natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
In 1987, following a 1982 amendment to the general accounting plan that laid down specific rules for the assets to be returned to the state at the end of the concession, EDF changed its accounting practice for the assets constituting the RAG, which had until then been considered to be own assets, and classified them under the balance sheet item ‘Assets under concession’.
Nakon izmjene općeg računovodstvenog plana 1982. kojim su predviđena posebna pravila za imovinu koju je potrebno vratiti državi po isteku koncesije, EDF je 1987. izmijenio svoju računovodstvenu praksu u pogledu imovine RAG-a koja je do tada bila smatrana vlastitom imovinom te ju je svrstao u stavku bilance „Imovina u koncesiji”.
EDF applied to those assets the special accounting rules established in France for assets under concession that have to be returned to the state at the end of the concession period, and created tax-free provisions for the renewal of the RAG.
EDF je na tu imovinu primijenio posebna računovodstvena pravila utvrđena u Francuskoj za imovinu u koncesiji koju je potrebno vratiti državi po isteku koncesije te je izuzećem od oporezivanja stvorio rezerviranja za obnovu RAG-a.
In a 1994 report [8], the French Court of Auditors considered that, in the presence of a sole and permanent concessionaire from the state, nominated by law, such as EDF, it was difficult to regard the assets constituting the RAG as having to be returned to the state at the end of the concession, as opposed to the RAG's own assets belonging to EDF.
Revizorski sud je u izvješću iz 1994. [8] smatrao da kada postoji jedini i stalni državni koncesionar, koji je poput EDF-a imenovan zakonom, teško je razlikovati imovinu koja čini RAG i koju je potrebno vratiti državi po isteku koncesije od vlastite imovine RAG-a koja pripada EDF-u.
In other words, the Court of Auditors took the view that the accounting change introduced by EDF in 1987, which was reflected in the setting-up of tax-free provisions, was not justified.
Drugim riječima, računovodstvena promjena koju je EDF uveo 1987., a čija je posljedica stvaranje rezerviranja izuzećem od oporezivanja nije se Revizorskom sudu činila opravdanom.
Work to regularise EDF's situation was started rapidly between the undertaking and the supervising authorities.
Poduzetnik i nadzorna tijela brzo su počeli poduzimati radnje za regulariziranje položaja EDF-a.
In 1997, EDF's accounts contained two types of tax-exempt provisions for the renewal of the RAG:
EDF je 1997. u svojim financijskim izvještajima imao dvije vrste rezerviranja nastalih izuzećem od oporezivanja za obnovu RAG-a:
unused provisions amounting to FRF 38,5 billion, and grantor rights corresponding to renewal operations already carried out, amounting to FRF 18,345 billion.
još neupotrijebljena rezerviranja u iznosu od 38,5 milijardi FRF i prava davatelja koncesije koja odgovaraju već provedenim obnovama u iznosu od 18,345 milijardi FRF.
RECLASSIFICATION OF THE ACCOUNTING PROVISIONS
REKLASIFIKACIJA RAČUNOVODSTVENIH REZERVIRANJA
Act No 97-1026 clarified the status of the assets constituting the RAG.
U Zakonu br. 97-1026 pojašnjen je status imovine koja čini RAG.
Article 4 of the Act provides:
Članak 4. tog Zakona glasi:
The structures of the high-voltage electricity transmission network are deemed to have been owned by Électricité de France (EDF) from the time that it was granted the concession for that network.
Objekti visokonaponske prijenosne mreže električne energije smatraju se vlasništvom ustanove Electricité de France od kada joj je dodijeljena koncesija za tu mrežu.
For the purposes of applying the provisions of paragraph I, as at 1 January 1997, the value of the assets in kind allocated under concession to the high-voltage transmission network appearing as liabilities on EDF's balance sheet is to be entered, net of the corresponding revaluation differences, under the item “Contributed capital” …’.
Za potrebe primjene stavka I., protuvrijednost imovine u naravi visokonaponske prijenosne mreže koja je u koncesiji i u bilanci ustanove Electricité de France iskazana je kao obveza uvrštena je 1. siječnja 1997. u stavku ‚Dokapitalizacija’ u neto iznosu bez revalorizacijskih razlika […].”
Reference to the Act was necessary for any operation relating to EDF's capital.
Svaka radnja povezana s kapitalom EDF-a bila je podložna zakonu.
Article 16 of Act No 46-628, in the version in force in 1997, provided that EDF's capital was inalienable and belonged to the nation.
Naime, člankom 16. Zakona br. 46-628, u verziji koja je bila na snazi 1997., bilo je predviđeno da kapital EDF-a bude neotuđiv i da pripada narodu.
Therefore, under French law, the capital contributions to EDF resulting from the reclassification of the provisions for the renewal of the RAG were a matter for the law.
Zato je prema francuskom pravu dokapitalizacija EDF-a koja je posljedica reklasifikacije rezerviranja za obnovu RAG-a bila podložna zakonu.
Act No 97-1026 establishes the ownership of the assets constituting the RAG.
Zakonom br. 97-1026 utvrđeno je vlasništvo nad imovinom RAG-a.
EDF's balance sheet was therefore reorganised by Act No 97-1026.
Stoga je bilanca EDF-a reorganizirana na temelju Zakona br. 97-1026.
The provisions set up by EDF between 1987 and 1996 for the renewal of the RAG with a view to returning those assets to the state, whether or not they had been used, would become superfluous if EDF were deemed to own the assets constituting the RAG.
Upotrijebljena ili neupotrijebljena rezerviranja koja je EDF stvorio od 1987. do 1996. za obnovu RAG-a radi povrata te imovine državi postala bi neprimjenjiva ako bi se smatralo da vlasništvo nad imovinom RAG-a pripada EDF-u.
Annex 1 to a letter addressed to EDF on 22 December 1997 by the Minister for Economic Affairs, Finance and Industry, the Secretary of State for the Budget and the Secretary of State for Industry (‘the letter from the Minister for Economic Affairs’) explained the restructuring of the upper part of EDF's balance sheet pursuant to Article 4 of Act No 97-1026 of 10 November 1997:
U prilogu 1. dopisu ministra gospodarstva, financija i industrije, državnog tajnika za proračun i državnog tajnika za industriju, koji je 22. prosinca 1997. upućen EDF-u (dalje u tekstu: „dopis ministra gospodarstva”) obrazloženo je restrukturiranje gornjeg dijela bilance EDF-a u skladu s člankom 4. Zakona br. 97-1026:
Reclassification of “Grantor rights” (FRF 18345563605):
Reklasifikacija ‚prava davatelja koncesije’ (18345563605 FRF):
Consolidation as capital contributions of the value of assets in kind allocated under concession to the RAG, amounting to FRF 14119065335.
Konsolidiranje dokapitalizacijom protuvrijednosti imovine u naravi RAG-a koja je u koncesiji u visini od 14119065335 FRF.
Amalgamation of the revaluation reserves for the RAG in 1959 (FRF 2425 million) and 1976 (non-depreciable fixed assets: FRF 97 million) with the item “Revaluation reserves RAG”, which is thus increased from FRF 1720 million to FRF 4145 million.
Objedinjavanje revalorizacijskih razlika RAG-a iz 1959. (2425 milijuna FRF) i 1976. (neamortizirana dugotrajna imovina: 97 milijuna FRF) i stavke ‚Revalorizacijske razlike RAG-a’, čiji iznos time raste s 1720 milijuna FRF na 4145 milijuna FRF.
Amalgamation of the statutory provisions for the revaluation of depreciable fixed assets in 1976 (FRF 1704 million), the item thus increasing from FRF 877 million to FRF 2581 million.
Objedinjavanje reguliranih rezerviranja koja se odnose na revalorizaciju amortizirane dugotrajne imovine iz 1976. (1704 milijuna FRF), čiji iznos time raste s 877 milijuna FRF na 2581 milijuna FRF.
Reclassification of the renewal provisions which have become unwarranted (FRF 38520943408) as retained income, in accordance with National Accountancy Council Opinion No 97-06 of 18 June 1997 on accountancy changes.’
Reklasifikacija rezerviranja za obnovu koja su postala neopravdana (38520943408 FRF) u zadržanu dobit, u skladu s mišljenjem Nacionalnog računovodstvenog vijeća (Conseil national de la comptabilité) br. 97-06 od 18. lipnja 1997. o računovodstvenim promjenama.”
In reorganising EDF's balance sheet, the French authorities followed National Accountancy Council Opinion No 97-06 of 18 June 1997 on changes to accounting methods, changes to estimates, changes to tax options and corrections to errors (‘the National Accountancy Council Opinion’), which states that corrections to accounting errors, which by their very nature relate to the posting of past transactions, ‘should be posted in the accounts for the financial year in which they are discovered’.
U okviru reorganiziranja bilance EDF-a, francuska su tijela slijedila mišljenje Nacionalnog računovodstvenog vijeća br. 97-06 od 18. lipnja 1997. o promjenama računovodstvenih metoda, promjenama procjena, promjenama poreznih opcija i ispravcima pogrešaka („mišljenje Nacionalnog računovodstvenog vijeća”) kojim je utvrđeno da se ispravci računovodstvenih pogrešaka koje se, po svojoj prirodi, odnose na računovodstvenu obradu prošlih radnji „knjiže kao dobit ili gubitak poslovne godine u kojoj su utvrđene”.
In accordance with Act No 97-1026 of 10 November 1997 and the letter from the Minister for Economic Affairs, the revaluation reserves were transferred to the item ‘Own funds’ without incurring any tax since they corresponded to revaluation surpluses realised free of tax or under a tax neutrality arrangement pursuant to the 1959 and 1976 Revaluation Acts.
U skladu sa Zakonom br. 97-1026 i dopisom ministra gospodarstva, revalorizacijske se razlike prenose u rubriku „Vlasnički kapital” bez učinka na porez jer nakon donošenja Zakonâ o revalorizaciji iz 1959. i 1976. odgovaraju revalorizacijskim viškovima ostvarenima izuzećem od oporezivanja ili primjenom sustava porezne neutralnosti.
TAX IMPLICATIONS OF THE RECLASSIFICATION OF THE ACCOUNTING PROVISIONS
UČINAK REKLASIFIKACIJE RAČUNOVODSTVENIH REZERVIRANJA NA POREZ
Annex 3 to the letter from the Minister for Economic Affairs also sets out the tax implications of the reorganisation of EDF's balance sheet.
U prilogu 3. dopisu ministra gospodarstva utvrđene su i porezne posljedice reorganiziranja bilance EDF-a.
However, the part of the tax-free provisions consolidated as a capital contribution corresponding to the grantor rights was not taxed.
Međutim, nije oporezovan dio rezerviranja koja su jednako tako nastala izuzećem od oporezivanja i konsolidirana kao dokapitalizacija koja odgovara pravima davatelja koncesije.
A memorandum by the Directorate-General for Taxation dated 9 April 2002, sent to the Commission by the French authorities, stated that ‘the grantor rights in respect of the RAG represent an unowed debt which was unjustifiably exempted from tax by being incorporated into the capital’ and that ‘before this reserve was incorporated into the capital, it should have been transferred from the enterprise's liabilities, where it was incorrectly posted, to a net assets account, thereby resulting in a positive variation in net worth that was taxable under Article 38(2)’ of the General Tax Code.
U obavijesti Glavne porezne uprave (Direction générale des impôts) od 9. travnja 2002., koju su Komisiji uputila francuska tijela, navedeno je da su „prava davatelja koncesije povezana s RAG-om neutemeljen dug koji je uključivanjem u kapital neopravdano oslobođen poreza” i da je „navedena pričuva, prije nego što je uključena u kapital, trebala biti prenesena iz obveza ustanove, gdje je netočno knjižena na račun neto imovine, što je dovelo do pozitivne promjene neto imovine koja je oporeziva u skladu s člankom 38.-2.” Općeg poreznog zakonika (Code général des impôts).
They noted that ‘the tax concession thus obtained [by EDF in 1997] can be estimated at FRF 5,88 billion (14,119 × 41,66 %)’.
Francuska tijela tvrde da se „tako ostvarena porezna pogodnost [1997. od strane EDF-a] može procijeniti na 5,88 milijardi FRF (14,119 × 41,66 %)”.
OPENING DECISION
2. ODLUKA O POKRETANJU POSTUPKA
In its opening decision, the Commission concluded that the irregular creation of additional provisions for the renewal of the RAG between 1987 and 1996 had favoured EDF within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the TFEU.
Komisija je u svojoj odluci o pokretanju postupka zaključila da je nepravilno stvaranje dodatnih rezerviranja za obnovu RAG-a u razdoblju od 1987. do 1996. stavilo EDF u povoljniji položaj u smislu članka 107. stavka 1. UFEU-a.
This operation had conferred on EDF a selective economic advantage resulting from the difference between the capitalised value of the unpaid corporation tax on the provisions during the same period and the amount of corporation tax paid by EDF in 1997, following the entry into force of Article 4 of Act No 97-1026.
Time je stekao selektivnu ekonomsku prednost koja proizlazi iz razlike između neplaćene kapitalizirane vrijednosti poreza na dobit na rezerviranja za vrijeme istog razdoblja te iznosa poreza na dobit koji je EDF platio 1997. nakon stupanja na snagu članka 4. Zakona br. 97-1026.
Despite the fact that EDF engaged in activities in France on a series of markets subject to monopoly rights before the entry into force of Directive 96/92/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council [9] liberalising the electricity sector, the Commission considered that the aid measures in question in favour of EDF had distorted or threatened to distort competition and affected trade between Member States within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the TFEU.
Unatoč činjenici da je EDF u Francuskoj obavljao djelatnosti na više tržišta uređenih pravima monopola prije stupanja na snagu Direktive 96/92/EZ Europskog parlamenta i Vijeća [9] kojom se liberalizirao sektor električne energije, Komisija je smatrala da su predmetne mjere potpore u korist EDF-a narušile ili prijetile da će narušiti tržišno natjecanje te utjecale na trgovinu među državama članicama u smislu članka 107. stavka 1. UFEU-a.
This resulted in particular from the fact that, despite the exclusive rights enjoyed by EDF in engaging in certain activities in France, there was nevertheless a degree of trade between Member States on those markets.
To osobito proizlazi iz činjenice da je, unatoč isključivim pravima koje je EDF pri imao obavljanju određenih djelatnosti u Francuskoj, na tim tržištima svejedno među državama članicama postojao određeni stupanj trgovine.
Moreover, free competition also existed on related markets where EDF had already diversified its activities beyond its exclusive rights in both geographic and sectoral terms.
Usto, slobodno tržišno natjecanje postojalo je na povezanim tržištima na kojima je EDF u geografskom ili sektorskom smislu već bio diversificirao svoje djelatnosti izvan opsega svojih isključivih prava.
These effects already existed well before the liberalisation of the electricity sector.
Ti su učinci postojali i mnogo prije liberalizacije sektora električne energije.
The Commission also concluded that it was new aid which did not appear, at that stage, to meet the requirements that must be fulfilled for finding that the conditions laid down in Article 107(2) and (3) of the TFEU were fulfilled.
Komisija je zaključila da je riječ o novoj potpori za koju se u toj fazi nije činilo da ispunjava uvjete iz članka 107. stavaka 2. i 3. UFEU-a.
Furthermore, the French authorities did not rely on the application of Article 106(2) of the TFEU.
Pored toga, francuska se tijela nisu pozvala na primjenu članka 106. stavka 2. UFEU-a.
COMMENTS BY AN INTERESTED PARTY
PRIMJEDBE TREĆE ZAINTERESIRANE OSOBE
By letter dated 6 January 2003, the National Association of Independent Thermal Electricity Producers (SNPIET) submitted comments to the Commission in the context of the formal investigation procedure.
Dopisom od 6. siječnja 2003. Nacionalni sindikat nezavisnih proizvođača električne energije nastale u termoelektranama (Syndicat National des Producteurs Indépendants d'Electricité Thermique) (SNPIET) uputilo je primjedbe Komisiji u okviru formalnog istražnog postupka.
In relation to the non-payment in 1997 of corporation tax on some of the tax-free provisions created for the renewal of the RAG, SNPIET alleged that EDF had not complied in its operations with normal practice in industrial and commercial enterprises, contrary to the provisions of Act No 46-628 of 8 April 1946.
Prema tim primjedbama, u pogledu neplaćanja 1997. poreza na dobit na dio rezerviranja nastalih izuzećem od oporezivanja za obnovu RAG-a, EDF u okviru svojih djelatnosti nije poštovao uobičajenu praksu industrijskih i trgovačkih društava, suprotno onome što je propisano Zakonom br. 46-628 od 8. travnja 1946.
COMMENTS BY FRANCE ON THE DECISION TO INITIATE THE FORMAL INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE
PRIMJEDBE FRANCUSKE NA ODLUKU O POKRETANJU FORMALNOG ISTRAŽNOG POSTUPKA
First of all, they disputed the amount of the provisions created for the renewal of the high-voltage transmission network (RAG) advanced by the Commission.
Najprije, francuska tijela osporavaju iznos rezerviranja za obnovu RAG-a koji je iznijela Komisija.
Second, the French authorities claimed that, even if EDF had not set aside provisions for the renewal of the RAG, it would still not have been liable for the payment of corporation tax between 1987 and 1996 because of the carry-over of large tax losses.
Francuska tijela potom tvrde da čak i da nije bilo rezerviranja za obnovu RAG-a, EDF ne bi bio u stanju platiti porez na dobit od 1987. do 1996. zbog prenesenih poreznih gubitaka.
Furthermore, since the state was both the owner of EDF and the grantor of the concession on the RAG, they considered that the grantor rights did not provide it with a genuinely enforceable claim.
Usto, budući da je država istodobno vlasnik EDF-a i davatelj koncesije nad RAG-om, francuska su tijela smatrala da prava davatelja koncesije za državu nisu stvarno potraživ dug.
Consequently, when the balance sheet was restructured in 1997, they assigned those rights to EDF's capital and reserves in order to correct its under-capitalisation, but without subjecting them to corporation tax.
Prema tome, francuska su tijela tijekom restrukturiranja bilance 1997. rasporedila ta prava davatelja koncesije u vlasnički kapital EDF-a kako bi ispravila njezinu potkapitaliziranost, ali ih nisu oporezovala porezom na dobit.
The French authorities took the view that the restructuring of EDF's accounts in 1997 could be interpreted as a capital contribution of an amount equivalent to the partial tax exemption, the aim of which was also to correct under-capitalisation.
Francuska tijela smatraju da se računovodstveno restrukturiranje provedeno 1997. može smatrati dokapitalizacijom u iznosu jednakom djelomičnom izuzeću od oporezivanja, čiji je cilj bio i ispravljanje potkapitaliziranosti.
EDF and the state would have liked to allocate the quasi-own assets to capital, leaving aside the question of corporation tax.
EDF i država htjeli su rasporediti kvazivlasnički kapital u kapital i ne oporezovati ga porezom na dobit.
It was thought that it would be more efficient and more neutral to allocate the grantor rights directly, and in their full amount, to own funds, rather than to carry out the equivalent transaction, which would have entailed assigning to capital a net amount after corporation tax, requesting EDF to pay corporation tax in an amount equal to the variation in net worth and, finally, making an additional capital contribution in an amount equal to the tax paid.
Smatralo se učinkovitijim i neutralnijim izravno rasporediti prava davatelja koncesije u vlasnički kapital u ukupnom iznosu nego provesti jednakovrijednu radnju kojom bi se neto iznos nakon oporezivanja porezom na dobit rasporedio u kapital, tražiti da EDF plati porez na dobit u iznosu koji odgovara povećanju neto imovine te, naposljetku, dokapitalizirati u iznosu jednakom plaćenom porezu.
The French authorities took the view that an additional contribution was justified by EDF's projected profits in 1997, which were in fact achieved during subsequent years.
Francuska tijela smatraju da je dokapitalizacija bila opravdana izgledima za profitabilnost EDF-a 1997. koji su se, uostalom, i ostvarili tijekom sljedećih godina.
According to the French authorities, in comparable circumstances, a private investor in a market economy would have made such a capital contribution.
U sličnim bi okolnostima, prema mišljenju francuskih tijela, razuman privatni ulagač u tržišnom gospodarstvu izvršio takav unos kapitala.
They also denied that the remuneration of the state had been unduly reduced between 1987 and 1996 as a result of the creation of the provisions in question.
Francuska tijela osporavaju i da je prinos državi nepropisno smanjen od 1987. do 1996. nakon stvaranja predmetnih rezerviranja.
They argued that, even if the net result had been higher, the remuneration of the state would not have been increased since, during that period, the level of that remuneration did not correspond to a predetermined percentage of EDF's net result.
Navode da, čak i da je neto dobit bila veća, prinos državi ne bi bio veći jer u tom razdoblju visina prinosa nije odgovarala prethodno utvrđenom postotku neto dobiti poduzetnika.
The level was determined freely by the state in absolute terms and did not necessarily depend on EDF's financial situation.
Visinu prinosa slobodno je odredila država u apsolutnoj vrijednosti i ona nije nužno ovisila o financijskom stanju društva.
Nor did the remuneration have to be deducted from the net profits for each year.
Usto, taj se prinos nije obvezno isplaćivao iz neto dobiti svake poslovne godine.
In view of the foregoing, and given the losses carried over by EDF, the French authorities stressed that between 1987 and 1996 the state had in fact taken a dividend considerably in excess of the limits laid down by company law.
Iz te perspektive i uzevši u obzir prenesene gubitke EDF-a, francuska tijela ističu da je od 1987. do 1996. državi isplaćena dividenda čiji iznos znatno premašuje granice utvrđene pravom trgovačkih društava.
The French authorities also considered that, even if the creation of provisions for the renewal of the RAG had resulted in an advantage, that advantage had to be regarded as cancelled out by the increase in corporation tax paid in 1997.
Osim toga, francuska tijela smatraju da čak i da je stvaranje rezerviranja za obnovu RAG-a dovelo do prednosti, trebalo bi smatrati da je tu prednost poništilo povećanje poreza na dobit koji je plaćen 1997.
They claimed that, over the period from 1987 to 1996, EDF paid more to the state overall than the corporation tax that would have been paid by a commercial company which did not create provisions for the renewal of the RAG and which paid its shareholder a dividend equal to 37,5 % of its net result after tax.
Smatraju i da je EDF u razdoblju od 1987. do 1996. ukupno platio državi veći iznos poreza na dobit od onoga koji bi platilo neko trgovačko društvo, koje nije stvorilo rezerviranja za obnovu RAG-a i koje je svojem dioničaru isplatilo dividendu od 37,5 % neto dobiti nakon oporezivanja.
The French authorities also argued that, if EDF were found to have benefited from an undue advantage, it would constitute existing aid and not new aid on account of the expiry of the 10-year limitation period laid down in Article 15 of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 [10], which started to run from the date on which the initial aid was granted.
Nadalje, francuska tijela smatraju da bi se, kada bi se utvrdilo postojanje neopravdane prednosti, ta prednost trebala smatrati postojećom potporom, a ne novom potporom, zbog desetogodišnje zastare utvrđene u članku 15. Uredbe Vijeća (EZ) br. 659/1999 [10] koja se počela računati od dodjele prvih elemenata potpore.
Since the Commission's first request for information was made on 10 July 2001, any aid granted before 1991 would be time-barred.
Uzevši u obzir da je prvi Komisijin zahtjev za informacije podnesen 10. srpnja 2001., eventualni elementi potpore dodijeljeni prije 1991. trebali bi pasti u zastaru.
The French authorities took the view that the legislative measures adopted in 1997 did not suspend the limitation period since only action by the Commission could have that effect.
Francuska tijela smatraju da intervencija zakonodavca iz 1997. nije imala za učinak prekid te zastare jer samo mjere Komisije mogu imati takav učinak.