natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Similarly to what has been stated in recital (45) concerning the initial reference price, there was no index for price developments of energy wood.
(eurot/rm)
It was, therefore, not only reasonable to base the initial reference price on the price for industrial wood but also reasonable to agree upon a price adjustment in parallel to the index for industrial wood.
Tegelikult makstud hind (valemi kasutamise alusel
Furthermore, the text of the agreement foresaw that the parties should share price fluctuations at 50 %.
Hinna kohandamise klauslist tulenev hind [10]
Since the price development was, at the time of signing, not fully foreseeable, this mechanism had the effect that both parties shared both the risk and (potential) benefits, which could have also resulted in an advantage for the Land Brandenburg.
Igat liiki puidu keskmine hind Brandenburgi liidumaal
In view of this uncertainty, also a private vendor could have agreed to such a clause.
Andmed puuduvad
This clause must therefore be regarded as being market-conform.
Tabel näitab lisaks, et valemi alusel arvutatud hinnad ei olnud mitte üksnes tunduvalt madalamad hindadest, mis oleksid tulenenud hinna kohandamise klausli kasutamisest, vaid olid tunduvalt madalamad ka keskmistest hindadest Brandenburgi liidumaal.
It can be concluded that the price adjustment clause, foreseeing a development of the price in parallel with the index for industrial wood and an even sharing of the risk of price fluctuations between the parties, was market-conform and that a reasonable private vendor would have entered into such an agreement.
Valemi selline mõju oli ettenähtav juba enne lepingu allkirjastamist.
However, as already stated, the actual price adjustments were made by applying the formula.
See asjaolu on erilise tähtsusega, kuna küsimuse selgitamiseks, kas eraõiguslik müüja oleks tegutsenud turul samuti või võrreldaval viisil nagu Brandenburgi liidumaa, on vajalik lepingu ex ante vaatenurgast hindamine [11].
As can be seen from the overview in the following table, the prices that resulted from the application of this formula were significantly lower than the prices that would have resulted from the application of the price adjustment clause:
Nagu on selgitatud põhjendustes 16 ja 18, oli valem vigane ja ei peegeldanud poolte hinna kohandamise klauslis kajastatud kavatsusi.
(in EUR per cubic meter)
Neid kavatsusi oleks olnud võimalik, nagu kinnitas ka advokaadibüroo RAUE LLP eksperdiarvamus, esitada matemaatiliselt järgmise valemiga:
Price actually paid (based on the application of the formula)
Indexn asemel arvasid lepingupooled aga maha fikseeritud summa.
Price calculated [10] on the basis of the price adjustment clause
Fikseeritud summa mahaarvamine võib küll teatud tingimustel olla õigustatud, kuid tulemuseks peaks siis olema vähemalt selleks aastaks, kui leping sõlmitakse, kokkulepitud esialgne baashind.
Average price for all wood in the Land Brandenburg
Käesoleval juhul valisid pooled mahaarvamise aga nii, et juba allkirjastamise aasta kohta oli tulemuseks hind, mis oli tunduvalt madalam kokkulepitud ja turutingimustele vastavast esialgsest baashinnast 15,50 eurot/rm.
n.a.
Järelikult oli lepingu allkirjastamise hetkel objektiivselt ettenähtav, et valem oli vigane ja ei viinud hinna kohandamise klauslis kokkulepitud hindadeni.
The table also clearly shows that the prices calculated on the basis of the formula were not only significantly lower than the prices that would have resulted from the application of the price adjustment clause but also significantly lower than the average prices in the Land Brandenburg.
Sellises olukorras oleks eraõiguslik müüja kasutanud teist valemit või vähemalt tegutsenud valemi muutmise suunas, seda enam, et pooled olid lepingu tekstis sätestanud, et hinna kohandamised peavad toimuma kooskõlas tööstuspuidu indeksiga ja hinnakõikumisriski peavad kandma riik ja HoKaWe pooleks (nagu väljendatud hinna kohandamise klauslis).
Furthermore, these effects of the formula were already foreseeable before the signing of the agreement.
Tuleb märkida, et hinna arengud lepingu raames ei tulenenud mitte päris automaatselt eelnevalt valemiga kindlaksmääratud matemaatilisest arvutusest.
This is of particular importance as, in order to assess whether a private market vendor would have acted in the same or a comparable way as the Land Brandenburg, it is necessary to carry out an ex ante assessment of the agreement [11].
Nagu selgitatud põhjenduses 19, nähtub ametliku kontrollimenetluse käigus Saksamaa esitatud teabest pigem see, et valemit kohandati lepingu kestuse ajal korduvalt [12].
As stated above in recitals (16) and (18), the formula was flawed and did not reflect the intentions as expressed in the price adjustment clause.
Nagu põhjenduses 52 esitatud ülevaatest selgelt nähtub, tekkisid need valemi ettenähtavad negatiivsed mõjud tõepoolest, kuna HoKaWe makstud hind oli tunduvalt madalam hinnast, mis oleks tulenenud hinna kohandamise klauslist.
These intentions could have been mathematically reflected, as also confirmed by the expert opinion of RAUE LLP, in the following formula:
Lisaks oli hind tunduvalt madalam Brandenburgi liidumaa metsast pärit puidu keskmisest hinnast, st hinnast, millega Brandenburgi liidumaa puitu teistele ettevõtjatele müüs [13].
However, the parties to the agreement deducted a fixed amount instead of Indexn.
Sellest järeldub, et riigile oli teada, et valemi kasutamine ei viinud hinna kavandatud arenguni tööstuspuidu indeksi alusel koos hinnakõikumisriski vastava jagamisega poolte vahel ja et selle asjaoluga lepiti.
While it may be justified, depending on the circumstances, to use a fixed deduction, such a deduction should at least result in the agreed initial reference price for the year in which the agreement is concluded.
Järeldus
Yet, in the present case the parties chose a deduction that, already for the year of signing, led to a price significantly below the agreed initial and market-conform reference price of EUR 15,50/cubic meter.
Seega on lubatav järeldus, et hinna kohandamise klausel oleks küll viinud Brandenburgi liidumaa jaoks keskmisest hinnast madalamate hindadeni, kuid need hinnad oleksid olnud sellele vaatamata turutingimustele vastavad.
Hence, the fact that the formula was flawed and did not lead to the prices agreed in the price adjustment clause was objectively foreseeable at the time of signing.
Need põhinesid vastuvõetavatel kaalutlustel ja osalevate poolte vahelistel läbirääkimistel, nii et ei saa välistada, et ka eraõiguslik turuosaline oleks sõlminud lepingu samadel või võrreldavatel tingimustel.
In this situation, a private vendor would have used a different formula or at least requested a change of the formula, especially since the parties had agreed in the text of the agreement that the price adjustment would be established in accordance with the index for industrial wood and with the risk of price fluctuations to be shared equally between the State and HoKaWe (as expressed in the price adjustment clause).
Poolte tegelikult valemi alusel tehtud hinnakohandused ei kajastanud seevastu turutingimusi ja viisid hindadeni, mis olid tunduvalt madalamad hindadest, mis oleksid tulenenud hinna kohandamise klausli kasutamisest (ja olid veelgi suuremal määral oluliselt madalamad kui puidu keskmine hind Brandenburgi liidumaal).
In this regard it also needs to be underlined that the price developments under the agreement were not simply the automatic result of a predetermined mathematical calculation laid down in the formula.
Samal ajal kui hinna areng hinna kohandamise klausli alusel vastab mõistliku ettevõtja otsusele ja kajastab hinnakõikumisriski õiglast jagamist lepingupoolte vahel, olid valemi kasutamisest tulenevad hinnad tunduvalt madalamad ja ei kajastanud lisaks riski jagamist.
As stated above in recital (19) it rather follows from the information provided by Germany in the formal investigation procedure that the formula was adjusted several times [12] during the course of the duration of the agreement.
Erinevalt juhtumist SA.19045 (Baieri (Baieri riigimetsaamet) võimalik abi ettevõtjaga Klausner sõlmitud pikaajaliste puidutarnelepingute vormis), [14] kus komisjon ei käsitlenud turu keskmisest madalamaid hindu riigiabina, kuna turul oli võimsuste ülejääk ja Baieri liidumaa tegi jõupingutusi pikaajalise korrapärase suurostja ligimeelitamise nimel, ei ole käesolevas juhtumi puhul hinnad, mis on madalamad hindadest, mis oleksid tulenenud hinna kohandamise klauslist, asjaolude alusel õigustatud.
As can clearly be seen from the table shown in recital (52), these foreseeable negative effects of applying the formula also materialized, given that the price actually paid by HoKaWe was significantly lower than the price to be charged according to the price adjustment clause.
Poolte kokkulepitud hinna kohandamise klausel võttis arvesse lepingu pikaajalist olemust ja müüdava puidu kvaliteeti ja viis juba Brandenburgi liidumaa keskmisest hinnast madalamate hindadeni.
It was also significantly lower than the average prices paid for wood from Brandenburg's State forest, that is to say the prices for which the Land Brandenburg sold wood to other companies [13].
Miski ei osuta sellele, et eraõiguslik turuosaline oleks nõustunud veelgi madalamate hindadega.
It follows that the fact that the application of the formula did not lead to the intended result of a price development based on the index for industrial wood, with the risk of price fluctuations being shared between the parties, was both known and accepted by the State.
Seda kinnitab ka Saksamaa väide, millest nähtub, et hinna kohandamise klausel kajastas poolte tegelikke kavatsusi.
Conclusion
Pärast seda, kui kaks põhjenduses 16 märgitud 2010. aastal koostatud õiguslikku eksperdiarvamust olid osutanud võimalikule lepingus sisalduvale riigiabile valemi kasutamise tõttu, leppis Brandenburgi liidumaa 2011. aastal läbirääkimiste käigus kokku lepingu muutmises, millega vigane valem kaotati.
As regards the price adjustment clause, it can be concluded that although it would have led to prices below the average price for the Land Brandenburg, these prices would have been market-conform.
Brandenburgi liidumaa leppis seega läbirääkimiste käigus kokku lepingu muutmises ja valemi väljajätmises, et viia ellu poolte tegelikud kavatsused ja teha lõpp riigiabiga seotud kahtlustele.
They were based on reasonable considerations and negotiations between the parties involved and, therefore, it cannot be excluded that also a private actor on the market would have entered into an agreement with the same or comparable conditions.
Sellest tuleneb, et eraõiguslik müüja ei oleks nõustunud lepingu täitmisega, eelkõige hinna kohandamistega valemi alusel, ja see ei vasta turutingimustele.
However, the actual price adjustment implemented by the parties on the basis of the formula did not reflect such market-conform conditions and led to significantly lower prices than the ones that would have resulted from the application of the price adjustment clause (and, even more so, the average price for wood in the Land Brandenburg).
Saksamaa väitis, et Brandenburgi valitsus sai esmakordselt metsaameti ümberkorraldamise käigus 2009. aastal teada, et HoKaWe tegelikult makstud hinnad ei vastanud hinna kohandamise klausliga eesmärgiks seatud hinna arengule, vaid olid tunduvalt madalamad hindadest, millega teistele ettevõtjatele puitu tarniti; Brandenburgi liidumaa tegutses seejärel vastavalt turutingimustele, tellides mõlemad põhjenduses 16 nimetatud eksperdiarvamused ja viies seejärel lepingu üle läbi uued läbirääkimised, mis viis 2011. aastal lepingu muutmiseni.
While the price development on the basis of the price adjustment clause reflects a reasonable business decision and a fair balance of risks concerning price fluctuations between the contracting parties, the prices resulting from the application of the formula were significantly lower and, furthermore, also did not reflect that balance of risks.
Need argumendid ei tundu kontrollimisel paika pidavat.
Contrary to the situation underlying the Commission decision in case SA.19045 (Alleged aid of the Land Bavaria (Bavarian State Forest Enterprise) in form of long-term supply agreements for wood with the company Klausner) [14] in which prices below market average were held not to contain State aid as the market suffered from overcapacities and the Land Bavaria tried to attract a significant buyer that would guarantee in the long term large and steady volumes of purchase, nothing in the facts of the present case would justify prices below the ones that would have resulted from the application of the price adjustment clause.
Esiteks olid valemi mõjud lepingu allkirjastamise hetkel juba ettenähtavad, nagu on selgitatud põhjendustes 54–57.
The price adjustment clause agreed between the parties took the nature of the long term contract and the quality of wood to be sold into account and already would have led to prices below the average price in the Land Brandenburg.
Teiseks oleks eraõiguslik müüja turul, kelle eesmärk on kokkulepitud lahenduse rakendamine hinna kohandamise klausli vormis ja kes seetõttu hinna kohandamisi täpselt jälgib, nõudnud viivitamata uusi hinnaläbirääkimisi.
There is nothing to indicate that a private actor on the market would have agreed to even lower prices than those.
Nagu selgitatud põhjenduses 65, kinnitavad Brandenburgi liidumaa läbiviidud uued edukad lepinguläbirääkimised pigem seda, et valem ei peegeldanud poolte tegelikke kavatsusi (nagu kajastatud hinna kohandamise klauslis).
This is furthermore confirmed by the submissions from Germany, which explicitly stated that the price adjustment clause represented the true intentions of the parties.
Need näitavad lisaks, et HoKaWe ei saanud keelduda valemist loobumisest.
Moreover, in 2011 the Land Brandenburg negotiated the amendment to the agreement which discarded the flawed formula, as a reaction to the two legal opinions from 2010 referred to above in recital (16) which had raised State aid concerns due to the application of the formula.
Sellest järeldub, et HoKaWe-le loodi alates lepingu jõustumise hetkest (1. juuni 2006) kuni selle muutmiseni (30. juuni 2011) majanduslik eelis.
Thus, the Land Brandenburg negotiated the amendment to the agreement without the formula specifically in order to implement the true intentions of the parties and to put an end to those State aid concerns.
Täidetud on ka kõik teised abi olemasolu kriteeriumid vastavalt Euroopa Liidu toimimise lepingu artikli 107 lõikele 1.
It follows that the way the agreement was implemented, more specifically the price adjustments on the basis of the formula, fails the private vendor test and is not market-conform.
Eelis oli selektiivne, kuna leping soodustas selgesõnaliselt ühte teatud ettevõtjat.
Germany argued that the regional government of the Land Brandenburg only became aware of the fact that the prices actually paid by HoKaWe did not follow the price development as intended by the price adjustment clause and led to significantly lower prices than the prices for which wood was delivered to other companies in the course of a reorganisation of the forest administration in 2009 and that the Land Brandenburg subsequently acted in a market-conform manner by ordering the two expert opinions mentioned in recital (16) and then by renegotiating the agreement, leading to the amendment of that agreement in 2011.
Eelise andsid liikmesriigi asutused, nimelt Brandenburgi liidumaa.
These arguments, however, do not appear plausible.
Lepingu tingimuste kohaselt HoKaWe-le müüdud keskmine puidukogus oli märkimisväärne; soodsatel tingimustel puiduga varustamine parandas saaja turupositsiooni konkurentidega võrreldes ja moonutas seega konkurentsi.
First, as explained in recitals (55) to (55), the effects of the formula were foreseeable at the time of the signing of the agreement.
Puiduturul konkureerivad ettevõtjad teiste liikmesriikide ettevõtjatega.
Secondly, a private market vendor seeking to ensure the implementation of the agreed solution found in the price adjustment clause and therefore closely monitoring the price adjustments would have reacted immediately by requesting a renegotiation of the price.
Tarneleping hõlmas küll ainult puitu 70 km raadiuses Eberswalde ümbruse metsadest, kuid Eberswalde asub väga lähedal Poola piirile (30 km).
As indicated in recital (65), the successful renegotiation of the agreement by the Land Brandenburg rather confirms that the formula did not reflect the true intentions of the parties (as agreed in the price adjustment clause).
Järelikult kahjustab abi ka liikmesriikide vahelist kaubandust.
It also shows that HoKaWe could not refuse to discard the formula.
Seetõttu võib järeldada, et lepingu täitmine, mis viis selleni, et makstud hinnad põhinesid valemil, kujutas endast riigiabi.
Consequently, HoKaWe benefitted from an economic advantage in the period from the date of coming into effect of the agreement (1 June 2006) until the amendment of the agreement (30 June 2011).
Lepingu nimetatud muudatust, mis jõustus 1. juulil 2011, tuleb käsitleda abimeetme lõpetamisena.
Furthermore, all other criteria of Article 107(1) TFEU are fulfilled.
Muudatuse kohaselt tuli hinnakohandused teha alates 1. juulist 2011hinna kohandamise klausli alusel, nii et poolte esialgseid kavatsusi kinnitati ja viidi korrektselt ellu.
The advantage was selective because the agreement specifically benefitted a certain company.
Leping vastab muudetud kujul turutingimustele, nii et komisjon järeldab, et pärast 30. juunit 2011 ei loodud HoKaWe-le enam lepingu raames maksete tegemisega majanduslikku eelist.
The advantage was granted by the authorities of a Member State, i.e. the Land Brandenburg.
Kokkusobivus siseturuga
The average volume of wood sold to HoKaWe under the terms of the agreement was significant; the wood supply at favourable terms improved the position of the recipient in relation to its competitors and therefore distorted competition.
Abi kokkusobivuse õiguslik alus ei ole ilmne ja Saksamaa ei ole seda ka väitnud.
The market for wood is open to competition from other Member States.
HoKaWe eelis, mis tuleneb lepingu täitmisest ajavahemikul 2006. aasta juunist kuni 2011. aasta juunini, kujutab endast seetõttu siseturuga kokkusobimatut riigiabi.
Even taking into account the fact that the supply agreement covers only wood originating from forests not further away than 70 km from Eberswalde, the Commission notes that Eberswalde is situated very close to the Polish border (only 30 km).
Riigiabi elemendi arvutamine
Therefore, the aid also affects trade between Member States.
Nagu on selgitatud põhjendustes 49–51, võib hinna kohandamise klauslit pidada turutingimustele vastavaks.
Consequently, it can be concluded that the implementation of the agreement leading to the prices paid on the basis of the formula constituted State aid.
Riigiabi element koosneb järelikult komisjoni seisukoha alusel selle hinna, mis oleks tulnud maksta hinna kohandamise klausli alusel, ja valemi alusel tegelikult makstud hinna vahest [15].
The amendment to the agreement, which entered into force on 1 July 2011, must be regarded as having brought the State aid measure to an end.
tegelikult makstud hind
This amendment provides that from 1 July 2011 onwards price adjustments had to be made in accordance with the price adjustment clause and, thereby, reconfirmed and correctly implemented the initial intentions of the parties.
(eurot/rm) [16]
As the agreement in this form is market-conform, the Commission considers that after 30 June 2011 HoKaWe no longer received an economic advantage from payments under the agreement.
hind hinna kohandamise klausli alusel
Compatibility with the internal market
(eurot/rm)
A legal basis for compatibility of the aid is neither evident nor has one been claimed by the Member State.
a ja b vahe [16]
This leads to the conclusion that HoKaWe's advantage from the implementation of the agreement between June 2006 and June 2011 constitutes incompatible State aid.
tegelikult tarnitud puidukogus
Calculation of the aid element
riigiabi element: c × d
As already explained in recitals (49) to (51), the price adjustment clause can be regarded as being market-conform.
(eurot) [16]
Therefore, the Commission considers that the aid element consists of the difference between the price actually paid [15] on the basis of the formula and the price to be paid in accordance with the price adjustment clause.
Kokku
Price actually paid
HoKaWe-le antud abi suurus on seega järelikult 2406415 eurot.
Price calculated on the basis of the price adjustment clause
Kui komisjon on tuvastanud abi kokkusobimatuse siseturuga, on tal Euroopa Liidu toimimise lepingu ja kohtu väljakujunenud praktika alusel õigus otsustada, et asjaomane liikmesriik peab selle andmise lõpetama või seda muutma [17].
(in EUR per cubic metre)
Kohtu väljakujunenud praktika alusel on kohustus lõpetada siseturuga kokkusobimatu abi, mille komisjon oma otsusega liikmesriigile kehtestab, ette nähtud endise olukorra taastamiseks [18].
Difference between (a) and (b) [16]
Sellega seoses on kohus märkinud, et see eesmärk on saavutatud, kui saaja on õigusvastase abi raames saadud summad tagasi maksnud, kuna ta kaotab siis eelise, mis tal turul konkurentidega võrreldes oli ja taastatakse abi maksmisele eelnenud olukord [19].
Amount of wood actually delivered
Kooskõlas kohtupraktikaga on nõukogu määruse (EÜ) nr 659/1999 artikli 14 lõikes 1 [20] sätestatud järgmist: „Kui ebaseadusliku abi korral tehakse negatiivne otsus, nõuab komisjon, et kõnealune liikmesriik peab võtma kõik vajalikud meetmed, et abisaajalt abi tagasi saada […].”
(in cubic metres)
Kuna vastuolus Euroopa Liidu toimimise lepingu artikliga 108 ei teatatud käesolevast meetmest komisjonile ja seega kujutab see endast õigusvastast ja siseturuga kokkusobimatut abi, tuleb see abi andmisele eelnenud turuolukorra taastamiseks tagasi nõuda.
Aid element: (c) × (d)
Tagasinõue peab hõlmama ajavahemikku, mille jooksul abisaaja sai eelise, st vahemikku alates hetkest, mil abi anti abisaaja käsutusse, kuni selle tegeliku tagasimaksmiseni; tagasinõude summad hõlmavad kuni tegeliku tagasimaksmiseni kogunenud intresse.
(in EUR) [16]
Järeldus
Total
Brandenburgi liidumaa ja HoKaWe vahel sõlmitud raamlepingu täitmine alates lepingu allkirjastamisest (1. juuni 2006) kuni selle muutmiseni (30. juuni 2011) hõlmas siseturuga kokkusobimatut riigiabi.
The aid granted to HoKaWe therefore amounts to EUR 2406415.
Järelikult tuleb abi koos intressidega HoKaWe-lt tagasi nõuda.
RECOVERY
ON VASTU VÕTNUD KÄESOLEVA OTSUSE:
According to the TFEU and the Court of Justice's established case-law, the Commission is competent to decide that the Member State concerned must abolish or alter aid [17] when it has found that it is incompatible with the internal market.
Artikkel 1
The Court has also consistently held that the obligation on a Member State to abolish aid regarded by the Commission as being incompatible with the internal market is designed to re-establish the previously existing situation.
Riigiabi summas 2406415 eurot, mida Saksamaa Euroopa Liidu toimimise lepingu artikli 108 lõiget 3 rikkudes andis õigusvastaselt HoKaWe Eberswalde GmbH-le, ei ole siseturuga kokkusobiv.
In this context, the Court has established that this objective is attained once the recipient has repaid the amounts granted by way of unlawful aid, thus forfeiting the advantage which it had enjoyed over its competitors on the market, and the situation prior to the payment of the aid is restored.
Artikkel 2
[19]
Saksamaa nõuab artiklis 1 nimetatud abi abisaajalt tagasi.
In line with the case-law, Article 14(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 [20] laid down that ‘where negative decisions are taken in cases of unlawful aid, the Commission shall decide that the Member State concerned shall take all necessary measures to recover the aid from the beneficiary […].’
Tagasinõude summa hõlmab intresse, mis arvestatakse alates hetkest, mil abi abisaaja käsutusse anti, kuni selle tegeliku tagasimaksmiseni.