natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Tilsynsmyndigheden har allerede accepteret denne minimumskapacitetsreserve som en del af en klart defineret tjeneste af almindelig økonomisk interesse til trods for den lave gennemsnitlige kapacitetsudnyttelse for den offentlige tjeneste (se afdeling 1.2.1 ovenfor).
If there is spare PSO capacity, the HA, which is a net contract, does not unjustifiably prohibit Hurtigruten from selling tickets to cruise passengers, as long as the public service is not jeopardised.
Desuden blev det taget i betragtning, at inden for rammerne af en sådan tjenesteydelse af almindelig økonomisk interesse er regionale og sæsonmæssige udsving uundgåelige, og som følge heraf er det også uundgåeligt, at en betydelig del af omkostningsgrundlaget, som mest omfatter faste omkostninger, vil blive fordelt til PSO-regnskabet.
It is also acknowledged and accepted as part of the SGEI definition, that the capacity utilisation can, by the nature of the service in question, have substantial regional and seasonal variations with the inevitable result of the vessels, in particular in off-peak periods, having free capacity within the minimum requirements set in the HA.
Det skal desuden understreges, at Hurtigrutens regnskabssystem, som illustreret ovenfor i betragtning 138, 139, 144 og 145, gør det muligt at identificere de forskellige omkostninger og indtægter for forpligtelsen til offentlig tjeneste og de kommercielle aktiviteter.
The Norwegian authorities have submitted and documented that Hurtigruten has a fairly low utilisation of the ship capacity ([…] %).
Dette sker på en objektiv og gennemskuelig måde ved at fastsætte parametrene for kompensationen på forhånd i særskilte regnskaber, og således sondre mellem de forskellige omkostningskategorier, så den endelige kompensation kun afspejler de omkostninger og indtægter, der stammer fra PSO-aktiviteten.
Therefore, in the vast majority of cases there is free PSO capacity that could potentially be sold to commercial passengers, if needed (see above under section 5.3, first BDO report 2016).
På baggrund af ovenstående konkluderer Tilsynsmyndigheden, at fordelingen af omkostningerne, i lyset af definitionen af en tjenesteydelse af almindelig økonomisk interesse, synes at være acceptabel, og at der ikke er tilstrækkelige beviser for, at der er begået en åbenbar fejl i fordelingen af de faste fælles omkostninger med en deraf følgende mulighed for krydssubsidiering af de kommercielle aktiviteter.
However, as explained by the Norwegian authorities, the implication of the capacity reserve is that Hurtigruten does not have the opportunity to optimise its operations and maximise its profits, for example by redeploying vessels elsewhere during off-peak periods.
Rimelig fortjeneste
It is also submitted that only in rare cases have PSO passengers not been able to get a ticket within the minimum capacity reserve.
Tilsynsmyndigheden skal vurdere, om forrentningen af kapitalen er i overensstemmelse med »(…) den forrentning af kapitalen i hele overdragelsesaktens gyldighedsperiode, som en gennemsnitsvirksomhed betinger sig, hvis den skal udføre en tjenesteydelse af almindelig økonomisk interesse, under hensyntagen til virksomhedens risiko (…)« (punkt 33 i rammebestemmelserne).
Nevertheless, according to the Norwegian authorities, this has been compensated by the use of the travel guarantee.
I beslutningen om at indlede proceduren gav Tilsynsmyndigheden udtryk for tvivl med hensyn til den metode, de norske myndigheder anvendte til at beregne, at Hurtigrutens avance fra HA repræsenterede […] %.
Although the use of the travel guarantee for PSO passengers that have not been able to get a ticket within the minimum capacity reserve does not fully satisfy the requirements of the PSO assigned, this cannot be held to have led to any overcompensation above the reasonable profit level.
I punkt 37 i rammebestemmelserne hedder det, at »hvis det er forbundet med en betydelig forretningsmæssig eller kontraktlig risiko at udføre en tjenesteydelse af almindelig økonomisk interesse, eksempelvis fordi kompensationen har form af et fast beløb, der skal dække de forventede nettoomkostninger og en rimelig fortjeneste, og virksomheden opererer på et konkurrencepræget marked, må den rimelige fortjeneste ikke overstige et niveau svarende til en forrentning af kapitalen, der står i forhold til risikoen.
Concerning the second point, the Authority stresses that in assessing whether the current HA leads to overcompensation, it shall take into account all the costs necessary to operate the specific public service as well as the entire revenue earned.
Denne forrentning bør så vidt muligt beregnes ud fra forrentningen af kapitalen i forbindelse med lignende former for kontrakter om offentlig tjeneste på konkurrencevilkår (f.eks. kontrakter, der tildeles ved offentligt udbud).
This assessment is carried out irrespective of compensatory payments made during previous contract periods.
Når det ikke er muligt at anvende denne metode, kan der, hvis det kan begrundes, anvendes andre metoder til beregning af forrentningen af kapitalen«.
As highlighted above under paragraphs (136) to (151), the entrustment act, that is to say the HA, describes in detail the parameters of compensation, as well as the account separation methodology, with separate allocation keys for the different cost categories, distinguishing between costs and revenues of the SGEI and the commercial activities, which result in a net compensatory amount before taxes.
I løbet af undersøgelsen fremsendte de norske myndigheder yderligere oplysninger om de finansielle evalueringer, der blev udført før offentliggørelsen af indkaldelsen af bud, og disse evalueringer indeholdt skøn over forventede indtægter og omkostninger samt fremskrivninger af forrentning af kapitalen.
Therefore, the Authority concludes that the substantial increase in the compensation compared to the previous contract period does not, in and of itself, imply overcompensation, if all relevant costs and revenues are taken into account, save for possible cross-subsidisation or excessive profit, which the Authority assesses below under sections 4.2.4.2 and 4.2.4.3.
De norske myndigheder har gjort gældende, at en EBT på […] % ikke udgør en forrentning, men er restresultatet af den aftalte kompensation i forhold til de budgetterede omkostninger og indtægter, og er derved ikke en passende målestok for rimelig fortjeneste.
In relation to the argument that Hurtigruten continues receiving compensation for services that are not rendered, the Authority does no longer consider that there is a risk of overcompensation.
Ifølge disse forudgående evalueringer foretaget af BDO (se ovenfor under afdeling 5.4), blev forrentningen præsenteret som WACC efter skat og forventedes at ligge inden for et interval (men i den øvre del) på […]-[…] %.
It thus accepts the Norwegian submissions mentioned above under paragraphs (51) to (54).
Disse resultater blev derefter anvendt til at evaluere Hurtigrutens bud og tilskyndede de norske myndigheder at indlede forhandlinger med selskabet, hvilket resulterede i en nedsættelse af kompensationen.
Concerning the last point on Hurtigruten's attempts to negotiate lower port fees whilst the Norwegian authorities maintain the compensation at the same level, it must be stressed that in net contracts like this, where the operator carries the risk of costs and revenues over the entire contract period, the Authority is confined to assess whether there is any overcompensation above the level of a reasonable profit (see below section 4.2.4.3).
Den aftalte kompensation blev anset for at medføre en ROCE på ca. […] % på grundlag af Hurtigrutens anslåede omkostninger og indtægter, som beskrevet i buddet.
Possible cross-subsidisation of commercial activities
Dette tal er revideret og dokumenteret ved den anden BDO-rapport i 2016, hvor det blev fastslået, at det på forhånd anslåede afkast på […] % lå inden for rammerne af de relevante benchmarks, og at den faktiske gennemsnitlige ROCE på PSO-kontrakten for perioden 2012-2015 er […] % (se ovenfor i betragtning 73 og 74).
When an entity carries out both SGEI and commercial activities, a cost-accounting system should be in place to ensure that the commercial activities of Hurtigruten are not subsidised through the public service compensation allocated to its SGEI activities.
I lyset af ovenstående (dvs. forhåndsanalysen af ROCE i forhold til WACC, anvendelse af en passende diskonteringssats og benchmarking i forhold til andre krydstogtoperatører) betragter Tilsynsmyndigheden den forventede fortjeneste, som er aftalt på forhånd, som en rimelig fortjeneste af denne type aktivitet, bl.a. under hensyntagen til risiciene (f.eks. store faste omkostninger, lav indkomst, yderligere omkostninger forbundet med eventuelle produktionsafvigelser osv.).
Under paragraph 31 of the Framework ‘[w]here the undertaking also carries out activities falling outside the scope of the SGEI, the costs to be taken into consideration may cover all the direct costs necessary to discharge the public service obligations and an appropriate contribution to the indirect costs common to both the SGEI and other activities.
Endvidere var den forudsete avance resultatet af en offentlig udbudsproces (herunder forhandlinger), der, selv om den ikke tillod udvælgelse af en aktør, som kunne levere søtransporttjenesten til de laveste omkostninger for samfundet, omfattede visse sikringer mod overkompensation for udførelsen af forpligtelserne til offentlig tjeneste.
The costs linked to any activities outside the scope of the SGEI must include all the direct costs and an appropriate contribution to the common costs.’
Yderligere krav, som kan være nødvendige, for at udviklingen af samhandelen ikke påvirkes i et sådant omfang, at det strider mod EØS' interesse
Further, the Court of Justice in the BUPA judgment, in reference to the necessity and proportionality of the compensation, stated that ‘[…] [g]iven the discretion enjoyed by a Member State in defining an SGEI mission and the conditions of its implementation, including the assessment of the additional costs incurred in discharging the mission, which depends on complex economic facts, the scope of the control which the Commission is entitled to exercise in that regard is limited to one of manifest error […]’ and that ‘[…] the Commission's review […] is necessarily limited to ascertaining whether, first, the system in question is founded on economic and factual premises, which are manifestly erroneous and whether second, the system is manifestly inappropriate for achieving the objectives pursued’.
Det bemærkes endvidere, at kompensationen i henhold til HA ikke tillader operatøren at krydssubsidiere sine kommercielle aktiviteter ved f.eks. en åbenbart uforholdsmæssig fordeling af de faste fælles omkostninger, ligesom den heller ikke giver operatøren mulighed for at gøre dette ved at opnå en urimelig fortjeneste.
It was mentioned above in paragraph (94) that around 60 % of Hurtigruten's share of fixed capacity costs is covered by the public service compensation, whereas only approximately 30 % of the variable passenger costs had been allocated to the PSO account (based on estimated PSO passenger kilometres figures).
I stedet dækker HA kun omkostningerne til den offentlige tjeneste, herunder en rimelig fortjeneste.
The question therefore for the Authority to assess is whether the system under which the reserve capacity for PSO passengers (i.e. 320 passengers) leads to the allocation of 60 % of fixed capacity costs to the PSO account, is considered disproportionate and inappropriate for achieving the objectives pursued.
Tilsynsmyndigheden finder det derfor ikke nødvendigt at pålægge yderligere betingelser for at sikre, at HA er forenelig med EØS-aftalen, men opfordrer de norske myndigheder til at overveje deres anbefaling i betragtning 113.
The Norwegian authorities have implemented an allocation methodology based on a distribution formula for the different cost categories as explained in paragraphs (64) and (65) above.
I lyset af ovenstående finder Tilsynsmyndigheden, at den kompensation, som Hurtigruten har modtaget i henhold til HA, udgør forenelig støtte i henhold til EØS-aftalens artikel 59, stk. 2 —
The Authority has already accepted this minimum capacity reserve as being part of a clearly defined SGEI, despite the low average capacity utilisation of the public service (see above under section 1.2.1).
VEDTAGET FØLGENDE BESLUTNING:
In addition, it has been considered that within the remit of such an SGEI, regional and seasonal fluctuations are inevitable, and as a result, it is also inevitable that a significant part of the cost base, which largely comprises fixed costs, would be allocated to the PSO account.
Artikel 1
It must moreover be underlined that the accounting system implemented by Hurtigruten, as illustrated above in paragraphs (138), (139), (144) and (145), allows to identify the different costs and revenues for the PSO and the commercial activities.
Den kompensation, der udbetales i medfør af HA, udgør statsstøtte i henhold til EØS-aftalens artikel 61, stk. 1.
This is done in an objective and transparent manner by establishing the parameters of the compensation beforehand in separate accounts distinguishing thus between the different cost categories in order for the final compensation to reflect only the costs and revenues stemming from the PSO activity.
Støtten blev tildelt i strid med anmeldelsespligten i henhold til artikel 1, stk. 3, i del I i protokol 3.
In view of the above, the Authority concludes that the cost allocation seems, in light of the SGEI definition, acceptable and that there is insufficient evidence suggesting that the allocation of fixed common costs is manifestly erroneous allowing for cross-subsidisation of the commercial activities.
Artikel 2
Reasonable profit
Støtten i medfør af HA anses for at være forenelig på grundlag af EØS-aftalens artikel 59, stk. 2.
The Authority must assess whether the rate of return on capital is in line with ‘[…] what would be required by a typical company considering whether or not to provide the service for the whole duration of the entrustment act, taking into account the level of the risk […]’ (paragraph 33 of the Framework).
Artikel 3
In its opening decision, the Authority expressed doubts concerning the methodology used by the Norwegian authorities to calculate that Hurtigruten's profit margin from the HA represented […] %.
Denne afgørelse er rettet til Kongeriget Norge.
According to paragraph 37 of the Framework, ‘[w]here the provision of the SGEI is connected with a substantial or contractual risk, for instance because the compensation takes the form of a fixed lump sum payment covering expected net costs and a reasonable profit and the undertaking operates in a competitive environment, the reasonable profit may not exceed the level that corresponds to a rate of return on capital that is commensurate with the level of risk.
Artikel 4
That rate should be determined where possible by reference to the rate of return on capital that is achieved on similar types of public service contracts awarded under competitive conditions (for example, contracts awarded under a tender).
Kun den engelske udgave af beslutningen er autentisk.
Where it is not possible to apply that method, other methods for establishing a return on capital may also be used, upon justification’.
Udfærdiget i Bruxelles, den 29. marts 2017.
In the course of the investigation, the Norwegian authorities submitted more information on the financial evaluations carried out before the tender invitation was published, describing the estimates on expected costs and revenues, as well as projections for a rate of return on capital.
På EFTA-Tilsynsmyndighedens vegne
They submitted that the […] % EBT figure does not represent a rate of return but is the residual result of the agreed compensation in relation to the budgeted costs and revenues and not appropriate to use as a measure for reasonable profit.
Formand
According to these ex ante evaluations performed by BDO (see above under section 5.4), the rate of return was presented as a WACC after tax and was expected to be within an interval (but in the upper part) of […] % to […] %.
Medlem af kollegiet
These results were thereafter used to evaluate Hurtigruten's bid and prompted the Norwegian authorities to enter into negotiations with the company, which resulted in a reduction of the compensation.
EUT C 236 af 30.6.2016, s. 29, og EØS-tillæg nr. 36 af 30.6.2016, s. 14.
The agreed compensation was considered to produce a ROCE of around […] %, based on Hurtigruten's estimated costs and revenues, as presented in the tender.
Dokument nr. 793209.
This figure has been reviewed and substantiated by the second BDO report of 2016, which found that the ex ante estimated return of […] % was within the range of the relevant benchmarks and that that the actual average ROCE on the PSO contract from 2012-2015 is […] % (see above paragraphs (73) and (74)).
Dokument nr. 798816.
In light of the above (i.e. the ex ante analysis of ROCE by comparing it with the WACC, the use of an appropriate discount rate and the benchmarking analysis with other cruise operators), the Authority regards the expected profit agreed ex ante as a reasonable level for this type of activity, considering, inter alia, the risks involved (e.g. large fixed cost base, low income, additional costs from potential production deviations etc.).
EUT L 175 af 5.7.2012, s. 19, og EØS-tillæg nr. 37 af 5.7.2012, s. 1.
Additional requirements which may be necessary to ensure that the development of trade is not affected to an extent contrary to the interests of the EEA
Jf. også forenede sager E-10/11 og E-11/11, Hurtigruten [2012] EFTA Ct.
The Authority takes note of the fact that the Norwegian authorities organised a tender process for the selection of the service provider to operate the Bergen – Kirkenes coastal route for the period 2012-2019.
Rep. 758, som stadfæster Tilsynsmyndighedens beslutning.
Although the tender produced only one bid, there is no indication that this process has resulted in any distortions of competition in the maritime transport sector, neither has the Authority received any such allegations from relevant competitors.
Jf. www.doffin.no.
It is further observed that the compensation for the HA does not allow the operator to cross-subsidise its commercial activities through, for example, a manifestly disproportionate allocation of the fixed common costs, nor does it allow the operator to do so by obtaining an excessive profit.
Hvis Statistisk sentralbyrås omkostningsindeks ikke er tilgængeligt, anvendes Statistisk sentralbyrås forbrugerprisindeks.
Instead, the HA only covers the costs of the public service including a reasonable profit.
Som nævnt i Tilsynsmyndighedens beslutning nr. 205/11/KOL om tillægsaftalen om Hurtigruten (EUT L 175 af 5.7.2012, s. 19, og EØS-tillæg nr. 37 af 5.7.2012, s. 1), punkt I.2: »Ud over den ydelse, der er omfattet af Hurtigruten-aftalen, er Hurtigruten en kommerciel aktør og tilbyder rundrejser, udflugter og forplejning på ruten mellem Bergen og Kirkenes.
The Authority therefore does not find it required to impose additional conditions to ensure compatibility of the HA with the EEA Agreement but, nevertheless, invites the Norwegian authorities to consider its recommendation indicated in paragraph (113).
I forbindelse med denne rute tilbyder Hurtigruten også transportydelser på Geirangerfjorden, som ligger uden for Hurtigruten-aftalens anvendelsesområde.
CONCLUSION
Endvidere gennemfører Hurtigruten en række forskellige krydstogter i forskellige europæiske stater, Rusland, Antarktis, Spitsbergen og Grønland«.
In the light of the above, the Authority considers that the compensation received by Hurtigruten under the HA constitutes compatible aid under Article 59(2) of the EEA Agreement,
Dokument nr. 748323 og 715314.
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Klagerne gør opmærksom på, at i indkaldelsen af bud for kontraktperioden 2005-2012 blev force majeure som følge af ekstreme vejrforhold defineret som vindhastigheder på over 25 m/s (fuld storm).
Article 1
Imidlertid defineres »ekstreme vejrforhold« i den nuværende HA som »forhold, hvor hav- og/eller vindforholdene er sådan, at skibets fører vurderer, at det ikke er sikkert at fortsætte sejladsen og/eller anløbe en bestemt havn«.
The compensation paid under the HA constitutes State aid pursuant to Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement.
Det har ifølge klagerne resulteret i, at størstedelen af aflysningerne i perioden 2012-2013 i udvalgte havne er foregået under vindforhold på under 15 m/s.
That aid was granted in breach of the notification obligation pursuant to Article 1(3) of Part I of Protocol 3.
Dom i sagen Altmark Trans GmbH og Regierungspräsidium Magdeburg mod Nahverkehrsgesellschaft Altmark GmbH (»Altmark«) (C-280/00, EU:C:2003:415, præmis 75).
Article 2
Rådets forordning (EØF) nr. 3577/92 af 7. december 1992 om anvendelse af princippet om fri udveksling af tjenesteydelser inden for søtransport i medlemsstaterne (cabotagesejlads) (EUT L 364 af 12.12.1992, s. 7), indarbejdet i EØS-aftalen ved afgørelse nr. 70/97 truffet af Det Blandede EØS-Udvalg (EUT L 30 af 5.2.1998, s. 42, og EØS-tillæg nr. 5 af 5.2.1998, s. 175).
The compensation granted under the HA is considered compatible on the basis of Article 59(2) of the EEA Agreement.
Beslutningen om at indlede proceduren, betragtning 43.
Article 3
EUT L 220, 17.8.2013, s. 20, betragtning 147.
This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Norway.
Dom T-674/11, ECLI:EU:T:2015:684, præmis 103.
Article 4
Jf. dom i forenede sager E-10/11 og E-11/11, Hurtigruten [2012] EFTA Ct.
Only the English language version of this decision is authentic.
Rep. 758, præmis 122.
Done at Brussels, 29 March 2017.
SNCM, betragtning 197.
For the EFTA Surveillance Authority
Klagerne anfører, at ifølge Norsk Havneforening var omkostningsstigningen på kystruten i perioden 2009-2014 ca. 17 %.
President
Stigningen skyldes dels de almindelige prisstigninger, dels den øgede gennemsnitlige bruttotonnage af Hurtigrutens flåde, dels højere omkostninger til vedligeholdelse og udvikling af infrastruktur på grund af strengere forskrifter og standarder for infrastrukturprojekter.
For Frank J. Büchel
Statsstøttereglernes anvendelse på kompensation for tjenesteydelser af almindelig økonomisk interesse (EUT L 161 af 13.6.2013, s. 12 (bilag I) og EØS-tillæg nr. 34 af 13.6.2013, s. 1), punkt 60.
College Member
BDO-notat, »Price estimates, accounting separation and reporting«, Oslo, 22. februar 2010.
OJ C 236, 30.6.2016, p. 29 and EEA Supplement No 36, 30.6.2016, p. 14.
BDO-notat, »The Bergen-Kirkenes route — New alternatives for price estimates«, Oslo, 9. juni 2010.
Document No 793209.
I en situation, hvor en PSO-passager ikke kan få en liggeplads, kan passageren under rejsegarantien enten kræve en gratis rejse uden liggeplads, hvad angår den aktuelle rejse, eller en gratis rejse med liggeplads på den næste planlagte rejse.
Document No 798816.
Rejsegarantien blev ikke benyttet i 2014, men blev anvendt 15 gange i 2015.
Documents Nos 827472 and 833077.
Vedrørende bl.a. ændringer af passagerers reservationer, alternative transportmuligheder for passagerer og gods, udgifter til refundering, flybilletter, hoteller, taxa og leje af bus.
OJ L 175, 5.7.2012, p. 19 and EEA Supplement No 37, 5.7.2012, p. 1.
Statsstøttereglernes anvendelse på kompensation for tjenesteydelser af almindelig økonomisk interesse (EUT L 161 af 13.6.2013, s. 12 (bilag I) og EØS-tillæg nr. 34 af 13.6.2013, s. 1), punkt 67.
See also Joined Cases E-10/11 and E-11/11 Hurtigruten [2012] EFTA Ct.
I punkt 2.14 hedder det desuden: »Valget sker på grundlag af en vurdering af prisniveauet for de forskellige alternativer i forhold til forskellene i hyppighed mellem de forskellige alternativer.
Rep. 758, upholding the Authority's Decision.
Når et alternativ er valgt, vil den ordregivende myndighed vælge det tilbud, der tilbyder den laveste pris for hele kontraktperioden (i 2011-priser)«.
See www.doffin.no