natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Desuden har de islandske myndigheder ved at opføre og drive Harpa sat disse foranstaltninger i kraft, før Tilsynsmyndigheden har truffet en endelig beslutning.
This system of compensation, under which cross-subsidisation may occur, is not available to other companies that are active on the conference market in Iceland or elsewhere.
Tilsynsmyndigheden konkluderer derfor, at de islandske myndigheder ikke har overholdt deres forpligtelser efter artikel 1, stk. 3, i del I i protokol nr. 3.
In light of the above, it is the Authority's view that the companies involved in the operation of Harpa receive a selective economic advantage compared to their competitors on the market.
Ydelsen af støtte er derfor ulovlig.
Distortion of competition and effect on trade between Contracting Parties
VURDERING AF FORENELIGHEDEN
Finally, the measure must be liable to distort competition and affect trade between the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement in order to be considered State aid within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement.
Støtteforanstaltninger, der falder ind under EØS-aftalens artikel 61, stk. 1, er generelt uforenelige med EØS-aftalen, medmindre de er omfattet af en undtagelse i EØS-aftalens artikel 61, stk. 2 eller 3, eller artikel 59, stk. 2, og er nødvendige, forholdsmæssige og ikke forårsager unødig konkurrencefordrejning.
According to settled case law, the mere fact that a measure strengthens the position of an undertaking compared with other undertakings competing in intra-EEA trade, is considered to be sufficient in order to conclude that the measure is likely to affect trade between Contracting Parties and distort competition between undertakings established in other EEA States [46].
De islandske myndigheder har gjort gældende, at en støtte i forbindelse med projektet ville være forenelig med EØS-aftalens artikel 61, stk. 3.
The state resources allocated to the companies involved in the operation of Harpa, in order to cover their losses, constitute an advantage that strengthens Harpa's position compared to that of other undertakings competing in the same market.
EØS-aftalen indeholder ikke en bestemmelse svarende til artikel 107, stk. 3, litra d), i traktaten om Den Europæiske Unions funktionsmåde.
Even if most of the activities carried out in Harpa are of local character, Harpa has the capacity to host large and mid-size international events as well, and thus an effect on competition and trade between Contracting Parties cannot be excluded [47].
Tilsynsmyndigheden anerkender dog, at statslige støtteforanstaltninger vil kunne godkendes på baggrund af kulturelle hensyn på grundlag af EØS-aftalens artikel 61, stk. 3, litra c) [49].
Although, according to the Icelandic authorities, it is rather unlikely that more than a few, if any, of the events taken place in Harpa will be of such an interest to persons living in neighbouring countries that they would be willing to travel a long distance to Reykjavík in order to attend the events and thus it would be unlikely that events taken place in Harpa would compete with similar arenas in nearby countries.
På grundlag af EØS-aftalens artikel 61, stk. 3, litra c), kan støtte til fremme af kulturen og bevarelse af kulturarven betragtes som forenelig med EØS-aftalens funktion, når den pågældende støtte ikke ændrer samhandels- og konkurrencevilkårene i EØS i et omfang, der kan anses for at stride mod de fælles interesser.
However, as the market for organising international events is open to competition between venue providers and event organisers, which generally engage in activities which are subject to trade between EEA States, the effect on trade can be assumed.
Tilsynsmyndigheden skal derfor vurdere, om ydelse af støtte til de forskellige aktiviteter i Harpa kan begrundes som støtte til fremme af kulturen på grundlag af EØS-aftalens artikel 61, stk. 3, litra c).
In this case, the effect on trade between certain neighbouring EEA States is even more likely due to the nature of the conference industry.
Det bemærkes, at de principper, der er fastlagt i EØS-aftalens artikel 61, stk. 3, litra c), er blevet anvendt i tilfælde, der i et vist omfang ligner den foreliggende sag.
Moreover, the General Court has recently, in its Order concerning the Ahoy complex in the Netherlands, held that there was no reason to limit the market to the territory of that Member State [48].
De islandske myndigheder har tilkendegivet, at det primære formål med den pågældende foranstaltning har været at fremme kulturen gennem opførelsen af et koncerthus, der både kunne huse Det Islandske Symfoniorkester og Den Islandske Opera.
Therefore, as in the opening decision, the Authority considers that aid to Harpa has the potential to affect competition and trade within the EEA.
Lignende multifunktionelle kulturcentre allerede findes i de fleste andre europæiske byer.
Conclusion with regard to the presence of State aid
Det er hensigten, at Harpa skal være Islands nationale koncerthus og tilvejebringe den nødvendige kulturelle infrastruktur, der manglede i Island, og centret vil fungere som omdrejningspunkt for udvikling og fremme af disse udøvende kunstarter i Island.
With reference to the above considerations the Authority concludes that the measure under assessment, i.e. the financing of Harpa, includes elements of State aid within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement.
Harpa bidrager derfor til udviklingen af kulturel viden og giver adgang til kulturelle, uddannelsesmæssige og rekreative værdier for offentligheden [51].
Under the conditions referred to above, it is thus necessary to consider whether the measure can be found to be compatible with the functioning of the EEA Agreement.
Under hensyn til ovenstående er det Tilsynsmyndighedens opfattelse, at opførelse og drift af en facilitet til symfonisk musik og opera på grund af det kulturelle formål vil kunne kvalificeres som støtte til fremme af kulturen som omhandlet i EØS-aftalens artikel 61, stk. 3, litra c).
PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS
Imidlertid har Tilsynsmyndigheden givet udtryk for tvivl om, hvorvidt den støtte, der er ydet til at subsidiere konferenceaktiviteter, er berettiget i henhold til artikel 61, stk. 3, litra c), og dette spørgsmål skal derfor vurderes særskilt.
Pursuant to Article 1(3) of Part I of Protocol 3, ‘[t]he EFTA Surveillance Authority shall be informed, in sufficient time to enable it to submit its comments, of any plans to grant or alter aid. […] The State concerned shall not put its proposed measures into effect until th[e] procedure has resulted in a final decision’.
For så vidt angår støttens nødvendighed, proportionalitet og eventuelle konkurrencefordrejende karakter, har Tilsynsmyndigheden følgende bemærkninger:
The Icelandic authorities did not notify the aid measures to the Authority.
Som tidligere nævnt var hovedgrunden til at opføre Harpa det åbenbare behov for et passende koncerthus med plads til både Det Islandske Symfoniorkester og Den Islandske Opera.
Moreover, the Icelandic authorities have, by constructing and operating Harpa, put those measures into effect before the Authority has adopted a final decision.
På baggrund af projektets omfang er det forståeligt, at en infrastruktur som Harpa også ville blive brugt til at huse forskellige forretningsmæssige aktiviteter som f.eks. restauranter, caféer, butikker, konferencer og koncerter med populærmusik.
The Authority therefore concludes that the Icelandic authorities have not respected their obligations pursuant to Article 1(3) of Part I of Protocol 3.
For at undgå konkurrencefordrejning skal der imidlertid træffes forholdsregler, som sikrer, at der ikke finder krydssubsidiering sted mellem de forretningsmæssige aktiviteter og de kraftigt subsidierede kulturelle aktiviteter.
The granting of any aid involved is therefore unlawful.
I beslutning nr. 128/13/KOL redegjorde Tilsynsmyndigheden for tre metoder, hvormed de islandske myndigheder kunne sikre, at der ikke skete nogen krydssubsidiering mellem de forretningsmæssige aktiviteter og de kulturelle aktiviteter i Harpa.
COMPATIBILITY ASSESSMENT
For det første anførte Tilsynsmyndigheden, at dette mål ville kunne nås ved at udlicitere de faciliteter, der er beregnet til de forretningsmæssige aktiviteter, hvorved det sikres, at den økonomiske operatør betaler markedspris for faciliteterne og ikke profiterer af krydssubsidiering.
Support measures caught by Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement are generally incompatible with the functioning of the EEA Agreement, unless they qualify for a derogation under Article 61(2) or (3) or Article 59(2) of the EEA Agreement and are necessary, proportional and do not cause undue distortion of competition.
For det andet kunne de islandske myndigheder have etableret en selvstændig juridisk enhed for de forretningsmæssige aktiviteter.
The Icelandic authorities argue that any aid involved in the project would be compatible with Article 61(3) of the EEA Agreement.
Den tredje mulighed, som Tilsynsmyndigheden anførte i beslutningen om at indlede undersøgelsesproceduren, var i tilstrækkeligt omfang at adskille de økonomiske aktiviteter fra ikke-forretningsmæssige aktiviteter gennem implementering af et tilstrækkeligt effektivt system til omkostningsfordeling og separate regnskaber, der sikrer en rimelig forrentning af investeringerne.
The EEA Agreement does not include a provision corresponding to Article 107(3)(d) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
De islandske myndigheder har understreget, at der i forbindelse med driften af Harpa er behov for en vis fleksibilitet, idet både de kulturelle arrangementer og konferenceaktiviteterne er nødt til at sameksistere, og der er adskillige tilfælde, hvor disse to hovedaktiviteter ville kollidere, medmindre tilsyn og planlægning blev udført på en meget kohærent vis.
The Authority nevertheless acknowledges that State aid measures may be approved on cultural grounds on the basis of Article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement [49].
Det ville således øge den administrative byrde og påføre den i forvejen vanskelige drift af Harpa ekstra begrænsninger og omkostninger at introducere en ny operatør, enten en privat operatør eller en særskilt offentligt ejet enhed, i bygningen.
On the basis of Article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement, aid to promote culture and heritage conservation may be considered compatible with the functioning of the EEA Agreement, where such aid does not affect trading conditions and competition in the EEA to the extent that is considered to be contrary to the common interest.
Derfor konkluderede de islandske myndigheder efter samråd med Harpas ledelse, at den tredje mulighed, dvs. adskillelsen af de økonomiske aktiviteter og de ikke-forretningsmæssige aktiviteter i Harpa og implementeringen af et effektivt system til omkostningsfordeling og separate regnskaber, var den bedste løsning i lyset af de ovenfor beskrevne omstændigheder.
The Authority must therefore assess whether granting aid to the various activities in Harpa can be justified as aid to promote culture on the grounds of Article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement.
Som tidligere nævnt har ejerne af Harpa ved indførelsen af de særskilte regnskaber og den nye metode til fordeling af omkostninger og indtægter støttet sig til vejledningen i »gennemsigtighedsdirektivet«.
It should be noted that the principles laid down in Article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement have been applied to cases somewhat similar to this case [50].
Endvidere har de islandske myndigheder sikret, at en vis del af Harpas faste og fælles omkostninger er allokeret til hver enkelt del af driften, baseret på faktisk brug og forretningsmæssig aktivitet.
The Icelandic authorities have stated that the primary objective of the measure in question was to promote culture through the construction of a concert hall that could house both the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera.
Derudover bliver konferenceafdelingen nu afkrævet markedsleje for kontorlokaler og andre faciliteter.
Similar multipurpose cultural centres already exist in most other European cities.
De foranstaltninger, de islandske myndigheder har indført, sikrer effektivt, at der ikke vil forekomme nogen krydssubsidiering mellem de forretningsmæssige aktiviteter og de kulturelle aktiviteter i Harpa.
Harpa is intended to be Iceland's national concert hall, providing the necessary cultural infrastructure that was missing in Iceland and it will act as the focal point for the development and advancement of those performance arts in Iceland.
Ifølge det foreløbige regnskab for 2013 forventes konferenceafdelingen at levere en marginal fortjeneste på 9574000 ISK.
Harpa therefore contributes to the development of cultural knowledge and grants access to cultural, educational and recreational values for the public [51].
I år 2016 forventes dette overskud at være vokset til over 23 mio. ISK.
In view of the above, the Authority considers that, given its cultural purpose, the construction and operation of a Symphony and Opera facility, would qualify as aid to promote culture within the meaning of Article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement.
Den nye omkostnings- og indtægtsmodel viser imidlertid, at den forretningsmæssige del gradvis vil blive mere rentabel og dermed give Harpas ejere et afkast af deres investering i de kommende år.
However, the Authority has expressed doubts as to whether aid granted to subsidize conference activities, can be justified under Article 61(3)(c) and this matter must therefore be assessed separately.
Med hensyn til konferenceafdelingens underskud i de første år af Harpas drift er Tilsynsmyndigheden enig i, at det er forståeligt, at en investering som Harpa, ligesom ethvert andet stort investeringsprojekt, ikke ville kaste noget overskud af sig de første år af dets drift.
Concerning necessity, proportionality and whether the measure is likely to distort competition, the Authority has the following observations:
Dækningen af et driftsmæssigt underskud i de første år af den forretningsmæssige drift kan således ses som en nødvendig startomkostning i overensstemmelse med det markedsøkonomiske investorprincip.
as previously noted, the main reason for constructing Harpa was the apparent need for a suitable concert hall to accommodate both the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera.
Desuden synes de særskilte regnskaber og den nye metode til fordeling af omkostninger og indtægter at antyde, at det enorme underskud på de forretningsmæssige dele af Harpa, der blev konstateret i Tilsynsmyndighedens beslutning om at indlede undersøgelsesproceduren (en negativ EBITDA på 120 mio. ISK for året 2012), ikke nødvendigvis afspejlede den faktiske økonomiske situation i konferenceafdelingen.
Given the scale of the project it is understandable that an infrastructure such as Harpa would also be used to house various commercial activities such as restaurants, coffee shops, stores, conferences and popular concerts.
Desuden har de islandske myndigheder vist, at Harpa både vil tilføre eksisterende faciliteter ekstra kapacitet og øge udbuddet af begivenheder, både kulturelle og forretningsmæssige, der kan finde sted i Reykjavik, og i betydelig grad være til gavn for den kulturelle udvikling og befolkningen i Island generelt.
However, in order not to distort competition, safeguards must be put in place to ensure that there is no cross subsidisation between the commercial activities and the heavily subsidised cultural activities.
Støtten må således anses for at være godt målrettet og den offentlige finansiering heraf berettiget.
In Decision No 128/13/COL the Authority outlined three methods, by which the Icelandic authorities could ensure that there was no cross subsidisation between the commercial activities and the cultural activities within Harpa [52].
Hertil kommer, når henses til Harpas placering, og at de fleste af de aktiviteter, der finder sted i centret, er af lokal karakter, at indvirkningen på konkurrencen og samhandelen mellem de kontraherende parter er begrænset, selv om den som beskrevet ovenfor ikke kan udelukkes [54].
Firstly, the Authority noted that this goal could be achieved by tendering out the facilities intended for the commercial activities, thereby ensuring that the economic operator pays market price for the facilities and does not benefit from cross subsidisation.
På ovennævnte grundlag er det blevet påvist, at statens og kommunens deltagelse i finansieringen af Harpa er både nødvendig og forholdsmæssig, og at den ikke forårsager unødig konkurrencefordrejning.
Secondly, the Icelandic authorities could have established a separate legal entity for the commercial activities.
Desuden har de islandske myndigheder ved fuldt ud at adskille regnskaberne for den forretningsmæssige og den ikke-forretningsmæssige del af Harpa været i stand til at sikre, at der ikke er nogen negative afsmittende virkninger af deres bidrag til de kulturelle aspekter af Harpas drift.
The third option outlined in the Authority's opening decision was to sufficiently separate the economic activities from the non-commercial activities by establishing a sufficient system of cost allocation and separate accounts that ensures a reasonable return on investment.
Finansieringen af Harpa er derfor forenelig med EØS-aftalens statsstøtteregler.
The Icelandic authorities have emphasised that the operation of Harpa needs certain flexibility as both the cultural events and conference activities need to co-exist and there are various instances where these two main actives would collide unless the supervision and planning was done in a very coherent manner.
KONKLUSION
Thus it would increase the administrative burden and incur additional restraints and costs on the already difficult operation of Harpa to introduce a new operator, either a private operator or separate publicly owned entity, within the building.
På grundlag af ovenstående konkluderer Tilsynsmyndigheden, at finansieringen af Harpa udgør statsstøtte, der er forenelig med EØS-aftalen efter dennes artikel 61, stk. 3, litra c).
Therefore, the Icelandic authorities, after consulting with the directors of Harpa, concluded that the third option, i.e. the separation of the economic activities and the non-commercial activities of Harpa and the establishment of a sufficient system of cost allocation and separate accounts, was the most viable in light of the circumstances described above.
De islandske myndigheder erindres om, at alle planer om at ændre finansieringen af Harpa, herunder enhver forøgelse af tilskuddene fra staten eller kommunen med mere end 20 % skal anmeldes til Tilsynsmyndigheden —
As previously noted, the separate accounts and the new cost- and income allocation methodology, that have been introduced by the owners of Harpa, take account of guidance given by the ‘Transparency Directive’.
VEDTAGET FØLGENDE BESLUTNING:
Moreover, the Icelandic authorities have ensured that a certain part of Harpa's fixed and common costs are allocated to each individual division of the operations, based on actual usage and commercial activity.
Artikel 1
In addition, the conference department will be charged market rent for office space and other facilities [53].
Finansieringen af Harpa Koncerthus og Konferencecenter er forenelig med EØS-aftalen.
The measures implemented by the Icelandic authorities effectively ensure that there will be no cross subsidisation between the commercial activities and the cultural activities within Harpa.
Artikel 2
According to the preliminary accounts for 2013, the conference department is expected to deliver a marginal profit of ISK 9574000.
Denne beslutning er rettet til Republikken Island.
By the year 2016 this profit is expected to have grown to over ISK 23 million.
Artikel 3
Therefore, the new cost and income allocation model shows that the commercial part will become gradually more profitable, providing the owners of Harpa with a return on their investment in the next couple of years.
Kun den engelske udgave af beslutningen er autentisk.
With regard to the conference department's deficit in the first years of Harpa's operation, the Authority agrees that it is understandable that an investment such as Harpa, like any other large investment project, would not return a profit for the first years of its operation.
Udfærdiget i Bruxelles, den 11. december 2013.
The covering of an operational deficit for the first years of commercial operations can thus be seen as a necessary start up cost in line with the MEIP.
På EFTA-Tilsynsmyndighedens vegne
Furthermore, the separated accounts and the new cost- and income methodology would appear to suggest that the huge deficit of the commercial parts of Harpa that was assessed in the Authority's opening decision, a negative EBITDA of ISK 120 million for the year 2012, did not necessarily reflect the actual financial situation of the conference department.
Præsident
Moreover, the Icelandic authorities have shown that Harpa will both complement existing facilities with additional capacity and increase the types of events, both cultural and commercial, which can take place in Reykjavik, and considerably benefit cultural development and the general public in Iceland.
Medlem af kollegiet
Thus, the aid must be considered well-targeted and the public financing thereof justified.
EFTA-Tilsynsmyndighedens beslutning nr. 128/13/KOL af 20.3.2013 om at indlede en formel undersøgelsesprocedure vedrørende mulig statsstøtte i forbindelse med finansieringen af Harpa Koncerthus og Konferencecenter, offentliggjort i Den Europæiske Unions Tidende, EUT C 229, af 8.8.2013, s. 18, og EØS-tillæg nr. 44 af 8.8.2013, s. 5.
In addition, considering the location of Harpa and that most of the activities that take place within it are of local character, the effect on competition and trade between Contracting Parties is limited, although, as described above, it cannot be excluded [54].
I forbindelse med denne beslutning refererer »Harpa« til selve bygningen og dens faciliteter.
From the above reasons, it has been demonstrated that the involvement of the State and the City in the financing of Harpa is both necessary, proportionate and does not cause undue distortion of competition.
For en mere detaljeret beskrivelse af korrespondancen henvises til Tilsynsmyndighedens beslutning nr. 128/13/KOL.
Furthermore, by fully separating the accounts of the commercial and non-commercial part of Harpa, the Icelandic authorities have managed to ensure that there are no negative spillover effects stemming from their contributions to the cultural aspects of Harpa's operation.
Projektaftale mellem Austurhofn-TR ehf. og Eignarhaldsfelagid Portus ehf, underskrevet den 9. marts 2006.
The financing of Harpa is therefore compatible with the State aid rules of the EEA Agreement.
Se brev fra de islandske myndigheder af 28. maj 2013 (dok. nr. 673762).
CONCLUSION
Erklæringen fra Ministeriet for Kultur- og Uddannelse findes online på:
Based on the above considerations, the Authority concludes that the financing of Harpa constitutes State aid that is compatible with the functioning of the EEA Agreement within the meaning of Article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement.
http://www.menntamalaraduneyti.is/frettir/Frettatilkynningar/nr/4833.
The Icelandic authorities are reminded that all plans to modify the financing of Harpa, including any increase in the grants by the State or the City by more than 20 %, should be notified to the Authority.
Ændret og tilrettet projektaftale mellem Austurhofn-TR ehf. og Eignarhaldsfelagid Portus ehf, underskrevet den 19.1.2010.
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Pressemeddelelsen findes online på:
Article 1
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-76_da.htm.
The financing of Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre is compatible with the EEA Agreement.
Som beskrevet i brevet fra de islandske myndigheder af 28. maj 2013 (dok. nr. 673762).
Article 2
Yderligere oplysninger om sale og mødelokaler i Harpa findes online på:
This Decision is addressed to the Republic of Iceland.
http://harpa.is/harpa/salir-og-skipulag.
Article 3
Som ændret og tilpasset i 2010.
Only the English language version of this Decision is authentic.
Der verserer i øjeblikket en tvist for Reykjavik herredsret vedrørende Harpas ejendomsskatter og om, hvorvidt de er baseret på korrekte vurderinger.
Done at Brussels, 11 December 2013.