natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Domstolen har ligeledes konsekvent fastslået, at en medlemsstats forpligtelse til at afskaffe en støtte, som Kommissionen har fundet uforenelig med det indre marked, har til formål at genoprette den oprindelige situation.
Regarding the effect on trade, there is no need to establish that the aid has an actual effect on trade between Member States but only whether the aid is liable to affect such trade.
Domstolen har i denne sammenhæng fastslået, at dette mål er nået, når støttemodtageren har tilbagebetalt den ulovligt ydede støtte.
In particular, the Union Courts have ruled that where State financial aid strengthens the position of an undertaking as compared with other undertakings competing in intra-Union trade, the latter must be regarded as affected by the aid.
Tilbagebetalingen sikrer, at støttemodtageren mister den fordel, der var opnået på markedet i forhold til konkurrenterne, og at situationen fra tiden før ydelsen af støtte genoprettes.
The measure in question allows the beneficiary airlines to pursue a more aggressive pricing policy, as well as to maintain or artificially increase their offering of services provided in relation to normal market conditions, and thereby to distort competition with other airlines that do not benefit from the measure.
I forlængelse af denne retspraksis er det i artikel 16, stk. 1, i forordning (EU) 2015/1589 bestemt, at Kommissionen »[i] negative afgørelser om ulovlig støtte bestemmer […], at den pågældende medlemsstat skal træffe alle nødvendige foranstaltninger til at kræve støtten tilbagebetalt fra støttemodtageren […]«.
The measure is therefore likely to strengthen the position of the beneficiary undertakings in relation to other airlines operating on the passenger air transport market within the Union.
Da de pågældende foranstaltninger er iværksat i strid med artikel 108, stk. 3, i TEUF og er uforenelige med det indre marked, skal de gøres til genstand for tilbagesøgning for at genoprette den situation, som eksisterede på markedet, inden de blev iværksat.
However, this market has been fully liberalised and open to all Union airlines as a result of Union legislation.
Tilbagesøgningen skal dække perioden fra det tidspunkt, hvor støttemodtagerne opnåede fordelen, dvs. fra det tidspunkt, hvor støtten blev udbetalt til modtagerne, og indtil den faktisk er tilbagebetalt.
It follows that, by distorting competition between airlines operating within the internal market, this measure may also distort trade between Member States.
Den støtte, der skal tilbagebetales, pålægges renter, indtil den faktisk er tilbagebetalt.
Conclusion on the existence of aid for the airlines
Ved skrivelse af 16. maj 2017 fremlagde Belgien den nødvendige dokumentation for, at luftfartsselskaberne Brussels Airlines, TUI Airlines Belgium og Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium i medfør af kongelig anordning af 15. marts 2017 havde refunderet de støttebeløb, som de havde modtaget, samt renter regnet fra den 22. december 2014, hvilket i overensstemmelse med kapitel V i forordning (EF) nr. 794/2004 og med Kommissionens forordning (EF) nr. 271/2008 om ændring af forordning (EF) nr. 794/2004 omfattede henholdsvis 16779819 EUR i støtte og 543546,30 EUR i renter, 2143621 EUR i støtte og 69438,01 EUR i renter samt 76560 EUR i støtte og 2480 i renter.
The measure at issue constitutes State aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU for the benefit of the airlines satisfying the conditions laid down in Article 2(1) of the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014.
På grundlag af denne dokumentation samt i betragtning af tilbagebetalingen af de støttebeløb, der er modtaget, og af de påløbne renter, finder Kommissionen, at støttemodtagerne har mistet den fordel, som de havde opnået på markedet i forhold til deres konkurrenter, og at konkurrencesituationen fra tiden før ydelsen af støtte er blevet genoprettet.
Legality of the aid
KONKLUSION
In the present case, the measure in question has already been implemented, as the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014 entered into force without the measure being notified to the Commission.
Kommissionen konstaterer, at Belgien ulovligt har ydet statsstøtte til luftfartsselskaber, som opfylder betingelserne i artikel 2, nr. 1, i kongelig anordning af 7. januar 2014, i strid med artikel 108, stk. 3, i TEUF.
The subsequent suspension of the Royal Decree has no impact on the illegality of the aid.
Da der ikke kan identificeres noget grundlag for forenelighed for den pågældende ordning, erklæres den for uforenelig med det indre marked.
The Commission has not identified a legal basis exempting Belgium from the obligation to notify this aid.
For så vidt som Belgien har ophævet kongelig anordning af 7. januar 2014 og tilbagesøgt støtten og de påløbne renter, er situationen fra tiden før ydelsen af denne ulovlige og uforenelige statsstøtte imidlertid blevet genoprettet.
The subsidy granted is not covered by Regulation (EC) No 800/2008, nor by Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014, Article 58(1) of which provides that ‘This Regulation shall apply to individual aid granted before its entry into force, if the aid fulfils all the conditions laid down in this Regulation, with the exception of Article 9’.
Det er derfor ikke nødvendigt at kræve foranstaltningen ophævet og den omhandlede støtte tilbagesøgt —
Moreover, it is excluded from the scope of Commission Decision 2012/21/EU, if only because the level of traffic at Brussels airport exceeds the threshold of 200000 passengers a year, established by Article 2(1)(e) of that Decision.
VEDTAGET DENNE AFGØRELSE:
The measure at issue therefore constitutes unlawful aid.
Artikel 1
Since the subsidy referred to constitutes State aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU, its compatibility with the internal market must be examined.
Det tilskud, der er ydet ved kongelig anordning af 7. januar 2014 til fordel for visse luftfartsselskaber, udgør statsstøtte som omhandlet i artikel 107, stk. 1, i traktaten om Den Europæiske Unions funktionsmåde.
Since in its view the measure did not constitute State aid, Belgium has not referred to a legal basis or reasoning on the basis of which the measure could be declared compatible with the internal market if it were to be classed as State aid.
Den i stk. 1 nævnte støtte, som Kongeriget Belgien har iværksat ulovligt i strid med artikel 108, stk. 3, i traktaten om Den Europæiske Unions funktionsmåde, er uforenelig med det indre marked.
Brussels Airlines argued that if the Commission were nevertheless to conclude that State aid existed, that aid should be regarded as compatible until at least 4 April 2014, the date of entry into force of the new aviation guidelines.
Artikel 2
Brussels Airlines refers in this respect to the Charleroi decision, in which the Commission considered that several aid measures granted by the Walloon Region were compatible with the internal market until 4 April 2014.
Denne afgørelse er rettet til Kongeriget Belgien.
However, the measures examined in the Charleroi decision, to which Brussels Airlines refers, were aid measures in favour of the Charleroi airport manager, declared partially compatible with the internal market on the basis of section 5.1.2 of the aviation guidelines, on operating aid for airports.
Udfærdiget i Bruxelles, den 18. juli 2017.
In so far as the measure at issue is aid to airlines, and not to airport managers, Brussels Airlines' argument is irrelevant.
På Kommissionens vegne
Despite Belgium failing to put forward any arguments to justify the compatibility of the aid with the internal market, the Commission has examined the compatibility of the aid with the aid of Article 107(3)(c) of the TFEU under which ‘aid to facilitate the development of certain economic activities or of certain economic areas, where such aid does not adversely affect trading conditions to an extent contrary to the common interest’ may be considered compatible with the internal market.
Medlem af Kommissionen
It does not appear that the aid can be declared compatible on any other legal basis.
EUT C 24 af 23.1.2015, s. 10.
In particular, the measure cannot be regarded as compensation which would be granted to the airlines for the operation of services of general economic interest.
Tallene i parentes viser variationen i antallet af passagerer og bevægelser i forhold til året før.
The aviation guidelines provide a general framework for assessing the compatibility of aid provided to airlines under Article 107(3)(c) TFEU.
Kongelig anordning af 27. maj 2004 om konvertering af Brussels International Airport Company til et privat aktieselskab og om lufthavnsfaciliteterne (Moniteur belge (belgisk lovtidende) af 24.6.2004, s. 51750).
With the exception of aid of a social nature, benefiting the final consumer for a given route, which clearly does not apply to the measure in question, start-up aid is the only aid to airlines which may be authorised on the basis of the aviation guidelines.
MAp Airports via Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund I og Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund III.
Pursuant to point 174 of the Aviation Guidelines, the Commission will apply to unlawful start-up aid to airlines the rules in force at the time when the aid was granted.
Særlov af 8. august 1980 om institutionelle reformer (Moniteur belge af 15.8.1980, s. 9434).
The Royal Decree was adopted on 7 January 2014, i.e. before 4 April 2014.
Kongelig anordning af 21. juni 2004 om tildeling af tilladelse til drift af Bruxelles-National lufthavn til aktieselskabet B.I.A.C.
On that date, start-up aid to airlines was governed by the Community guidelines on financing of airports and start-up aid to airlines departing from regional airports (hereinafter ‘the 2005 Guidelines’).
(Moniteur belge af 15.7.2004, s. 55640).
According to point 79(c) of the 2005 Guidelines, start-up aid should apply only to the opening of new routes or new schedules, which will lead to an increase in the net volume of passengers.
Artikel 1, nr. 12, og artikel 30, nr. 7, i kongelig anordning af 27. maj 2004.
The measure in question does not satisfy this condition since the passengers who are entitled to the refund provided for in Article 2(1) of the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014 are not necessarily passengers using new routes or routes with new schedules which will lead to an increase in the number of passengers.
Artikel 35, stk. 1, i kongelig anordning af 27. maj 2004.
Moreover, whereas point 15 of the 2005 Guidelines distinguishes four categories of airport, A, B, C and D, point 79(b) of the Guidelines requires that start-up aid be paid for routes linking a regional airport in category C or D to another EU airport, while aid for routes between national airports (category B) can be considered only in duly substantiated exceptional cases.
Svaret af 12. marts 2015 på anmodningen om oplysninger af 10. februar 2015 (svaret på spørgsmål 5 b).
Paragraph 79(b) does not provide for start-up aid to be granted for flights between a Category A airport and a Category A or B airport or an airport outside the Union.
Kongelig anordning af 7. januar 2014 om tildeling af et tilskud til Brussels Airport Company, der er indehaver af tilladelsen til drift af Bruxelles-National lufthavn, som støtte til sikkerhedsrelaterede infrastrukturer (Moniteur belge af 23.4.2014, s. 34506).
However, Brussels airport handles more than 10 million passengers a year and therefore belongs to Category A. As the measure does not include any conditions as to the airport of destination of the routes used by passengers entitling it to a reimbursement of the security charge pursuant to Article 2(1) of the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014, the condition set out in point 79(b) of those guidelines is not satisfied.
Med udtrykket »brugere af Bruxelles-National lufthavn« menes i denne sammenhæng de luftfartsselskaber, der flyver fra denne lufthavn.
The aid does not satisfy the compatibility criteria for start-up aid under the 2005 guidelines.
Svaret af 12. marts 2015 på anmodningen om oplysninger af 10. februar 2015.
In the light of the above, the aid is incompatible with the internal market.
Kongelig anordning af 15. marts 2017 om ophævelse af kongelig anordning af 7. januar 2014 om tildeling af et tilskud til Brussels Airport Company, der er indehaver af tilladelsen til drift af Bruxelles-National lufthavn, som støtte til sikkerhedsrelaterede infrastrukturer (Moniteur belge af 24.3.2017).
RECOVERY
Kommissionens forordning (EF) nr. 794/2004 af 21. april 2004 om gennemførelse af Rådets forordning (EU) 2015/1589 om fastlæggelse af regler for anvendelsen af artikel 108 i traktaten om Den Europæiske Unions funktionsmåde (EUT L 140 af 30.4.2004, s. 1).
According to the provisions of the TFEU and the Court's established case-law, the Commission is competent to decide that the Member State concerned must abolish or alter aid when it has found that it is incompatible with the internal market.
Kommissionens meddelelse om de tilbagebetalingsrenter, referencesatser og kalkulationsrenter for statsstøtte, der gælder for de 28 medlemsstater pr. 1. januar 2014 (Offentliggjort i overensstemmelse med artikel 10 i Kommissionens forordning (EF) nr. 794/2004 af 21. april 2004 (EUT L 140 af 30.4.2004, s. 1)) (EUT C 2 af 7.1.2014, s. 7).
Similarly, the Court has consistently ruled that the obligation of a Member State to withdraw aid considered by the Commission to be incompatible with the internal market is intended to restore the previous situation.
Kommissionens forordning (EF) nr. 800/2008 af 6. august 2008 om visse former for støttes forenelighed med fællesmarkedet i henhold til traktatens artikel 87 og 88 (Generel gruppefritagelsesforordning) (EUT L 214 af 9.8.2008, s. 3).
In this context, the Court has established that that 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.
Kommissionens meddelelse — Retningslinjer for statsstøtte til lufthavne og luftfartsselskaber (EUT C 99 af 4.4.2014, s. 3).
In line with the case-law, Article 16(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/1589 stated 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 (…)’.
Punkt 145 i luftfartsretningslinjerne.
Therefore, since the measures in question were implemented in breach of Article 108(3) TFEU and are incompatible with the internal market, the aid must be recovered in order to restore the existing market situation before they were granted.
Kommissionens afgørelse (EU) 2016/2069 af 1. oktober 2014 om de foranstaltninger SA.14093 (C 76/2002), som Belgien har iværksat til fordel for Brussels South Charleroi Airport og Ryanair (EUT L 325 af 30.11.2016, s. 63).
The recovery must cover the period from the moment the advantage was granted to the beneficiaries, i.e. from the moment the aid was made available to the beneficiaries until it was actually recovered.
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).
The sums to be recovered must therefore attract interest until the moment they are actually recovered.
Rådets forordning (EU) 2015/1589 af 13. juli 2015 om fastlæggelse af regler for anvendelsen af artikel 108 i traktaten om Den Europæiske Unions funktionsmåde (EUT L 248 af 24.9.2015, s. 9).
By letter of 20 March 2017, Belgium informed the Commission of the withdrawal of the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014 by Royal Decree of 15 March 2017.
Moniteur belge af 31.12.2001.
Furthermore, by letter of 16 May 2017, Belgium provided all the necessary evidence that Brussels Airlines, TUI Airlines Belgium and Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium had repaid, pursuant to the Royal Decree of 15 March 2017, the amounts of aid received and interest calculated from 22 September 2014, on a compound basis in accordance with Chapter V of Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 271/2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 794/2004, i.e. respectively EUR 16779819 of aid and EUR 543546,30 of interest, EUR 2143621 of aid and EUR 69438,01 of interest, and EUR 76560 and EUR 2480 of interest.
Navnlig i artikel 158, stk. 1, 2 og 4.
In this light, taking account of the reimbursement of the amounts of aid received and the corresponding interest, the Commission considers that the beneficiaries have lost the advantage they had enjoyed in the market in relation to their competitors, and that the competitive situation prior to the payment of the aid has been reinstated.
Konvention angående international civil luftfart, undertegnet i Chicago den 7. december 1944, UN Treaty Series, bind 15, nr. 102, artikel 15.
In the light of the above, there is no reason to require Belgium to abolish the measure or recover the incompatible aid from the beneficiaries since it has already taken that action.
Europa-Parlamentets og Rådets direktiv 2009/12/EF af 11. marts 2009 om lufthavnsafgifter (EUT L 70 af 14.3.2009, s. 11).
CONCLUSION
Se f.eks. Domstolens dom af 10. januar 2006, Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze m.fl., C-222/04, ECLI:EU:C:2006:8, præmis 129.
The Commission finds that Belgium has unlawfully implemented State aid for airlines satisfying the conditions set out in Article 2(1) of the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014, in breach of Article 108(3) TFEU.
Se Domstolens dom af 18. juni 1998, Kommissionen mod Italien, C-35/96, ECLI:EU:C:1998:303, præmis 36, dom af 23. april 1991, Höfner og Elser, C-41/90, ECLI:CU:C:1991:161, præmis 21, dom af 16. november 1995, Fédération Française des Sociétés d'Assurances mod Ministère de l'Agriculture et de la Pêche, C-244/94, ECLI:EU:C:1995:392, præmis 14, og dom af 11. december 1997, Job Centre, C-55/96, ECLI:EU:C:1997:603, præmis 21.
Since no grounds of compatibility can be identified for the scheme in question, it is found to be incompatible with the internal market.
Domstolens dom af 16. juni 1987, Kommissionen mod Italien, C-118/85, ECLI:EU:C:1987:283, præmis 7, og af 18. juni 1998, Kommissionen mod Italien, C-35/96, ECLI:EU:C:1998:303, præmis 36.
However, since Belgium has withdrawn the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014 and recovered the aid and corresponding interest, the situation prevailing before the granting of the unlawful and incompatible State aid has been re-established.
Se f.eks. Domstolens dom af 17. juli 2008, Essent Netwerk Noord, C-206/06, ECLI:EU:C:2008:413, præmis 58-74.
There is therefore no need to order the repeal of the measure or the recovery of the aid in question.
Se f.eks. Domstolens dom af 14. februar 1990, Frankrig mod Kommissionen, C-301/87, ECLI:EU:C:1990:67, præmis 41.
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Domstolens dom af 2. juli 1974, Italien mod Kommissionen, 173/73, ECLI:EU:C:1974:71, præmis 27.
Article 1
Udtrykket »statslig indgriben« dækker ikke alene over positive handlinger fra statens siden, men også over, at offentlige myndigheder under visse omstændigheder undlader at handle, f.eks. undlader at inddrive gæld.
The subsidy granted by the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014 to certain airlines constitutes State aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Se f.eks. Domstolens dom af 12. oktober 2000, Magefesa, C-480/98, ECLI:EU:C:2000:559, præmis 19 og 20.
This State aid granted unlawfully by the Kingdom of Belgium, in breach of Article 108(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, is incompatible with the internal market.
Domstolens dom af 2. juli 1974, Italien mod Kommissionen, 173/73, ECLI:EU:C:1974:71, præmis 13.
Article 2
Kommissionens beslutning 2004/339/EF af 15. oktober 2003 om Italiens støtteforanstaltninger til fordel for RAI SpA (EUT L 119 af 23.4.2004, s. 1), betragtning 69; generaladvokat Fennellys forslag til afgørelse af 26. november 1998, Frankrig mod Kommissionen, C-251/97, ECLI:EU:C:1998:572, punkt 26.
This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Belgium.
Domstolens dom af 24. juli 2003, Trans GmbH og Regierungspräsidium Magdeburg mod Nahverkehrsgesellschaft Altmark GmbH, C-280/00, ECLI:EU:C:2003:415, præmis 87-93.
Done at Brussels, 18 July 2017.
Domstolens dom af 21. december 2016, Kommissionen mod Hansestadt Lübeck, C-524/14 P, ECLI:EU:C:2016:971.
For the Commission
Domstolens dom af 21. december 2016, Kommissionen mod Hansestadt Lübeck, C-524/14 P, ECLI:EU:C:2016:971, præmis 62.
Member of the Commission
Belgiens argumenter findes primært i medlemsstatens svar af 2. april 2014 på anmodningen om oplysninger af 11. februar 2014, dens bemærkninger til åbningsafgørelsen og dens svar af 12. marts 2015 på anmodningen om oplysninger af 10. februar 2015.
OJ C 24, 23.1.2015, p. 10.
Belgiens bemærkninger til åbningsafgørelsen (brev af 15. januar 2015).
See footnote 1.
Bilag 2 til svaret af 2. april 2014 på anmodningen om oplysninger af 11. februar 2014.
The figures in brackets represent the change in the number of passengers or movements compared with the previous year.
Svaret af 2. april 2014 på spørgsmål 14 i anmodningen om oplysninger af 11. februar 2014.
The Royal Decree of 27 May 2004 on the transformation of Brussels International Airport Company into a private limited-liability company and on airport facilities (Belgian Official Gazette of 24 June 2004, p. 51750).
Jf. betragtning 3 i kongelig anordning af 7. januar 2014, hvori dette mål er anført.
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan.
Belgiens svar af 12. marts 2015 på spørgsmål 2 i anmodningen om oplysninger af 10. februar 2015.
MAp Airports via Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund I and Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund III.
Svaret af 2. april 2014 på anmodningen om oplysninger af 11. februar 2014 og svaret af 12. marts 2015 på anmodningen om oplysninger af 10. februar 2015.
Special Law of 8 August 1980 on institutional reform (Belgian Official Gazette, 15 August 1980, p. 9434).
Svaret af 14. marts 2015 på anmodningen om oplysninger af 10. februar 2015.
Royal Decree of 21 June 2004 granting the operating licence for Brussels airport to the limited-liability company BIAC (Belgian Official Gazette, 15 July 2004, p. 55640).
Rettens dom af 30. april 1998, Het Vlaamse Gewest mod Kommissionen, T-214/95, ECLI:EU:T:1998:77, præmis 46 og 49-53.
Article 1(12) and Article 30(7) of the Royal Decree of 27 May 2004.
Domstolens dom af 14. januar 2015, Eventech mod Parking Adjudicator, C-518/13, ECLI:EU:C:2015:9, præmis 65, og Domstolens dom af 8. maj 2013, Libert m.fl., C-197/11 og C-203/11, ECLI:EU:C:2013:288, præmis 76.
Article 35(1) of the Royal Decree of 27 May 2004.
Domstolens dom af 14. januar 2015, Eventech mod Parking Adjudicator, C-518/13, ECLI:EU:C:2015:9, præmis 66, Domstolens dom af 8. maj 2013, Libert m.fl., C-197/11 og C-203/11, ECLI:EU:C:2013:288, præmis 77, og Rettens dom af 4. april 2001, Friulia Venezia Giulia, T-288/97, ECLI:EU:T:2001:115, præmis 41.
Response of 12 March 2015 to Request for Information of 10 February 2015 (reply to question 5(b)).
Kommissionens forordning (EU) nr. 651/2014 af 17. juni 2014 om visse kategorier af støttes forenelighed med det indre marked i henhold til traktatens artikel 107 og 108 (EUT L 187 af 26.6.2014, s. 1).
Royal Decree of 7 January 2014 granting a subsidy to Brussels Airport Company, holder of the operating licence for Brussels airport, to support security-related infrastructure (Belgian Official Gazette, 23 April 2014, p. 34506).
Kommissionens afgørelse 2012/21/EU af 20. december 2011 om anvendelse af bestemmelserne i artikel 106, stk. 2, i traktaten om Den Europæiske Unions funktionsmåde på statsstøtte i form af kompensation for offentlig tjeneste ydet til visse virksomheder, der har fået overdraget at udføre tjenesteydelser af almindelig økonomisk interesse (EUT L 7 af 11.1.2012, s. 3).
In this context, the term ‘users of Brussels airport’ means the airlines operating flights departing from that airport.
EUT C 312 af 9.12.2005, s. 1.
Response of 12 March 2015 to the request for information of 10 February 2015.