natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Såfremt Tilsynsmyndigheden skulle konkludere, at kompensationen udgør statsstøtte, gør virksomheden gældende, at den som helhed blev ydet på grundlag af en eksisterende støtte, og at støtten ville være forenelig med EØS-aftalen på grundlag af dens artikel 49 og forordning (EØF) nr. 1191/69.
Subsequent amendments of the production and costs were also made, based on the performance of the company under the contract.
Virksomheden fremhæver konkret, at indførelsen af ALFA-metoden ikke medførte nogen væsentlig ændring af kompensationsordningen.
Therefore, according to Nettbuss Sør AS, the production reported to the County with the kilometres driven for the purposes of calculating the costs, can be seen as a point of departure for the negotiations between the parties, and not as the actual base for the compensation paid at the end of the year [44].
Virksomheden understreger endvidere, at det ikke er korrekt, at den kompensation, der blev fastsat på grundlag af indeksregulering, var baseret på forhandlinger, eftersom fylket og busselskaberne hvert år indtil 2009 gennemgik ændringerne i den årlige produktion med henblik på at anvende de korrekte data i ALFA-metoden.
Nettbuss Sør AS, further, makes references to the particular settlements and negotiations between the company and the County that resulted in the latter setting off payments against Nettbuss Sør AS's compensation for the 2010 production.
Eftersom ændringerne fra år til år var marginale, var ændringerne i kompensationen det også.
In particular, the company argues that the compensation paid for the 2010 production was NOK 3,55 million less, given that this amount was used to set off following changes in the production schedule (new transport schedule for RTB) and to take account of efficiency gains stemming from the merger with RTB.
Setesdal Bilruter L/L gør gældende, at ALFA-metoden sikrer, at der ikke sker nogen overkompensation for levering af bustjenesterne, og at omkostningerne til kommercielle aktiviteter medtages i ALFA-metoden.
As regards the income generated by the commercial activities of Nettbuss Sør AS and the fact that parts of that income have been identified by the Authority indeed to have been included in the income calculations under the public contract, Nettbuss Sør AS's view is that this has not led to a higher degree of compensation than what the ALFA-method would have provided for.
Birkeland Busser AS, Frolandsruta Frode Oland og Telemark Bilruter AS har alle tilsluttet sig dette synspunkt.
On the contrary, as all the income (i.e. income derived from public as well as commercial activities) is deducted when calculating the compensation to be granted, the result has led to a lower compensation for Nettbuss Sør AS, irrespective of the fact that certain commercial routes were included as part of production for public service compensation.
DE NORSKE MYNDIGHEDERS BEMÆRKNINGER TIL BEMÆRKNINGERNE FRA INTERESSEREDE PARTER
Indeed, Nettbuss Sør AS admits that certain production (e.g. express bus, transportation of schoolchildren to and from swimming lessons and the Karjolen route) should not have been reported as production for public service compensation.
De norske myndigheder henviser til klagernes argument om, at »al ny støtte«, der ydes til Nettbuss Sør AS, skal erklæres for uforenelig med EØS-aftalen og tilbagesøges, og gør gældende, at klageren ikke har taget stilling til spørgsmålet om ny eller eksisterende støtte eller nævnt, hvordan eventuel støtte (f.eks. indførelsen af ALFA-metoden i 2004) bør klassificeres i den foreliggende sag.
Nevertheless, by having these routes included, the County has been favoured, as this has actually meant a lower compensation for the company.
De norske myndigheder gentager, at ALFA-metoden ikke medførte nogen væsentlige ændringer i den eksisterende støtteordning, og at der ikke er konstateret nogen overkompensation ud over til Nettbuss Sør AS.
Finally, as regards the number of school days, Nettbuss Sør AS submits that the figures provided by Aust-Agder in reference to the company being compensated for 51 instead of 38,4 weeks in a normal school year are incorrect.
Under henvisning til bemærkningen fra Nettbuss Sør AS om, hvad der ville udgøre en rimelig fortjeneste i bustransportsektoren, understreger de norske myndigheder, at henvisningen til tallet 3-5 % som en normal fortjeneste i sektoren ikke betyder, at en højere fortjeneste (f.eks. en fortjeneste tættere på [7-13 %], som Nettbuss Sør AS henviser til) ville udgøre overkompensation.
Other transport operators
Henvisningen til dette offentligt tilgængelige tal havde kun til formål at påvise, at der ikke kunne konstateres nogen overkompensation.
Setesdal Bilruter L/L concurs with the views of the Norwegian authorities.
Med hensyn til bemærkningerne fra Nettbuss Sør AS vedrørende de norske myndigheders supplerende oplysninger om afvigelser i Nettbuss Sør AS' produktion har de norske myndigheder anført, at ALFA-metodens rolle i beregningen af kompensation ikke kan ignoreres, fordi den endelige kompensation var baseret på forhandlinger, og der efterfølgende også blev foretaget ændringer i produktionen og omkostningerne.
It holds that the compensation does not constitute State aid as the four Altmark conditions are met.
De anslåede omkostninger, der følger af ALFA-metoden, var afgørende, og den kompensation, der blev tildelt, afveg aldrig meget i forhold til resultaterne af ALFA-metoden.
If the Authority were to find that the compensation constitutes State aid, the company argues that it would in its entirety have been granted on the basis of a system of existing aid, and that the aid would be compatible with the functioning of the EEA Agreement on the basis of its Article 49 and Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69.
Yderligere ændringer foretaget i løbet af produktionsåret er endvidere almindelig praksis inden for transportsektoren, og denne mulighed er også omfattet af bestemmelserne i kontrakterne med transportvirksomhederne.
The company specifically emphasises that the introduction of the ALFA-method did not cause any substantial change in the compensation system.
Under alle omstændigheder burde alle sådanne ændringer enten have ført til en stigning, i tilfælde af yderligere produktion, eller et fald, i tilfælde af mindre produktion, i den tildelte kompensation.
Furthermore, the company stresses that it is not correct that the compensation determined on the basis of indexation was based on negotiations, given that each year up until 2009 the County and the bus operators went through the changes in the annual production in order to feed the correct data into the ALFA-method.
Men de ville aldrig kunne være blevet betragtet særskilt og modregnet i irrelevante omkostninger, der blev taget i betragtning, når kompensationen blev anslået efter ALFA-metoden.
As the changes from year to year were marginal, so were the changes in compensation.
De norske myndigheder anfører, at indberetningen af forkerte produktionstal har en direkte indvirkning på nøjagtigheden af beregningen af kompensationen, hvorfor fylket gik ind i forhandlingerne på et forkert grundlag.
Setesdal Bilruter L/L argues that the ALFA-method ensures that there is no overcompensation for the provision of the bus services and that the costs of commercial activities are not included in the ALFA-method.
Det hævdes ligeledes, at eftersom den tildelte kompensation er baseret på det foregående års produktion, skulle en reduktion foretaget af virksomheden efter august 2008 have været afspejlet i den kompensation, der blev givet for 2009, hvilket ikke var tilfældet.
Birkeland Busser AS, Frolandsruta Frode Oland and Telemark Bilruter AS have all concurred with that view.
For så vidt angår de forlig og justeringer, der blev foretaget i forbindelse med Nettbuss Sør AS' og RTB's kontrakter — som følge af den igangværende fusion mellem de to virksomheder — om produktion af en ny køreplan for RTB, mener de norske myndigheder, at disse er resultatet af en ensidig beslutning fra Nettbuss Sør AS' side, som har ført til overindberetning af produktionen af kilometer for at modtage større kompensation end det, der allerede var blevet beregnet og indberettet efter ALFA-metoden.
COMMENTS BY THE NORWEGIAN AUTHORITIES ON THE COMMENTS MADE BY INTERESTED PARTIES
I stedet burde kontrakterne være blevet ændret efter virksomhedsændringerne for at afspejle alle disse justeringer.
The Norwegian authorities refer to the complainants' argument that ‘all new aid’ granted to Nettbuss Sør AS must be held incompatible with the EEA Agreement and subject to recovery, and indicate that the complainant has not addressed the issue of new or existing aid nor has it referred to how any potential aid (e.g. the introduction of the ALFA-method in 2004) should be classified in the present case.
Vedrørende indtægterne fra Nettbuss Sør AS' kommercielle aktiviteter er de norske myndigheder uenige i Nettbuss Sør AS' påstand om, at fylket er blevet krediteret indtægter fra indtægtssiden, som udligner fejlene på omkostningssiden.
The Norwegian authorities restate that no substantial change to the existing aid scheme has been caused by the introduction of the ALFA-method, and that with the exception of Nettbuss Sør AS, no overcompensation has been identified.
Fordi der ikke føres særskilte regnskaber, bærer Nettbuss Sør AS risikoen, og virksomheden kan ikke blot gå ud fra, at irrelevante indtægter er blevet fratrukket til fordel for fylket, uden yderligere dokumenteret begrundelse.
With reference to the comment submitted by Nettbuss Sør AS on what could constitute a reasonable profit within the bus transport sector, the Norwegian authorities stress that the reference to the figure 3-5 % as a normal profit in the sector does not imply that any higher profit level (e.g. a profit closer to [7-13 %] that Nettbuss Sør AS refers to) would constitute overcompensation.
Når det er sagt, kan det meget vel være tilfældet, at de kommercielle aktiviteter er blevet krydssubsidieret ved de offentlige tjenester og ikke omvendt.
With reference to the comments submitted by Nettbuss Sør AS in relation to the additional information submitted by the Norwegian authorities concerning deviations in Nettbuss Sør AS's production, the Norwegian authorities have submitted that the role of the ALFA-method to calculate compensation cannot be downplayed by the fact that the final compensation was based on negotiations and subsequent amendments of the productions and costs were also made.
Endelig har de norske myndigheder anført, at de økonomiske virkninger af afvigelserne anslås til 80437962 NOK for perioden 2004-2014, uden renter og renters rente.
The costs estimates following from the ALFA-method were vital and the compensation granted never deviated much compared to the results of the ALFA-method.
VURDERING
In any case, any such amendments should have either led to an increase, in case of additional production, or a decrease, in case of reduction of production, of the compensation granted.
AFGRÆNSNING AF VURDERINGEN
But, they could never be considered separately and set off against irrelevant costs taken into account when the compensation was estimated according to the ALFA-method.
I åbningsbeslutningen konkluderede Tilsynsmyndigheden, at der var tale om en eksisterende støtteordning i Aust-Agder til lokal bustransport og skolebustransport for perioden før 2004.
The Norwegian authorities submit that the reporting of incorrect production figures has a direct effect on the accuracy of the compensation's calculation and the County was thus entering into negotiations on incorrect assumptions.
I betragtning af den tvivl, der blev rejst i åbningsbeslutningen, omfatter denne vurdering følgende aspekter:
It is also submitted that, as the compensation granted is based on the previous year's production, any reduction made by the company after August 2008 should have been reflected in the compensation granted for 2009, which was not the case.
ALFA-metoden og indeksreguleringen som led i den eksisterende støtteordning i Aust-Agder eller som en ny særskilt støtteforanstaltning (jf. afsnit 3 nedenfor).
The same logic also applies, the Norwegian authorities argue, in the case of the company having received an additional amount of NOK 550000 for 2008, given that the 2008 compensation was based on incorrect figures provided from 2007.
Arten af den påståede støtte i forbindelse med ATP-projektet, og hvorvidt denne indgår i den samme eksisterende støtteordning (jf. afsnit 3 nedenfor).
Given that the contract signed with Nettbuss Sør AS is a public service concession contract, the commercial risk shall lie with the company.
Identifikation af eventuel ny støtte, som måtte være blevet ydet uden for den eksisterende støtteordning (jf. afsnit 4 nedenfor).
As regards the settlements and adjustments made in relation to the Nettbuss Sør AS's and RTB's contracts — in view of the ongoing merger process between the two companies — for the production of a new transport schedule run by RTB, the Norwegian authorities are of the view that these are the result of a unilateral decision from the side of Nettbuss Sør AS that has led to over-reporting for the production of kilometres in order to receive higher compensation than what was already calculated and reported under the ALFA-method.
I åbningsbeslutningen udtrykte Tilsynsmyndigheden tvivl om, hvorvidt ALFA-metoden og indeksreguleringen muligvis ikke skal betragtes som statsstøtte.
Instead, the contracts should have been amended subsequent to the corporate changes, in order to reflect all these adjustments.
I denne forbindelse har de norske myndigheder og interesserede parter fremlagt oplysninger om anvendelsen af Altmark-betingelserne.
In this context, the Norwegian authorities do not share the view that the County has granted NOK 3,55 million less compensation for reductions in the production stemming from alterations in the transport schedule during 2008 and 2009.
Åbningsbeslutningen forpligter ikke Tilsynsmyndigheden til ved denne vurdering at undersøge støttens art i forhold til ALFA-metoden og indeksreguleringen.
On the contrary, this reduction of compensation follows the logic of the ALFA-method and its later indexation, reflecting the production of fewer kilometres than anticipated by the County, as a result of Nettbuss Sør AS's incorporating a new transport schedule for RTB.
Med undtagelse af eventuel støtte involveret i ATP-projektet er dette allerede blevet vurderet under den indledende undersøgelse, hvor det blev fastslået, at den offentlige kompensation for lokal bustransport og skolebustransport var eksisterende støtte mindst frem til 2004, og at det, der skal vurderes, er, om denne allerede etablerede eksisterende støtteordning er blevet væsentligt ændret.
Concerning the income generated by the commercial activities of Nettbuss Sør AS, the Norwegian authorities disagree with Nettbuss Sør AS's allegations that the County has been credited revenues from the income-side that correct errors on the cost side.
STATSSTØTTE EFTER EØS-AFTALENS ARTIKEL 61, STK.
Given the lack of separate accounts, Nettbuss Sør AS carries the risk and it cannot simply allege that irrelevant revenues have been deducted for the benefit of the County, without any further documented justification.
1
In addition, according to the Norwegian authorities, there has not been any documented justification as regards the cost allocation between the commercial and the public service activities of the company.
EØS-aftalens artikel 61, stk. 1, har følgende ordlyd:
That said, it may well be the case that the commercial activities have been cross-subsidized by the public service activities and not vice-versa.
»Bortset fra de i denne aftale hjemlede undtagelser er støtte, som ydes af EF-medlemsstater, EFTA-stater 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 denne aftale i det omfang, den påvirker samhandelen mellem de kontraherende parter.«
Finally, the Norwegian authorities submit that the economic impact of the deviations is estimated at NOK 80437962 for the period 2004-2014, without including interest and compound interest.
Tilstedeværelse af statsmidler
This is according to a study that Asplan Viak AS had been commissioned by the Norwegian authorities to write in order to provide estimates of the overcompensation paid by the County due to the deviations.
Tilsynsmyndigheden bemærker, at kompensationen for både lokal bustransport og skolebustransport betales via det offentlige budget i Aust-Agder.
ASSESSMENT
I forbindelse med EØS-aftalens artikel 61, stk. 1, anses både lokale og regionale myndigheder for at svare til staten [45].
SCOPE OF THE AID ASSESSMENT
Dermed svarer Aust-Agder til staten, for så vidt angår EØS-statsstøttereglerne.
In the opening decision the Authority concluded that there was an existing aid scheme in Aust-Agder for local scheduled and school bus transport services covering the period before 2004.
På dette grundlag konkluderer Tilsynsmyndigheden, at kompensationsforanstaltningen finansieres ved hjælp af statsmidler.
In view of the doubts expressed in the opening decision, the scope of the present aid assessment shall examine the following aspects:
De samme betragtninger gælder også ATP-projektet, da det er betalt af tilskud fra budgettet for kommunerne og fylkerne Aust-Agder og Vest-Agder.
the ALFA-method and its indexation as part of the existing aid scheme in place in Aust-Agder or as a separate new aid measure (Section 3 below);
Derfor finder Tilsynsmyndigheden, at der er tale om statsmidler.
the nature of the alleged aid involved in the ATP project and whether this is part of the same existing aid scheme (section 3 below);
Virksomhed
identification of any new aid that may have been granted outside the existing aid scheme (Section 4 below).
I henhold til artikel 61, stk. 1, i EØS-aftalen, skal det ligeledes undersøges, om kompensationen for offentlig tjeneste til de fem virksomheder samt finansieringen fra ATP-projektet giver en selektiv økonomisk fordel til visse virksomheder eller visse produktioner.
In the opening decision the Authority expressed doubts concerning the nature of the ALFA-method and its indexation as a potential no-aid measure.
Støttemodtagerne i den foreliggende sag er busselskaber, som udøver økonomiske aktiviteter, bl.a. lokal bustransport og skolebustransport mod betaling (se betragtning 35-38 ovenfor).
In this context the Norwegian authorities and interested parties submitted information on the application of the Altmark conditions.
De udgør derfor alle virksomheder efter EØS-aftalens artikel 61, stk. 1.
The opening decision does not oblige the Authority to examine in the context of the present assessment the nature of the aid in reference to the ALFA-method and its indexation.
Selektivitet
This, with the exception of any aid involved the ATP project, has already been assessed during the preliminary examination where it was concluded that the public compensation for local scheduled and school bus transport services remains existing aid at least until 2004, and that what remains to be assessed is whether this already established existing aid scheme has been substantially altered.
Kompensationsforanstaltningen er begrænset til busselskaber, der opererer i Aust-Agder fylke.
STATE AID WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 61(1) OF THE EEA AGREEMENT
Kompensationen for offentlig tjeneste er navnlig blevet begrænset til de virksomheder, der er anført i betragtning 35 ovenfor.
Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement reads as follows:
Derfor konkluderer Tilsynsmyndigheden, at tildelingen af kompensation for offentlig tjeneste er selektiv.
‘Save as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any aid granted by EC Member States, EFTA States or through State resources in any form whatsoever which distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring certain undertakings or the production of certain goods shall, in so far as it affects trade between Contracting Parties, be incompatible with the functioning of this Agreement.’
Desuden er finansieringen af de 1 mio. NOK (2 mio. NOK i 2010 og 1,5 mio. NOK fra 2011) fra ATP-projektet samt nedsættelsen i 2013 i omkostningerne ved befordringspligtruterne 39 og 40 med henblik på finansiering af lufthavnsbussen og de tilsvarende indtægtsnedsættelser på ATP-projektet, kun blevet tildelt Nettbuss Sør AS.
The presence of State resources
Det er således en selektiv foranstaltning.
The Authority notes that the compensation for both local scheduled and school bus transport is paid from the public budget of Aust-Agder.
Fordel — kompensation for befordringspligt ved lokal buskørsel og skolebuskørsel
In the context of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement, both local and regional authorities are considered to be equivalent to the State [45].
Altmark-betingelserne
Hence, Aust-Agder is equivalent to the State for the purposes of the EEA State aid rules.
For at foranstaltningen kan udgøre statsstøtte, skal den også give en fordel, der fritager en virksomhed for udgifter, der normalt skal afholdes af dennes budget.
On this basis, the Authority concludes that the compensation measure is funded through the use of State resources.
Kompensationen må for det tredje ikke overstige, hvad der er nødvendigt for helt eller delvis at dække de udgifter, der er afholdt ved opfyldelsen af forpligtelserne til offentlig tjeneste, idet der skal tages hensyn til de hermed forbundne indtægter og til en rimelig fortjeneste ved opfyldelsen af forpligtelserne.
The same considerations apply also to the ATP project as it is paid for by grants made from the budget of municipalities and the counties of Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder.
1994-2003
Therefore, the Authority finds that State resources are involved.
Tilsynsmyndigheden konkluderede allerede i åbningsbeslutningen, at Altmark-betingelserne før 2004 ikke var kumulativt opfyldt [47].
Undertaking
Hverken de norske myndigheder eller nogen af de øvrige parter, der har indgivet bemærkninger i forbindelse med den formelle undersøgelse, har bestridt dette synspunkt.
As provided by Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement, it must also be established whether the public service compensation to the five operators, as well as the financing from the ATP project, grant a selective economic advantage in favour of certain undertakings or the production of certain goods.
Tilsynsmyndigheden fastholder derfor sine konklusioner af de grunde, der er anført i åbningsbeslutningen.
The beneficiaries in the present case are bus operators that engage in economic activities, inter alia scheduled and school bus transport against remuneration (see recitals 35 to 38 above).
Den første betingelse i Altmark-dommen
Selectivity
Yderligere er det muligt i de relevante kontrakter at specificere tjenesteyderne, varigheden og arten af befordringspligten ved levering af lokal kollektiv transport.
Therefore, the Authority concludes that the award of public service compensation is selective.
Derfor konkluderer Tilsynsmyndigheden, at den første betingelse i Altmark-dommen er opfyldt.
Furthermore, the financing of NOK 1 million (NOK 2 million as from 2010 and NOK 1,5 million as from 2011) from the ATP project, as well as the reduction in 2013 of the costs associated with running the public service routes 39 and 40 in order to finance the airport shuttle bus and the corresponding income reduction on the ATP project, have only been granted to Nettbuss Sør AS.
Den fjerde Altmark-betingelse
It is, thus, a selective measure.
Busselskabernes kompensation er ikke blevet fastsat på grundlag af en offentlig udbudsprocedure.
Advantage — Compensation for a public service obligation for local scheduled and school bus transport
I henhold til Tilsynsmyndighedens retningslinjer om anvendelsen af statsstøttereglerne på kompensation for levering af tjenesteydelser af almen økonomisk interesse skal kompensationen for en sådan tjenesteydelse være baseret på et generelt accepteret vederlag på markedet [48].
Altmark conditions
De norske myndigheder har imidlertid ikke gjort gældende, at der findes et sådant vederlag for den pågældende tjenesteydelse.
In order to constitute State aid, the measure must also confer an advantage that relieves an undertaking of charges that are normally borne from its budget.