natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
The Authority did not receive any further comments to the opening decision from third parties.
Dopisom od 12. listopada 2016.
By letter dated 12 October 2016, the Authority requested information from the Norwegian authorities.
Tijelo je zatražilo informacije od norveških nadležnih tijela.
By letters dated 21 November 2016 and 21 December 2016, the Norwegian authorities replied to the information request.
Dopisima od 21. studenoga 2016. i 21. prosinca 2016. norveška nadležna tijela odgovorila su na zahtjev za informacije.
The operation of the service for parts of the period 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2012 was the subject of the Authority's Decision No 205/11/COL.
Pružanje usluge u dijelovima razdoblja od 1. siječnja 2005. do 31. prosinca 2012. bilo je predmet Odluke Tijela br. 205/11/COL.
The operation of the service for the period 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2019 was the subject of a tender procedure initiated on 30 June 2010, when the tender specifications were published on Doffin (online database for public procurement).
Pružanje usluge u razdoblju od 1. siječnja 2012. do 31. prosinca 2019. bilo je predmet postupka nadmetanja koji je pokrenut 30. lipnja 2010., kada su na Doffinu (internetska baza podataka za javnu nabavu) objavljene natječajne specifikacije.
Following this tender procedure, and on the basis of a bid submitted on 8 November 2010, a contract for the procurement of services for the Bergen – Kirkenes coastal route for the period 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2019 was signed with Hurtigruten on 13 April 2011.
Na liniji Tromsø–Kirkenes i Kirkenes–Tromsø obavlja se i prijevoz tereta.
Under this contract, Hurtigruten shall perform daily sailings throughout the year with calls at 32 intermediate defined ports between Bergen and Kirkenes.
Usluge se moraju provoditi u skladu s određenim zahtjevima u pogledu kapaciteta i plovila, kako je određeno u ugovoru.
For the Tromsø - Kirkenes and Kirkenes – Tromsø routes, freight transport shall also be provided.
Najmanji putnički kapacitet plovila na obalnoj liniji mora iznositi 320 putnika, kabina s ležajevima mora biti za 120 putnika, a prostor za teret normalne visine mora imati kapacitet za 150 europaleta.
The services shall be operated in line with certain capacity and vessel requirements, as stipulated in the contract.
Plovila moraju ispunjavati i pravne i tehničke zahtjeve kako je navedeno u odjeljku 4.4. natječajnih specifikacija.
Vessels used on the coastal route shall as a minimum have a passenger capacity for 320 passengers, berth capacity in cabins for 120 passengers and freight capacity for 150 euro pallets in a cargo hold with a normal load height.
Pomorske usluge na liniji Bergen–Kirkenes temelje se na najvišim cijenama prijevoza s obzirom na putnike koji putuju od luke do luke (tj. putnike kojima se pruža javna usluga), a te cijene moraju odobriti norveška nadležna tijela.
They shall also meet legal and technical requirements as indicated in section 4.4 of the tender specifications.
U skladu s HA-om, „‚[p]utnici koji putuju od luke do luke’ putnici su koji kupuju putne karte za odabranu liniju u skladu s normalnom tarifom uz mogućnost nadoplate za kabine s ležajevima i/ili obroke.
The maritime services for the Bergen – Kirkenes route are based on maximum fares as regards port-to-port passengers (i.e. public service passengers), which must be approved by the Norwegian authorities.
Cijene za dodatne usluge moraju biti u skladu s objavljenim cijenama za odabrani standard kabine s ležajevima i obroka.
According to the HA, ‘‘[p]ort-to-port passengers’ are passengers who purchase tickets for travelling on a chosen route in accordance with the normal tariff, with any supplement for cabins and/or meals at their option.
Ukupna cijena u takvim slučajevima mora biti jednaka zbroju cijene karte i pojedinačnih cijena odabranih dodatnih usluga.”
Prices for supplementary services must correspond to published prices for the selected standard of cabin and meal.
Smatra se da odobrena cijena prijevoza znači normalna tarifa koja se primjenjivala na toj liniji 1. listopada 2004. i koja je prilagođena u skladu s indeksom potrošačkih cijena.
The overall price must in such cases equal the sum of the ticket price and individual prices of the selected supplementary services.’
Sve naknadne promjene normalne tarife moraju odobriti norveška nadležna tijela.
An approved fare is taken to mean the normal fares tariff that applied on this route on 1 October 2004, adjusted in line with the Consumer Price Index.
Hurtigruten može slobodno određivati svoje cijene za ostale putnike.
Any subsequent changes to the normal tariff must be approved by the Norwegian authorities.
U skladu s HA-om, „‚[o]stali putnici’ su oni koji nisu ‚putnici koji putuju od luke do luke’.
For other passengers, Hurtigruten is free to set its prices.
Drugim riječima, to su putnici koji kupuju putovanja na posebnim linijama, koje utvrđuje dobavljač, te koja uključuju barem jedno noćenje u kabini s ležajevima i barem jedan obrok na brodu te za koja je dobavljač objavio kombiniranu cijenu za uključene elemente putovanja, a koja se ne može razdvojiti na pojedinačne objavljene cijene za iste elemente putovanja, uključujući to da putnici neće imati pravo na utvrđene popuste na sastavnice koje se odnose na putovanje.
According to the HA, ‘‘[o]ther passengers’ are those who are not ‘port-to-port passengers’.
Među ostale putnike uključeni su i oni koji kupuju putovanje, koje utvrđuje dobavljač, koje uključuje barem prethodno navedene dodatne usluge po kombiniranoj cijeni, utvrđenoj po danu, no pri čemu putnici sami odabiru liniju na kojoj se primjenjuju ti uvjeti.”
In other words, they are passengers who purchase travel products for specific routes, defined by the supplier, and which include at least one overnight cabin stay and at least one meal on board, where the supplier has published a combined price for the items included and which cannot be broken down into the individual published prices for the same items, including that the passengers will not be entitled to defined discounts on the travel component of the product.
Isto se primjenjuje i na cijene kabina s ležajevima i obroka te na prijevoz tereta.
Other passengers also include those purchasing a travel product, defined by the supplier, with at least the abovementioned supplementary services at a combined price, specified per day, but where the passengers themselves select the route where these conditions apply.’
Za usluge obuhvaćene HA-om norveška nadležna tijela plaćaju ukupnu naknadu u iznosu od 5120 milijuna NOK tijekom osmogodišnjeg trajanja sporazuma, a ta naknada izražena je u cijenama za 2011. i prilagođena u skladu s indeksom troškova za domaći pomorski prijevoz Norveškog zavoda za statistiku.
The same applies to cabin and meal prices, as well as to freight transport.
Raspodjela naknade za svaku pojedinačnu godinu prikazana je u nastavku.
For the services covered by the HA, the Norwegian authorities pay a total compensation of NOK 5120 million for the eight years' duration of the agreement, expressed in 2011 prices, and adjusted in accordance with Statistics Norway's cost index for domestic sea transport.
Tablica 1.
The compensation allocation for each individual year is as follows:
Godišnja naknada na temelju HA-a
Table 1
700 milijuna NOK
Annual Compensation under the HA
683 milijuna NOK
NOK 700 million
666 milijuna NOK
NOK 683 million
649 milijuna NOK
NOK 666 million
631 milijun NOK
NOK 649 million
614 milijuna NOK
NOK 631 million
597 milijuna NOK
NOK 614 million
580 milijuna NOK
NOK 597 million
U skladu s HA-om, Hurtigruten je obvezan voditi zasebne račune za aktivnosti na liniji Bergen–Kirkenes i za ostale aktivnosti i linije izvan područja primjene HA-a.
NOK 580 million
Osim toga, Hurtigruten je obvezan voditi zasebne račune za linije u okviru obveze pružanja javne usluge ( „PSO”) glavne obalne linije Bergen–Kirkenes i za komercijalni dio iste linije.
According to the HA, Hurtigruten is obliged to keep separate accounts for the activities on the Bergen – Kirkenes route and other activities and routes outside the scope of the HA.
PRITUŽBE
In addition, Hurtigruten is obliged to keep separate accounts for the public service obligation ( ‘PSO’) routes of the Bergen – Kirkenes main coastal route and the commercial part of the same route.
Oba podnositelja pritužbi zatražila su povjerljivo postupanje.
THE COMPLAINTS
Argument podnositelja pritužbi o tome da Hurtigruten prima državne potpore u obliku prekomjernih naknada, čime se krše odredbe članaka 61. i 59.
Both complainants have requested confidential treatment.
Sporazuma o EGP-u, temelji se na sljedećim tvrdnjama:
The complainants' argument that Hurtigruten receives State aid in the form of overcompensation, violating thus Articles 61 and 59 of the EEA Agreement, is centred around the following allegations:
naknada za pružanje usluga na linijama u okviru PSO-a znatno se povećala u usporedbi s prethodnim ugovornim razdobljem;
The compensation for providing the PSO routes has increased substantially as compared to the previous contract period.
Hurtigruten i dalje prima naknadu za usluge koje ne pruža:
Hurtigruten continues to receive compensation for services that are not rendered:
Hurtigruten je otkazao sve plovidbe do luke Mehamn (jedna od luka pristajanja obuhvaćenih HA-om) i iz nje od siječnja 2014. do rujna 2014. bez ikakvog objektivnog opravdanja ili stručne potvrde nakon što je sam djelomično porušio terminalsko pristanište u travnju 2012. koje je Hurtigruten zapravo upotrebljavao za pristajanje tijekom više od 20 mjeseci.
Hurtigruten has cancelled all sailings to and from the port of Mehamn (one of the ports of call covered by the HA) from January 2014 until September 2014 without any objective justification or professional verification, after having itself partially demolished the terminal quay in April 2012, which Hurtigruten was actually using to dock for over 20 months.
Istodobno, pripadajuća naknada koju su odobrila norveška nadležna tijela nije smanjena, čime je Hurtigrutenu omogućeno ostvarivanje mjesečnih ušteda na troškovima u iznosu od 314500 NOK.
At the same time, the corresponding compensation granted by the Norwegian authorities has not been reduced, enabling Hurtigruten to receive monthly cost savings amounting to NOK 314500.
Kao posljedica toga, nisu ispunjeni drugi i treći uvjet iz presude u predmetu Altmark.
As a result, both the second and third Altmark conditions would not be fulfilled.
Drugi uvjet nije ispunjen jer norveška nadležna tijela nisu uspostavila okvir ili politiku za objektivnu i stručnu evaluaciju gubitka usluge nakon tehničkih ili operativnih tvrdnji koje je iznijelo društvo te nisu zadužila nijednu agenciju da provjeri osporavane tvrdnje.
The third condition would not be fulfilled, according to the complainants, because Hurtigruten is paid full compensation for PSO routes where it enjoys a substantial cost reduction as a result of the interruption of the services.
norveška nadležna tijela odbacila su brojne pritužbe nekoliko luka i regionalnih tijela u pogledu čestih i samovoljnih otkazivanja Hurtigrutena te nisu dovele ni do kakvog smanjenja naknada.
Numerous complaints from several ports and regional authorities regarding frequent and arbitrary Hurtigruten cancellations have been dismissed by the Norwegian authorities and have not resulted in any reduction of the compensation.
Prema navodima podnositelja pritužbi, određene su luke posebno pogođene otkazivanjima zbog malenog broja putnika i niske profitabilnosti, osobito tijekom zimskog razdoblja.
According to the complainants, certain ports are especially plagued by cancellations due to low passenger numbers and low profitability, especially during the winter season.
Podnositelji pritužbi posebno dovode u pitanje definiciju više sile iz odjeljka 8.
The complainants particularly question the force majeure definition of section 8 of the HA referring to ‘extreme weather conditions’ without the use of objective criteria.
HA-a u kojoj se poziva na „ekstremne vremenske uvjete” bez upotrebe objektivnih kriterija.
They also refer to such conditions as not constituting force majeure in line with section 8 of the HA, which particularly states that ‘[o]bstacles that the contracting party should have considered upon entering into the agreement, or could reasonably be expected to avoid or circumvent, shall not be considered to constitute force majeure’.
Upućuju i na to da ti uvjeti ne predstavljaju višu silu u skladu s odjeljkom 8.
At the same time, the complainants question Hurtigruten's discretion to abuse the absolute sovereignty of the master of the ship, when justifying cancellations that are not due to scheduled maintenance or technical reasons pursuant to section 4-1(3) of the HA.
HA-a u kojem se posebno navodi da se za „[p]repreke koje je ugovorna strana trebala uzeti u obzir pri sklapanju sporazuma, ili za koje se opravdano smatra da ih je mogla ukloniti ili izbjeći, ne smatra da predstavljaju višu silu”.
In conclusion, the complainants submit that the cancellations that do not result in any reduction of the compensation have an adverse effect on the performance of the PSO routes and do not fulfil the second and third Altmark conditions.
Istodobno, podnositelji pritužbi dovode u pitanje diskrecijsko pravo Hurtigrutena na zlouporabu apsolutnog suvereniteta zapovjednika broda pri opravdavanju otkazivanja koja nisu posljedica planiranog održavanja ili tehničkih razloga u skladu s odjeljkom 4-1. stavkom 3.
Hurtigruten has shown reluctance to pay port fees, rent and service charges.
HA-a.
It stopped paying from January 2014 until May 2014.
Zaključno, podnositelji pritužbi smatraju da otkazivanja koja ne rezultiraju nikakvim smanjenjem naknade imaju nepovoljan učinak na pružanje usluga na linijama u okviru PSO-a te ne ispunjavaju drugi i treći uvjet iz presude u predmetu Altmark;
Furthermore, it attempts to secure special price agreements and seeks repayments of such costs from all relevant ports going back to 2011, while maintaining the public service compensation at the same level.
Hurtigruten je pokazao nevoljkost da podmiri lučke pristojbe te naknade za najam i usluge.
The Authority, in the opening decision, assessed the four conditions of the Altmark judgment and expressed doubts that none of them seemed satisfied, and a selective advantage was thus conferred on Hurtigruten within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement.
Tijelo je u odluci o pokretanju postupka ocijenilo četiri uvjeta iz presude u predmetu Altmark i izrazilo sumnje u pogledu toga da se čini da nijedan od njih nije ispunjen te je time Hurtigrutenu dana selektivna prednost u smislu članka 61. stavka 1.
Concerning the first condition of a clear definition of a PSO, the Authority doubted whether the reserve capacity requirement of section 4-2 of the HA could be classified by Norway as a service of general economic interest (‘SGEI’), given the low capacity utilisation for the public service and the seasonal fluctuations of commercial passengers' transportation.
Sporazuma o EGP-u.
In addition, the Authority questioned the SGEI definition given the lack of information on berth utilisation and the fact that the cargo transportation for the Tromsø – Kirkenes – Tromsø route has not been price regulated, as required by Article 4(2) of the Maritime Cabotage Regulation.
U pogledu prvog uvjeta povezanog s jasnom definicijom PSO-a Tijelo je sumnjalo u to da Norveška zahtjev za kapacitet za rezervu iz odjeljka 4-2.
As regards the second condition and the requirement that the parameters on the basis of which the compensation was calculated must be established in advance in an objective and transparent manner, the Authority doubted whether the capacity reserve requirement is linked to actual PSO passenger numbers.
HA-a može definirati kao uslugu od općega gospodarskog interesa, uzimajući u obzir nisku iskorištenost kapaciteta u okviru javne usluge te sezonske fluktuacije komercijalnog prijevoza putnika.
There has not been, for example, any objective and transparent methodology to calculate in advance the cost per passenger/kilometre.
Osim toga, Tijelo je dovelo u pitanje definiciju usluge od općeg gospodarskog interesa uzimajući u obzir nedostatak informacija o korištenju kabina s ležajevima te činjenicu da prijevoz tereta na liniji Tromsø–Kirkenes–Tromsø nije cjenovno reguliran kako se zahtijeva člankom 4. stavkom 2.
Hurtigruten has established a separate budget incorporating all costs and revenues attributed to the PSO routes.
Uredbe o pomorskoj kabotaži.
This separate accounting, however, according to the Authority, has not aimed at establishing in advance the parameters of the compensation, which should be directly linked to the actual losses and costs (capacity and passenger costs) incurred by Hurtigruten.
U pogledu drugog uvjeta i zahtjeva da parametri na temelju kojih se izračunavala naknada moraju biti unaprijed utvrđeni na objektivan i transparentan način Tijelo je sumnjalo u to da je zahtjev za kapacitet za rezervu povezan sa stvarnim brojem putnika u okviru PSO-a.
The Authority, further, expressed doubts on the way Hurtigruten's costs have been calculated and how the exact parameters have been established when adjusting the compensation, as provided for in sections 4-1 (item 3), 6 and 7 of the HA (i.e. in case of loss of production, changes in production or in case of unforeseen events).
Primjerice, ne postoji objektivna i transparentna metodologija kojom bi se unaprijed izračunao trošak po putniku/kilometru.
In addition, the Authority noted that there have not been any parameters in place to calculate a reasonable profit margin, and the amount of compensation does not fully reflect the parameters established when Hurtigruten attempts to negotiate lower port fees while maintaining the compensation at the same level.
Hurtigruten je uspostavio zaseban proračun za sve troškove i prihode povezane s linijama u okviru PSO-a.
In relation to the third condition, the Authority expressed its doubts as to whether the Norwegian authorities have ensured that the compensation granted does not exceed what is necessary to cover all or part of the costs incurred in discharging the PSO, taking into account relevant receipts and a reasonable profit for discharging those obligations.
No prema stajalištu Tijela, to razdvojeno računovodstvo nije imalo za cilj unaprijed uspostaviti parametre naknade koji bi trebali biti izravno povezani sa stvarnim gubicima i troškovima (troškovi kapaciteta i putnika) koje će imati Hurtigruten.
In reaching this preliminary conclusion, the Authority addressed the following allegations put forward by the complainants:
Tijelo je nadalje izrazilo sumnje u pogledu načina na koji su izračunani troškovi Hurtigrutena te načina uspostavljanja točnih parametara pri prilagođavanju naknade, kako je predviđeno u odjeljcima 4-1. (stavak 3.), 6. i 7.
Hurtigruten does not reserve capacity for public service passengers, but rather sells the capacity to cruise passengers, while maintaining the public service compensation at the same level;
HA-a (tj. u slučaju prestanka pružanja usluga, promjena u pružanju usluga ili u slučaju nepredviđenih događaja).
the compensation for providing the public service has increased substantially as compared to the previous contract period;
Osim toga, Tijelo je navelo da nisu postojali nikakvi parametri za izračun razumne granične dobiti, a iznos naknade ne odražava u potpunosti parametre uspostavljene pri pokušajima Hurtigrutena da dogovori niže lučke pristojbe, istodobno zadržavajući istu razinu naknade.
Hurtigruten continues to receive compensation for services that are not rendered; and,
Kada je riječ o trećem uvjetu, Tijelo je izrazilo sumnju u to da su norveška nadležna tijela osigurala da dodijeljena naknada ne prelazi iznos potreban da bi se dijelom ili u potpunosti obuhvatili troškovi nastali obavljanjem PSO-a, uzimajući u obzir relevantne primitke i razumnu dobit od obavljanja tih obveza.
Hurtigruten further attempts to get lower prices for the harbour fees, while maintaining the public service compensation at the same level.
Do tog je preliminarnog zaključka Tijelo došlo razmatrajući sljedeće tvrdnje podnositelja pritužbi:
Lastly, as regards the fourth Altmark condition, which requires the launching of a tender procedure or a benchmarking exercise with an efficient operator, the Authority, in reference to the tender procedure carried out, which resulted in only one bid from Hurtigruten, doubted whether a tender procedure, such as the one at issue, could be deemed sufficient to ensure ‘the least cost to the community’.
i.
This is particularly so because Hurtigruten had a significant competitive advantage that reinforced its position in the tender procedure, given that it had already in its possession vessels adapted to the requirements of the tender specifications.
Hurtigruten ne rezervira kapacitete za putnike u okviru javnih usluga, nego putnicima prodaje kapacitete u okviru kružnih putovanja, istodobno zadržavajući istu razinu naknade za pružanje javnih usluga;
Moreover, according to the tender specifications, the assignment for carrying out the PSO was advertised as three alternatives.
naknada za pružanje javnih usluga znatno se povećala u usporedbi s prethodnim ugovornim razdobljem;
This would indicate the existence of further information and/or weighting criteria among those alternatives.
Hurtigruten i dalje prima naknadu za usluge koje ne pruža; i
In view of the fact that such information was not included, the Authority doubted whether the tender as designed provided incentives to potential bidders, apart from Hurtigruten, that would have been willing to bid in accordance with the requirements of the three different alternatives and for a different alternative than the one actually chosen.
Hurtigruten i dalje nastoji ishoditi niže cijene za lučke pristojbe, istodobno zadržavajući istu razinu naknade za pružanje javnih usluga.
The Authority finally expressed doubts as to whether the HA is compatible with the functioning of the EEA Agreement, as it did not receive any information from the Norwegian authorities as regards compatibility considerations.
Naposljetku, u pogledu četvrtog uvjeta iz presude u predmetu Altmark, na temelju kojeg se zahtijeva pokretanje postupka nadmetanja ili usporedne analize s učinkovitim subjektom, Tijelo, u odnosu na provedeni postupak nadmetanja koji je rezultirao samo jednom ponudom, koju je podnio Hurtigruten, sumnjalo je u to da bi se takav postupak nadmetanja mogao smatrati dovoljnim da bi se osigurao „najmanji trošak za zajednicu”.
COMMENTS BY THE NORWEGIAN AUTHORITIES
To je osobito rezultat činjenice da je Hurtigruten imao znatnu konkurentsku prednost kojom je ojačao svoj položaj u postupku nadmetanja jer je u svojoj floti već imao plovila prilagođena zahtjevima iz natječajnih specifikacija.
The Norwegian authorities reiterate their position that the HA does not entail any State aid to Hurtigruten, as all four Altmark conditions are met.
Nadalje, u skladu s natječajnim specifikacijama, dodjeljivanje izvršavanja PSO-a oglašavalo se u obliku tri alternative.
THE ALTMARK CONDITIONS
To bi značilo da postoje dodatne informacije i/ili kriteriji ponderiranja među tim alternativama.
Concerning the first Altmark condition, the Norwegian authorities argue that the relevant SGEI is the continuous and daily transportation of passengers and cargo throughout the Norwegian coast with more than 30 ports-of-call, making sure that there is sufficient capacity available for the PSO passengers on all stretches during the whole year.
S obzirom na činjenicu da takve informacije nisu bile uključene, Tijelo je sumnjalo u to da je tako oblikovani natječaj potaknuo potencijalne ponuditelje, osim Hurtigrutena, da se prijave na natječaj u skladu sa zahtjevima tri različite alternative i za alternativu različitu od one koja je zapravo izabrana.
The fact that there is surplus capacity, for instance on certain stretches and particularly during the winter season, is inevitable, and should not call into question the definition of the SGEI.
Tijelo je naposljetku izrazilo sumnje u to da je HA spojiv s funkcioniranjem Sporazuma o EGP-u jer od norveških nadležnih tijela nije dobilo nikakve informacije o pitanju spojivosti.