natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
In addition, having regard to other sales made by SNCM for the amount of EUR 12,2 million, the total of the undertaking’s own contribution comes to EUR 42,38 million.
Seoses Prantsuse ametiasutuste tõstatatud riigi maine argumendiga oli Üldkohus seisukohal, et „liikmesriigi kui turumajanduses globaalse investori maine kaitse ei saa väljaspool erilisi asjaolusid ja ilma eriti veenva põhjenduseta olla piisav põhjendus, et tõendada pikas perspektiivis majanduslikku otstarbekust kanda täiendavaid kulusid, nagu täiendavad koondamishüvitised” [124].
France considers that that amount is much higher than the amount of own contributions necessary to approve the restructuring aid, which finally amounts to EUR 15,81 million, since the other measures are not State aid.
Sellised asjaolud käesoleval juhul aga puuduvad.
On the conditions imposed by the Commission decision of 2003 and the possible new compensatory measures
Komisjon märgib, et Prantsuse ametiasutused ei ole suutnud määrata kindlaks Prantsuse riigi majandustegevuse – eelkõige geograafilisel ja valdkondlikul tasandil – avamise järel, mille suhtes tuleks hinnata kõnealuste meetmete majanduslikku otstarbekust pikaajalises perspektiivis, vaatamata sellele, et nad osutasid lõpuks oma 16. mai 2013. aasta kirjas, et riigi käitumist tuleks võrrelda mitmes valdkonnas tegutseva valdusettevõtja omaga, kes püüab oma kasumit maksimeerida ning kaitsta oma ülemaailmse tootja mainet, eelkõige oma personali haldamise valdkonnas.
Contrary to the contentions of STIM and CFF, the French authorities state that they complied with all of the conditions imposed by the 2003 decision, to which they were bound until the end of 2006, in particular the maintenance of the fleet of 11 vessels and the application of fares lower than those of competitors.
Seoses CGMFi mainega märgib komisjon, et tal ei olnud meretranspordi valdkonnas peale SNCMi ühtegi vara.
Indeed, France considers that, under the new final decision, the level of compensatory measures to be imposed on SNCM must be adapted because the amount of restructuring aid was henceforth EUR 15,81 million rather than EUR 69,3 million.
Sellest lähtuvalt see argument ei saa teda puudutada.
In that respect, France contests STIM’s observations concerning the possibility that the Commission may require SNCM to sell its shareholding in CMN as a compensatory measure.
Seoses riigi kui aktsionäri mainega märkisid Prantsuse ametiasutused sotsiaalsete konfliktide kõrgendatud ohtu riigi kontrollitavates ettevõtetes mitte ainult SNCMi tegevuse geograafilises läheduses, vaid ka ükskõik millises sektoris, ja eelkõige transpordisektoris.
France contests STIM’s argument that the definition of strategic assets was called into question in the 2004 guidelines in relation to the 1999 guidelines.
Komisjon märgib, et ühelt poolt ei ole Prantsuse ametiasutused tõestanud negatiivse mõju ülekandumise ohu tõenäosust, ja on teiselt poolt seisukohal, et ametiasutused ei ole tõestanud ka seda, et lisahüvitiste maksmine oleks võimaldanud uute streikide toimumist ära hoida.
As regards the measures referred to by CFF, intended to reduce SNCM’s market presence, the French authorities recall that, as the Commission noted, moreover, in its 2003 decision (recital 87), there is no excess capacity in the markets concerned (France — Corsica & the Maghreb) and that a reconfiguration of services to Corsica under and outside the public service delegation would jeopardise the viability of the undertaking.
Komisjon on arvamusel, et ainult sotsiaalsest põhjendatusest ei piisa selleks, et jätta nende riigi makstud lisahüvitiste puhul kõrvale riigiabi olemasolu.
As for the argument raised by CFF that the implementation of the measures described above in favour of SNCM involves a serious risk of eliminating its main competitor in the mainland France-Corsica market, namely CFF, the French authorities submit that, having regard to the current structure of the market in which CFF is market leader, the maintenance of a competitive structure depends on the authorisation of SNCM’s restructuring plan and the presence of the latter in the relevant market.
Lisaks on komisjon seisukohal, et Prantsuse ametiasutused ei ole esitanud piisavalt objektiivseid ja kontrollitavaid elemente näitamaks, et koondamise lisahüvitiste maksmine oleks sarnastes tingimustes sama sektori eraettevõtete hulgas levinud tava.
ASSESSMENT OF THE MEASURES
Komisjon märgib, et lihtne viitamine piiratud hulgale sotsiaalkavadele ei näita piisavalt levinud tava olemasolu kõnealuse juhtumiga võrreldavatel juhtudel, et Prantsuse ametiasutuste nimetatud sotsiaalkavad viitavad ümberkorralduskavadele ja mitte likvideerimiskavadele ning et suur hulk neist puudutavad sektoreid, millel ei ole esmapilgul transporditaristuga mitte midagi ühist, nt kosmeetika (Yves Saint-Laurent Haute couture), põllumajanduslikud toiduained (Danone) või elektroonika (Hewlett Packard).
EXISTENCE OF AID WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 107(1) OF THE TFEU
Lisaks on Prantsuse ametiasutuste 16. mai 2013. aasta kirjas loetletud sotsiaalkavadest kuus kava SNCMi erastamise järgsed kavad ja seega ei saa neid koondamise lisahüvitiste maksmise õigustamisel arvesse võtta.
Article 107(1) of the TFEU provides:
Komisjon märgib kõigepealt, et kaks sotsiaalkava viiest puudutavad SNCMi, mille hulgas on ka käesoleva otsuse aluseks olev sotsiaalkava.
‘Save as otherwise provided in this Treaty, 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’.
Nimetatud kahte sotsiaalkava ei saa seega kasutada objektiivsete võrdluselementidena kahel põhjusel:
The classification of a national measure as State aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU requires the following cumulative conditions to be fulfilled, namely:
esiteks ei saa SNCM tuua esile oma varasemaid tavasid kõnealuses valdkonnas selleks, et õigustada piisavalt selle tava levikut ning teiseks puudutab 2002. aasta sotsiaalkava ajavahemikku, mil SNCM oli veel riigiasutus, samas kui Üldkohus seadis võrdluskriteeriumiks sama sektori eraettevõtted.
the measure in question confers a selective economic advantage;
Sellega seoses märgib komisjon, et Marseille sadama sotsiaalkava ei saa arvesse võtta, kuna sadam oli 2004. aastal riigiasutus, mitte eraettevõte.
that advantage is financed via state resources;
Seoses kahe viimasena nimetatud sotsiaalkavaga, nimelt Air Lib ja Eurostar, nendib komisjon, et tegemist on ümberkorralduskavadega, mitte likvideerimiskavadega.
that advantage distorts or threatens to distort competition and, finally, (4) that advantage has an effect on trade between Member States [105].
Samuti märgib komisjon, et nende kahe kava keskmise lisahüvitis on üle poole väiksem kui SNCMi valitud lisahüvitise keskmine.
The Commission notes that SNCM received state resources totalling EUR 274,54 million [106] via CGMF, which is wholly owned by the State.
Komisjon märgib, et Prantsuse ametiasutused ei ole väitnud, et Prantsuse riigi käitumine oleks olnud ajendatud mõistlikust tõenäosusest saada kaudset materiaalset kasu, isegi pikaajalises perspektiivis, vältides sotsiaalse kliima edasist halvenemist ettevõttes, kuna likvideerimise stsenaariumi korral pidi ettevõte kaduma.
The fact that the cabotage market to the Mediterranean islands was, until 1 January 1999, temporarily exempt from the application of Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 does not exclude prima facie that the subsidies granted for operating cabotage routes to the Mediterranean islands under a public service delegation could affect trade between Member States and distort competition.
Seda enam, et väga suurte lahkumishüvitiste maksmine ühe ettevõtte töötajatele muudab tõenäoliselt keeruliseks samale investorile kuuluvate teiste ettevõtete võimaliku ümberkorraldamise, isegi kui tegemist on globaalse investoriga, nagu Prantsuse ametiasutused väitsid.
In any event, even if subsidies granted for operating cabotage routes could not affect trade between Member States or distort competition before 1 January 1999, the situation changed after that date since, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 3577/92, cabotage activities were from then on open to all operators in the European Union.
Lisaks ei esitanud Prantsuse ametiasutused arvuliselt neid võimalikke märkimisväärseid sotsiaalkulusid, mida nad koondamise lisahüvitiste maksmise põhjenduseks tõid.
In addition, it should be stressed that SNCM does not carry on only cabotage transport but also operates in the international maritime market, which was liberalised by Council Regulation (EEC) No 4055/86 [107].
Prantsuse ametiasutused väitsid ka, et likvideerimismenetlus oleks olnud SNCMi negatiivse hinnaga võõrandamisega võrreldes pikem protsess ja potentsiaalselt riskantsem riigi kui aktsionäri jaoks.
Accordingly, the Commission considers that in the present case the last three criteria of Article 107(1) TFEU cited in recital 205 of this decision are fulfilled.
Komisjon märgib, et Prantsuse ametiasutused ei esitanud selle riski kohta ühtegi tõendit ja nad ei selgitanud, miks oleks eraaktsionär võtnud arvesse likvideerimismenetluse kestust.
It must therefore examine in turn, in respect of each measure, the existence of a selective economic advantage, in accordance with the judgment of the General Court of 11 September 2012.
Prantsuse ametiasutuste nimetatud Frucona Kosice [125] juhtum ei ole kõnealusel juhul asjakohane, kuna see puudutab eralaenuandja testi.
Relevant period for the purposes of the assessment
Likvideerimismenetluse kestus on asjakohane, kui analüüsida, kas riik maksimeeris Frucona Kosice laenuandja rollis olles võlgade tasumist, kui nõustus osalise, aga kohese tasumisega, või siis, kui ta oleks oodanud ettevõtte likvideerimise tulemust.
In accordance with the case-law of the General Court [108], the Commission must, after the annulment of one of its decisions, base its new assessment only on the information that was available to it on the date of adoption of the annulled decision, in this case 8 July 2008.
Käesoleval juhul on olukord teine, kuna riik on SNCMi aktsionäri rollis, mitte eralaenuandja rollis.
Any events subsequent to 8 July 2008 must not, therefore, be taken into account.
Arvestades, et SNCMi likvideerimise puhul oleks varad olnud kohustuste katmiseks selgelt ebapiisavad ja nii ei oleks riik oma toetust tagasi saanud.
Changes that may have taken place in the market or in the situation of the aid beneficiary must be excluded from the analysis.
Sellest lähtuvalt ei ole käesoleval juhul asjakohane rääkida likvideerimismenetluse kestusest.
Nor will the Commission consider the period of implementation of the restructuring plan from July 2008 onward [109].
Prantsuse ametiasutused ei tõestanud seega, et likvideerimise stsenaariumi korral oli põhjendatud, et riik võttis erainvestorina need lisahüvitised enda kanda.
Similarly, the Commission is not under an obligation to start the investigation of the case afresh or even to supplement it by resorting to new technical expertise [110].
Analüüsi käesolevas etapis peab komisjon nüüd määrama kindlaks SNCMi likvideerimisväärtuse, millest on maha arvestatud koondamise lisahüvitised.
The annulment of an act concluding an administrative procedure which comprises several stages does not necessarily entail the annulment of the entire procedure.
SNCMi likvideerimisväärtus
Where, as in this case, in spite of the fact that investigation measures have been taken allowing an exhaustive analysis to be made of the compatibility of the aid, the analysis carried out by the Commission is incomplete, thus making the decision unlawful, the procedure for replacing that decision can be resumed at that point by means of a fresh analysis of the investigation measures taken previously [111].
Netovara meetodi põhjal on vara puudujääk tuvastatud siis, kui tegeliku vara majanduslik väärtus (mis üldiselt on arvestuslikust netoväärtusest suurem) ei kata tegelike võlgade majanduslikku väärtust.
Moreover, since the Commission is required to base its new analysis solely on information which was available to it in July 2008, information in respect of which both the French authorities and SNCM had already defined their position, it is unnecessary to consult them afresh [112].
Selleks et teha kindlaks vara puudujääk käesoleval juhul, kontrollis komisjon oma eksperdi abil, [126] nagu seda on alljärgnevalt selgitatud, et 30. septembril 2005 ei olnud SNCMi vara väärtus piisav selleks, et rahuldada eesõigusnõudega võlausaldajate ja eesõigusnõudeta võlausaldajate nõuded.
Finally, with the publication of the decision to open the procedure in the Official Journal, the third parties concerned were ensured the right to submit their comments [113] and there is no provision in Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 requiring that that opportunity be made available to them again where the original restructuring plan has been amended during the investigation procedure [114].
Komisjon leiab, et netovara hindamine on meretranspordi valdkonna äriühingute väärtuse hindamiseks laialdaselt kasutatav meetod.
This decision is therefore based, in the main, solely on the information available on 8 July 2008.
Muu hulgas arvab komisjon, et see meetod on eriti kohane SNCMi olukorras, kuivõrd tema kontrollival aktsionäril on võõrandamise kõrval ainus valik likvideerimine.
However, in the alternative, the Commission will demonstrate that it would not change its conclusions if account were taken of the note by the French authorities dated 16 May 2013 in relation to the facts referred to before 8 July 2008 and of the information submitted by SNCM on 27 August 2013.
Muude hindamismeetodite, eelkõige diskonteeritud vabade rahavoogude meetodi kohta leiab komisjon, et võttes arvesse seda, et nende meetodite puhul eeldatakse äriühingu tegevuse jätkumist, mis aga SNCMi oletatava likvideerimise korral ei kehtiks, ei ole see meetod kõnealusel juhul asjakohane.
In the present case, the Commission must examine whether the EUR 158 million capital contribution by the State prior to the sale of SNCM to private purchasers, that is, ultimately, the ‘negative sale price’ of the undertaking of exactly the same amount, does not contain elements of State aid.
SNCMi vara väärtus
An open, transparent and non-discriminatory public selection procedure at the end of which the State disposes of the undertaking after a prior recapitalisation (for an amount greater than the sale price) does not necessarily exclude the presence of aid, liable to benefit both the privatised undertaking and the purchaser of that undertaking [115].
Komisjon märgib eelkõige, et SNCMi aktsionär hindas koostöös Ernst & Youngi bürooga ettevõtte likvideerimisväärtust (eespool viidatud CGMFi aruanne) 30. septembril 2005, mille kohta tegid Oddo Corporate Finance ja Paul Hastingsi büroo uue arvestuse.
In order to determine whether an undertaking has obtained an economic advantage from a capital contribution by the State, the Commission generally applies the principle of a ‘private investor operating in a market economy’ (‘the private investor principle’), provided that the beneficiary is not liable for the reimbursement of other forms of State aid and that the contribution is subject to analysis with reference to the said principle.
Komisjon tuletab meelde, et eespool nimetatud Oddo-Hastingsi aruandes on SNCMi vara hinnatud 190,3 miljonile eurole.
The private investor principle is an expression of the principle of equal treatment of public and private sectors, pursuant to Article 345 TFEU.
Laevadele spetsialiseerunud BRSi maakler hindas SNCMi omandis oleva laevastiku [127] müügi brutoväärtuse 30. septembril 2005 224 miljonile eurole, Oddo aruandes on SNCMi laevastiku väärtuse hind 150,7 miljonit eurot pärast allahindluse, [128] komisjonitasu [129] ja määramatusega seotud reservi (aléa judiciaire) [130] arvesse võtmist.
According to that principle, capital made available to an undertaking by the State, directly or indirectly, in circumstances which reflect normal market conditions, cannot be classified as State aid [116].
Tabel 3
To that end, the Commission may assess, inter alia, whether the provider of the resources has acted like a private investor pursuing structural policy — whether general or sectoral — and guided by the longer-term prospects of positive returns on the capital invested.
Võimalused SNCMi vara hindamiseks 30. septembri 2005. aasta seisuga
The validity of this approach has been acknowledged by the European Union Courts in a number of cases [117].
Allikad:
According to settled case-law, when injections of capital are made by a public investor without any prospect of profitability, even in the long term, the provision of such capital constitutes State aid [118].
Oddo-Hastingsi aruanne ja komisjoni eksperdi aruanne.
The European Union Courts have also held that a private investor pursuing a structural policy — whether general or sectoral — and guided by prospects of profitability in the long term could not reasonably allow itself, after years of continuous losses, to make a capital contribution which, in economic terms, proves not only costlier than selling the assets, but is, moreover, linked to the sale of the undertaking, which effectively removes any hope of profit, even in the longer term [119].
Vara väärtus,
Specifically, in its Gröditzer judgment, the Court of Justice held that, in order to establish whether the privatisation of an undertaking for a negative sale price involves elements of State aid:
Oddo aruanne,
‘it is necessary to assess whether, in similar circumstances, a private investor of a dimension comparable to that of the bodies managing the public sector could have been prevailed upon to make capital contributions of the same size in connection with the sale of that undertaking or whether it would instead have chosen to wind it up’ [120].
komisjoni ekspert,
In the light of the foregoing, in order to determine whether the measure in question constitutes aid, the Commission must ‘assess whether the solution chosen by the State is, both in absolute terms and compared with any other solution, including that of non-intervention, the least costly, which would lead, if that were the case, to the conclusion that the State has acted like a private investor’ [121].
Immateriaalne põhivara
In other words, the Commission must verify that the decision to make such a major capital contribution is indeed less costly than a liquidation.
Materiaalne põhivara
On assessing the costs of liquidation
Omatav laevastik
On taking account of the impact of the additional redundancy payments
Kinnisvara [131]
When quantifying the cost to the shareholder of liquidation, the French authorities hold the view that, in this day and age, large groups of undertakings cannot disregard the social consequences of their decisions to close sites or wind up subsidiaries.
Finantsvara [132]
Accordingly, they usually implement social plans which may include measures to retrain staff, help them find new jobs, redundancy payments, and possibly even local development measures, which go beyond the requirements of statutory provisions and collective agreements.
Põhivara
In that respect, the French authorities consider that, on the basis of the 2005 social plan, itself based on the 2002 plan, the range should be from EUR [90000-100000] [60] Confidential information.
Varud
to [120000-130000] per employee, i.e. a total amount of between EUR [200-210] [60] Confidential information.
Ettemaksed ja osamaksed
million and [250-260] [60] Confidential information.
Klientidelt saadaolevad summad
million.
Muud saadaolevad summad [133]
The French authorities point out that the lower limits of the abovementioned range take account of the fact that the costs of the reference social plan have been inflated due to the very large proportion of employees approaching retirement age, who leave under particularly advantageous conditions.
Netovahendid
Account is also taken of the context (liquidation of the undertaking and wholesale redundancies), which is in no way comparable to a cut in staff numbers allowing the company to stay in business, which is the premise for the reference social plan.
Viitvõlad ja ettemakstud tulud
Ultimately, the French authorities consider that, even when using the analysis grid established by the General Court in its judgment of 15 September 2012, the transfer of control of SNCM for the negative sale price of EUR 158 million did not include elements of State aid.
Muu vara
They maintain that the Commission has all the information necessary to respond to the Court’s criticisms.
Vara kokku
The Commission does not share this analysis.
Eespool esitatud tabelit analüüsides sedastab komisjon, et laevastik on peamine osa ettevõtte vara hindamisel.
According to the General Court judgment [122], the making of additional redundancy payments may, in principle, constitute a legitimate and appropriate practice, depending on the circumstances of the case, the aim being to foster a calm social dialogue and preserve the brand image of a company or group of companies.
Sellega seoses otsustas komisjoni ekspert, olles võimaluse korral teostanud võrdleva analüüsi, et laevade müügi brutoväärtusele kohaldatud allahindlus ja menetluse määramatusega seotud reservi arvessevõtmine olid asjakohased.
In accordance with the principle of equal treatment of private and public sectors, the option of making additional redundancy payments is also open to the Member States in the event that a public undertaking goes into liquidation, even though their obligations cannot, in principle, exceed the strict minimum under statutory and contractual obligations.
Selle alusel otsustas komisjoni ekspert, et tal puuduvad argumendid, mille toel vaidlustada riigi hinnang laevastiku väärtuse kohta.
However, the Court states that ‘… the burden of those additional costs, because of legitimate concerns, cannot follow an exclusively social, even political, objective, as it would otherwise go beyond the framework of the private investor test … In the absence of any economic rationale, even in the long term, the assumption of the burden of costs which exceeds the strict statutory obligations and obligations under agreements must therefore be considered to be State aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) EC’ [123].
Allahindluse kohta leiab komisjon, et selle tase on kooskõlas laevade pankrotimenetluse korral müümisel tehtavate allahindlustega.
Regarding the argument put forward by the French authorities on protecting the State’s brand image, the Court considers that ‘… the protection of the brand image of a Member State as a global investor in the market economy cannot constitute, other than under specific circumstances and without a particularly cogent reason, sufficient justification to demonstrate the long-term economic rationale of the assumption of additional costs such as additional redundancy payments’ [124].
Komisjoni eksperdi sõnul võõrandas näiteks Belgia riiklik äriühing Régie des Transports Maritimes, kes teenindab Ostende-Ramsgate’i liini, 1997. aastal kaks praamlaeva hinnanguliselt 35–45 % allahindlusega.
There are no such specific circumstances in this case.
Hiljem võõrandas äriühing Festival Cruises kolm kruiisilaeva keskmiselt 20 % allahindlusega.
The Commission notes that, following the launch of the procedure, the French authorities failed to define the economic activities of the French State, particularly at geographical and sectoral level.
Sarnastel juhtumitel kohaldatud allahindlused on seega vastavuses Prantsuse ametiasutuste käesoleval juhul kohaldatud allahindlustega.
An assessment needs to be carried out of the long-term economic rationale of the measures in question, even though the French authorities eventually stated in their correspondence of 16 May 2013 that the State’s actions should be compared to those of a diversified holding company, seeking to maximise its profits and protect its brand image as a global business, particularly as regards the management of its staff.
Kuna turul ei ole ühtegi võrreldavat tehingut toimunud, leiab komisjon, et määramatusega seotud reservi põhjendused on kooskõlas küllalt spetsiifiliseks kasutuseks mõeldud laevade kitsa turuga.