdt ved opfyldelsen af forpligtelserne til offentlig tjeneste, idet der skal tages hensyn til de hermed forbundne indtægter og til en rimelig fortjeneste ved opfyldelsen af disse forpligtelser
The measure is thus imputable to the State and the resources from which that compensation has been paid are state resources.
for det fjerde skal størrelsen af den nødvendige kompensation, når udvælgelsen af den virksomhed, der skal overdrages en forpligtelse til offentlig tjeneste, i et konkret tilfælde ikke gennemføres inden for rammerne af en procedure for tildeling af offentlige kontrakter, fastlægges på grundlag af en analyse af de omkostninger, som en gennemsnitsvirksomhed, der er veldrevet og tilstrækkeligt udstyret med transportmidler til at kunne opfylde de stillede krav til den offentlige tjeneste, ville have ved at gennemføre forpligtelserne, idet der skal tages hensyn til de hermed forbundne indtægter og til en rimelig fortjeneste ved opfyldelsen af forpligtelserne.
Selective economic advantage
Ifølge Altmark-dommen skal alle fire betingelser være opfyldt for, at det kan udelukkes, at der er tale om en økonomisk fordel i de tilfælde, hvor der ydes kompensation til en virksomhed som vederlag for forpligtelser til offentlig tjeneste, der er pålagt den.
The Commission notes at the outset that CSTP is engaged in an economic activity, namely passenger transport for remuneration.
Kommissionen bemærker for det første, at hverken de italienske myndigheder eller CSTP har kunnet fremlægge en overdragelsesaftale for den relevante periode, og at CSTP ikke klart har kunnet udpege de forpligtelser, som selskabet skulle opfylde, og som kan kvalificeres som forpligtelser til offentlig tjeneste, jf. afsnit 6.2, nr. i).
Therefore, CSTP should be considered an ‘undertaking’ within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the Treaty.
For det andet bemærker Kommissionen, at den yderligere kompensation, der blev pålagt af Consiglio di Stato, udelukkende var baseret på en efterfølgende beregning på basis af en induktiv metode, idet der ikke fandtes tilstrækkelige pålidelige data.
The granting of the measure should also be considered selective, since it will only benefit CSTP.
Kommissionen finder derfor, at de kriterier, der dannede grundlaget for den af domstolens udpegede sagkyndiges beregning af den påståede kompensation, ikke var fastlagt på forhånd, og Altmark-dommens anden betingelse for så vidt angår den ikke-anmeldte støtte synes derfor ikke at være opfyldt.
As regards the granting of an economic advantage, it follows from the Altmark judgment that compensation granted by the State or through state resources to undertakings as consideration for PSOs imposed on them does not confer such an advantage on the undertakings concerned, and hence does not constitute state aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU, provided that four cumulative conditions are satisfied:
Eftersom alle betingelserne i Altmark-dommen skal være opfyldt, behøver Kommissionen således ikke undersøge, om de to øvrige betingelser er opfyldt i denne sag.
First, the recipient undertaking is actually required to discharge PSOs and those obligations have been clearly defined;
Betalingen af yderligere kompensation til CSTP for de tjenester, selskabet ydede i den relevante periode, har derfor givet det en selektiv økonomisk fordel, jf. traktatens artikel 107, stk. 1.
Second, the parameters on the basis of which the compensation is calculated have been established beforehand in an objective and transparent manner;
Konkurrencefordrejning og påvirkning af samhandelen mellem medlemsstaterne
Third, the compensation does not exceed what is necessary to cover all or part of the costs incurred in discharging the public service obligations, taking into account the relevant receipts and a reasonable profit for discharging those obligations;
CSTP bemærker, at det italienske marked for offentlig transport ikke var åbent for konkurrence fra virksomheder etableret i andre medlemsstater i den relevante periode, og at foranstaltningen derfor ikke har kunnet påvirke samhandelen mellem medlemsstaterne eller fordreje konkurrencen.
Fourth, where the undertaking which is to discharge public service obligations is not chosen in a public procurement procedure, the level of compensation needed has been determined on the basis of an analysis of the costs which a typical undertaking, well run and adequately provided with means of transport so as to be able to meet the necessary public service requirements, would have incurred in discharging those obligations, taking into account the relevant receipts and a reasonable profit for discharging the obligations.
Kommissionen påpeger for det første, at foranstaltningen blev gennemført den 21. december 2012 og altså længe efter, at der blev åbnet for konkurrence på det italienske marked for offentlig passagerbefordring.
The Altmark judgment requires all four conditions to be satisfied cumulatively to exclude the presence of an economic advantage where compensation is granted to undertakings as consideration for public service obligations imposed on them.
Eftersom det er på det tidspunkt, at foranstaltningen har sin virkning på markedet, er det også det tidspunkt, der skal danne udgangspunktet for undersøgelsen af, om foranstaltningen har kunnet fordreje konkurrencen eller påvirke samhandelen mellem medlemsstaterne.
The Commission notes first that neither the Italian authorities nor CSTP were able to provide it with any entrustment act related to the period under review and that CSTP has not been able to identify clearly obligations that it was required to discharge that could qualify as PSOs, as explained in more detail below in section 6.2, subsection (i).
Under alle omstændigheder bemærker Kommissionen, som det også fremgår af Altmark-dommen, at flere medlemsstater siden 1995 var begyndt at åbne visse transportmarkeder for konkurrence fra virksomheder etableret i andre medlemsstater, således at flere virksomheder allerede tilbød transportydelser i byer, forstæder eller regioner i andre medlemsstater end deres hjemstat på dette tidspunkt.
Second, the Commission observes that the compensation awarded by the judgment of the Consiglio di Stato is based solely on an ex post calculation using an ‘inductive method’ in the absence of necessary and reliable data.
Enhver kompensation til CSTP må derfor anses for at kunne fordreje konkurrencen inden for personbefordring med bus og at kunne påvirke samhandelen mellem medlemsstaterne, for så vidt som den forringer de muligheder, som transportselskaber etableret i andre medlemsstater har for at tilbyde deres tjenester i Italien, og styrker CSTP's position på markedet ved at frigøre selskabet for omkostninger, det ellers skulle have båret i forbindelse med den almindelige drift.
The Commission therefore concludes that the parameters on the basis of which the alleged undercompensation was calculated by the court-appointed experts were not established in advance and that therefore the second Altmark condition does not appear to have been complied with in relation to the non-notified measure.
Kommissionen bemærker også, at CSTP er aktiv på andre markeder, nemlig markedet for udlejningstjenester, selv om det ifølge CSTP kun var tilfældet i 1998, og selskabet konkurrerer derfor med andre virksomheder i EU på disse markeder.
Considering the cumulative nature of the Altmark conditions, there is no need for the Commission to examine whether the other two Altmark conditions have been met in the present case.
Enhver kompensation til CSTP ville nødvendigvis også fordreje konkurrencen og påvirke samhandelen mellem medlemsstaterne på disse markeder.
Accordingly, the payment of an additional compensation to CSTP for services performed during the period under review confers on that company a selective economic advantage within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the Treaty.
Kommissionen finder derfor, at foranstaltningen fordrejer konkurrencen og påvirker samhandelen mellem medlemsstaterne.
Distortion of competition and effect on trade between Member States
Konklusion
In its observations, CSTP argued that the market for public transport in Italy was not open to competition from undertakings established in other Member States during the period under review, so there could be no effect on trade between Member States or distortion of competition as a result of the disputed measure.
I lyset af ovenstående finder Kommissionen, at den ikke-anmeldte foranstaltning udgør statsstøtte efter traktatens artikel 107, stk. 1.
The Commission recalls, in the first place, that the disputed measure was implemented on 21 December 2012, long after the market for public passenger transport was opened to competition in Italy.
FRITAGELSE FOR UNDERRETNINGSPLIGTEN EFTER FORORDNING (EØF) Nr. 1191/69
Since it is at that point in time that the measure under review produces its effects on the market, it is also at that point in time that it must be assessed whether that measure is liable to distort competition or affect trade between Member States.
CSTP mener, at eftersom regionen pålagde en ensidig tarifpligt, og beløbene ikke udgør forpligtelser til offentlig tjeneste under en tjenesteydelseskontrakt, men følger af den korrekte anvendelse af beregningsmetoden i artikel 11 i forordning (EØF) nr. 1191/69 inden for rammerne af en koncession, er vederlaget i form af en kompensation fritaget for underretningspligten efter artikel 17, stk. 2, i samme forordning.
In any event, the Commission further notes that, as observed in the Altmark judgment, since 1995 several Member States had started to open certain transport markets to competition from undertakings established in other Member States, so a number of undertakings were already offering urban, suburban or regional transport services in Member States other than their State of origin by that point in time.
CSTP indrømmer, at koncessionskontrakten ikke nævnte noget om forpligtelser til offentlig tjeneste, men at disse forpligtelser udelukkende fulgte af regionens interne lovgivning.
Therefore, any compensation granted to CSTP should be considered likely to distort competition for the provision of passenger transport services by bus and likely to affect trade between Member States to the extent that it impairs the ability of transport undertakings established in other Member States to offer their services in Italy and strengthens the market position of CSTP by releasing it from costs which it would normally have had to bear in its day-to-day management or normal activities.
I henhold til artikel 17, stk. 2, i forordning (EØF) nr. 1191/69 er kompensationer, der følger af anvendelsen af denne forordning, undtaget fra den forudgående underretning, der er fastlagt i traktatens artikel 108, stk. 3, og dermed fra kravet om forudgående anmeldelse.
The Commission also notes that CSTP is active on other markets, i.e. rental services, even if according to CSTP they were rendered only in 1998, and thus competes with other companies within the Union on those markets.
Det følger dog af Combus-dommen, at begrebet »kompensation for offentlig tjeneste« i denne artikels forstand skal fortolkes meget snævert.
Any compensation granted to CSTP would necessarily also distort competition and affect trade between Member States on those markets as well.
Fritagelsen for underretning efter artikel 17, stk. 2, i forordning (EØF) nr. 1191/69 omfatter kun kompensation for forpligtelser til offentlig tjeneste, der ensidigt er pålagt en virksomhed i henhold til artikel 2 i samme forordning, og som beregnes efter metoden i forordningens artikel 10 til 13 (den fælles kompensationsmetode), og den finder ikke anvendelse på kontrakter om offentlig tjeneste som defineret i artikel 14.
Accordingly, the Commission concludes that the measure distorts competition and affects trade between Member States.
Kompensation, der betales i henhold til en kontrakt om offentlig tjeneste som defineret i artikel 14 i forordning (EØF) nr. 1191/69, og der udgør statsstøtte, skal anmeldes til Kommissionen, før den betales.
Conclusion
I mangel af dette vil kompensationen blive betragtet som ulovligt gennemført støtte efter traktatens artikel 108.
In light of the above, the Commission finds that the non-notified measure constitutes aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the Treaty.
Spørgsmålet om, hvorvidt de italienske myndigheder rent faktisk var fritaget for forudgående underretning efter artikel 17, stk. 2, i forordning 1191/69 i det foreliggende sag, afhænger derfor for det første af, i) om regionen rent faktisk ensidigt pålagde CSTP en forpligtelse til offentlig tjeneste, og for det andet af, ii) om den kompensation, der blev betalt som følge af denne forpligtelse, er i overensstemmelse med betingelserne i forordning (EØF) nr. 1191/69.
EXEMPTION FROM THE NOTIFICATION OBLIGATION UNDER REGULATION (EEC) No 1191/69
Kommissionen vil i det følgende undersøge begge spørgsmål.
According to CSTP, since the Region imposed the tariff obligation unilaterally on it and the amounts do not constitute PSOs under a service contract but stem from correct application of the calculation under Article 11 of Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 in the framework of a concession, the payment awarded as compensation was exempted from the notification requirement under Article 17(2) of that Regulation.
Ensidig pålæggelse af en forpligtelse til offentlig tjeneste
CSTP admitted that these PSOs were not set out in the document awarding the concession, which made no mention of them, but transpired solely from internal acts of the Region.
Kommissionen hæfter sig ved, at hverken de italienske myndigheder eller CSTP har kunnet fremlægge en overdragelsesaftale for den relevante periode.
In accordance with Article 17(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69, compensation paid pursuant to the Regulation is exempted from the preliminary information procedure laid down in Article 108(3) of the Treaty and thus from the prior notification requirement.
CSTP har kun indgivet nogle kontrakter til Kommissionen, som var gældende fra 2003.
However, it follows from the Combus judgment that the concept of ‘public service compensation’ within the meaning of that provision (Article 17(2)) must be interpreted in a very restrictive manner.
De italienske myndigheder fremfører, at det eksempel på en koncessionskontrakt, som de har indgivet — som vedrører en anden virksomhed — var den standardkontrakt, der blev anvendt i regionen i den relevante periode.
The exemption from notification provided by Article 17(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 covers only compensation for PSOs imposed unilaterally on an undertaking pursuant to Article 2 of that Regulation that is calculated using the method described in Articles 10 to 13 of the same Regulation (the common compensation procedure), and not public service contracts as defined by Article 14 of that Regulation.
Kontrakteksemplet var dog kun gældende fra april 1972 til december 1973, dvs. mere end tyve år før den relevante periode, og før ikrafttrædelsen af den nationale lov nr. 151/1981 som gennemført ved regionallov nr. 16/1983, der udgør retsgrundlaget for ydelsen af kompensation til CSTP.
Compensation paid pursuant to a public service contract as defined by Article 14 of Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 which entails state aid must be notified to the Commission before it is put into effect.