natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
553725) sendte Den Norske Forleggerforening (herefter »NFF«) Tilsynsmyndigheden en klage med påstand om, at der er ydet ulovlig statsstøtte til Nasjonal digital læringsarena (herefter »NDLA«).
By e-mail of 15 July 2011 (Event No 608593) the complainant provided additional information.
Ved e-mail af 15. juli 2011 (registreringsnr.
By letter dated 2 July 2010 (Event No 558201), the Authority requested additional information.
608593) fremsendte klageren yderligere oplysninger.
By letter dated 9 September 2010 (Event No 568942), the Norwegian authorities replied to the information request.
Ved brev af 2. juli 2010 (registreringsnr.
In addition, discussions between the Authority and the Norwegian authorities regarding the case took place at a meeting in Norway on 13-14 October 2010.
558201) anmodede Tilsynsmyndigheden om supplerende oplysninger.
Additional information from the Norwegian authorities was sent to the Authority by letter dated 1 December 2010 (Event No 579405).
Ved brev af 9. september 2010 (registreringsnr.
The Authority requested additional information by letter dated 4 February 2011 (Event No 574762).
568942) svarede de norske myndigheder på anmodningen om oplysninger.
The Norwegian authorities responded by letter dated 7 March 2011 (Event No 589528).
Endvidere fandt der drøftelser sted mellem Tilsynsmyndigheden og de norske myndigheder om denne sag på et møde den 13.-14. oktober 2010 i Norge.
The Norwegian authorities provided further clarifications by emails of 2 May 2011 and 12 August 2011 (Event Nos 596402 and 608596).
De norske myndigheder sendte Tilsynsmyndigheden supplerende oplysninger ved brev af 1. december 2010 (registreringsnr.
On 12 October 2011 the Authority adopted Decision No 311/11/COL deciding that the measure did not constitute state aid within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement (‘the Decision’) [2].
579405).
On 9 January 2012 the applicant brought an action against the Decision and, by its judgment in Case E-1/12 Den norske Forleggerforening v EFTA Surveillance Authority dated 11 December 2012, the EFTA Court annulled the Decision (‘the Judgment’) [3].
Tilsynsmyndigheden anmodede om supplerende oplysninger ved brev af 4. februar 2011 (registreringsnr.
Following the Judgment, the Authority adopted Decision No 136/13/COL on 27 March 2013 initiating a formal investigation [4].
574762).
The Norwegian authorities submitted their comments to the decision on 6 May 2013 (Event No 672024).
De norske myndigheder svarede ved brev af 7. marts 2011 (registreringsnr.
The NPA submitted its observations on 31 July 2013 (Event No 679681).
589528).
A number of comments were submitted from third parties between 2 September and 15 September 2013.
De norske myndigheder gav yderligere præciseringer pr. e-mail af 2. maj 2011 og 12. august 2011 (registreringsnr.
These third party comments were forwarded to the Norwegian authorities by emails dated 4 October 2013 (Event Nos 685793, 685794, 685795, and 685797) and 7 October 2013 (Event Nos 685884, 685885, 685886, 685887, 685889) and by letter dated 29 October 2013 (Event No 688133).
596402 og 608596).
Further to a request from the NPA, a meeting was held in Brussels on 16 October 2013 during which the NPA gave a presentation outlining further comments regarding the case.
Den 9. januar 2012 anlagde sagsøgeren sag til prøvelse af beslutningen, og ved dom i sag E-1/12, Den norske Forleggerforening mod EFTA-Tilsynsmyndigheden, af 11. december 2012 annullerede EFTA-Domstolen beslutningen (herefter »dommen«) [3].
The Norwegian authorities submitted their comments on 29 November 2013 (Event No 691769).
Efter dommen vedtog Tilsynsmyndigheden den 27. marts 2013 beslutning nr. 136/13/KOL om indledning af en formel undersøgelsesprocedure [4].
The Authority requested further information by a letter dated 17 February 2014 (Event No 694424).
De norske myndigheder fremsatte deres bemærkninger til beslutningen den 6. maj 2013 (registreringsnr.
The Norwegian authorities answered by letter dated 31 March 2014 (Event Nos 703980 and 703991, Annexes 1-28 in Event No 703987).
672024).
THE NDLA
NFF fremsatte sine bemærkninger den 31. juli 2013 (registreringsnr.
The NDLA is an entity established by Norwegian county authorities on the basis of Section 27 of the Local Government Act [5].
679681).
It does not have legal personality.
Tredjeparter fremsatte en række bemærkninger mellem den 2. og den 15. september 2013.
Section 27 of the Local Government Act stipulates that municipalities or county authorities may join forces to undertake common tasks.
Bemærkningerne fra disse tredjeparter blev sendt til de norske myndigheder pr. e-mail af 4. oktober 2013 (registreringsnr.
The cooperation should take place through a board appointed by the relevant municipality or county authority.
685793, 685794, 685795 og 685797) og 7. oktober 2013 (registreringsnr.
The board may be empowered to adopt decisions concerning the operation and organisation of the inter-municipal cooperation.
685884, 685885, 685886, 685887 og 685889) og ved brev af 29. oktober 2013 (registreringsnr.
Moreover, the provision stipulates that the articles of association of such cooperation should determine the appointment and representation in the board, the area of activities, whether the participating municipalities/county authorities should make financial contributions, whether the board may enter into loan agreements or in other ways make the participating municipalities/county authorities liable for financial obligations and, finally, how such cooperation should be terminated.
688133).
Only municipalities and county authorities are allowed to participate in an inter-municipal cooperation.
Efter anmodning fra NFF blev der holdt et møde den 16. oktober 2013 i Bruxelles, hvor NFF kort fremsatte yderligere bemærkninger til sagen.
Neither the State, other state entities nor private parties can participate in such cooperations.
Tilsynsmyndigheden anmodede om supplerende oplysninger ved brev af 17. februar 2014 (registreringsnr.
Furthermore, the cooperation must be genuine in the sense that the law prohibits the management of the cooperation to be delegated to one county authority.
694424).
The establishment of the NDLA is described in section I.4.4.
De norske myndigheder svarede ved brev af 31. marts 2014 (registreringsnr.
The objective of the NDLA is to develop and purchase digital learning material with a view to publish the material on the internet free of charge for teachers and students to use.
703980 og 703991, bilag 1-28 til registreringsnr.
This is done by publishing the material on an open website.
703987).
It has four main areas of activity: first, the development and supply of digital learning material for the upper secondary school; second, the procurement of digital learning material from third party suppliers; third, the quality control of learning material; and fourth, the operation of the website through which the digital learning material is published (these activities are hereafter also referred to as the ‘purchase, development and supply of digital learning materials’).
NDLA
THE COMPLAINANT — THE NORWEGIAN PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION (‘THE NPA’)
NDLA er en enhed, der er oprettet af de norske amter på grundlag af § 27 i loven om lokalforvaltning [5].
The NPA represents companies which are or could be active in the development and distribution of digital learning material.
Den har ikke status som juridisk person.
The complainant submits that the granting of funds to the NDLA for the purchase, development and supply of digital learning material constitutes unlawful state aid to the NDLA.
I henhold til § 27 i loven om lokalforvaltning kan kommuner og amter gå sammen om at udføre fælles opgaver.
In that regard the complainant emphasises that — in its view — the NDLA is not an integrated part of the public administration, but rather an undertaking within the meaning of the state aid rules.
Samarbejdet bør finde sted gennem en bestyrelse, der udpeges af de relevante kommuner og amter.
The complainant recalls that, according to established case law, an undertaking is an entity which is engaged in economic activity.
Bestyrelsen kan bemyndiges til at vedtage beslutninger om driften og tilrettelæggelsen af det tværkommunale samarbejde.
The complainant suggests that according to the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (‘Court of Justice’), an economic activity is an activity, which could, at least in principle, be carried out by a private undertaking in order to make a profit.
Det fremgår endvidere af bestemmelsen, at det bør fastlægges i vedtægterne for et sådant samarbejde, hvem der skal udpeges til at sidde i og repræsentere bestyrelsen, hvilket aktivitetsområde den skal have, om de deltagende kommuner eller amter skal yde finansielle bidrag, om bestyrelsen kan indgå låneaftaler eller på anden vis pålægge de deltagende kommuner/amter finansielle forpligtelser, og endelig, hvordan et sådant samarbejde skal bringes til ophør.
As such, any entity carrying out an activity which could be carried out for profit, is engaged in an economic activity.
Kun kommuner og amter har lov til at deltage i et tværkommunalt samarbejde.
The complainant further submits that there was a market for digital learning material prior to the activities of the NDLA and that the NDLA now competes with established private undertakings offering digital learning resources.
Hverken staten, andre statslige enheder eller private parter kan deltage i sådanne former for samarbejde.
The complainant claims that on this basis the development and supply of digital learning resources constitutes an economic activity.
Endvidere skal samarbejdet være reelt i den forstand, at loven forbyder, at forvaltningen af samarbejdet uddelegeres til ét amt.
The complainant further suggests that the other activities of the NDLA are closely linked to the development and supply of digital learning resources and are therefore also to be considered as economic in nature.
Oprettelsen af NDLA er beskrevet i afdeling I.4.4.
The complainant also argues that Article 59(2) of the EEA Agreement is not applicable and concludes that — in the absence of a notification — the Norwegian State has granted state aid contrary to the state aid rules.
Formålet med NDLA er at udvikle og købe digitalt undervisningsmateriale med henblik på gratis at offentliggøre materialet på internettet til brug for lærere og elever.
BACKGROUND
Dette gøres ved at offentliggøre materialet på et websted med fri adgang.
THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN NORWAY
NDLA har fire hovedaktivitetsområder: for det første udvikling og levering af digitalt undervisningsmateriale til ungdomsuddannelsesinstitutioner, for det andet indkøb af digitalt undervisningsmateriale fra tredjepartsleverandører, for det tredje kvalitetskontrol med undervisningsmateriale, og for det fjerde driften af det websted, hvor det digitale undervisningsmateriale offentliggøres (disse aktiviteter betegnes herefter også som »køb, udvikling og levering af digitale undervisningsmaterialer«).
Education in Norway is provided through a system of free public schools.
KLAGEREN — DEN NORSKE FORLÆGGERFORENING (»NFF«)
This system is divided into a compulsory elementary school (age 6 to 13), a compulsory lower secondary school (age 13 to 16), and a non-compulsory upper secondary school (age 16 to 19).
NFF repræsenterer virksomheder, der er eller kunne være aktive inden for udvikling og distribution af digitalt undervisningsmateriale.
In 2006 the Norwegian authorities decided, in the course of the ‘Knowledge Promotion Initiative’ [6], that all Norwegian schools were to emphasise certain basic skills in all subjects.
Klageren gør gældende, at tildeling af midler til NDLA med henblik på køb, udvikling og levering af digitalt undervisningsmateriale udgør ulovlig statsstøtte til NDLA.
One of these skills is the ability to learn a given subject by using digital information and communication technology.
I den forbindelse understreger klageren, at NDLA efter dens opfattelse ikke er en integrerende del af den offentlige forvaltning, men snarere en virksomhed efter statsstøttereglerne.
This requirement was introduced in the national curriculum for pupils in the 10-year compulsory school (i.e. school for grades 1 to 10) and for pupils in the first year of upper secondary education (i.e. school for grades 11 to 13) and apprenticeships.
Klageren minder om, at en virksomhed ifølge fast retspraksis er en enhed, der udøver økonomisk virksomhed.
Under the Norwegian Education Act [7], the county authorities are responsible for meeting these requirements.
Klageren antyder, at økonomisk virksomhed ifølge Den Europæiske Unions Domstol (herefter »EU-Domstolen«) er virksomhed, der i hvert fald i princippet kunne udøves af en privat virksomhed med gevinst for øje.
Furthermore, in 2007, the Norwegian authorities amended the Education Act and obliged the county authorities to provide pupils with the necessary printed and digital learning materials free of charge.
Som sådan udøver enhver enhed, der udfører en aktivitet, som kunne være med gevinst for øje, en økonomisk virksomhed.
It should be noted that until that time, pupils in Norwegian upper secondary school (grades 11 to 13) had to purchase their learning material based on the choice of learning material designated by the schools in compliance with the national curriculum.
Klageren gør endvidere gældende, at der var et marked for digitalt undervisningsmateriale, før NDLA påbegyndte sin virksomhed, og at NDLA nu konkurrerer med etablerede private virksomheder, der tilbyder digitale undervisningsressourcer.
The change was implemented after the Norwegian government examined possible modes for, and the economic consequence of, implementing free learning material in the upper secondary schooling system [8].
Klageren anfører desuden, at EØS-aftalens artikel 59, stk. 2, ikke finder anvendelse, og konkluderer, at den norske stat — da der ikke foreligger en anmeldelse — har ydet statsstøtte i strid med statsstøttereglerne.
The principle of free education is derived from Section 35 of the Secondary School Act [10] on education, third paragraph, which prohibits tuition fees being charged.
BAGGRUND
The current system whereby students and apprentices have to buy their own learning materials and tools is not regulated by law.’ [11] (unofficial translation)(20) Indeed, the new sub-section 9 of the Education Act, Section 3-1, now explicitly states that:
UDDANNELSESSYSTEMET I NORGE
‘Education and training provided at publicly-maintained upper secondary schools or training establishments are free of charge.
Uddannelse i Norge gives gennem et system af gratis offentlige skoler.
The county authority is responsible for providing the pupils with the necessary printed and digital teaching tool and digital equipment.
Dette system er opdelt i en obligatorisk grundskole (6 til 13 år), et obligatorisk skoleforløb på sekundærtrinnet (13 til 16 år) og et ikkeobligatorisk ungdomsuddannelsesforløb (16 til 19 år).
The pupils cannot be required to pay any of the costs for such materials and equipment in excess of that which is decided in the regulation. (…)’ [12] (unofficial translation)4.2.
I 2006 besluttede de norske myndigheder som led i kundskabsfremmeinitiativet [6], at alle norske skoler skulle fokusere på visse grundlæggende færdigheder i alle fag.
PROVISIONS IN THE REVISED STATE BUDGET
En af disse færdigheder er evnen til at tilegne sig viden om et givet emne ved hjælp af informations- og kommunikationsteknologi.
The obligation to provide free digital and physical learning material constitutes a considerable financial burden on the Norwegian county authorities.
Dette krav blev indført i den nationale læseplan for elever i den tiårige obligatoriske skole (dvs. skoleforløbet fra 1. til 10. klassetrin) og for elever i det første år af en ungdomsuddannelse (dvs. skoleforløbet fra 11. til 13 klassetrin) og lærlingeuddannelser.
In view of these additional costs, the Norwegian government decided in 2006 to provide additional funds.
Ifølge den norske uddannelseslov [7] er amterne ansvarlige for opfyldelsen af disse krav.
The provision of these funds was included in a revised State budget which was adopted on 12 May 2006:
I 2007 ændrede de norske myndigheder endvidere uddannelsesloven og pålagde amterne at stille det nødvendige trykte eller digitale undervisningsmateriale gratis til rådighed for eleverne.
‘The government's goal is to introduce learning materials in secondary schools free of charge.
Det bemærkes, at eleverne i det norske ungdomsuddannelsesforløb (11. til 13. klassetrin) indtil da skulle købe deres undervisningsmateriale på grundlag af det materiale, som skolerne havde udvalgt i overensstemmelse med den nationale læseplan.
At the same time the government wants to stimulate the use of digital learning materials in secondary schools.
Ændringen blev gennemført, efter at den norske regering havde undersøgt mulige metoder til og de økonomiske konsekvenser af at indføre gratis undervisningsmateriale i ungdomsuddannelsesforløbet [8].
As an element in the work for reduced costs for the single pupil through extended access to and use of digital learning materials, the Government suggests that NOK 50000000,- should be used for the development and use of digital learning material.
Ifølge en hvidbog [9] er princippet om at stille undervisningsmateriale gratis til rådighed ikke noget nyt, da det allerede implicit er blevet fastlagt i forbindelse med forbuddet mod at opkræve undervisningsgebyrer, hvilket kunne fortolkes således, at undervisningsmateriale også skal være gratis.
The applications from counties can include one, several or all secondary schools in the county and it can include one or several topics.
(…)« [12] (uofficiel oversættelse).4.2.
The goal with this contribution is to stimulate the development and use of digital learning material and to contribute to the reduction of the pupils costs related to learning materials.
Forpligtelsen til gratis at stille digitalt og fysisk undervisningsmateriale til rådighed udgør en betydelig finansiel byrde for de norske amter.
The funds shall not be used for developing digital infrastructure.
I betragtning af disse ekstraomkostninger besluttede den norske regering i 2006 at tilvejebringe supplerende midler.
The plan is to give (sic.) [priority] to applications based on cooperation between counties.’ [13] (unofficial translation by the Norwegian authorities)
Tilvejebringelsen af disse midler blev medtaget i det reviderede statsbudget, der blev vedtaget den 12. maj 2006:
Invitation to Submit an Application
»Regeringens mål er at indføre gratis undervisningsmaterialer i skoleforløbet på sekundærtrinnet.
In a letter dated 19 June 2006 the Ministry of Education and Research submitted an invitation to the county authorities to apply separately or jointly for the NOK 50 million that had been made available by 15 August 2006.
Regeringen ønsker samtidig at fremme brugen af digitale undervisningsmaterialer i skoleforløbet på sekundærtrinnet.
The letter describes the objectives and the concept of the initiative as follows:
Som led i bestræbelserne på at mindske udgifterne for den enkelte elev gennem udvidet adgang til brugen af digitale undervisningsmaterialer foreslår regeringen, at der anvendes 50000000 NOK til udviklingen og anvendelsen af digitalt undervisningsmateriale.
‘To increase access to digital learning material in upper secondary education, as well as implementing widespread use of it.
Ansøgninger fra amterne kan omfatte en, flere eller alle skoler på sekundærtrinnet i amtet og et eller flere emner.
To enhance competence within upper secondary education and amongst school owners in purchasing and/or developing digital learning materials.
Formålet med dette bidrag er at fremme udviklingen og anvendelsen af digitalt undervisningsmateriale og bidrage til at mindske elevernes udgifter til undervisningsmateriale.
Increase the volume and diversity of digital teaching material intended fort upper secondary education.
Midlerne kan anvendes til indkøb eller udvikling af digitalt undervisningsmateriale på lokalt plan.
A reduction of student expenditure related to the acquisition of teaching material.’ (unofficial translation by the Norwegian authorities)
Midlerne kan ikke anvendes til udvikling af digital infrastruktur.
(…) In the [revised State budget] for 2006 the government states the following:
At forbedre kompetencen inden for ungdomsuddannelsesforløbet og blandt skoleejerne til at købe og/eller udvikle digitale undervisningsmaterialer.
While the county authority of Oslo decided not to participate in a cooperative project, the other 18 county authorities decided to enter into an inter-municipal cooperation and to set up the NDLA to manage the process for an indefinite period.
At øge mængden og mangfoldigheden af digitalt undervisningsmateriale, der er bestemt for ungdomsuddannelsesforløbet.
Each of these county authorities subsequently adopted the following resolution:
At mindske elevernes udgifter til anskaffelse af undervisningsmateriale« (uofficiel oversættelse fra de norske myndigheder).
‘The County Council passes a resolution for the following counties, Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, Nordland, Nord-Trøndelag, Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Sør-Trøndelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold and Østfold, to establish an inter-municipal cooperation, the NDLA, with its own Board in accordance with §27 of the Local Government Act.
(…) I [det reviderede statsbudget] for 2006 udtaler regeringen følgende:
The purpose of this collaboration is to facilitate the purchase, development, deployment and organisation of digital learning resources for all subjects in upper secondary education.
»Midlerne kan anvendes til indkøb af digitale undervisningsressourcer« [14] (uofficiel oversættelse).4.2.2.
The result shall be free digital learning material that facilitates active learning and sharing (…)’ [15] (unofficial translation by the Norwegian authorities) (24) On 1 December 2012, Akershus decided to leave the NDLA, but then decided to rejoin the NDLA as of 1 January 2014.
Oprettelsen af NDLA
According to the preface to the 2012 NDLA annual report ‘Akershus county authority resigned its membership due to low visitor numbers from their own schools (…)’ [16] (unofficial translation).
I august 2006 mødtes uddannelsescheferne fra de 19 norske amter for at drøfte muligheden af en fælles ansøgning om midlerne.
According to the information on the NDLA website, Akershus' reason for rejoining was that ‘[s]ince its withdrawal from the NDLA, the use of the subjects at ndla.no has increased enormously.’ (unofficial translation), meaning that the NDLA, as of today, consists of 18 county authorities.
Oslo amt besluttede ikke at deltage i et samarbejdsprojekt, men de andre 18 amter vedtog at indlede et tværkommunalt samarbejde og oprette NDLA med henblik på at forvalte processen for en ubestemt periode.
FUNDS FOR THE COUNTY AUTHORITIES
Formålet med dette samarbejde er at lette køb, udvikling, anvendelse og tilrettelæggelse af digitale undervisningsressourcer for alle fag i ungdomsuddannelsesforløbet.
The project plan, which was received on 16 February 2007, was approved on 20 April 2007 and the additional NOK 15 million was granted subject to a number of conditions:
MIDLER TIL AMTERNE
‘The funds shall be used for the purchasing, development and/or adaptation of digital learning tools in the subjects Norwegian, and natural sciences, for VGI [18], from fall 2007 (…)
Ansøgningen om statsmidlerne blev den 15. oktober 2006 indgivet samlet af de 18 amter til undervisnings- og forskningsministeriet, der gav foreløbigt tilsagn om at godkende et tilskud på 2 mio. NOK til projektplanlægning og yderligere 15 mio. NOK til udvikling og køb af indhold (dvs. i alt 17 mio. NOK).
The Ministry requests further that the county authorities jointly identify a responsible legal entity that will take care of the county authorities' responsibility for digital learning resources under this initiative.
Tilskuddet på 15 mio. NOK skulle ikke tildeles, før projektet var planlagt [17].
Such an entity can be e.g. a corporation, an inter-municipal cooperation or a host county authority but it cannot itself engage in economic activity.