natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Contrary to the intentions expressed in the text of the agreement, the price adjustments calculated in accordance with the formula did not follow the actual development of the industrial wood price index and led to prices that were significantly lower than the average price for wood from the Brandenburg State forests.
Saksamaa teatas komisjonile, et selle põhjusi ei ole võimalik enam toimikutest leida.
Moreover, the formula did not lead to the envisioned result of sharing the risk of price fluctuations evenly between the State and HoKaWe.
Kahes Brandenburgi liidumaa jaoks 2010. aastal koostatud eksperdiarvamuses (vt põhjendus 16) osutati võimalikule riigiabi olemasolule seoses lepinguga ja soovitati kohandada lepingut valemi muutmise kaudu.
This was due to fact that, as pointed out above in recital (16), the formula was flawed and did not mathematically reflect the intentions of the parties as laid down in the price adjustment clause [6].
Alates sellest kuupäevast ei olnud valem seega enam lepingu osa ja seda ei olnud järelikult võimalik enam kasutada.
In addition, the submission by Germany of 28 February 2013 shows that, during the course of the agreement the parties repeatedly exercised their discretion as regards the parameters actually used for the calculation of the price adjustment pursuant to the formula [7].
Brandenburgi liidumaa otsustas ka lepingut tulevaste HoKaWe vara ülevõtvate investoritega mitte enam jätkata.
The two expert opinions carried out for the Land Brandenburg in 2010 (see paragraph (16)) pointed to possible State aid problems and recommended to amend the agreement by changing the formula.
19. detsembril 2012 otsustas komisjon algatada ametliku kontrollimenetluse vastavalt Euroopa Liidu toimimise lepingu artikli 108 lõikele 2 (edaspidi „algatamisotsus”).
Following negotiations between HoKaWe and the Land Brandenburg, the parties therefore signed a modified version of the agreement on 26 August 2011, with effect from 1 July 2011.
Algatamisotsuses väljendas komisjon esialgset seisukohta, et Brandenburgi liidumaa ja HoKaWe vahel sõlmitud raamleping sisaldab riigiabi elementi.
This modified version remedied the problems outlined in recitals (12) to (19) by laying down that from 1 July 2011 onwards prices had to be adjusted in accordance with the price adjustment clause and, thereby, in accordance with the original intentions of the parties.
Komisjon esitas küsimuse, kas eraõiguslik müüja turul oleks ex ante vaatenurgast nõustunud hüvitisega nagu see, mis tulenes kirjeldatud hinna kohandamise valemi kasutamisest.
Thus, from that date onwards the formula ceased to be part of the agreement and could, therefore, not be applied anymore.
Lisaks kahtles komisjon ise tõsiselt selles, et isegi juhul, kui lepingupooled ei olnud valemi vigasusest teadlikud, tegutses Saksamaa lepingu täitmisel turutingimustele vastavalt.
Furthermore, the Land Brandenburg decided not to continue the contract with future investors taking over HoKaWe's assets.
Selle põhjus oli lepingu raames müüdud puidu hinna areng, sest valemi alusel arvutatud hind jäi tunduvalt allapoole keskmist puiduhinda Brandenburgi liidumaal.
Grounds for initiating the procedure
Ettevaatlik eraõiguslik müüja oleks sellises olukorras kasutanud viivitamata kõiki võimalusi hinna kohandamise meetodi muutmiseks.
On 19 December 2012 the Commission decided to open a formal investigation procedure in accordance with Article 108(2) TFEU (‘the opening decision’).
Saksamaa seevastu võttis 2011. aastani jätkuvalt aluseks valemi.
In the opening decision the Commission preliminarily considered that the implementation of the framework agreement entered into between the Land Brandenburg and HoKaWe involved State aid.
Need kaalutlused viisid komisjoni esialgse järelduseni, et ajavahemikul alates lepingu jõustumisest (1. juuni 2006) kuni selle muutmiseni (30. juuni 2011) ei saanud välistada HoKaWe-le soodustuse tegemist ja seega riigiabi olemasolu.
The Commission questioned whether, from an ex ante perspective, a private vendor on the market would have accepted a remuneration as that resulting from the application of the described price adjustment formula.
Kuna riigiabi siseturuga kokkusobivuse õiguslik alus ei olnud ilmne ja Saksamaa seda ei väitnud, kahtles komisjon lisaks, kas meedet saab käsitleda siseturuga kokkusobivana.
Moreover, even if the contracting parties would have been unaware of the flaws of the formula, the Commission expressed serious doubts as to whether Germany had acted in a market-conform manner during the implementation of the agreement.
HUVITATUD ISIKUTE MÄRKUSED
This followed from the price development for wood sold under the agreement, which showed that the price calculated on the basis of the formula led to significantly lower prices than the average wood price in the Land Brandenburg.
Ametliku kontrollimenetluse käigus sai komisjon kaebuse esitaja ning teiste huvitatud isikute märkused.
A prudent private vendor placed in a similar situation would have immediately used all possibilities to modify the adjustment method.
Sarnaselt osutati 2004. aasta märtsi siseteatises sellele, et hinna kohandamise meetod viiks Brandenburgi liidumaa poolsete asjakohatute hinnaalandusteni; seetõttu soovitati selgesõnaliselt leping uuesti läbi vaadata või mõningate punktide üle uuesti läbi rääkida.
In contrast, Germany continued using the formula until 2011.
Kaebuse esitaja väitis, et ükski eraõiguslik müüja ei oleks sellises olukorras sellist lepingut sõlminud ja et eraõiguslik müüja oleks võtnud viivitamata meetmeid, kui selgus, et hinnad on turuhindadest madalamad ja ei oleks viis aastat oodanud.
On the basis of these considerations the Commission came to the preliminary conclusion that an advantage in favour of HoKaWe and therefore the existence of State aid could not be excluded for the period from the date of coming into effect of the agreement (1 June 2006) until the amendment of the agreement (30 June 2011).
Edasi märkis kaebuse esitaja seoses hinna kohandamisega, et kokkulepitud hinnad ei kajastanud tegelikku arengut puiduturul, vaid pigem andsid HoKaWe-le põhjendamatu eelise.
COMMENTS FROM INTERESTED PARTIES
Komisjon sai märkused ka kahelt Brandenburgi liidumaa puidutöötlemisettevõttelt.
In the course of the formal investigation procedure the Commission received observations from two interested third parties as well as from the complainant.
Nende ettevõtete arvates ei jõudnudki oluline osa Brandenburgi metsast pärit puidust seoses pikaajalise lepinguga üldse piirkondlikule puiduturule, mis viis põhjendamatute konkurentsimoonutusteni ja ohustas Brandenburgi liidumaa väikeste puidutöötlemisettevõtete edasikestmist.
The complainant submitted internal notes of the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Regional Planning of the Land Brandenburg dated December 2003 and March 2004.
SAKSAMAA MÄRKUSED
According to the complainant, these notes expressed, already prior to the conclusion of the agreement, concerns regarding several aspects of the agreement: Assessing the consequences of an agreement at the time, the note from December 2003 observed that, already for the year 2004, it would lead to a price well below the price for industrial wood at the time.
Saksamaa jäi oma seisukoha juurde, et raamleping vastas turutingimustele ja ei sisaldanud järelikult riigiabi.
Likewise, the internal note from March 2004 pointed out that the price adaptation method would lead to inappropriate price concessions by the Land Brandenburg and explicitly recommended reconsidering or renegotiating the agreement.
Saksamaa andmetel lepingu allkirjastamise hetkel energiapuidu turgu ei eksisteerinud; pooled leppisid seetõttu kokku, et HoKaWe makstava hinna aluseks võetakse tööstuspuidu hind ja hinnakohanduste aluseks tööstuspuidu hinnaindeksi areng.
The complainant argued that in such a situation no private vendor would have entered into such an agreement and, furthermore, that a private vendor would have reacted immediately when it became clear that the prices were below market prices and would not have waited for five years.
Saksamaa märkis, et lepingu tekst kajastas kavandatavat hinna kohandamise viisi, kuid möönis samal ajal, et valemiga saadud tulemused ei olnud kooskõlas eesmärgiks seatud hinnakõikumisriski jagamisega poolte vahel.
As regards the price adaptation, the complainant alleges that the prices agreed did not reflect the actual development in the wood market and resulted in an undue advantage in favour of HoKaWe.
Saksamaa väitis seetõttu, et esialgset baashinda ja hinna kohandamise klauslit, mis olid lepingu tekstis kindlaks määratud, st hinna kohandamist Saksamaa tööstuspuidu hinnaindeksi alusel ja hinnakõikumisriski ühtlast jagamist poolte vahel tuleb käsitleda lepingu sõlmimise ajal turutingimustele vastavana.
The complainant estimates the amount of the aid between 2006 and 2011 at EUR 7,3 million (taking into account the average wood price as agreed between the complainant and other suppliers).
Saksamaa arvates torkas Brandenburgi metsaametile alles selle ümberkorraldamise käigus 2009. aasta jaanuaris silma, et valemi kasutamine oli viinud selleni, et HoKaWe maksis teistest ettevõtetest madalamaid hindu.
In addition, the Commission received observations from two wood-processing undertakings in the Land Brandenburg.
Brandenburgi pädevad asutused tellisid seejärel 2010. aastal advokaadibüroolt RAUE LLP lepingu kohta eksperdiarvamuse ja viisid asutusesiseselt läbi lepingu õigusliku kontrolli.
These undertakings alleged that due to the long-term agreement, a significant part of the wood produced in the Brandenburg State forest was withdrawn from the regional wood market which led to undue distortions of competition and endangered the existence of small wood-processing undertakings in the Land Brandenburg.
Mõlemas eksperdiarvamuses osutati võimalikule riigiabile seoses lepinguga.
COMMENTS FROM GERMANY
Lisaks jõudis majanduse ja Euroopa asjade ministeerium 5. jaanuari 2011 teatises järeldusele, et hinna kohandamise klausel vastab turutingimustele, hinna kohandamine valemi alusel kujutab endast seevastu riigiabi; seetõttu tuleb lepingut muuta nii, et valemi muutmise kaudu kajastuks poolte tegelik tahe.
Germany maintained that the framework agreement was market-conform and therefore did not involve State aid.
Brandenburgi liidumaa järgis seda soovitust 2011. aasta augustis.
Germany stated that, at the time of signing of the agreement, no market for wood to be used in energy production (energy wood, ‘Energieholz’) existed and that, consequently, the parties agreed to base the price to be paid by HoKaWe on the price for industrial wood and the price adjustments on the development of the index for industrial wood.
Saksamaa väidab, et Brandenburgi liidumaa tegutses vastavuses turutingimustega, kohandades lepingut 2011. aastal; varasem sekkumine ei olnud võimalik, kuna kehtivatest lepingutest oli vaja kinni pidada ja lepingut oleks saanud muuta ainult poolte kokkuleppel.
Germany also submitted that the text of the agreement reflected the intended modus operandi for price adjustments but admitted that the application of the formula led to results that did not correspond to the intended sharing of the risk of price fluctuations between the parties.
Saksamaa väidab lisaks, et leping ei kujuta endast riigiabi ega moonuta konkurentsi ega kahjusta liikmesriikide vahelist kaubandust.
Germany, therefore, argued that the initial reference price as well as the price adjustment clause laid down in the text of the agreement, with price adjustments based on the index for industrial wood in Germany and an equal sharing of the risk of price fluctuations between the parties, must be regarded as being market-conform at the time of signing the agreement.
ABI HINDAMINE
According to Germany, it was only discovered in the course of a reorganisation of the forestry administration in the Land Brandenburg in January 2009 that the application of the formula had resulted in HoKaWe's paying lower prices than other companies.
Abi olemasolu
Therefore, in 2010 the responsible authorities of the Land Brandenburg requested an assessment of the agreement by an external legal expert, RAUE LLP, and also carried out an in-house legal assessment of the agreement.
Euroopa Liidu toimimise lepingu artikli 107 lõike 1 kohaselt on igasugune liikmesriigi poolt või riigi ressurssidest ükskõik missugusel kujul antav abi, mis kahjustab või ähvardab kahjustada konkurentsi, soodustades teatud ettevõtjaid või teatud kaupade tootmist, siseturuga kokkusobimatu niivõrd, kuivõrd see kahjustab liikmesriikidevahelist kaubandust.
Both expertises pointed to possible State aid issues.
Selleks et kontrollida, kas riigiasutuse ja majandusüksuse vaheline äritehing on riigiabi, tuleb komisjoni väljakujunenud praktika alusel, mida on kinnitanud kohus, aluseks võtta turumajanduslikult tegutseva investori põhimõte.
Furthermore, the Ministry for Economic and European Affairs concluded in a written statement of 5 January 2011 that the price adjustment clause was market-conform but that a price adjustment on the basis of the formula constituted State aid and, therefore, recommended to amend the agreement in a way which would reflect the true intentions by, for example, modifying the formula.
Selle põhimõtte kohaselt peab riik turul ettevõtjana tegutsedes tegutsema nagu eraõiguslik turuosaline, vastasel juhul võib tegemist olla riigiabiga.
The Land Brandenburg followed this recommendation in August 2011.
Abi olemasolu jaoks on järelikult määrav, kas eraõiguslik ettevõtja oleks sarnases olukorras samamoodi käitunud, st müünud vara, kaupu või teenuseid sama hinnaga (turumajanduslikult tegutseva investori põhimõte).
In this regard Germany argued that the Land Brandenburg acted in a market-conform manner by adjusting the agreement in 2011 and that it could not react faster, as contracts have to be fulfilled and since the agreement could only be amended by agreement between the parties.
Selle kohaselt ei ole mittemajanduslikud kaalutlused madalama hinnaga nõustumise õigustamisel lubatavad.
Moreover, according to Germany the agreement does neither distort competition nor affect trade between Member States.
Komisjon on seda põhimõtet korduvalt kohaldanud ja kohus on seda alati kinnitanud [8].
ASSESSMENT
Järelikult tuleb komisjonil käesolevas asjas selgitada, kas eraõiguslik müüja oleks olnud valmis sõlmima lepingut võrreldavaks perioodiks, võrreldava esialgse baashinnaga ja võrreldava hinna kohandamise mehhanismiga.
Existence of aid
Nagu on põhjendustes 11 ja 12 selgitatud, oli 15 aastat kestvas raamlepingus ette nähtud hindade iga-aastane kohandamine kooskõlas tööstuspuidu hinnaindeksi arenguga ja vastavad 15,50 eurot/rm suuruse esialgse baashinna muutused pidid kandma 50 % riik ja 50 % HoKaWe.
Article 107(1) TFEU provides that any aid granted by a Member State 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 Member States, be incompatible with the internal market.
Lisaks sisaldas leping valemit hinna kohandamise arvutamiseks.
According to the settled practice of the Commission and as confirmed by the case law, the criterion for assessing whether a commercial transaction between a public body and an economic entity amounts to State aid is the market economy investor principle.
Lepingu pikk kestus
It follows from this principle that, when the State acts in the market as a commercial operator, it must do so in a way comparable to a private operator.
Kaebuse esitaja väidab, et 15 aastat kestev leping ei olnud turul tavapärane.
If the State does not do so, State aid could be involved.
Komisjonil puuduvad aga andmed, mis põhjendaksid järeldust, et kõnealune periood ei vastanud turutingimustele.
In other words, the benchmark for appreciating whether a transaction involves State aid is whether a private operator placed in a similar situation would have behaved in the same way, i.e. in the case at hand would have sold the assets, goods or service at the same price (private vendor test).
15 aastat tundub küll suhteliselt pika kestusena, kuid müüja võib ennast kindlasti ostjaga siduda, kui ta saab sel viisil — nagu see on kõnealuse lepingu raames — kindel olla, et tal on võimalik müüa ühesugustes kogustes puitu, mis lisaks vähemalt osaliselt ei täitnud tööstuspuidu kvaliteedinõudeid.
In applying this principle, non-economic considerations cannot be taken into account as reasons for accepting a lower price.
Sel põhjusel ja pidades silmas hinnakõikumisriski ettenähtud jagamist, ei saa välistada, et eraõiguslik müüja oleks sõlminud võrreldava kestusega lepingu.
This principle has been repeatedly applied by the Commission and constantly confirmed by the Court [8].
Kokkulepitud esialgne baashind
The Commission, therefore, has to assess in the present case whether a private vendor would have entered into an agreement with a comparable duration, on the basis of a comparable initial reference price and with a similar price adjustment mechanism.
Komisjonil puuduvad seoses 15,50 eurot/rm suuruse esialgse baashinnaga sarnaselt ka andmed selle kohta, et kõnealune hind ei vastanud turutingimustele.
As stated in recitals (11) to (12), the framework agreement with a duration of 15 years stipulated that the prices should be adjusted yearly in accordance with the development of the industrial wood price index and that the corresponding changes to the initial reference price, which was set at EUR 15,50/cubic meter, should be borne 50 % by the State and 50 % by HoKaWe.
Nagu Saksamaa selgitas, ei olnud lepingu allkirjastamise hetkel energiapuidu turuhind välja kujunenud.
In addition, the agreement laid down a formula to be used for the calculation of this price adjustment.
Lepingupooled kasutasid seetõttu raamlepingu alusena tööstuspuidu hinda.
Long duration of the agreement
Kaebuse esitaja ühest esitatud tööstuspuidu turuhindade ülevaatest nähtub, et turutingimustele vastavaks võib 2004. aastal lugeda hindu vahemikus 15,50–17,50 eurot/rm ning 2005. aastal hindu vahemikus 15,00–17,00 eurot/rm.
The complainant argued that the duration of the agreement, that is to say 15 years, was not customary on the market.
Ka seda tõsiasja silmas pidades, et tegemist oli pikaajalise lepinguga, jäi kokkulepitud esialgne 15,50 eurot/rm suurune baashind tööstuspuidu turutingimustele vastavate hindade raamesse.
However, the Commission does not have any indication that would justify a conclusion that this duration was not market-conform.
Brandenburgi põllumajanduse, keskkonnakaitse ja ruumiplaneerimise ministeeriumi 1. oktoobri 2003. aasta teatisest nähtub peale selle, et Brandenburgi liidumaa esindajad pakkusid läbirääkimiste käigus välja 15,50 eurot/rm suuruse esialgse baashinna, HoKaWe eesmärk oli seevastu 15,00 eurot/rm suurune hind.
While a duration of 15 years appears rather long, it is not unreasonable for a vendor to bind itself to a buyer if this would guarantee to the vendor, as was the case under the agreement at stake, to sell steady volumes of wood which, in addition, at least partly did not fulfil the quality requirements for industrial wood.
Pooled leppisid lõpuks kokku kõrgema hinna, st 15,50 eurot/rm.
In the light of this fact and the foreseen sharing of the risk of price fluctuations it cannot be excluded that a private vendor would have entered into an agreement of comparable duration.
15,50 eurot/rm suurust esialgset baashinda võib seega pidada turutingimustele vastavaks.
Initial reference price agreed
Kuna turuhinda, mida oleks saanud võrdlemise eesmärgil kasutada, ei eksisteerinud, ja energiapuidu kvaliteedinõuded ei ole vähemalt kõrgemad tööstuspuidu omadest, oli Brandenburgi liidumaa jaoks vastuvõetav sõlmida leping, mille kohaselt oleks hinna aluseks tööstuspuidu hind (baashind).
Similarly, regarding the initial reference price of EUR 15,50/cubic meter, the Commission does not have any indications that this price was not market-conform.
Kokkulepitud hind oli pooltevaheliste läbirääkimiste tulemus ja jäi Brandenburgi liidumaal tööstuspuidu turuhindade vahemikku.
As argued by Germany, at the time the agreement was signed, no established market price for energy wood existed.
Selle kokku leppimisel oli teada Brandenburgi metsast kättesaadava puidu kvaliteet [9] ja seetõttu on tegemist hinnaga, mida eraõiguslik müüja oleks seoses tarnitava puidu kvaliteediga vastuvõetavaks pidanud.
The contracting parties, therefore, based the framework agreement on the price for industrial wood.
Hinna kohandamine
According to an overview of market prices for industrial wood submitted by the complainant, prices between EUR 15,50/cubic meter and EUR 17,50/cubic meter for the year 2004 and between EUR 15,00/cubic meter and EUR 17,00/cubic meter for the year 2005 can be regarded as market-conform.
Hinna kohandamise osas tuleb, nagu selgitatud põhjenduses 14, eristada hinna kohandamise klauslit ja valemi alusel tegelikult tehtud hinna kohandamisi.
Also taking into account the fact that the agreement was a long-term contract, with the agreed price of EUR 15,50/cubic meter the initial reference price of the framework agreement stayed within the range of market-conform prices for industrial wood.
Komisjonil puuduvad andmed selle kohta, et hinna kohandamise klausel ei vastanud turutingimustele.
Furthermore, an internal note from the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Regional Planning of the Land Brandenburg dated 1 October 2003 shows that during the negotiations the representatives of the Land Brandenburg suggested an initial reference price of EUR 15,50/cubic meter, whereas HoKaWe argued for a price of EUR 15,00/cubic meter.
Vastavalt põhjenduses 45 toodud selgitustele esialgse baashinna kohta ei eksisteerinud energiapuidu hinna arengu indeksit.
The parties finally agreed upon the higher price, namely EUR 15,50/cubic meter.
Seetõttu oli vastuvõetav mitte üksnes see, et esialgse baashinna aluseks võeti tööstuspuidu hind, vaid ka see, et lepiti kokku tööstuspuidu hinnaindeksi liikumisega paralleelselt toimuvad hinnakohandused.
It follows that the initial reference price of EUR 15,50/cubic meter may be regarded as market-conform.
Lisaks oli lepingu tekstis ette nähtud hinnakõikumisriski poolte vahel pooleks jagamine.
Given the lack of an established market price for comparison, and the fact that the quality requirements of energy wood are at least not higher than industrial wood, it was reasonable for the Land Brandenburg to conclude an agreement according to which the price would be based on the price for industrial wood (reference price).
Kuna hinna areng ei olnud allkirjastamise hetkel ühetähenduslikult ettenähtav, oli selle mehhanismi tagajärg, et mõlemad pooled jagaksid nii riski kui ka (potentsiaalseid) kasumeid, mis oleks võinud kujuneda ka Brandenburgi liidumaa kasuks.
The price agreed was the result of negotiations between the parties and was furthermore within the price range of market prices for industrial wood in the Land Brandenburg.
Seda ebakindlust silmas pidades oleks võinud ka eraõiguslik müüja taolise klausliga nõustuda.
It was agreed upon in knowledge of the quality of wood available to the State forests of the Land Brandenburg [9] and thus represents what a private vendor would have considered as being acceptable for the quality of wood to be delivered.
Klauslit tuleb järelikult pidada turutingimustele vastavaks.
Price adjustment
Sellest tuleneb, et hinna kohandamise klausel, mis nägi ette hinna arengu paralleelselt tööstuspuidu hinnaindeksiga ja hinnakõikumisriski ühtlase jagamise poolte vahel, vastas turutingimustele ja ettevaatlik eraõiguslik müüja oleks sellise lepingu sõlminud.
Regarding the price adjustment, as pointed out in recital (14), it is necessary to distinguish between the price adjustment clause and the price adjustments actually applied on the basis of the formula.
Nagu juba kirjeldatud, tehti tegelikud hinnakohandused aga valemi alusel.
With regard to the price adjustment clause the Commission does not have any indications that it was not market-conform.
Järgnevast ülevaatlikust tabelist on näha, et valemi kasutamisest tulenevad hinnad olid tunduvalt madalamad hindadest, mis oleksid tulenenud hinna kohandamise klausli kasutamisest: