natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Det er i denne henseende imidlertid ikke klart, hvornår de nye interne AMA-regler trådte i kraft, dvs. om støtteforanstaltningerne blev ydet på grundlag af de nye regler allerede med virkning fra den 26. september 2002, ikrafttrædelsesdatoen for de nye regler, eller om der var en overgangsperiode efter den 26. september 2002, hvor støtte stadig blev ydet efter de gamle regler.
In this regard, by a letter dated 19 December 2002, registered on 23 December 2002, the Austrian authorities confirmed that under the new rules the AMA labels are available to all products regardless of their origin and committed to the subsequent adaptation of the AMA Act.
I sit svar af 14. september 2012 fastholdt de østrigske myndigheder, at en overgangsperiode ikke fandt anvendelse, og at de nye regler var blevet gennemført fra den 26. september 2002.
Based on the above grounds, the Commission services considered that the non-notified aid scheme registered as NN 34/2000 had been modified substantially as of 26 September 2002 to conform to the State aid rules and that for this reason a separate assessment of the scheme after that date was justified.
ANMELDELSE AF AMA-MARKEDSFØRINGSFORANSTALTNINGERNE (GENEREL MARKEDSFØRING, MARKEDSFØRING UDEN FOR ØSTRIG OG MARKEDSANALYSE) — N 239/2004
NON-NOTIFIED AID NN 34A/2000 AFTER SPLITTING
Den 28. maj 2004 anmeldte de østrigske myndigheder AMA-markedsføringsforanstaltningerne, som består i generelle markedsføringsforanstaltninger, markedsføringsforanstaltninger uden for Østrig og markedsanalyse.
Regarding the case NN 34A/2000, additional information was provided by the Austrian authorities by letters of 2 April 2004 (registered on 5 April 2004), 19 April 2004, 29 April 2004, 4 May 2004, 7 May 2004, 13 May 2004, 9 June 2004, 16 June 2004 and 24 June 2004, all registered on the day of their receipt.
FORLÆNGELSE AF NN 34A/2000
By decision C(2004) 2037 the Commission decided not to raise any objections to that measure and considered it as compatible with the common market within the meaning of Article 87(3)(c) EC (now Article 107(3)(c) TFEU), in that it complied with the conditions imposed by points 13 and 14 of the Community Guidelines for State aid in the agricultural sector [6] (hereafter: the 2000-2006 Guidelines) and by the Community Guidelines for State aid for advertising of products listed in Annex I to the EC Treaty and of certain non-Annex I products [7] (hereafter: the Advertising Guidelines).
Ved brev af 15. marts 2006, registreret samme dag, anmeldte de østrigske myndigheder en forlængelse indtil den 31. december 2010 af foranstaltningerne vedrørende økomærket [8] (statsstøtteforanstaltning N 175/2006 godkendt ved Kommissionens beslutning K(2006) 2281 af 2. juni 2006).
The aid scheme examined in case NN 34A/2000 was limited in time until 31 December 2008 for all quality label (AMA Gütesiegel) measures and the bio label (Biozeichen) quality support measures, whereas the bio label (Biozeichen) advertising measures were limited in time until 31 March 2006.
Denne afgørelse berører ikke de ovenfor beskrevne godkendte støtteordninger N 175/2006, N 589/2008, N 239/2004 og N 496/2009.
According to the decision, all the measures implemented by AMA and AMA Marketing before 26 September 2002, which remained subject to case NN 34/2000 were expressly excluded from the examination in case NN 34A/2000.
SAGER VED UNIONENS DOMSTOLE (RETTEN OG DOMSTOLEN) OG ÅBNINGSAFGØRELSE
In the answer of 14 September 2012 the Austrian authorities maintained that no transitional period applied and that the new rules had been put into effect on 26 September 2002.
SAGER VED RETTEN — SAG T-375/04
NOTIFICATION OF THE AMA MARKETING MEASURES (GENERIC MARKETING, MARKETING OUTSIDE AUSTRIA AND MARKET RESEARCH) — N 239/2004
Sagen blev registreret som sag T-375/04.
The aid scheme registered under State aid number N 239/2004 was approved by Commission decision C(2004) 3945 of 20 October 2004.
I sin dom af 18. november 2009 konkluderede Retten, at Kommissionen burde have indledt den formelle undersøgelsesprocedure, eftersom der var en modsætning mellem i) ordlyden i AMA-loven fra 1992, som ifølge Retten begrænser ordningen til nationale produkter, og ii) AMA's interne retningslinjer og de østrigske myndigheders forsikringer, hvad angår mærkernes tilgængelighed for produkter fra andre medlemsstater.
By decision C(2010) 377 of 21 January 2010 the Commission approved under State aid number N 496/2009 a continuation of the above aid scheme until 31 December 2013.
Retten fastslog, at denne modsætning var tilstrækkelig til at skabe alvorlig tvivl med hensyn til ordningens forenelighed med det indre marked.
These decisions are not affected by the Court rulings cited above and the approved measures are not subject to the present decision.
Retten konkluderede følgelig (dommens præmis 86), at Kommissionen burde have indledt proceduren efter daværende artikel 88, stk. 2, i EF-traktaten (nu artikel 108, stk. 2, i TEUF).
PROLONGATION OF NN 34A/2000
Retten annullerede på denne baggrund Kommissionens beslutning i sag NN 34A/2000.
By letter of 15 March 2006, registered on the same day, the Austrian authorities notified a prolongation until 31 December 2010 for the measures regarding the bio label [8] (State aid scheme N 175/2006 approved by Commission decision C(2006) 2281 of 2 June 2006).
SAGER VED DOMSTOLEN — SAG C-47/10
By letter of 19 November 2008 Austria notified a prolongation until 31 December 2013 of the aid measure NN 34A/2000 regarding both the quality and the bio label which expired on 31 December 2010.
Republikken Østrig appellerede Rettens ovennævnte dom den 27. januar 2010.
The notified aid which was registered as N 589/2008 and approved by Commission decision C(2009) 1092 of 25 February 2009 at the same time replaced the aid measure N 175/2006.
Appellen blev registreret som sag C-47/10.
The present decision does not concern the above described approved aid schemes N 175/2006, N 589/2008, N 239/2004 and N 496/2009.
Domstolen afviste Republikken Østrigs appel og stadfæstede i sin dom af 27. oktober 2011 Rettens afgørelse.
Subject of the present decision are the non-notified AMA measures under aid scheme NN 34/2000 (covering the period before 26 September 2002) and the AMA measures that had been addressed by the annulled Commission decision NN 34A/2000 (covering the period after 26 September 2002).
ÅBNINGSAFGØRELSE OG EFTERFØLGENDE SAGSFORLØB
PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE UNION COURTS (GENERAL COURT AND COURT OF JUSTICE) AND OPENING DECISION
På baggrund af Domstolens dom indledte Kommissionen den formelle undersøgelsesprocedure efter artikel 108, stk. 2, i TEUF i sag NN 34A/2000.
PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE GENERAL COURT — CASE T-375/04
Henset til dommens præmisser opfordrede Kommissionen i åbningsafgørelsen af 12. juni 2012 [9] de østrigske myndigheder og de berørte parter til at fremsætte deres bemærkninger inden for en måned med henblik på at skabe klarhed om den modsætning, der er beskrevet i betragtning 23.
The Commission Decision in case NN 34A/2000 was challenged before the Court of First Instance (now General Court) by the complainants referred to in recital 4 on 17 September 2004.
Kommissionen har ikke modtaget bemærkninger fra tredjemand.
The case was registered as T-375/04.
Østrig anmodede om en forlængelse af svarfristen ved brev af 29. juni 2012.
In its judgment of 18 November 2009, the General Court concluded that the Commission should have initiated the formal investigation procedure because of the existence of a contradiction between (i) the wording of the AMA Act of 1992, which according to the General Court limits the scheme to national products, and (ii) the internal AMA directives and the assurances of the Austrian authorities, which had maintained that the scheme was open to products from other Member States.
Kommissionen indrømmede en forlængelse af fristen ved brev af 13. juli 2012.
The General Court found that this contradiction sufficed to create serious doubts as to the compatibility of the scheme with the Internal Market.
De østrigske myndigheder indgav deres bemærkninger den 14. september 2012.
The General Court therefore concluded (paragraph 86 of the judgment) that the Commission should have initiated the procedure provided by former Article 88(2) EC (now Article 108(2) TFEU).
Kommissionen udbad sig yderligere oplysninger ved brev af 19. februar 2014.
On this ground, the General Court annulled the Commission Decision in case NN 34A/2000.
De østrigske myndigheder anmodede om en forlængelse af svarfristen ved brev af 14. marts 2014.
PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COURT OF JUSTICE — CASE C-47/10
Østrig fremsendte yderligere oplysninger den 7. maj 2014.
The Republic of Austria on 27 January 2010 appealed the above judgment of the General Court.
BESKRIVELSE AF STØTTEFORANSTALTNINGERNE
The appeal was registered as Case C-47/10.
TITEL
In its judgment of 27 October 2011, the Court of Justice dismissed the appeal brought by the Republic of Austria and fully upheld the ruling of the General Court.
AMA-markedsføringsforanstaltninger
OPENING DECISION AND SUBSEQUENT PROCEDURAL STEPS
STØTTENS VARIGHED
Following the Court's judgment, the Commission opened the formal investigation procedure under Article 108(2) TFEU in case NN 34A/2000.
De østrigske myndigheder havde imidlertid ikke anmeldt AMA-foranstaltningerne til Kommissionen i overensstemmelse med artikel 143 eller 144 i akten vedrørende vilkårene for Republikken Østrigs tiltrædelse [10].
Having regard to the grounds of the judgment, in the opening decision of 12 June 2012 [9], the Commission invited the Austrian authorities and the parties concerned to submit within a month their comments in order to clarify the doubts regarding the contradiction described in recital 23.
Disse foranstaltninger er ikke omfattet af anvendelsesområdet for denne afgørelse.
The Commission granted an extension of the deadline for reply on 13 July 2012.
Ved brev af 7. februar 1997 oplyste Kommissionen i forbindelse med OECD-overvågningsrapporten Østrig, at de salgsfremmende AMA-foranstaltninger kunne udgøre statsstøtte, og anmodede derfor de østrigske myndigheder om at fremlægge alle de oplysninger, der var nødvendige for at vurdere disse foranstaltninger i henhold til de gældende statsstøtteregler, og at udfylde de relevante anmeldelsesformularer.
The Austrian authorities provided their comments on 14 September 2012.
Ved brev af 23. juni 1997 indgav de østrigske myndigheder de ønskede oplysninger og en udfyldt anmeldelsesformular [12].
Additional information was requested by the Commission by letter of 19 February 2014.
I deres skrivelse af 14. september 2012 fastholdt de østrigske myndigheder, at brevet af 23. juni 1997 udgjorde en gyldig anmeldelse, og at medlemsstaten ved udløbet af perioden på to måneder havde berettiget grund til at antage, at der forelå en gyldig statsstøttegodkendelse for disse foranstaltninger.
The Austrian authorities answered on 14 March 2014 and asked for a prolongation of the deadline to reply.
Kommissionen bemærker i denne henseende, at Kommissionen ved beslutning af 20. oktober 2004 under statsstøttenummer N 239/2004 havde godkendt følgende AMA-markedsføringsforanstaltninger: generelle markedsføringsforanstaltninger (reklame og PR-aktiviteter), markedsføringsforanstaltninger uden for Østrig og markedsanalyse.
The Commission sent a new request for information on 17 December 2014.
For AMA's økomærke og kvalitetsmærke var slutdatoen for foranstaltningen kort sagt den 31. december 2008, dog ikke for reklameforanstaltninger vedrørende økomærket, som udløb den 31. december 2006 (se betragtning 15 og 19).
On 23 December 2014 the Austrian authorities asked for a prolongation of the deadline to reply.
Med hensyn til de øvrige AMA-markedsføringsforanstaltninger var de gældende indtil den 20. oktober 2004, den dato, hvor den anmeldte foranstaltning N 239/2004 blev godkendt (se kapitel 1.4 og betragtning 39).
The Commission granted this extension by letter dated 8 January 2015.
Kommissionen bemærker videre, at en AMA-foranstaltning vedrørende et salgsfremstød for oksekød var blevet anmeldt og godkendt under statsstøttenummer N 570/1998 ved brev af 15. december 1998.
The reply of the Austrian authorities was submitted on 26 February 2015 and 3 March 2015.
Varigheden af støtten var begrænset til to år.
DESCRIPTION OF THE AID MEASURES
Med undtagelse af de foranstaltninger, der er omfattet af Kommissionens beslutning i sag N 570/1998, NN 34A/2000 og N 239/2004, er Kommissionen ikke bekendt med andre godkendte støtteforanstaltninger vedrørende AMA-markedsføringsaktiviteterne i den omhandlede periode.
TITLE
STØTTEBELØB
AMA marketing measures
I henhold til oplysninger i de detaljerede budgetrapporter for årene 1995-1999 [13] og 2000-2008 [14] blev følgende beløb anvendt til AMA-markedsføringsaktiviteter:
DURATION OF THE MEASURE
1995 13084204,72 EUR
The AMA Act which establishes AMA entered into force in 1992.
1996 16241658,38 EUR
According to the information provided by the Austrian authorities in a letter of 4 July 1997, registered on 7 July 1997, the marketing measures have been in place since 1994, i.e. before 1 January 1995, the date when Austria joined the European Union.
1997 15306219,65 EUR
Nevertheless, the AMA measures were not communicated by the Austrian authorities to the Commission in accordance with Article 143 or 144 of the Act of Accession of Republic of Austria [10].
1998 18217604,15 EUR
In the submission of 14 September 2012 Austria stated that the Commission was ‘informed’ about the marketing measures by the Österreichische Weinmarketing.
1999 18158485,48 EUR
However, the information provided in that submission [11] refers only to appropriate measures imposed by the Commission according to Article 93(1) EC Treaty (now Article 108(1) TFEU) for the wine sector.
2000 15867096,22 EUR
These measures are not within the scope of the present decision.
2001 12092317,52 EUR
By letter of 7 February 1997, in the context of the OECD monitoring report, the Commission informed Austria that the AMA promotion measures could constitute State aid and consequently requested the Austrian authorities to provide all information necessary to assess those measures under the State aid rules in force and to fill in the relevant notification forms.
2002 13538228,32 EUR
By letter of 23 June 1997 the Austrian authorities provided the requested information and a completed notification form [12].
2003 9044509,01 EUR
In their submission of 14 September 2012 the Austrian authorities maintained that the letter of 23 June 1997 constituted a valid notification and that at the expiry of the 2-month period the Member State was entitled to believe that a valid State aid clearance existed for those measures.
2004 10559442,86 EUR
Regarding the end date of implementation, the different marketing activities of AMA have to be distinguished.
2005 8994712,20 EUR
The Commission notes in this respect that by decision of 20 October 2004 the Commission approved under State aid number N 239/2004 the following AMA marketing measures: generic marketing measures (advertisement and PR-activities), marketing measures outside Austria and market research.
2006 12193320,12 EUR
In summary, regarding the AMA bio and quality labels the end date of the measure was 31 December 2008, except for the bio label advertising measures which have expired on 31 December 2006 (see recitals 15 and 19 above).
2007 12285344,67 EUR
Concerning the other AMA marketing measures, they applied until 20 October 2004, the date on which the notified measure N 239/2004 was approved (see Chapter 1.4 and recital 39 above).
2008 15087084,71 EUR
The Commission further notes that a beef promotion campaign measure by AMA was notified and approved under State aid number N 570/1998 by letter of 15 December 1998.
Ved brev af 12. juni 2012 blev de østrigske myndigheder anmodet om at bekræfte ovennævnte tal og fremlægge en fordeling af budgettet pr. år for hver støttekategori (reklame for kvalitetsmærker, reklame for økomærker, generiske reklamekampagner, reklame uden for Østrig, kvalitetsforanstaltninger samt teknisk bistand vedrørende både mærker og generiske produkter).
The duration of the aid was limited to 2 years.
Følgende tal blev fremlagt i skrivelsen af 14. september 2012:
Except for the measures covered by the Commission's decisions in cases N 570/1998, NN 34A/2000 and N 239/2004, the Commission is not aware of any other approved aid measures related to the AMA marketing activities in the period at issue.
De østrigske myndigheder fremlagde følgende tal for foranstaltninger vedrørende økomærket og kvalitetsmærket i perioden 2002-2008.
AID AMOUNT
STØTTEMODTAGERE
According to the information provided in the detailed budget reports for the years 1995-1999 [13] and 2000-2008 [14], the following amounts were spent for AMA marketing activities:
Ifølge de foreliggende oplysninger er støttemodtagerne for markedsføringsforanstaltningerne landbrugsproducenter og virksomheder, der er aktive inden for forarbejdning og markedsføring af landbrugsprodukter, herunder fødevareindustrien.
1995 EUR 13084204,72
RETSGRUNDLAG
1996 EUR 16241658,38
Grundretsakten for alle AMA-markedsføringsforanstaltninger er AMA-loven — Bundesgesetz über die Errichtung der Marktordnungsstelle »Agrarmarkt Austria« (lov om etablering af det markedsregulerende organ »Agrarmarkt Austria«) [15].
1997 EUR 15306219,65
Efter en anmodning om oplysninger af 30. april 2014 indgav de østrigske myndigheder alle gennemførelsesretsakter (Richtlinien, Verordnungen osv., herunder interne AMA-retningslinjer og andre interne regler), som regulerer kvalitetsmærket og økomærket samt de forskellige markedsføringsforanstaltninger.
1998 EUR 18217604,15
AMA MARKETING OG DEN SKATTELIGNENDE FINANSIERING AF FORANSTALTNINGEN
1999 EUR 18158485,48
AMA er et offentligretligt organ, som blev etableret i 1992 ved AMA-loven, og som kontrolleres af staten.
2000 EUR 15867096,22
I sag NN 34A/2000 har de østrigske myndigheder fremlagt følgende oplysninger om AMA's status og aktiviteter:
2002 EUR 13538228,32
Ifølge de østrigske myndigheder markedsfører AMA og AMA Marketing ikke varer og tjenesteydelser.
2003 EUR 9044509,01
AMA Marketing fører tilsyn med anvendelsen af kvalitetsmærket og økomærket, planlægger og koordinerer salgsfremmende foranstaltninger (reklame, messer, udstillinger, PR-arrangementer og lignende), producerer informationsmaterialer om kvalitetsprogrammer og -mærker og iværksætter undersøgelser af forskellige emner vedrørende kvalitet inden for landbrugsproduktion.
2004 EUR 10559442,86
AMA Marketing gennemfører ikke reklamekampagner eller produktkontroller.
2005 EUR 8994712,20
AMA Marketing udvælger i stedet private virksomheder i overensstemmelse med den nationale lovgivning om gennemførelse af Rådets direktiv 92/50/EØF [16] og efterfølgende Europa-Parlamentets og Rådets direktiv 2004/18/EF [17] til at gennemføre sådanne kampagner eller kontroller.
2006 EUR 12193320,12
De østrigske landbrugs- og fødevareindustrivirksomheder indbetaler tvungne afgifter, som er fastsat ved AMA-loven og som finansierer 100 % af disse foranstaltninger.
2007 EUR 12285344,67
AMA og AMA Marketing finansieres også via disse afgifter.
2008 EUR 15087084,71
I henhold til AMA-loven (§ 21c, stk. 1) skal der betales afgift for følgende operationer eller produkter:
By letter of 12 June 2012 the Austrian authorities were invited to confirm the above figures and to provide a breakdown of the budget per year for each aid category (advertising for quality labels, advertising for bio labels, generic advertising, advertising outside Austria, quality measures as well as technical support regarding both labels and generic products).
levering af mælk til forarbejdning
The following figures were provided in the submission of 14 September 2012.
formaling af kornprodukter
(EUR)
slagtning af voksent kvæg, kalve, svin, lam, får og fjerkræ
The Austrian authorities provided the following figures for the bio label and the quality label measures in the period 2002-2008.
hold af æglæggende høner til ægproduktion
BENEFICIARIES
produktion af frugt og grøntsager
From the information available it appears that the beneficiaries of the marketing measures are agricultural producers as well as undertakings active in the processing and marketing of agricultural products, including the food industry.
produktion af kartofler (bortset fra stivelseskartofler og kartofler, der anvendes til produktion af alkohol)
LEGAL BASIS
produktion og dyrkning af havebrugsprodukter
The basic legal act for all AMA marketing measures is the AMA Act — Bundesgesetz über die Errichtung der Marktordnungsstelle ‘Agrarmarkt Austria’ (Federal Law on the establishment of the market-regulating agency ‘Agrarmarkt Austria’) [15].
vinavl
Following a request for information of 30 April 2014, the Austrian authorities submitted all implementing legal acts (Richtlinien, Verordnungen etc., including internal AMA directives and other internal rules) which govern the quality label and the bio label as well as the respective marketing measures.
første markedsføring af vin.
THE AMA MARKETING AND THE PARAFISCAL FINANCING OF THE MEASURE
Det maksimale beløb for bidragene er også fastsat i AMA-loven (§ 21d).
The AMA is a public law body established in 1992 by the AMA Act and controlled by the State.
Det specifikke bidragsniveau er fastsat i forskrift udstedt af AMA's bestyrelse (Verordnung des Verwaltungsrates).
The scheme is administered by AMA Marketing, a wholly owned subsidiary of the AMA.
Ved brev af 14. september 2012 meddelte de østrigske myndigheder følgende afgiftsbeløb, som var inddrevet i perioden 1995-2008 [18]:
In case NN 34A/2000 the Austrian authorities have provided the following information about the status and the activities of AMA:
1995 13833026,19 EUR
According to the Austrian authorities, AMA and AMA Marketing do not market goods or services.
1996 15260738,33 EUR
AMA Marketing supervises the use of the quality label and the bio label, plans and coordinates promotion measures (advertising, fairs, exhibitions, PR-events and similar), produces information materials on quality programmes and labels, and commissions research projects on various subjects connected with quality in agricultural production.
1997 14340815,84 EUR
AMA Marketing does not conduct advertising campaigns or product controls.
1998 15473675,13 EUR
Instead AMA Marketing selects private firms in accordance with national legislation transposing Council Directive 92/50/EEC [16] and subsequently Directive 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council [17] to conduct such campaigns or controls.
1999 15260405,37 EUR
Austrian agricultural and food industry undertakings pay compulsory levies established by the AMA Act to finance to 100 % those measures.
2000 15419046,38 EUR
AMA and AMA Marketing themselves are also financed by those levies.
2001 15228252,40 EUR
The AMA Act (§ 21c(1)) establishes that the levies have to be paid for the following operations or products:
2002 15461156,95 EUR
milk when delivered to be processed,
2003 13529199,62 EUR
cereals when milled,
2004 17320613,38 EUR
adult bovine animals, calves, pigs, lambs, sheep and fowl when slaughtered,
2005 16003552,29 EUR
keeping poultry for the production of eggs,
2006 16030054,67 EUR
production of vegetables and fruit,
2007 15909792,32 EUR
production of potatoes (except starch potatoes and potatoes used for the production of alcohol),
2008 15880813,22 EUR
production and cultivation of garden produce,
Således blev følgende afgifter i 2003 på et samlet beløb af 13529199,62 EUR inddrevet:
cultivation of vineyards,
Mælk
first commercialisation of wine.
Voksent kvæg
The maximum amount of the contributions is also established in the AMA Act (§ 21d).
Svin
The concrete level of the contributions is established through a regulation of the administrative board of AMA (Verordnung des Verwaltungsrates).
Kalve
By letter of 14 September 2012, the Austrian authorities communicated the following amounts of the levies collected in the period 1995-2008 [18]:
Får og lam
1995 EUR 13833026,19
Slagtefjerkræ
1996 EUR 15260738,33
Æglæggende høner
1997 EUR 14340815,84
Frugt
1998 EUR 15473675,13
Grøntsager
1999 EUR 15260405,37
Kartofler
2000 EUR 15419046,38
Havebrugsprodukter
2001 EUR 15228252,40