natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
The Commission asserted, second, that the — albeit limited — bidding process carried out by NEUWOGES demonstrates that NEUWOGES had the ability to inform itself in the market and take an economically rational decision [25].
Lõpuks selgitas LG Rostock, et NEUWOGES oli madalast ostuhinnast huvitatud, sest selle toel vähenes BAVARIA investeeringute kogumaht ja sellekohane rendimäär [35].
Third, the Commission referred to the fact that the contractually agreed rent level for 2008 actually corresponded to the average rent in the relevant neighbourhood in 2008 or was only slightly below this [26].
Lisaks märkis LG Rostock, et madalam ostuhind oli kasulik ka seetõttu, et NEUWOGESi maksekohustused ETFi ees sõltusid müügitulust [36].
Despite the fact that all these factors pointed towards the conclusion that the general management contract did conform to normal market conditions, the Commission solicited further information about the actual expectations of participants in the real estate market in 1998 in order to analyse the respective arguments in more depth [27].
GVVga seoses oli LG Rostock esiteks seisukohal, et müügi- ja tagasirenditehingute puhul ei ole 30aastane lepinguperiood midagi ebatavalist [37].
The Commission finally examined the cash-flow analysis submitted by NEUWOGES, ultimately coming to the conclusion that, due to methodological deficiencies, the analysis could not prove an economic advantage in favour of BAVARIA [28].
Teiseks leidis kohus, et lepingus kokkulepitud rent, mille suurus oli esialgu […] eurot ruutmeetri kohta, ei olnud ebaproportsionaalne võrreldavate hoonete tollaste (1997/1998) keskmiste üüritasudega [38].
In conclusion, the Commission decided that, on the basis of the submitted information, it could not prove that BAVARIA had been granted an economic advantage [29].
Edasi jõudis kohus järeldusele, et rendimäära iga-aastane tõus […] % võrra oli aastate 1970–1998 inflatsiooni arvestades (st keskmiselt 3,52 % aastas) põhjendatud [39].
However, it indicated its intention to analyse the participants’ arguments in more depth and called upon all interested parties to provide additional useful information [30].
Lisaks viitas LG Rostock sellele, et üüritasu tegelik areng asjaomastes linnaosades vastas lepinguperioodi esimesel kümnel aastal ligikaudu lepingus kokkulepitud tõusule.
NATIONAL COURT PROCEEDINGS
Kolmandaks esitas LG Rostock argumendi, et haldus- ja hoolduskulud arvutati kehtivate õigusaktide alusel ega osutanud BAVARIA-le antud eelisele [40].
On 28 November 2008, Rostock Regional Court issued its judgment in first-instance proceedings between BAVARIA and NEUWOGES.
[…] % moodustava üüri saamata jäämise riski puhul oli LG Rostock seisukohal, et igas rendisuhtes peab rendilevõtja kandma riski, kas tal on võimalik talle kasutamiseks üleantud asja ka tegelikult ettenähtud viisil kasutada [41].
BAVARIA had initiated the proceedings as, from October 2006 onwards, NEUWOGES had refused to pay the monthly leasing payment agreed in the general management contract, arguing that the contract was void because it contained illegal state aid.
LG Rostock tugines selle järelduse tegemisel argumendile, et ükski krediidiasutus ei vastutaks selle eest, kas rahastatud kinnisvara on võimalik kavakohaselt kasutada.
In its judgment, Rostock Regional Court reasoned that the land-lease and sale contract and the general management contract had to be viewed as a unit and not in isolation, as they both formed part of one and the same sale-and-lease-back transaction [31].
Lõpuks võrdles LG Rostock keskmist müügi- ja tagasirenditehingust tulenevat rendimäära tavapäraste laenude intressimääradega.
With respect to the land-lease and sale contract, Rostock Regional Court first calculated the annual rent for the land over the first 30 years of the contract, arriving at a figure of […]% per year.
Kuna keskmine iga-aastane rendimäär on […] % aastas, ei olnud see LG Rostocki arvates ehituslaenu intressimäärade oodatava arenguga võrreldes ebaproportsionaalne, sest ehituslaenu intressimäär võib ulatuda aastas kuni 10 %ni [42].
The court expressed the view that this did not constitute inappropriately low remuneration since NEUWOGES received the ground rent for the first 30 years upfront and could invest it, which would not have been the case if the rent had been paid on a yearly basis [32].
Kokkuvõttes märkis LG Rostock, et BAVARIA-le ei antud eelist, sest ka turumajanduse tingimustes tegutsev ettevõtja oleks kõnealused lepingud sõlminud [43].
Rostock Regional Court further affirmed that the debt write-off obtained by NEUWOGES under the sale-and-lease-back transaction had to be taken fully into account, as the transaction created the conditions allowing for the debt write-off to be secured [33].
NEUWOGES esitas selle otsuse vastu apellatsioonkaebuse; menetlus OLG Rostockis on veel pooleli.
When the debt write-off is added to the purchase price for the buildings, the resulting figure is only 16 % lower than that determined for the buildings in the 2007 valuation and is thus not disproportionate to the buildings’ value [34].
Lisaks algatas BAVARIA menetluse VG Greifswaldis, et saada kohtult õigus tutvuda kõikide kõnealuseid lepinguid puudutavate NEUWOGESi või Neubrandenburgi linna toimikutega.
The court finally reasoned that NEUWOGES had an interest in a low purchase price, as a lower purchase price reduced BAVARIA’s overall investment volume and the corresponding leasing payment [35].
BAVARIA selgitas, et proovis eelnevalt saada seda tutvumisõigust teabevabaduse seaduse alusel esitatud taotlusega, mille aga Neubrandenburgi linn lükkas tagasi argumendiga, et BAVARIA oli LG/OLG Rostocki ja Euroopa Komisjoni menetluste raames saanud juba juurdepääsu kõikidele olulistele dokumentidele [44].
Additionally, it held that a lower purchase price was also beneficial since NEUWOGES’ payment obligations towards the inherited debt relief fund depended on the price obtained in the sale [36].
Menetlus VG Greifswaldis on samuti veel pooleli.
As regards the general management contract in particular, Rostock Regional Court began by expressing the view that a duration of 30 years was not uncommon in real-estate leasing transactions [37].
MEETME HINDAMINE
Second, it considered that the contractually agreed leasing payment of initially EUR […] per m2 was not disproportionate to the average rents for comparable buildings at the relevant time (1997/98) [38].
ABI OLEMASOLU VASTAVALT EUROOPA LIIDU TOIMIMISE LEPINGU ARTIKLI 107 LÕIKELE 1
Rostock Regional Court further considered that the yearly increase in the leasing payment by […]% was justified, having regard to average inflation between 1970 and 1998 (i.e. 3,52 % per year) [39].
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”.
In addition, the court remarked that the actual development of rents in the relevant neighbourhoods over the first 10 years of the contract roughly corresponded to the contractually agreed increase.
Meede on järelikult riigiabi, kui on täidetud kõik neli järgmist tingimust:
Third, the court maintained that the costs of administration and maintenance had been calculated according to the applicable legislation and did not indicate an advantage for BAVARIA [40].
meede annab ettevõtjale valikulise majandusliku eelise;
With respect to the risk of loss of rent of […]%, Rostock Regional Court was of the opinion that, under any lease, the lessee has to bear the risk of whether the leased object can be used as intended [41].
meede on seostatav riigiga ja seda rahastatakse riigi vahenditest;
The court supported this conclusion by arguing that no credit institution would accept responsibility for whether or not the property for which a loan was taken out could be used as intended.
meede kahjustab või ähvardab kahjustada konkurentsi;
Rostock Regional Court finally compared the average leasing rate resulting from the sale-and-lease-back transaction with the interest rates on traditional loans.
meede võib kahjustada liikmesriikidevahelist kaubandust.
Arguing that the average yearly leasing interest rate was at […]% per year, Rostock Regional Court held that this could not be said to have been disproportionate to the likely development of interest rates for building loans, which could be as high as 10 % per year [42].
Ettevõtjale antud valikulise eelisega seotud üldpõhimõtted
In conclusion, Rostock Regional Court found that BAVARIA had not been granted an advantage, as a MEO would also have concluded the contracts in question [43].
Euroopa Kohtu praktikast ilmneb, et tingimused, millele peab vastama meede, et kuuluda Euroopa Liidu toimimise lepingu artikli 107 tähenduses mõiste „abi” alla, ei ole täidetud, kui ettevõtja, kes sai abi, võiks saada sama eelise nagu see, mille ta sai riigi vahenditest, tavapärastele turutingimustele vastavatel asjaoludel.
NEUWOGES appealed against this judgment, and proceedings before the Rostock Higher Regional Court are pending.
Hindamaks, kas sama meetme oleks tavapärastel turutingimustel võtnud turumajanduse tingimustes tegutsev ettevõtja, kes on riigiga võimalikult sarnases olukorras, tuleb arvesse võtta üksnes eeliseid ja kohustusi, mis on seotud riigi kui aktsionäri olukorraga, mitte aga neid, mis puudutavad teda kui avaliku võimu kandjat [45].
Additionally, BAVARIA initiated proceedings before Greifswald Administrative Court, seeking to obtain a ruling granting it access to all files held by NEUWOGES or the City of Neubrandenburg in relation to the contracts in question.
Järelikult sõltub turumajanduse tingimustes tegutseva ettevõtja põhimõtte kohaldamine lõpuks sellest, kas asjaomane liikmesriik annab ettevõtjale majandusliku eelise ettevõtjana, mitte aga avaliku võimu kandjana.
BAVARIA claimed to have previously attempted to obtain such access by means of a freedom of information application, which was, however, rejected by Neubrandenburg on the basis of the argument that BAVARIA already had access to all relevant documents in the context of the proceedings before the Rostock Regional Court and Higher Regional Court and the European Commission [44].
Sellest tuleneb, et kui liikmesriik tugineb haldusmenetluses sellele põhimõttele, peab ta kahtluse korral tõendama üheselt ning lähtudes objektiivsetest ja kontrollitavatest tõenditest, et rakendatav meede pärineb temalt kui ettevõtjalt.
The case before the Greifswald Administrative Court is also still pending.
Nendest tõenditest peab selgelt nähtuma, et asjaomane liikmesriik otsustas enne majandusliku eelise andmist või samal ajal sellega alustada tegelikult ettevõtja suhtes rakendatud meetme abil majandustegevust.
ASSESSMENT OF THE MEASURE
Nõutavad võivad selles osas olla eelkõige tõendid, millest ilmneb, et kõnealune otsus põhineb majandushinnangutel, mis on sarnased nendega, mille käesoleva juhtumi asjaoludel oleks turumajanduse tingimustes tegutsev ettevõtja, kes on nimetatud liikmesriigiga võimalikult sarnases olukorras, enne selle investeeringu tegemist hankinud, et kindlaks teha sellise investeeringu kasumlikkus tulevikus.
EXISTENCE OF AID UNDER ARTICLE 107(1) TFEU
Seevastu kui majandushinnangud koostatakse pärast selle eelise andmist, ei piisa asjaomase liikmesriigi tehtud investeeringu tegeliku kasumlikkuse tagantjärele tuvastamisest või tegelikult kasutatud menetluse valiku hilisemast põhjendamisest, selleks et tõendada, et liikmesriik tegi enne eelise andmist või eelise andmise ajal niisuguse otsuse turumajanduse tingimustes tegutseva ettevõtjana [46].
Article 107(1) TFEU provides that ‘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’.
Ülalnimetatust järeldub esiteks, et lepingupoolte esitatud dokumente, mis koostati pärast meetme võtmist, ei ole sellistena võimalik käesoleval juhul turumajanduse tingimustes tegutseva ettevõtja põhimõtte järgimise uurimisel arvesse võtta.
Accordingly, a measure constitutes state aid if the following four cumulative conditions are met:
Teiseks ilmneb eeltoodust, et AHG mõju NEUWOGESi finantsolukorrale ei saa siinsel juhul turumajanduse tingimustes tegutseva ettevõtja põhimõtte järgimise uurimisel samuti arvesse võtta.
The measure confers a selective economic advantage upon an undertaking.
AHG täitis tõepoolest poliitilist eesmärki ja toetuse saamisel tuli kõne alla ainult piiratud ettevõtjate kategooria (AHG paragrahv 2).
The measure is imputable to the State and financed through state resources.
Seadust ei oleks olnud võimalik kohaldada NEUWOGESiga sarnases olukorras olevale turumajanduse tingimustes tegutsevale ettevõtjale.
The measure distorts or threatens to distort competition.
Käesolevas asjas antud hinnangu ülesehitus
The measure has the potential to affect trade between Member States.
Et välja selgitada, kas BAVARIA-le anti kõnealuste lepingutega eelis, tuleb uurida, kas need lepingud olid sellised, millega oleks nõustunud ka NEUWOGESiga sarnases olukorras olev turumajanduse tingimustes tegutsev ettevõtja.
Selective advantage conferred upon an undertaking: general principles
Komisjonipoolne uurimine hõlmab kolme etappi.
According to the settled case-law of the Court of Justice, the conditions that a measure must meet in order to be regarded as ‘aid’ within the meaning of Article 107 TFEU are not met if the recipient undertaking, in circumstances corresponding to normal market conditions, could have obtained the same advantage as that made available to it through state resources.
Esimeses etapis analüüsitakse tehingu finantsmõju NEUWOGESile, et selgitada välja, millise kasumiga võis ettevõtja arvestada (punkt 7.2).
In order to assess whether the same measure would have been adopted in normal market conditions by a MEO in a situation as close as possible to that of the State, only the benefits and obligations linked to the capacity of the State as shareholder — to the exclusion of those linked to its capacity as a public authority — are to be taken into account [45].
Teises etapis võrreldakse müügi- ja tagasirenditehingut teiste alternatiividega, näiteks otsemüügiga, et teha kindlaks, kas võimalikud alternatiivid oleksid olnud majanduslikult atraktiivsemad (punkt 7.3).
The applicability of the MEO test ultimately depends on the Member State concerned having conferred, in its capacity as an economic operator and not in its capacity as public authority, an economic advantage on an undertaking.
Kolmandas etapis kasutatakse võrdlusnäitajaid, kusjuures kõnealust tehingut võrreldakse sarnaste müügi- ja tagasirenditehingutega, mis sõlmiti ligikaudu samal ajal, analüüsitakse NEUWOGESi korraldatud piiratud pakkumismenetluse tulemusi ja võrreldakse tehingu tingimusi teiste finantseerimistehingute tavapäraste intressimääradega tol ajal (1997. aasta lõpp/1998. aasta algus) (punkt 7.4).
It follows that, if a Member State relies on that principle during the administrative procedure, it must, where there is doubt, establish unequivocally and on the basis of objective and verifiable evidence that it took the measure in its capacity as an economic operator.
Need kolm analüüsietappi võimaldavad teha kokkuvõttes järelduse selle kohta, kas NEUWOGES on käitunud nagu turumajanduse tingimustes tegutsev ettevõtja.
That evidence must show clearly that, before or at the same time as conferring the economic advantage, the Member State concerned took the decision to carry out a commercial operation in respect of the undertaking by means of the measure actually implemented.
TEHINGU FINANTSTAGAJÄRJED NEUWOGESI JAOKS
In that regard, it may be necessary to produce evidence showing that the decision was based on economic evaluations comparable to those that a rational private operator in a situation as close as possible to that of the Member State would have had carried out before making the investment, in order to determine the future profitability of that investment.
Kõnealuse tehingu finantstagajärgede analüüsi esimene etapp seisneb tehingu liigi määramises.
By contrast, for the purposes of showing that, before or at the same time as conferring the advantage, the Member State took that decision as a MEO, it is not enough to rely on economic evaluations made after the advantage was conferred, or on a retrospective finding that the investment made by the Member State concerned was actually profitable, or on subsequent justifications of the course of action actually chosen [46].
Käesoleval juhul on peamisel kohal küsimus, kas mõlemad NEUWOGESi ja BAVARIA vahel sõlmitud lepingud kujutavad endast ühe ja sama ühtse tehingu kahte osa või tuleb neid uurida kahe eraldi tehinguna (punkt 7.2.1).
It follows from the foregoing, first, that the documents presented by the parties that post-date the adoption of the measure cannot be taken into account as such for the application of the MEO test in this case.
Teiseks uuritakse müügi- ja tagasirenditehingu eripärasid, et hinnata asjakohaselt tehingu finantstagajärgi NEUWOGESi jaoks (punkt 7.2.2).
It follows from the above, second, that the effect of the Inherited Debt Support Law on the financial situation of NEUWOGES cannot be taken into account either for the application of the MEO test in this case.
Pärast EBV (punkt 7.2.3) ja GVV (punkt 7.2.4) finantsmõju põhjalikku eraldi analüüsimist järgneb üldanalüüs tehingu oodatava kasumlikkuse kohta NEUWOGESi jaoks (punkt 7.2.5).
Indeed, the Inherited Debt Support Law pursued a public policy purpose, and only a limited category of companies (Section 2 of the Inherited Debt Support Law) was eligible for the benefits awarded by it.
Kõnealuste lepingute eraldi või koos uurimine
This law would not have been applicable to a MEO in a situation as close as possible to NEUWOGES.
Kõigepealt tuletatagu meelde, et nii komisjoni algatamisotsuses kui ka LG Rostocki otsuses ollakse seisukohal, et kõnealuseid lepinguid tuleb uurida koos [47].
Structure of the assessment in the present case
Ametlik uurimismenetlus kinnitas seda järeldust järgmistel põhjustel.
In order to determine whether the contracts at issue have granted an advantage to BAVARIA, it must be determined whether those contracts fell within the range of transactions a MEO in a situation as close as possible to NEUWOGES’ would have engaged in.
Mõlemad lepingud on üheainsa müügi- ja tagasirenditehingu üksteist täiendavad osad.
The Commission’s assessment comprises three steps.
BAVARIA koostatud brošüüris, milles reklaamitakse talle ainuomast müügi- ja tagasirendimudelit, viidatakse sellele, et tehing sõlmitakse kahe lepingu abil, millest üks reguleerib müüki ja teine tagasirentimist [48].
First, as a preliminary step, the financial implications of the transaction for NEUWOGES are analysed to determine what profits it could expect to obtain from the transaction (section 7.2).
Pärast seda on osutatud mõlemale lepingule alati ainult kui ühtsele tehingule.
Second, in order to determine whether any available alternative would have been economically more attractive, the sale-and-lease-back transaction is compared to other options, such as a direct sale (section 7.3).
Lepingud sõlmiti 21. jaanuaril 1998, st samal päeval, ja mõlemas lepingus viidatakse teisele lepingule, [49] mis näitab nende tihedat seotust ja asjaolu, et kumbagi lepingutest ei oleks ilma teiseta sõlmitud.
Third, a benchmarking exercise is carried out by comparing the transaction in question with similar sale-and-lease-back transactions concluded around the same time, by analysing the results of a limited bidding process carried out by NEUWOGES, and by comparing the terms of the transaction with the standard interest rates of other financing transactions available at the relevant time (late 1997/early 1998) (section 7.4).
Nagu nähtub NEUWOGESi esitatud esialgsest BAVARIA hinnakalkulatsioonist, on lepingute tingimused lahutamatult üksteisega seotud [50].
Taken together, these three levels of analysis enable a conclusion to be drawn concerning whether NEUWOGES behaved like a MEO.
Rahalise ettemakse suurus sõltus NEUWOGESi makstavast igakuisest rendist ja BAVARIA investeeringust hoone renoveerimisse.
THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE TRANSACTION FOR NEUWOGES
Müügi- ja tagasirenditehingu puhul peab rent rendileandja esialgse investeeringu amortiseerima.
The first step in the analysis of the financial implications of the transaction under scrutiny is to determine the nature of the transaction.
See tähendab, et GVV teistsuguste sätete korral oleksid EBV arvandmed samuti muutunud ja vastupidi [51].
In this case, the question revolves mainly around whether the two contracts concluded between NEUWOGES and BAVARIA constitute two parts of an integrated, single transaction or whether they must be assessed as separate transactions (section 7.2.1).
NEUWOGESi nõukogu koosolekute protokollidest ilmneb, et NEUWOGES käsitles mõlemat lepingut alati ühe ja sama tehingu osana [52].
Second, in order to facilitate a proper assessment of the financial impact of the transaction on NEUWOGES, the particular nature of a sale-and-lease-back operation is examined (section 7.2.2).
Näiteks märgitakse nõukogu 30. oktoobri 1997. aasta ja 16. detsembri 1997. aasta dokumentides selgelt, et ostja rahastab ostuhinda rendimudeli kaudu.
After the financial impact of the land-lease and sale contract (section 7.2.3) and the general management contract (section 7.2.4) has been separately analysed in depth, a global assessment of the profitability to be expected from the transaction for NEUWOGES is undertaken (section 7.2.5).
See näitab, et NEUWOGES teadis väga hästi EBV ja GVV seotust.
Joint versus separate assessment of the contracts in question
Samuti selgitas NEUWOGESi juhatus 16. detsembri 1997. aasta koosolekul nõukogule, et BAVARIAga läbirääkimiste käigus kokkulepitud makse on hind, mida selle paketi eest on võimalik saada, ja et see pakett sisaldab ettevõtte jaoks mõningaid riske, mis on aga jõukohased.
It should first be pointed out that both the Commission’s Opening Decision and Rostock Regional Court’s judgment concluded that the two contracts in question had to be analysed in conjunction with one another [47].
Viide paketile ja sellega seotud riskile tõendab taas, et mõlemat lepingut käsitleti üheainsa tehinguna.
The formal investigation confirmed that finding, for the following reasons:
NEUWOGESi väited ühe kõnealuse lepingu notariaalselt tõestamata jätmise kohta ei ole veenvad.
The two contracts constitute mutually complementary parts of a single sale-and-lease-back transaction.
NEUWOGESi põhiargument on see, et tõestamata jätmine kinnitab lepingupoolte kavatsust sõlmida kaks eraldi, üksteisest sõltumatut lepingut.
The leaflet produced by BAVARIA, advertising its particular sale-and-lease-back model, indicated that the transaction would be implemented via two contracts, one regulating the sale and one the lease-back [48].
Komisjon viitab sellele, et kuna riigi sekkumised võivad toimuda mitmesugustes vormides ja seepärast tuleb neid analüüsida nende tagajärgede kaudu, siis ei saa välistada, et mitut riigi järjestikust sekkumist tuleb Euroopa Liidu toimimise lepingu artikli 107 lõike 1 kohaldamise eesmärgil käsitleda ühe sekkumisena.
The two contracts were then always referred to as one package transaction.
Selline võib olukord olla eelkõige siis, kui järjestikused sekkumised, võttes eelkõige arvesse nende ajalist järjekorda, eesmärki ja ettevõtja olukorda nende sekkumiste hetkel, on niivõrd tihedalt omavahel seotud, et neid on võimatu eraldada [53].
The contracts were concluded on the same day (21 January 1998) and refer to one another [49], indicating their close connection and the fact that neither of the contracts would have been concluded without the other.
Üheainsa tehingu mõiste on seega määratletud liidu riigiabi alastes õigusaktides laiemalt kui Saksa lepinguõiguses.