natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
In the present case, the Commission points out that fulfilment of this condition was ascertained in its decision of 17 July 2002 on rescue aid for SNCM [158] and in its decision of 19 August 2002 initiating the formal investigation procedure in respect of the recapitalisation plan on the basis of SNCM’s annual accounts for 2001.
Această piață se caracterizează, de asemenea, prin lipsa barierelor la intrare.
For the purposes of this decision, the Commission verified that SNCM satisfied the said condition by examining the company’s annual accounts for 2002.
În orice caz, poziția Corsica Ferries nu este de natură să justifice faptul că măsurile litigioase ar denatura concurența.
The company’s capital (excluding regulated provisions) [159] was still negative: EUR – 26,5 million in 2002 compared with EUR – 30,7 million in 2001.
Având în vedere cele de mai sus, Comisia concluzionează că măsurile propuse nu îndeplinesc criteriile enumerate la punctele 38-42 din orientări.
That level reflects the disappearance of more than half of the company’s registered capital, more than a quarter of which disappeared during the 12 months following the notification, thus satisfying the condition set out in point 10(a) of the Guidelines.
INCOMPATIBILITATEA ȘI RECUPERAREA APORTULUI DE CAPITAL NOTIFICAT DE AUTORITĂȚILE FRANCEZE ÎN 2002 ȘI A CELOR TREI MĂSURI NOI PUSE ÎN APLICARE DE AUTORITĂȚILE FRANCEZE ÎN 2006
As well as that trend in the share capital, the Commission notes, inter alia, that:
Aportul de capital de 15,81 milioane EUR notificat de autoritățile franceze în 2002 și cele trei noi măsuri puse în aplicare de autoritățile franceze în 2006, și anume cesiunea în proporție de 100 % a SNCM la prețul negativ de 158 de milioane EUR, creșterea de capital de 8,75 milioane EUR subscrisă de CGMF și avansul în cont curent de 38,5 milioane EUR în favoarea salariaților SNCM, constituie ajutoare în sensul articolului 107 alineatul (1) din TFUE.
between 2001 and 2002, pre-tax losses increased from EUR – 5,1 million in 2001 to EUR – 5,8 million in 2002, with net losses in 2002 reduced only through the sale of a number of vessels,
Ajutoarele respective sunt incompatibile cu piața internă.
SNCM’s cash flow dropped from EUR 39,2 million at the end of 2001 to EUR 35,7 million at the end of 2002,
Comisia subliniază că, în temeiul articolului 14 alineatul (1) din Regulamentul (CE) nr.
financial charges (interest and similar charges) increased from EUR 7 million in 2000 to EUR 9,503 million in 2002.
În scopul recuperării, autoritățile franceze trebuie, de asemenea, să adauge la valoarea ajutorului dobânda de recuperare începând de la data la care ajutorul în cauză a fost pus la dispoziția întreprinderii până la recuperarea efectivă a acestuia [166], în conformitate cu capitolul V din Regulamentul (CE) nr.
Moreover, the French authorities confirmed to the Commission that the banks were now refusing to lend money to the company because of its indebtedness, even though SNCM had offered to put up its newest vessels, free from mortgages and other encumbrances, as security.
794/2004 al Comisiei [167].
The public service delegation agreement did nothing to change that analysis.
INCOMPATIBILITATEA ȘI RECUPERAREA AJUTORULUI PENTRU SALVARE
While the agreement, in conjunction with the success of the restructuring plan, undoubtedly enabled SNCM to achieve positive operating results, the fact remains that its acute lack of capital, its growing indebtedness and the cost of operational measures under the restructuring plan can be expected — within a certain time-frame — to cause the company to fold.
Începând din momentul în care măsurile notificate ca ajutor pentru restructurare nu îndeplinesc condițiile de compatibilitate prevăzute de orientări, trebuie, în mod normal, să se suporte consecințele acestei incompatibilități în ceea ce privește ajutorul pentru salvare aprobat pentru SNCM de către autoritățile franceze, care a făcut obiectul deciziei Comisiei din 17 iulie 2002, și să se solicite recuperarea acestuia.
Since the restructuring period spanned the years 2002-2006, it must be verified whether SNCM fulfilled the said condition during that period and in particular at the time when the decision was taken to inject fresh public funds.
La 19 noiembrie 2002, autoritățile franceze au transmis Comisiei o copie a convențiilor privind avansul de trezorerie încheiate între SNCM și CGMF, precum și dovezile rambursării avansului acordat de către CGMF în favoarea SNCM, prin două viramente efectuate la 13 mai și 14 iunie 2002,
The 2003 decision observed that SNCM fulfilled this criterion during the 2001 and 2002 financial years [160].
ADOPTĂ PREZENTA DECIZIE:
It must now be verified whether SNCM continued to meet the condition in the 2003-05 financial years, i.e. the last complete accounting years prior to the implementation of the new measures in 2006 relating to the privatisation of SNCM.
Articolul 1
As already indicated in recitals 73 et seq., SNCM’s situation deteriorated significantly in 2004 and 2005.
Aportul de capital de 15,81 milioane EUR și cele trei noi măsuri puse în aplicare de autoritățile franceze în 2006, și anume cesiunea în proporție de 75 % a SNCM la prețul negativ de 158 de milioane EUR, creșterea de capital de 8,75 milioane EUR subscrisă de CGMF și avansul în cont curent de 38,5 milioane EUR în favoarea salariaților SNCM, puse în aplicare de către Franța, cu încălcarea articolului 108 alineatul (3) din TFUE, în favoarea SNCM constituie ajutoare de stat ilegale și incompatibile cu piața internă.
The company’s profits before tax stood at EUR – 32,6 million in 2004 and EUR – 25,8 million in 2005.
Articolul 2
Net profit was EUR – 29,7 million in 2004 and EUR – 28,8 million in 2005.
Franța recuperează de la beneficiar ajutoarele menționate la articolul 1.
Shareholders’ equity in 2005 (EUR – 1,7 million) dropped by 25,5 million compared with 2004.
Sumele de recuperat sunt purtătoare de dobândă începând de la data la care au fost puse la dispoziția beneficiarului până în momentul recuperării lor efective.
This drop saw more than half of the firm’s share capital wiped out, with more than a quarter of that capital lost over the preceding 12 months, thereby meeting the criteria set out in point 10(a) of the 2004 guidelines.
Dobânzile sunt calculate pe o bază compusă, în conformitate cu capitolul V din Regulamentul (CE) nr.
In the light of the foregoing, the Commission considers that SNCM can be considered a firm in difficulty within the meaning of the 2004 guidelines.
794/2004 și cu Regulamentul (CE) nr.
Own contribution
271/2008 al Comisiei [168] de modificare a Regulamentului (CE) nr.
Pursuant to point 43 of the guidelines, ‘The amount and intensity of the aid must be limited to the strict minimum of the restructuring costs necessary to enable restructuring to be undertaken in the light of the existing financial resources of the company, its shareholders or the business group to which it belongs.
794/2004.
Such assessment will take account of any rescue aid granted beforehand.
Articolul 3
Aid beneficiaries will be expected to make a significant contribution to the restructuring plan from their own resources, including the sale of assets that are not essential to the firm’s survival, or from external financing at market conditions.
Recuperarea ajutoarelor menționate la articolul 1 este imediată și efectivă.
Such contribution is a sign that the markets believe in the feasibility of the return to viability.
Franța asigură punerea în aplicare a prezentei decizii în termen de patru luni de la data notificării acesteia.
Such contribution must be real, i.e., actual, excluding all future expected profits such as cash flow, and must be as high as possible.’
Articolul 4
Point 44 of the guidelines stipulates that ‘The Commission will normally consider the following contributions to the restructuring to be appropriate: at least 25 % in the case of small enterprises, at least 40 %, for medium-sized enterprises and at least 50 % for large firms.
În termen de două luni de la data notificării prezentei decizii, Franța comunică următoarele informații Comisiei:
In exceptional circumstances and in cases of particular hardship, which must be demonstrated by the Member State, the Commission may accept a lower contribution.’
suma totală (principal și dobânzi) care trebuie recuperată de la beneficiar;
Point 7 of the guidelines also specifies that ‘it is appropriate to reaffirm with greater clarity the principle that [the substantial contribution from the beneficiary to the restructuring] must be real and free of aid.
o descriere detaliată a măsurilor care au fost deja adoptate și a celor preconizate în vederea conformării cu prezenta decizie;
The beneficiary’s contribution has a twofold purpose: on the one hand, it will demonstrate that the markets (owners, creditors) believe in the feasibility of the return to viability within a reasonable time period.
documente care demonstrează că beneficiarul a fost notificat să ramburseze ajutorul.
On the other hand, it will ensure that restructuring aid is limited to the minimum required to restore viability while limiting distortion of competition …’
Franța informează Comisia cu privire la evoluția măsurilor naționale luate pentru punerea în aplicare a prezentei decizii până la recuperarea completă a ajutorului menționat la articolul 1.
The case-law also emphasises that the own contribution must indicate that the markets believe in the feasibility of a return to viability [161].
Franța transmite imediat, la solicitarea Comisiei, informațiile privind măsurile care au fost deja adoptate și cele preconizate în vederea conformării cu prezenta decizie.
The Commission stresses that this requirement is particularly relevant in respect of SNCM because of the latter’s situation since 2002.
De asemenea, Franța furnizează informații detaliate privind sumele reprezentând ajutoarele și dobânzile aferente acestor sume recuperate deja de la beneficiar.
The Commission points out that the initial restructuring measures of 2002 did not achieve the desired results.
Articolul 5
Some of them were either not complied with or not attained (see recital 351).
Prezenta decizie se adresează Republicii Franceze.
Since SNCM was not able to fully implement these initial restructuring measures, from 2004 its economic and financial situation continued to deteriorate (see recitals 73 to 75).
Adoptată la Bruxelles, 20 noiembrie 2013.
The restructuring costs amounted to EUR 46 million in 2002.
Pentru Comisie
As for the 2006 measures, the Commission considers that the amount of the restructuring costs corresponded to the amount of the aid [162], i.e. EUR 202,5 million, plus the EUR 26,25 million capital contribution from the private partners, giving a grand total of EUR 274,8 million.
Vicepreședinte
The own contribution is made up of 42,385 million in net asset sales and the EUR 26,25 million capital increase by the private partners, giving a total own contribution of EUR 68,635 million.
Începând cu 1 decembrie 2009, articolele 87 și 88 din Tratatul CE au devenit articolele 107 și, respectiv, 108 din Tratatul privind funcționarea Uniunii Europene („TFUE”).
Consequently, taking into account the new measures of 2006, the own contribution accounted for 25 % while the guidelines stipulate that it must be at least 50 %.
În ambele cazuri, dispozițiile sunt, în esență, identice.
The Commission notes that the French authorities did not invoke exceptional circumstances and cases of particular hardship, in which case the Commission is at liberty to accept a lower contribution.
În sensul prezentei decizii, trimiterile la articolele 107 și 108 din TFUE trebuie înțelese ca trimiteri la articolele 87 și 88 din Tratatul CE, dacă este cazul.
In any event, the Commission considers that there were no exceptional circumstances in this particular case which would warrant a decrease in the level of own contribution required by the 2004 guidelines.
De asemenea, TFUE a introdus anumite modificări ale terminologiei, cum ar fi înlocuirea termenului „Comunitate” cu „Uniune”, a termenului „piață comună” cu „piață internă” și a termenului „Tribunal de Primă Instanță” cu „Tribunal”.
The Commission considers, therefore, that SNCM’s own contribution to the restructuring effort is still insufficient with regard to the provisions of the guidelines.
Terminologia din TFUE va fi folosită pe întreg cuprinsul prezentei decizii.
Return to long-term viability
JO C 303, 13.12.2006, p.
In its decision to open the procedure, the Commission expressed doubts about the long-term viability of SNCM, in particular in the light of the following:
53.
SNCM did not plan to discontinue all of its loss-making activities,
Înregistrată cu referința TREN A/61846.
the success of the restructuring plan was closely linked to the award of the public service delegation between Marseille and Corsica from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2012,
CGMF este un holding financiar deținut în proporție de 100 % de statul francez, care servește ca intermediar al acestuia din urmă în cadrul oricărei operațiuni de transport maritim, de armare și de închiriere de nave în Marea Mediterană.
the forecast reductions in crew numbers set out in the 2002 plan were not adhered to and the 10 % increase in productivity was not achieved,
JO C 148, 25.6.2003, p.
the reduction of 400 full-time equivalent jobs and the productivity measures provided for in the 2006 plan were inadequate owing to the slippages from the 2002 plan.
7.
The French authorities replied that the change in shareholders and the implementation of the three measures set out in the privatisation plan would enable SNCM to develop its activity on a sound basis and that the loss-making nature of certain parts of its business were therefore not irremediable.
JO C 308, 11.12.2002, p.
The Commission notes that the measures provided for in the 2002 restructuring plan could not be brought to fruition and that this led to a marked deterioration in the company’s results in 2004 and 2005.
29.
In 2006, the EUR 20 million increase in turnover and the EUR 9 million increase in public service compensation were not enough to restore operating profit because the increase in fuel prices and operating costs was far higher than expected.
Regulamentul (CE) nr.
The Commission expert noted that the implementation of the business plan of the buyers was seriously impeded by a number of incidents [163] and concluded that the cumulated losses were likely to be far bigger than initially envisaged for 2007.
659/1999 al Consiliului din 22 martie 1999 de stabilire a normelor de aplicare a articolului 108 din Tratatul privind funcționarea Uniunii Europene (JO L 83, 27.3.1999, p.
Consequently, the Commission considers that the responses of the French authorities have not dispelled all its doubts.
1).
Linking the restoration of viability to the award of the public service delegation from 2007 to 2013 and to the implementation of the three measures set out in the privatisation plan, which had not been confirmed as legal and compatible with the internal market, seems risky.
După ce autoritățile franceze au solicitat, la 11 septembrie 2002, corectarea unor erori faptice din decizia din 19 august 2002, la 27 noiembrie 2002 Comisia a adoptat o decizie prin care a modificat decizia din 19 august 2002 (publicată în JO C 308, 11.12.2002, p.
The credibility of a long-term plan to restore the viability of an undertaking presupposes, at the very least, that the underlying assumptions are realistic.
29).
In this case, however, the success of the plan depends almost exclusively on the occurrence of two hypothetical events over which SNCM has no control.
Părțile interesate au fost invitate să își prezinte observațiile privind proiectul de ajutor începând cu data respectivă.
Furthermore, given SNCM’s financial situation at the time, the Commission has doubts concerning its ability to finance the necessary refurbishment of some of its ferries.
La 11 septembrie 2002, autoritățile franceze au solicitat un termen suplimentar de transmitere a observațiilor cu privire la decizia din 19 august 2002, termen pe care serviciile Comisiei l-au acceptat la 17 septembrie 2002.
This refurbishment is, however, presented by the French authorities as a factor in enabling them to achieve their objectives of restored viability.
Înregistrate cu referința SG(2002) A/10050.
The Commission considers, therefore, that the condition of restoring long-term viability required by the guidelines is not fulfilled.
Înregistrate la 15 ianuarie 2003 cu referința DG TREN A/10962.
Avoidance of undue distortion of competition (compensatory measures)
Înregistrat cu referința SG(2003) A/1691.
The annulled decision of 2008 mentioned four compensatory measures:
Înregistrat cu referința TREN A/21531.
the closure of the Corsica Marittima subsidiary (82000 passengers in 2000) which was responsible for services between Italy and Corsica, and thus the withdrawal of the SNCM group from the market covering that route,
Înregistrată cu referința SG(2003) A/1546.
the virtual withdrawal by SNCM of services between Toulon and Corsica — a market which accounted for as many as 460000 passengers in 2002,
JO C 288, 9.10.1999, p.
the limitation of the total number of available seats and the number of round trips operated by SNCM each year from 2003, specifically on services between Nice and Corsica,
2.
the sale of four vessels.
Înregistrat cu referința TREN A/21701.
The Commission would like to point out that these measures had been proposed by the French authorities in connection with the EUR 15,81 million in aid, i.e. the restructuring aid granted in 2002.
Decizia 2004/166/CE a Comisiei din 9 iulie 2003 privind ajutorul pentru restructurare pe care Franța intenționează să îl pună în aplicare în favoarea Société nationale maritime Corse-Méditerranée (SNCM) (JO L 61, 27.2.2004, p.
Following the annulment of the 2008 decision by the judgment of 11 September 2012, the aid total now amounts to over EUR 210 million.
13).
The Commission considers that its doubts have not been allayed for the following reasons:
Decizia 2005/36/CE a Comisiei din 8 septembrie 2004 de modificare a Deciziei 2004/166/CE privind ajutorul pentru restructurare pe care Franța intenționează să îl pună în aplicare în favoarea Société Nationale Maritime Corse-Méditerranée (SNCM) (JO L 19, 21.1.2005, p.
Concerning the sale of the four vessels as part of the restructuring measures in 2002, the Commission notes that these sales were partially offset by the delivery of the Danielle Casanova in June 2002, and the Paglia Orba and Pascal Paoli mixed freight and passenger vessels in 2003.
70).
Concerning the closure of Corsica Marittima, point 40 of the guidelines states, inter alia, that ‘Write-offs and closure of loss-making activities which would at any rate be necessary to restore viability will not be considered reduction of capacity or market presence for the purpose of the assessment of the compensatory measures’.
JO C 16, 21.1.2006, p.
Consequently, the closure of Corsica Marittima, which had been making a loss since its inception in 1990, cannot be treated as a compensatory measure, but rather as a measure to help restore long-term viability.
20.
The same reasoning applies in respect of the route between Corsica and Nice.
A se vedea hotărârea Tribunalului din 15 iunie 2005, Corsica Ferries France SAS/Comisia (T-349/03, Rec., 2005, p.
The Commission notes that SNCM has a minority market share, with Corsica Ferries holding 70 % of the market [164].
II-2197).
According to the Stephens report, there is high demand for the service departing Nice, particularly during the summer period.
Înregistrat cu referința TREN A/27546.
There is also demand for this service outside the summer season.
Înregistrat cu referința TREN A/30842.
However, the route was making net losses between 2004 and 2007.
Informații suplimentare au fost transmise prin scrisorile din 30 noiembrie 2005 [SG(2005) A/10782], 14 decembrie 2005 [SG(2005)A/11122] și 30 decembrie 2005 (TRENA/10016).
Consequently, this measure cannot be regarded as a compensatory measure, but rather as a measure to help restore long-term viability.
Înregistrat cu referința TREN A/16904.
The Commission also notes that passenger traffic has increased considerably between Corsica and the port of Toulon, shooting up from less than 200000 passengers per annum in 1999 to almost 1 million in 2007 [165].
Înregistrat cu referința TREN A/19105.
Consequently, SNCM’s virtual withdrawal from this route could be regarded as a compensatory measure.
Hotărârea Curții din 24 iulie 2003, Altmark Trans GmbH e.
The Commission notes, however, that the Toulon-Corsica route is the least significant for SNCM in terms of passenger numbers.
Nahverkehrsgesellschaft Altmark GmbH (C-280/00, Rec., p.
None the less, even if this measure were to be classified as a compensatory measure, the Commission considers that it would be far from sufficient.
7747).
Point 40 of the guidelines states that ‘[t]he measures must be in proportion to the distortive effects of the aid …’ As already set out in recitals 341 and 342, the Commission notes that these measures had been proposed by the French authorities in connection with the amount of EUR 15,81 million in aid, an amount corresponding to the restructuring aid granted in 2002.
JO C 103, 29.4.2006, p.
Consequently, the Commission concludes that its doubts concerning the classification of these measures, either as compensatory measures or as measures required to restore viability, have not been allayed.
Regulamentul (CE) nr.
In any event, the measures proposed are still far from sufficient.
139/2004 al Consiliului din 20 ianuarie 2004 privind controlul concentrărilor economice între întreprinderi [Regulamentul (CE) privind concentrările economice] (JO L 24, 29.1.2004, p.
The French authorities have highlighted the risk of a monopoly for CFF if SNCM were to disappear.
1).
The Commission considers that the French authorities have not demonstrated sufficiently the existence and significance of this risk.
JO C 148, 24.6.2006, p.
The transport of passengers and freight between mainland France and Corsica is an open and competitive market for all operators present in the Mediterranean.
42.
This market is also characterised by the absence of entry barriers.
Înregistrat cu referința TREN A/25295.
In any event, the position of Corsica Ferries is not such as to justify competition being distorted by the contested measures.
Înregistrat cu referința TREN/A/24111.
In the light of the foregoing, the Commission concludes that the measures proposed do not fulfil the criteria set out in points 38 to 42 of the guidelines.
A se vedea nota de subsol nr.
INCOMPATIBILITY AND RECOVERY OF THE CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION NOTIFIED BY THE FRENCH AUTHORITIES IN 2002 AND OF THE THREE NEW MEASURES IMPLEMENTED BY THE FRENCH AUTHORITIES IN 2006
2.
The capital contribution of EUR 15,81 million notified by the French authorities in 2002 and the three new measures implemented by the French authorities in 2006, i.e. the sale of 75 % of SNCM at the negative price of EUR 158 million, the capital increase of EUR 8,75 million subscribed by CGMF and the cash advance of EUR 38,5 million in favour of SNCM’s employees, constitute aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU.
Înregistrat cu referința TREN/A/37907.
This aid is incompatible with the internal market.
De grupul Stef-TFE la 28 decembrie 2007 (A/20313) și de Corsica Ferries la 27 decembrie 2006 (A/20056).
The Commission points out that, in accordance with Article 14(1) of Regulation (EC) No 659/1999, all unlawful aid that is incompatible with the internal market must be recovered from the beneficiary.
Scrisorile din 4 ianuarie 2007, (D 2007 300067) adresată grupului Stef-TFE și (D 2007 300068) adresată grupului Corsica Ferries.
For the purposes of such recovery, the French authorities must also add to the aid amount the recovery interest payable from the date on which the aid concerned was made available to the company until it has been effectively recovered [166], in accordance with Chapter V of Commission Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 [167].
La 11 ianuarie, 16 ianuarie și 9 februarie 2007, înregistrate cu referințele TREN/A/21142, A/21669 și, respectiv, A/23798.