natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Foranstaltningen involverer ikke en overførsel af nye offentlige midler og udgør derfor ikke statsstøtte.
As long as the compensation did not exceed the costs incurred in the operation of the service, State aid was not involved.
Foranstaltningen bør anses for at være i overensstemmelse med MEIP under forudsætning af, at den baseres på en driftsplan, der er defineret på forhånd, og som sigter mod at optimere provenuet fra salget af en virksomhed med pålidelige levedygtighedsudsigter.
In this sense, RAS recalls that Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council explicitly lays down that national authorities may entrust an internal operator/department with the provision of transport services, without tendering of a public service contract.
Endelig fremhæver RAS, at private redere, navnlig GNV og Moby, har haft fordel af kapitalforhøjelserne for at kompensere for driftstabene.
Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council equally foresees the possibility for public authorities to take ‘emergency measures in case of interruption of the services or risk of interruption of the services’, which can take the form of the ‘direct award of a public service contract or the commonly agreed prolongation of a public service contract’.
Nogle af disse aktiviteter har antagelig fundet sted samtidig med den foranstaltning, der blev truffet af RAS til fordel for Saremar.
According to RAS, this view was confirmed by the Commission in the framework of the infringement procedure concerning non-observance by Italy of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 of 7 December 1992 applying the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime transport within Member States (maritime cabotage) (hereinafter the Maritime Cabotage Regulation), in which context the Commission stated that ‘were the regions to operate the service in-house within the meaning of the ANAV case law (C-410/04) with the observance of all relevant requirements, the Maritime Cabotage Regulation would be considered complied with’.
BEMÆRKNINGER FRA INTERESSEREDE PARTER
RAS underlines that the selection of the routes to be operated by Saremar was made on the basis of a feasibility study which took due account of the need to guarantee territorial continuity and ensure economic viability of the activity.
Moby hævder, at Saremar kun kunne drive de to forbindelser til fastlandet til priser, der lå under omkostningerne i 2011 og 2012, på grund af den statsstøtte, som RAS havde ydet.
As recalled by subsequent Decisions 25/69/EC and 27/4/EC, it was on the basis of this study and the market information gathered by Saremar that the Civitavecchia — Golfo Aranci and Vado Ligure — Porto Torres routes have been activated for the high season, namely from 15 June to 15 September 2011 and from 22 June to 15 September 2012 respectively.
Moby bemærker, at som et resultat af de usædvanligt lave priser, som Saremar opkrævede, er markedets struktur blevet ændret væsentligt.
RAS also recalls that the operation of the Genova — Porto Torres and Civitavecchia — Olbia routes in the summer season falls outside the scope of the new Convention concluded by the Italian State with CIN and is therefore not subject to PSOs to guarantee affordability of the services.
Private redere, som var aktive på de pågældende ruter indtil 2011, f.eks. GNV eller Forship (Sardinia Ferries), havde intet andet alternativ end at forlade markedet.
At any rate, that new Convention allows for the revision of the prices to account for increases in costs (in particular bunker costs), and would not therefore guarantee the affordability of the services to Sardinian residents.
Ifølge Moby kunne foranstaltningen ikke begrundes i hensynet til almenhedens interesser af som minimum to årsager.
According to RAS, trial operation of the two routes to the mainland was definitely terminated in September 2012.
For det første blev der af Italien taget hensyn til enhver lovlig interesse i offentlige tjenesteydelser ved indgåelsen af den nye aftale med CIN den 18. juli 2012, som omfattede opfyldelsen af PSO'er på ruterne mellem Sardinien og det italienske fastland.
RAS then elaborated a structured project for operation of links to the mainland, which was pre-notified to the Commission, namely the Flotta Sarda project.
Den nye aftale fastsatte PSO'er vedrørende driften af ruterne Genova-Porto Torres og Civitavecchia-Olbia i lavsæsonen (året rundt, undtagen perioden juni til september) med som minimum daglig sejlfrekvens.
A new company, Flotta Sarda S.p.A.
For det andet er der ikke nogen ægte iboende interesse i foranstaltningen for så vidt angår offentlige tjenesteydelser, da de to pågældende ruter har kommerciel karakter.
(Flotta Sarda), entirely held and financed by RAS, will be set up, to be entrusted with the provision under a public service regime of maritime transport services on four routes connecting Sardinia to mainland Italy.
Ruterne har ikke kun været drevet af Saremar i lavsæsonen, men også i højsæsonen 2011 og 2012, hvor der var flere andre rederier til stede på markedet.
Flotta Sarda will receive annual compensation to cover public service costs.
Det var præcis på grund af de pågældende ruters kommercielle karakter i sommersæsonen, at de er blevet udelukket fra anvendelsesområdet for den nye aftale.
The fact that the Regional Decisions instructing Saremar to start operation of the routes in question do not provide for its right to compensation does not affect observance of the second Altmark criterion.
Derudover definerer overdragelsesakterne ikke udtrykkeligt de pågældende tjenesteydelser som SGEI'er og giver ikke rederiet ret til kompensation.
Public authorities need not define ex-ante the precise amount of compensation to be granted for the operation of public services.
Desuden havde RAS overdraget leveringen af disse tjenesteydelser direkte til Saremar uden en forudgående udbudsprocedure.
Rather, it is sufficient that they identify beforehand the means of calculation of eligible costs, to the extent that these costs are directly attributable to the discharge of the SGEIs.
Moby konkluderer, at kompensationen ikke var berettiget og under alle omstændigheder ikke står i forhold til de tab, som Saremar har lidt ved leveringen af tjenesteydelserne.
Indeed, in the present case, when RAS decided to instruct Saremar to set up connections to the mainland, it had considered that the operation of such services would not result in losses.
Derudover kan den øjeblikkelige forudbetaling på 80 % ikke anses for at være normal forretningspraksis.
RAS points out that since the operation of the services in question was subject to separate accounting, the net costs incurred in the provision of the public service, could be easily identified.
Moby bemærker desuden, at det på baggrund af Saremars balance for 2011 kan konstateres, at der ud over beløbet på 3 mio. EUR af agenturet blev ydet et beløb på 1157000 EUR (ekskl. moms) til Saremar som refusion for et beløb, som Saremar angiveligt havde udredt som led i kampagnen »Sommer 2011 — Flotta Sarda« (se betragtning 80).
Saremar operated the public services in question under separate accounting.
Moby hævder, at dette beløb også vil udgøre statsstøtte til Saremar.
RAS takes the view that this is sufficient to ensure that the public resources were used only to compensate the operator for the deficit registered.
Endelig havde agenturet ikke tidligere gennemført en udbudsprocedure for tildeling af en kontrakt vedrørende salgsfremmende tjenesteydelser.
In RAS's view, Saremar was therefore not overcompensated.
For så vidt angår den anden støtteerklæring (se betragtning 87) minder Moby om, at RAS ved beslutning 52/119 bekræftede, at det var nødvendigt med et øjeblikkeligt lån fra MPS-banken for at starte tjenesten på ruten Civitavecchia-Olbia, og at banken havde anmodet om en garanti fra RAS.
RAS defends that the fourth Altmark condition is fulfilled given that the vessels employed on the routes had been leased following a market consultation and bunker costs observe market rates.
Moby støtter Kommissionens foreløbige vurdering af rekapitaliseringen fuldt ud.
ISSUES REGARDING COMPATIBILITY
Moby bemærker, at en privat investor ikke ville have foretaget den samme investering i betragtning af virksomhedens vanskelige finansielle situation og manglen på forudsigelige udsigter for genoprettelse af rentabiliteten.
RAS submits that Saremar's qualification as internal operator precludes application of the non-discrimination condition laid down by the Maritime Cabotage Regulation and the award of the public service to Saremar does not therefore infringe the 2005 nor the 2011 SGEI Decisions.
Rekapitaliseringen gjorde det også meget nemmere for Saremar at få adgang til MPS-bankens lån og har derfor virkninger, som svarer til en garantis, og giver således Saremar en økonomisk fordel.
RAS explains that the measure had been defined in all its essential elements already in April 2011.
ANDRE FORANSTALTNINGER
Any aid put into effect before the entry into force of the 2011 SGEI Decision should be assessed on the basis of the 2005 SGEI Decision.
Moby henviser også til et yderligere beløb på 4 mio. EUR, der blev ydet af RAS til Saremar i oktober 2011.
RAS assumes that the compatibility conditions laid down therein are complied with.
Beløbet var angiveligt et supplement til den ydede statsstøtte som følge af stigningen i driftsomkostningerne på ruterne til de mindre øer og Korsika, som Saremar drev under den oprindelige aftale, som forlænget.
In particular:
Moby fremfører, at denne foranstaltning udgør yderligere støtte til Saremar, som ikke var blevet anmeldt til Kommissionen på forhånd.
the service was entrusted to Saremar on the basis of transparent, non-discriminatory conditions within the meaning of the Maritime Cabotage Regulation;
Moby mener, at samtlige undersøgte foranstaltninger udgør ulovlig og uforenelig støtte til Saremar.
the ceilings in Article 2(1)(a) and (c) of the 2005 SGEI Decision are observed: the subsidy is below EUR 30 million and less than 300000 passengers were carried on each route;
ANDRE PARTER
the services have lawfully been qualified as SGEIs and entrusted to Saremar by means of several entrustment acts, in accordance with Article 4 thereof;
Ingen anden part har haft bemærkninger til de foranstaltninger, der er omfattet af denne afgørelse, inden for de proceduremæssige tidsfrister.
the compensation granted to Saremar for the operation of the routes to the mainland does not exceed what is necessary to cover costs incurred in the operation of the services, in line with Article 6 thereof.
Sent i undersøgelsesforløbet, den 3. juli 2013, fremsendte GNV to dokumenter til Kommissionen: i) rapporten fra en af Domstolen udpeget ekspert i forbindelse med GNV's civile sagsanlæg mod Saremar ved retten i Genova og ii) Domstolens kendelse af 11. juni 2013, som godkendte rapporten.
RAS submits that the measure would, in any event, also comply with the 2011 SGEI Decision, given that:
Tre problemstillinger af relevans for den aktuelle vurdering af statsstøtten blev undersøgt af eksperten og medtaget i rapporten: i) hvorvidt rekapitaliseringen begunstiger den forretningsdel, som drev de to forbindelser til fastlandet, ii) rekapitaliseringens overensstemmelse med MEIP og iii) markedsoverensstemmelsen af den støtte, der blev udbetalt til Saremar for salgsfremmende foranstaltninger.
the second ceiling laid down by Article 2(1)(d) thereof is observed;
Ifølge rapporten sigtede rekapitaliseringen mod at holde virksomheden flydende i lyset af en usikker forlængelse af den oprindelige aftale for de efterfølgende 12 måneder og således af adgangen til kompensationen for det følgende år.
the service was entrusted to Saremar following technical discussions with private operators.
Rapporten hviler på et dokument, der blev godkendt sammen med 2011-balancen, som minder om. at de to forbindelser til det italienske fastland leverede et driftstab på 214000 EUR i 2011, og at tildelingen af statsstøtte heller ikke var sikker på grund af usikkerheden omkring Tirrenias privatisering.
Furthermore, RAS had received numerous complaints regarding the service provided by private operators;
I rapporten hedder det videre, at Saremar havde et samlet overskud på 2523439 EUR i 2011.
the compensation takes into account the net costs the operator incurred in the operation of the service;
Dette inkluderede en fortjeneste på 2737797 EUR på de ruter, der blev drevet i henhold til aftalen med staten og et tab på 214358 EUR på ruterne til fastlandet.
transparency requirements have been observed given that the Regional Decisions on the matter were published.
Eksperten konkluderede desuden, at rekapitaliseringen ikke var i overensstemmelse med MEIP i betragtning af virksomhedens dårlige situation, hvor den havde mistet mere end en tredjedel af sin registrerede kapital og det stærkt konkurrenceprægede marked, som virksomheden opererede på, samt dens begrænsede forretningsudsigter.
Ultimately, RAS submits that the measure cannot be held to distort competition to an extent contrary to Union interest, given that it aims to ensure territorial continuity and is limited to the deficit incurred in the operation of SGEIs.
Endelig blev det konkluderet, at en privat investor højst sandsynligt ikke ville have investeret i en sådan aktivitet.
According to RAS, the subsidy for promotional activities corresponds to the services effectively rendered by Saremar and does not therefore provide any undue economic advantage to the company.
Hvad angår overensstemmelsen med markedsværdien af prisen på de salgsfremmende foranstaltninger, fastslog eksperten, at Saremar i henhold til virksomhedens 2011-balance havde modtaget 2479000 EUR som kompensation for leveringen af reklametjenesteydelser på de fartøjer, som besejler ruterne til fastlandet.
RAS holds that, when assessing the conformity of the price with market conditions, due account has to be taken of the fact that the promotional activities in question have not been limited to the 2011 high season as originally foreseen, but eventually extended to 2012.
Det fremkomne tal på 18,47 EUR i omkostning pr. passager blev anset for at være ekstremt højt i forhold til de normale omkostninger ved denne type reklame, så meget desto mere i betragtning af den kendsgerning, at reklamerne henvendte sig til ombordværende passagerer, som allerede havde valgt Sardinien som turistdestination.
The expert came to the conclusion that the market value of the promotional activities carried out by Saremar in 2011 and 2012 would range between EUR 2458168 and EUR 2609631 (VAT excluded).
Den pris, som RAS betalte, blev ikke vurderet til at afspejle markedsværdien af de salgsfremmende foranstaltninger, som Saremar gennemførte.
Hence, RAS considers that the price it paid to Saremar was justified.
GNV har også forelagt Kommissionen Saremars bemærkninger til den rapport, der blev udarbejdet i forbindelse med de nationale sager.
Market costs have been benchmarked against average advertising costs per square meter estimated based on parameters such as duration (certain discounts for the continuation of the advertising campaign in 2012 were taken into account), type of the advertising (internal or external) and location (main cities, important influx of population, mobility areas).
I sine bemærkninger understregede Saremar, at NCA allerede havde bekræftet, at dens andel af markedet for søtransportydelser, som forbinder Sardinien med det italienske fastland, var forblevet marginal og derfor ikke kunne formodes at have ændret de eksisterende markedsforhold.
RAS submits that, were the price paid to Saremar for the promotional activities to be considered excessive, the advantage conferred on the company would be limited to the difference between the price actually paid and the market value of the services.
Saremar understregede, at virksomhedens situation var alvorlig på tidspunktet for rekapitaliseringen i betragtning af den (mere end moderate) risiko for nedskæringer i statsstøtten.
Finally, RAS considers that the compatibility of any such aid would have to be assessed on the basis of Article 106(2) TFEU.
På grund af statens manglende evne til at støtte virksomheden, også i ledelsesmæssig forstand, gav virksomhedens økonomiske situation anledning til væsentlige bekymringer.
RAS asserts that the EUR 3 million credit line obtained by Saremar did not involve any regional funds.
Ifølge Saremar ville dette gøre enhver sammenligning med private redere uhensigtsmæssig.
It was granted to Saremar at market rates by BS bank, a private financial institution.
BEMÆRKNINGER FRA ITALIEN TIL DE INTERESSEREDE PARTERS BEMÆRKNINGER
However, the credit line has not been activated by Saremar, with the result that the letter of comfort of July 2011, issued in accordance with Decision 23/2/EC, expired on 30 November 2011.
Italien havde ikke nogen bemærkninger til de interesserede parters bemærkninger for så vidt angår de af RAS trufne foranstaltninger til fordel for Saremar.
Given that the letter of comfort was not linked to any financial obligation of the company, it cannot be qualified as a guarantee.
VURDERING
The second comfort letter, approved by Decision 52/119/EC, was not issued, and therefore no binding obligation in favour of Saremar was taken on by RAS.
STØTTE EFTER EUF-TRAKTATENS ARTIKEL 107, STK.
In fact, the financial transaction provided for by Decision 52/119/EC (EUR 5 million overdraft facility) has never been completed.
1
As recalled by Decision 12/15/EC, the loan contracted with the MPS bank has been requested and obtained by Saremar without being guaranteed by RAS.
I henhold til artikel 107, stk. 1, TEUF er »statsstøtte eller støtte, som ydes af en medlemsstat eller 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«.
RAS underlines that the recapitalisation bears no connection to the operation by Saremar of the two routes to mainland Italy.
Det vil sige, at den finansielle støtte bør:
The measure rather concerns the services operated by Saremar to minor islands and Corsica under the initial Convention, as prolonged.
ydes af en medlemsstat eller ved hjælp af statsmidler
The EUR 11,5 million laid down by Decision 36/6/EC corresponds to the claim filed against Tirrenia in insolvency proceedings.
begunstige visse virksomheder eller produktionen af visse varer
This amount however refers to financial operations within the Tirrenia Group dating back to before 2009.
fordreje eller true med at fordreje konkurrencevilkårene
This amount would have been therefore already authorised in 2004, when the Commission adopted its final decision on the initial Conventions up to end 2008.
påvirke samhandelen mellem medlemsstaterne.
To date the recapitalisation has only partially been carried out.
KOMPENSATION FOR DRIFTEN AF DE TO YDERLIGERE RUTER, SOM FORBINDER SARDINIEN MED FASTLANDET
By Decision of 15 June 2012, Saremar's Shareholders Assembly decided to increase capital of the company from EUR 1209010,64 to EUR 6099961, by issuing 307765 ordinary shares of a nominal value of EUR 19,82.
Statsmidler
On 11 July 2012 RAS increased Saremar's capital by only EUR 824309,6.
For at blive kvalificeret som statsstøtte skal en finansiel foranstaltning kunne tilskrives staten og ydes direkte eller indirekte ved hjælp af statsmidler.
RAS conditioned the subscription of the remaining EUR 4066640,67 to the observance of the standstill clause and notification of the operation to the Commission.
Kompensationen for Saremars drift af de to sejlruter udbetales af RAS fra det regionale budget.
RAS underlines that the recapitalisation merely served to recover funds which were, in any event, already at Saremar's disposal.
Den kan derfor tilskrives staten og ydes ved hjælp af statsmidler.
The measure does not involve a transfer of new public resources and does not therefore constitute state aid.
Den støtte, der blev ydet til Saremar for de salgsfremmende foranstaltninger, kan tilskrives staten, eftersom agenturet er 100 % ejet af RAS og har til formål at gennemføre regionale politikker med hensyn til turisme og regional udvikling.
The measure should be considered MEIP-compliant given that it is based on a business plan defined ex-ante and aims to optimise the proceeds of the sale of a company with reliable viability perspectives.
Hverken de oplysninger, som er tilgængelige for Kommissionen, eller de interesserede parters bemærkninger, der er fremsendt efter indledningen af proceduren, satte spørgsmålstegn ved, om denne foranstaltning kunne tilskrives staten.
Finally, RAS stresses that private operators, in particular GNV and Moby, have benefitted from capital increases to compensate operational losses.
Hvad angår støtteerklæringerne, fastslår Kommissionen, at de alene fastlægger RAS' forpligtelse til at meddele bankerne enhver ændring i sin aktiepost i virksomheden, suppleret af en erklæring om, at RAS i sin egenskab af aktionær vil sikre, at Saremar ledes på en konsekvent, effektiv og økonomisk måde.
Some of these operations have presumably taken place concomitantly with the measure undertaken by RAS in favour of Saremar.
Da disse støtteerklæringer ikke garanterede nogen finansiel forpligtelse i forhold til Saremar, udgjorde de ikke nogen potentiel fremtidig byrde for statslige midler.
COMMENTS FROM INTERESTED PARTIES
Alle andre foranstaltninger ydes af RAS direkte fra det regionale budget og er derfor det samme som statsmidler.
Moby submits that, as a result of the excessively low prices charged by Saremar, the structure of the market has been significantly altered.
Selektivitet
Private operators active on the routes in question until 2011, such as GNV or Forship (Sardinia Ferries), had no alternative but to exit the market.
Alle undersøgte foranstaltninger, herunder kompensationen for driften af sejlruter, ydes til én modtager og er derfor klart selektive.
According to Moby, the measure cannot be justified on public interest grounds for at least two reasons.
Økonomisk fordel
First, any lawful public service interest was taken into account by Italy when concluding on 18 July 2012 the new Convention with CIN, which included the discharge of PSOs on routes between Sardinia and mainland Italy.
Kompensation for driften af de to ruter mellem Sardinien og det italienske fastland
The new Convention laid down PSOs concerning operation of the Genova —Porto Torres and Civitavecchia – Olbia routes during the low season (year round, except for June to September) with at least a daily frequency.
I løbet af den formelle undersøgelsesprocedure fremførte RAS først, at kompensationen for driften af de to ruter var i overensstemmelse med MEIP.
That Convention also laid down a cap on fares and additional fare reductions for residents on all routes operated under a public service regime.
RAS antog derefter, at den opfyldte Altmark-kriterierne.
It imposed minimum capacity requirements, specifically identified on each of the routes in question.
I hvilket omfang kompensationen opfylder Altmark-kriterierne vurderes i betragtning 180 ff.
Second, there is no genuine public service interest inherent in the measure, as the two routes in question are commercial in nature.
MEIP finder anvendelse, når de offentlige myndigheder optræder i rollen som aktionærer (dvs. i første instans med det formål at opnå en fortjeneste ved driften), mens Altmark er relevant, når de offentlige myndigheder forfølger mål af almen interesse, hvilket ikke er typisk for en privat investor (dvs. udsigten til at opnå en fortjeneste har sekundær betydning, hvis en sådan findes).
The routes have been operated by Saremar not only in the low season, but also in the 2011 and 2012 high seasons, when several other operators were present on the market.
De argumenter, som RAS fremfører for at begrunde kompensationen for driften af de to ruter mellem Sardinien og fastlandet, synes derfor at være indbyrdes modstridende.
It was precisely on account of the commercial character of the routes in question in the summer season that they have been excluded from the scope of the new Convention.