natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
All these alleged aid measures relate to Iberpotash's environmental obligations with respect to its mining sites in the basin of the river of Llobregat and the salt waste heaps created at these sites as a result of decades of operation of the mines.
Iberpotash je vlasnik dvaju rudnika potaše u slivu rijeke Llobregat u regiji Bages u Kataloniji, jednoga u općini Súria i drugoga u općinama Sallent i Balsareny, te upravlja tim rudnicima.
These alleged State aid measures include:
Potaša se upotrebljava za proizvodnju gnojiva.
Failure of the Spanish authorities to comply with Article 14 of Directive 2006/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (‘Extractive Waste Directive’) which allegedly led to reduced financial guarantees for obtaining the permits to operate Iberpotash's mines (‘Measure 1: reduced level of the financial guarantees’).
Iberpotash usto proizvodi i prodaje sol uglavnom za industrijske potrebe.
Investments made by the Spanish authorities in order to limit and/or repair the damages allegedly caused by Iberpotash to the environment in breach of the ‘polluter pays’ principle.
Iberpotash je društvo kći poduzetnika ICL Fertilisers, izraelskog multinacionalnog društva koje je najveći proizvođač gnojiva u svijetu.
These investments include:
Rudnici potaše, koji se u regiji iskorištavaju još od 1920-ih, bili su u državnom vlasništvu do 1998.
construction of a new brine collector in function since 2008 (‘Measure 2: new brine collector’),
Iberpotash je kupio rudnike potaše u općinama Súria i Sallent/Balsareny na temelju kupoprodajnog ugovora sklopljenog 21. listopada 1998. sa španjolskim javnim holding-društvom Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales – SEPI, koje je u državnom vlasništvu.
investments in improvement of water treatment facilities in Abrera and Sant Joan Despí at the Llobregat river (‘Measure 3: investments in water treatment facilities’),
NAVODNE MJERE DRŽAVNIH POTPORA
covering of a salt waste heap on Iberpotash mining site of Vilafruns (‘Measure 4: covering of Vilafruns waste heap’).
Podnositelj pritužbe tvrdi da su španjolska nadležna tijela brojnim mjerama pružila nezakonitu i nespojivu državnu potporu poduzetniku Iberpotash.
Financing of an environmental study concerning the waste heap of Cogulló (‘Measure 5: Cogulló waste heap study’).
Sve te navodne mjere potpore odnose se na obveze poduzetnika Iberpotash u području okoliša u vezi s lokacijama rudnika u slivu rijeke Llobregat i jalovištima koja su na tim lokacijama nastala uslijed višedesetljetnog rada rudnika.
The Complainant estimates that the total alleged aid to Iberpotash due to these measures ranges between EUR 260 million and EUR 407 million.
Navodne mjere državnih potpora uključuju:
The Complainant also submitted a separate complaint on an alleged breach of EU environmental law.
neusklađenost španjolskih nadležnih tijela s člankom 14.
Based on this complaint, the Commission sent in July 2014 a letter of formal notice to Spain, thus starting the infringement procedure for non-compliance with obligations under the Extractive Waste Directive.
Direktive 2006/21/EZ Europskog parlamenta i Vijeća („Direktiva o otpadu od industrija vađenja minerala”), što je navodno dovelo do smanjenja financijskih jamstava za dobivanje dozvola za upravljanje rudnicima poduzetnika Iberpotash („1. mjera: smanjenje iznosa financijskih jamstva”),
In September 2015, an additional letter of formal notice extended the infringement procedure to the non-compliance with Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (‘Water Framework Directive’).
ulaganja španjolskih nadležnih tijela radi ograničenja i/ili uklanjanja štete koju je poduzetnik Iberpotash navodno nanio okolišu i kojom je prekršio načelo „onečišćivač plaća”.
The infringement procedure is pending.
Ta ulaganja uključuju:
GROUNDS FOR INITIATING THE PROCEDURE
izgradnju novog kolektora slane vode koji je stavljen u rad 2008. („2. mjera: novi kolektor slane vode”)
On 26 January 2016, the Commission adopted a decision to open formal investigation with respect to measures 1 and 4 (‘the Opening Decision’) in order to address its doubts whether these measures constitute State aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the Treaty and whether they are compatible with the internal market.
ulaganja u poboljšanje postrojenja za pročišćivanje vode za piće u općinama Abrera i Sant Joan Despí uz rijeku Llobregat („3. mjera: ulaganja u postrojenja za pročišćavanje vode za piće”)
At the same time, the Commission concluded that measures 2, 3 and 5 do not constitute State aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the Treaty.
prekrivanje jalovišta Vilafruns poduzetnika Iberpotash („4. mjera: prekrivanje jalovišta Vilafruns”)
Since this conclusion has not been disputed, measures 2, 3 and 5 are not the object of the present decision and shall not be further assessed hereinafter.
financiranje studije o zaštiti okoliša u pogledu jalovišta Cogulló („5. mjera: studija o jalovištu Cogulló”).
DOUBTS CONCERNING MEASURE 1: REDUCED FINANCIAL GUARANTEES
Podnositelj pritužbe procjenjuje da je tim mjerama poduzetniku Iberpotash pripala ukupna navodna potpora u iznosu od 260 do 407 milijuna EUR.
The Commission found in the Opening Decision that it could not exclude that Measure 1 may constitute State aid.
Podnositelj pritužbe podnio je i zasebnu pritužbu na navodnu povredu zakonodavstva EU-a o zaštiti okoliša.
In particular, it had doubts whether Measure 1 involved transfer of State resources and provided any economic advantage to Iberpotash and it thus invited the Spanish authorities and third parties to provide more evidence in this respect.
Na temelju te pritužbe Komisija je Španjolskoj u srpnju 2014. poslala pismo opomene i time pokrenula postupak zbog povrede obveza iz Direktive o otpadu od industrija vađenja minerala odnosno neusklađenosti s njima.
To the extent Measure 1 constituted State aid, the Commission had doubts that it could be found compatible.
Dodatnim pismom opomene iz rujna 2015. proširen je postupak zbog povrede na neusklađenost s Direktivom 2000/60/EZ Europskog parlamenta i Vijeća („Okvirna direktiva o vodama”).
DOUBTS CONCERNING MEASURE 4: COVERING OF VILAFRUNS WASTE HEAP
U tijeku je postupak zbog povrede.
The Commission found in the Opening Decision that public financing of the covering of Vilafruns waste heap is likely to constitute State aid.
RAZLOZI ZA POKRETANJE POSTUPKA
In particular, it considered that Measure 4 was likely to provide a selective economic advantage to Iberpotash by ensuring better prevention against pollution at the waste facility owned by Iberpotash and thus ensuring compliance with its environmental obligations.
Komisija je 26. siječnja 2016. donijela odluku o pokretanju službene istrage o 1. i 4. mjeri („odluka o pokretanju postupka”) kako bi razriješila svoje dvojbe o tome jesu li te mjere državna potpora u smislu članka 107. stavka 1.
The Commission thus invited the Spanish authorities and third parties to comment on these preliminary conclusions.
Ugovora i jesu li spojive s unutarnjim tržištem.
Further, the Commission considered that since the investment costs were fully financed by the public authorities and Iberpotash covers only subsequent maintenance costs, the aid intensity of Measure 4 is well above the intensities for aid for undertakings which go beyond Community standards or increase the level of environmental protection in the absence of these standards under Section 3.1.1 of the Community guidelines on State aid for environmental protection (2008/C 82/01) (‘the 2008 Environmental Guidelines’).
Komisija je istodobno zaključila da 2., 3. i 5. mjera nisu državna potpora u smislu članka 107. stavka 1.
Therefore, the Commission expressed doubts on the compatibility of such aid and invited the Spanish authorities and third parties to comment on this preliminary finding.
Ugovora.
COMMENTS FROM INTERESTED PARTIES
Budući da taj zaključak nije osporavan, 2., 3.i 5. mjera nisu predmet ove odluke i neće se dalje u njoj procjenjivati.
COMMENTS FROM IBERPOTASH
DVOJBE O 1.
Iberpotash, for the most part, aligns its comments with the ones submitted by Spain on both measures under investigation.
MJERI: SMANJENA FINANCIJSKA JAMSTVA
Iberpotash notes, in addition, that Measure 1 does not involve State resources because there has been no transfer of resources by Spain to Iberpotash up to date.
Komisija je u odluci o pokretanju postupka zaključila da ne može isključiti mogućnost da bi 1. mjera mogla biti državna potpora.
Besides, the risk of this happening is very low, since Iberpotash does not face economic difficulties and will be able to bear the costs of environmental restoration should the amount of the guarantee prove to be insufficient.
Točnije, dvojila je o tome je li 1. mjera uključivala prijenos državnih sredstava i donijela gospodarsku prednost poduzetniku Iberpotash pa je pozvala španjolska nadležna tijela i treće strane da dostave više dokaza u tom pogledu.
Iberpotash expresses the same concerns as Spain with regards to the selectivity of the measures and whether they confer an economic advantage or distort competition between member States.
Komisija je sumnjala da se 1. mjera može smatrati spojivom ako je ona zapravo državna potpora.
Iberpotash repeats that Measure 4 is compatible with the 2008 Environmental Guidelines and that the applicable aid intensity for the restoration of contaminated sites is 100 %.
DVOJBE O 4.
COMMENTS FROM THE FIRST INTERESTED PARTY (COMPLAINANT)
MJERI: PREKRIVANJE JALOVIŠTA VILAFRUNS
The first interested party, who wishes that its identity be kept confidential, supports the opening of the formal investigation procedure and supports the Commission's arguments in the Opening Decision for both Measures.
Komisija je u odluci o pokretanju postupka zaključila da je vjerojatno da je javno financiranje prekrivanja jalovišta Vilafruns zapravo državna potpora.
The first interested party adds that the setting of an insufficient guarantee entails a real burden for the public authorities, who bear the cost of Iberpotash's environmental obligations.
Točnije, smatrala je da je vjerojatno da je 4. mjera poduzetniku Iberpotash donijela selektivnu gospodarsku prednost osiguranjem bolje zaštite od onečišćenja u jalovištu u vlasništvu poduzetnika Iberpotash, a time i osigurala ispunjenje njegovih obveza u području okoliša.
It also notes that Iberpotash gained an economic advantage because Iberpotash used the financial resources it saved in order to finance its own economic activities.
Komisija je stoga pozvala španjolska nadležna tijela i treće strane da iznesu primjedbe o tim preliminarnim zaključcima.
The first interested party agrees with the Commission that the aid is incompatible because it constitutes operating aid.
Nadalje, Komisija je smatrala da je intenzitet potpore 4. mjere uvelike premašio intenzitete potpore poduzetnicima koji premašuju standarde Zajednice ili povećavaju razinu zaštite okoliša u nedostatku tih standarda u skladu s odjeljkom 3.1.1.
As regards Measure 2, the first interested party draws the Commission's attention to a decision of the Barcelona Provincial Court of 22 February 2016 that confirmed the liability of Iberpotash to restore the lands damaged by its activities.
Smjernica Zajednice o državnim potporama za zaštitu okoliša (2008/C 82/01) („Smjernice o potporama za zaštitu okoliša iz 2008.”) jer su troškove ulaganja u potpunosti financirala tijela javne vlasti, dok poduzetnik Iberpotash pokriva samo daljnje troškove održavanja.
It also adds that the covering of the salt tip is not a ‘pilot’ project because no documents related to the public financing of this measure describe the project as such, and because the method used is a well-known one that has been used by other mining companies for at least 15 years for similar tips.
Stoga je Komisija izrazila svoje dvojbe o spojivosti takve potpore i pozvala španjolska nadležna tijela i treće strane da iznesu primjedbe o tom preliminarnom zaključku.
COMMENTS FROM THE SECOND INTERESTED PARTY
PRIMJEDBE ZAINTERESIRANIH STRANA
The second interested party, who also wishes that its identity be kept confidential, supports the Opening Decision of the Commission.
PRIMJEDBE PODUZETNIKA IBERPOTASH
As regards Measure 1, it notes in addition that the question whether the guarantee amount complies with applicable EU or Spanish legislation is irrelevant, because the aid consists in the State's assuming the financial risk of restoring the affected facilities; the quantification of such risk is exclusively a question of fact, not of law.
Velika većina primjedbi poduzetnika Iberpotash u skladu je s primjedbama koje je Španjolska iznijela u pogledu obiju mjera koje se istražuju.
Furthermore, the second interested party questions Iberpotash's availability to pay for the environmental restoration when the obligation arises, because Iberpotash's only Spanish assets are its mining facilities, which will be closed and therefore be of low value after 2035.
Iberpotash primjećuje i da 1. mjera ne uključuje državna sredstva jer dosad Španjolska nije prenijela nikakva sredstva poduzetniku Iberpotash.
The second interested party also notes that the setting of a sufficient guarantee amount would entail an annual cost of at least EUR 2806000 for Iberpotash, which is hardly an insignificant amount.
Osim toga, mogućnost da se to dogodi vrlo je mala jer Iberpotash nema ekonomskih poteškoća te će snositi troškove sanacije okoliša ako se pokaže da iznos jamstva nije dostatan.
It adds that the setting of the guarantees at the current amount also results in Iberpotash avoiding the collateralisation of its financial reserves.
Iberpotash izražava istu zabrinutost kao i Španjolska u pogledu selektivnosti mjera i pitanja o tome donose li one gospodarsku prednost ili narušavaju tržišno natjecanje među državama članicama.
With regard to Measure 2, the second interested party observes that the Supreme Court judgment of 14 May 2009 along with Council Directive 75/442/EEC and the applicable Spanish law provides that Iberpotash is solely responsible for covering the Vilafruns tip from the very moment that mining rights were transferred to it, regardless whether the site is active or not.
Iberpotash ponavlja da je 4. mjera spojiva sa Smjernicama o potporama za zaštitu okoliša iz 2008. i da primjenjiv intenzitet potpore za sanaciju onečišćenih područja iznosi 100 %.
As regards Measure 4, the second interested party argues that covering of Vilafruns waste heap is a responsibility of Iberpotash and that Iberpotash thus received a selective advantage due to public financing of the covering.
PRIMJEDBE PRVE ZAINTERESIRANE STRANE (PODNOSITELJ PRITUŽBE)
Further, the second interested party disagrees with qualification of the covering as a pilot project of a new technique of restoration.
Prva zainteresirana strana, koja želi ostati anonimna, podržava pokretanje postupka službene istrage i argumente u pogledu obiju mjera koje je Komisija iznijela u odluci o pokretanju postupka.
It argues that covering salt waste heaps with geomembranes is an old technique used already for a long time e.g. by Alsatian and German potash companies.
Prva zainteresirana strana dodaje da određivanje nedovoljnog iznosa jamstva predstavlja stvaran teret za tijela javne vlasti koja snose troškove ispunjenja obveza poduzetnika Iberpotash u području okoliša.
Finally, the second interested party argues that the question whether Iberpotash is the sole potash producer in Spain is irrelevant, because the relevant potash market is global.
Osim toga, primjećuje da je Iberpotash stekao gospodarsku prednost jer je ušteđena financijska sredstva upotrijebio za financiranje vlastitih gospodarskih djelatnosti.
An effect on trade is unquestionable because, geographically, Iberpotash competes with French salt producers, as apparent by the proximity (less than 100 km away) of the Suria and Sallent sites to the French border.
Prva zainteresirana strana slaže se s Komisijom da potpora nije spojiva jer je riječ o operativnoj potpori.
Both the first and the second interested party provided comments also with respect to other three measures analysed in the Opening Decision (measures relating to (i) new brine collector, (ii) investments in water treatment facilities, and (iii) Cogulló waste heap study).
Kad je riječ o 2. mjeri, prva zainteresirana strana skreće pozornost Komisije na odluku Pokrajinskog suda u Barceloni od 22. veljače 2016. kojom je potvrđena obveza poduzetnika Iberpotash da sanira zemljište oštećeno njegovim aktivnostima.
However, as noted in recital 15, the Commission has already concluded in the Opening Decision that these measures do not constitute State aid and are thus not the object of the formal investigation procedure.
Usto dodaje da prekrivanje jalovišta nije pilot-projekt jer se taj projekt ni u jednom dokumentu povezanom s javnim financiranjem te mjere ne navodi kao takav te jer je upotrijebljena metoda dobro poznata i već je barem 15 godina upotrebljavaju druga rudarska društva za slična jalovišta.
The comments of the third parties provided exclusively with respect to these measures not covered by the formal investigation are thus considered irrelevant for the purpose of this decision.
PRIMJEDBE DRUGE ZAINTERESIRANE STRANE
COMMENTS FROM SPAIN
Druga zainteresirana strana, koja također želi ostati anonimna, podržava odluku o pokretanju postupka Komisije.
COMMENTS ON THE OPENING DECISION
Kad je riječ o 1. mjeri, primjećuje i da pitanje o tome je li iznos jamstva u skladu s primjenjivim zakonodavstvom EU-a ili Španjolske nije relevantno jer predmetnom potporom država preuzima financijski rizik sanacija zahvaćenih postrojenja, a kvantifikacija rizika isključivo je činjenično, a ne pravno pitanje.
As regards Measure 1, Spain is of the view that the amount of the guarantee has always been appropriate and set in accordance to the applicable Spanish and Union legislation.
Nadalje, druga zainteresirana strana dovodi u pitanje sposobnost poduzetnika Iberpotash da financira sanaciju okoliša u trenutku nastanka te obveze jer su jedina imovina poduzetnika Iberpotash u Španjolskoj njegova rudarska postrojenja koja će se zatvoriti i stoga će nakon 2035. imati malu vrijednost.
More particularly, Spain argues that the possible infringements of Extractive Waste Directive do not include setting the guarantee amount too low, therefore there cannot have been an infringement of the Directive.
Druga zainteresirana strana primjećuje i da bi određivanje dostatnog iznosa jamstva podrazumijevalo godišnji trošak za poduzetnika Iberpotash od najmanje 2806000 EUR, što nije neznatan iznos.
In addition, with regards to the issue of determining the appropriate guarantee amount, Spain dismisses as inconclusive the statement dated 2 October 2013 of Ms Assumpta Feran (the Director of the Directorate in charge of the environment at the Generalitat de Catalunya) before the Environmental Committee of the Catalan Parliament, who stated that the financial guarantee should amount to EUR 200 million.
Dodaje da trenutačno određeni iznos jamstava dovodi i do toga da Iberpotash izbjegava osiguranje svojih financijskih rezervi kolateralom.
According to Spain, the statement was made amidst a debate among opposing political parties and therefore driven by political considerations.
Kad je riječ o 2. mjeri, druga zainteresirana strana primjećuje da na temelju presude Vrhovnog suda od 14. svibnja 2009., Direktive Vijeća 75/442/EEZ i primjenjivog španjolskog zakonodavstva Iberpotash snosi isključivu odgovornost za pokrivanje jalovišta Vilafruns od trenutka prijenosa prava na rudarenje na njega neovisno o tome je li riječ o aktivnom ili neaktivnom rudniku.
Spain also finds the judgment of 11 October 2011 of the Higher Court of Justice of Catalonia inconclusive for the determination of the appropriate guarantee amount, because the court itself refrained from calculating it.
Kad je riječ o 4. mjeri, druga zainteresirana strana tvrdi da je pokrivanje jalovišta Vilafruns odgovornost poduzetnika Iberpotash i da je stoga javno financiranje tog pokrivanja donijelo selektivnu prednost poduzetniku Iberpotash.
Furthermore, Spain considers as unreliable the study that the complainant supplied and that the Commission cited in recital 71 of the opening decision, because the study did not calculate the appropriate guarantee amount based on the criteria set forth in Decree 202/1994 of 14 of June, i.e. the applicable legislation relative to the guarantee amount.
Nadalje, druga zainteresirana strana ne slaže se s tvrdnjom da je prekrivanje pilot-projekt nove tehnike sanacije.
Spain argues, in addition, that Measure 1 does not confer a selective economic advantage to Iberpotash.
Tvrdi da je prekrivanje jalovišta geomembranama stara tehnika koja se upotrebljava već duže vremena, npr. u alzaškim i njemačkim društvima za proizvodnju potaše.
Any alleged advantage was fixed based on a legal framework which was equally applicable to all potential competitors.
Naposljetku, druga zainteresirana strana tvrdi da pitanje o tome je li Iberpotash jedini proizvođač potaše u Španjolskoj nije relevantno jer je relevantno tržište potaše svjetsko tržište.
What is more, the exploitations of Sallent and Suria are the only active ones in Spain, therefore Iberpotash could not have gained an advantage since there are no comparable exploitations in Spanish territory.
Učinak na trgovinu neupitan je jer je Iberpotash u geografskom smislu konkurent francuskim proizvođačima soli, što je očito s obzirom na to koliko su rudnici u općinama Súria i Sallent blizu (manje od 100 km) francuskoj granici.
Spain supports that no State resources are involved because, in case that the guarantee amount proves to be insufficient, Iberpotash's obligation to restore the land affected by the extraction activities remains valid.
Prva i druga zainteresirana strana iznijele su primjedbe i u pogledu ostalih triju mjera analiziranih u odluci o pokretanju postupka (mjere povezane s i. novim kolektorom slane vode, ii. ulaganjima u postrojenja za pročišćavanje vode za piće i iii. studijom o jalovištu Cogulló).
Spain can enforce Iberpotash's obligation by means of seizure of the latter's rights and property on Spanish territory.
No kako je već navedeno u uvodnoj izjavi 15., Komisija je već u odluci o pokretanju postupka zaključila da te mjere nisu državna potpora pa ni nisu predmet postupka službene istrage.
Finally, Spain notes that Measure 1 does not distort competition or affect trade between Member States, because the costs to be incurred by Iberpotash if it were obligated to set a higher guarantee amount are negligible for the standards of the potash extraction industry.
Stoga se primjedbe trećih strana iznesene isključivo u pogledu tih mjera koje nisu obuhvaćene službenom istragom ne smatraju relevantnim u kontekstu ove odluke.
In relation to Measure 4, Spain argues that Iberpotash cannot have gained an economic advantage because, by not being a polluter, Iberpotash did not have the obligation to cover the salt tip of Vilafruns, according to the generally applicable Spanish legislation.
PRIMJEDBE ŠPANJOLSKE
In addition, Iberpotash bears the maintenance costs of the covering of the tip and, therefore, even if, thanks to the public financing, it saved the tip's building costs, it is bound to spend a much greater amount on its maintenance for the next decades and therefore loses any economic advantage gained by the measure.
PRIMJEDBE NA ODLUKU O POKRETANJU POSTUPKA
Spain alleges that Measure 4 cannot be selective because Iberpotash is the only undertaking in Spain involved in potash extraction activities.
Kad je riječ o 1. mjeri, Španjolska smatra da je iznos jamstva uvijek bio primjeren i određen u skladu s primjenjivim zakonodavstvom Španjolske i Unije.
In addition, the measure does not have a distortive effect on competition between Member States given that the extracted salt, due to transportation difficulties, cannot be transferred between member States.
Točnije, Španjolska tvrdi da potencijalne povrede Direktive o otpadu od industrija vađenja minerala ne uključuju određivanje premalog iznosa jamstva i da stoga nije moglo doći do povrede Direktive.