natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
In the opening decision, the Commission queried whether or not economic continuity had been established between CVSL and VSL, in other words, whether the advantages resulting from the granting of the guarantee of EUR 150000 in September 2008 had been passed on to the buyers of CVSL who established VSL.
Komisia preto pre uvedené skutočnosti dospela k záveru, že medzi CVSL a VSL existuje hospodárska kontinuita.
The conclusions of this analysis depend both on identifying the company which would have to repay any incompatible unlawful aid, and on an analysis of the compatibility of Measure 1, in particular with regard to the ‘one time, last time’ principle.
Prevzatie všetkých výrobných prostriedkov (za cenu podliehajúcu podmienkam, ktorá nezodpovedá skutočnej trhovej hodnote), pracovných zmlúv a výhradnej a neobmedzenej licencie na ochranné známky s cieľom pokračovať vo výrobe krištáľových výrobkov, je rozhodujúcim faktorom na stanovenie hospodárskej kontinuity.
In this regard, the Belgian authorities consider that this measure benefited CVSL and not VSL and that there was a break in economic continuity between CVSL and the buyers.
Výhoda vyplývajúca z poskytnutia záruky spoločnosti CVSL v konkurze pretrvala aj po prevzatí a VSL z nej ťažil aj naďalej.
According to case law, the recovery obligation may be extended to a new company to which the beneficiary company has transferred its assets where that transfer permits the conclusion that there is an economic continuity between the two companies [23].
Zlučiteľnosť opatrení 4 (prevod a používanie ochranných známok), 5 (pôžička vo výške 1,5 milióna EUR), 6 (zvýšenie kapitálu o 1,5 milióna EUR) a 8 (poskytnutie niektorých budov spoločnosťou SPAQuE podniku VSL)
Extension of the repayment obligation to another entity cannot be ruled out, provided it is established that this entity is effectively benefiting from the aid in question, due to an economic continuity between the two.
Belgicko vo svojich pripomienkach k rozhodnutiu o začatí konania neuviedlo žiadny dôvod týkajúci sa zlučiteľnosti týchto opatrení a Komisia nemá žiadne údaje na to, aby mohla skonštatovať možnosť uplatnenia niektorej z výnimiek uvedených v článku 107 ods. 2 a 3.
According to the judgment of the Court of Justice of 8 May 2003 in Joined Cases C-328/99 and C-399/00 Italy v Commission [24], the economic continuity between the original company and new structures is assessed by means of a number of factors: in particular the purpose of the sale (assets and liabilities, continuity of the workforce, bundled assets), the transfer price, the identity of the shareholders or owners of the new company, the moment at which the transfer was carried out (after the start of the investigation, the initiation of the formal investigation procedure or the final decision) and, lastly, the economic logic of the transaction.
Komisia sa preto domnieva, že tieto pomoci sú nezlučiteľné so spoločným trhom.
Assessment of the criterion of the purpose of the sale (assets and liabilities, continuity of the workforce, bundled assets)
Vymáhanie pohľadávok
By way of introduction, the Belgian authorities pointed out that CVSL's assets had been distributed among several companies (the parent company VSLI, VSLI SARL in France and CVSL).
Komisia pripomína, že podľa článku 14 ods. 1 nariadenia Rady (ES) č. 659/1999 [26] akákoľvek pomoc, ktorá je neoprávnená a nezlučiteľná s vnútorným trhom, sa musí spätne vymôcť od jej príjemcu.
To facilitate the takeover, on 23 October 2008 the insolvency administrators concluded a transaction agreement to transfer assets shared between these different companies into the hands of the failed company.
Z predchádzajúcich odôvodnení v dotknutej veci vyplýva, že nasledujúce opatrenia obsahujú prvky pomoci, že tieto opatrenia pomoci sú neoprávnené a nezlučiteľné a keďže sa pomoc poskytla podniku VSL, musí sa vymôcť:
According to the Memorandum of Understanding of 1 October 2008 and the takeover agreement of 31 August 2009, VSL took over all the assets belonging to CVSL, excluding current assets: the buildings in which CVSL's workshops were housed and the storage areas, the land on which they were built, CVSL's equipment and stock-in-trade i.e. production tools, moulds, patents and possible sub-brands that belonged to CVSL on that date, orders under way, and stock, including that sold to Val Saint-Lambert International SARL, a company incorporated under French law, which the insolvency administrators had undertaken to make available to the buyers.
Opatrenie 1: pôžička vo výške 1 milión EUR, ktorú 3. apríla 2012 poskytol podniku VSL Valónsky región zastúpený spoločnosťou Société Wallonne de Gestion et de Participations (ďalej len „SOGEPA“)
Part of the assets that belonged to VSLI was also sold, i.e. the trade marks, designs and models and other intellectual property (the items referred to in the agreement signed on 5 October 2005 and including plans, moulds, designs, sketches, …, the built and non-built immovable assets owned by VSLI at Seraing, stocks of VSL products, the business premises at Seraing (showroom), the stocks at sales outlets in Seraing and Brussels (Sablon).
Celá pôžička predstavuje pomoc.
Full ownership of the leased production tools (cutting machine, furnace and furnace nose) was also transferred to VSL.
Suma 400000 EUR bola poskytnutá v deň uzatvorenia dohody.
Releasing CVSL from all responsibility, VSL undertook to continue all the work and employment contracts signed by VSL that were current on 30 September 2008.
Zostávajúca suma 600000 EUR bola poskytnutá neskôr, pričom belgické orgány neoznámili konkrétny dátum.
VSL also undertook to continue the individual, collective and social agreements that had been concluded, merely reserving the right to jointly renegotiate some of their terms should the new circumstances so require.
Opatrenie 2: pomoc na reštrukturalizáciu spočívajúca v predĺžení pôžičky vo výške 1 milión EUR
Finally, VSL also took over a liability of EUR 280000 resulting from CFV's sale of CVSL's intellectual rights.
Toto opatrenie sa nezrealizovalo, preto nie je potrebné nariadiť jeho vrátenie.
In accordance with the agreement of 29 January 2009 between Compagnie financière du Val SL and VSL, VSL replaced Interagora SA and took over the commitments it had made to CFV in an agreement dated 5 October 2005.
Opatrenie 3: záruka vo výške 150000 EUR poskytnutá správcovi konkurznej podstaty CVSL 24. septembra 2008 spoločnosťou SOGEPA
Through this agreement, CFV had transferred to Interagora SA all the trade marks, designs and models relating directly or indirectly to CVSL.
Táto záruka obsahuje prvok pomoci, lebo nebola zaplatená za trhovú cenu.
EUR 280000 of the agreed price remained unpaid.
Prvok pomoci sa vypočíta spôsobom uvedeným v tomto rozhodnutí.
The takeover of CVSL's assets was approved by Liège Commercial Court on 20 October 2009.
Opatrenie 4: prevod a používanie ochranných známok Val Saint-Lambert dohodnutý 29. januára 2009 medzi CFV a VSL
In the light of these facts, the Commission has come to the following conclusion with regard to the purpose of the sale: the takeover related to almost all of CVSL's assets (including orders commenced), all work and employment contracts signed by the bankrupt company and in effect on 30 September 2008, and the use of trade marks and intellectual rights.
Opatrenie týkajúce sa prevodu známok sa nezrealizovalo, preto nie je potrebné nariadiť jeho vrátenie.
Consequently, the Commission notes that the scope of the activities taken over was the same as that of CVSL and that the scope of the takeover went even beyond CVSL to include the assets of VSLI which were necessary to continue crystal production.
Táto pôžička obsahuje pomoc v prospech podniku VSL, ktorá zodpovedá rozdielu medzi trhovou sadzbou a sadzbou, za ktorú bola pôžička poskytnutá, t. j.
Assessment of the sale price
1,07 %, (5,77 % – 4,7 %) alebo 16050 EUR za rok.
This condition applies both to tangible and intangible assets.
Opatrenie 6: zvýšenie kapitálu o 1,5 milióna EUR Valónskym regiónom v podniku VSL, o ktorom sa rozhodlo 17. marca 2011
The Belgian authorities pointed out that, under Belgian bankruptcy laws, the determining factor when liquidating assets is that of the creditors' interest.
Celé zvýšenie kapitálu predstavuje pomoc, keďže ho nemožno považovať za správanie súkromného investora v trhovom hospodárstve.
Article 75(3) of the Bankruptcy Law enables the creditors or the bankrupt party to oppose the disposal of certain assets if they feel that the planned disposal might harm them.
Opatrenie 8: časť týkajúca sa bezplatného poskytnutia časti areálu „Cristalleries du Val Saint-Lambert“
The Belgian authorities pointed out that the granting of the public guarantee of EUR 150000 was in fact motivated by a desire to maintain continuity of activity and make the most of the steps taken to sell assets.
Dohoda o dočasnom poskytnutí časti areálu „Cristalleries du Val Saint-Lambert“ uzavretá 11. decembra 2012 medzi SPAQUE a VSL poskytuje podniku VSL výhodu, ktorá zodpovedá sume nájomného, ktorej sa SPAQUE dobrovoľne zriekla.
The Commission notes that the sale of CVSL's assets took place via an open call for bids, managed by the insolvency administrators.
Presná výška tejto pomoci sa vypočíta v súlade s odôvodnením 123.
Thirty-six bids were received by the insolvency administrators, who selected 12 at the end of an initial phase.
Belgické orgány musia k vymáhanej sume pomoci pripočítať aj úroky súvisiace so spätným vymáhaním odo dňa, ku ktorému sa daná pomoc poskytla podniku, až do jej skutočného vrátenia v súlade s kapitolou V nariadenia Komisie (ES) č. 794/2004 [27].
A data room of information on CVSL was organised.
ZÁVERY
The publicity apparently focused on all the assets, without any bundled assets having been defined in advance.
Komisia konštatuje, že Belgicko neoprávnene poskytlo rad opatrení v rozpore s článkom 108 ods. 3 Zmluvy o fungovaní Európskej únie.
The Commission notes that this procedure would a priori enable the sale price of each of CVSL's assets to be maximised.
Ide o tieto opatrenia: pomoc na záchranu vo výške 1 milión EUR (opatrenie 1), záruka vo výške 150000 EUR (opatrenie 3), prevod a používanie ochranných známok Val Saint-Lambert (opatrenie 4), pôžička vo výške 1,5 milióna EUR (opatrenie 5), zvýšenie kapitálu o 1,5 milióna EUR (opatrenie 6) a bezplatné poskytnutie niektorých budov spoločnosťou SPAQuE podniku VSL (časť opatrenia 8).
However, two factors lead the Commission to consider that this procedure alone was insufficient to guarantee that the price offered by the buyers for the assets was the market price.
Listom z 18. júna 2014 belgické orgány oprávnili Komisiu, aby prijala a oznámila toto rozhodnutie iba vo francúzskom jazyku,
The sale of CVSL's assets was conditional on taking over all the work contracts.
Tieto opatrenia: pomoc na záchranu vo výške 1 milión EUR (opatrenie 1), záruka vo výške 150000 EUR (opatrenie 3), prevod a používanie ochranných známok Val Saint-Lambert (opatrenie 4), pôžička vo výške 1,5 milióna EUR (opatrenie 5), zvýšenie kapitálu o 1,5 milióna EUR (opatrenie 6) a bezplatné poskytnutie niektorých budov spoločnosťou SPAQuE podniku VSL (časť opatrenia 8) obsahujú prvky pomoci, ktorú Belgicko poskytlo neoprávnene v rozpore s článkom 108 ods. 3 Zmluvy o fungovaní Európskej únie, a sú nezlučiteľné s vnútorným trhom.
This shows that the sale was not unconditional and this obligation may have lowered the sale price.
Belgicko v súlade s článkom 8 ods. 2 nariadenia (ES) č. 659/1999 stiahlo svoje oznámenie týkajúce sa opatrenia 2 (pomoc na reštrukturalizáciu) po rozhodnutí o začatí formálneho vyšetrovacieho konania.
In exchange, the Walloon Region required compensation from VSL, as recorded in the novation agreement dated 29 January 2009 between the Walloon Region (represented by CFV) and VSL: ‘This licence for use may be cancelled at any moment, automatically and without notice by the Walloon Region should VSL (or its successors) be unable to demonstrate production on the Val Saint-Lambert site at Seraing of high added-value crystal products now in activity at a minimum 60 % of the full-time equivalent employment, excluding temporary lay-offs, existing on the day of CVSL's bankruptcy …’.
Belgicko je povinné vymôcť od príjemcu pomoc uvedenú v článku 1.
The Commission notes that, in return for granting the exclusive licence, the Walloon Region imposed on VSL an obligation to maintain production at the Seraing site and to maintain a previously determined level of employment.
Zo súm, ktoré sa majú vrátiť, plynú úroky odo dňa, keď boli poskytnuté príjemcovi, až do ich skutočného vrátenia.
These political conditions may have lowered the sale price and discouraged other potential purchasers, thus affecting competition under the call for bids, with the result that the best financial bid was not in line with the actual market value [25].
Úrok sa vypočíta ako zložený úrok v súlade s kapitolou V nariadenia Komisie (ES) č. 794/2004 a nariadením Komisie (ES) č. 271/2008 [28], ktorým sa mení a dopĺňa nariadenie (ES) č. 794/2004.
Given these facts, the Commission considers that the criterion of the sale price is not met.
Článok 3
Assessment of the criterion of the transaction's economic logic
Vrátenie pomoci uvedenej v článku 1 sa musí uskutočniť bezodkladne a účinne.
The criterion of the transaction's economic logic is intended to verify whether the buyer of the assets is using the transferred assets in the same way as the vendor, in order to continue the same economic activity.
Belgicko zabezpečí, aby sa toto rozhodnutie vykonalo do štyroch mesiacov od dátumu jeho oznámenia.
The Belgian authorities consider that the logic followed by VSL was radically different from that of its predecessors, in particular because it was based on the Cristal Park property development project when it took over the crystal works' activities.
Článok 4
In this case, the Commission observes that the Belgian authorities have not demonstrated the existence of a direct relationship between CVSL's takeover and the Cristal Park project since October 2008.
Do dvoch mesiacov od oznámenia tohto rozhodnutia Belgicko predloží Komisii tieto informácie:
The oldest of the documents relating to the Cristal Park project sent by the Belgian authorities dates back to December 2011.
celkovú sumu (základnú sumu a úroky), ktorú má príjemca vrátiť;
In any event, the Commission notes that the buyers bought the trade mark in order to continue to use it along with all the assets and means of production.
podrobný opis prijatých a plánovaných opatrení na splnenie tohto rozhodnutia;
The object of the company referred to in VSL's act of incorporation dated 20 November 2008 is, in fact, very similar to that of CVSL.
dokumenty, ktoré preukazujú, že príjemca bol vyzvaný na vrátenie pomoci.
VSL's object was indeed to continue the activity of the CVSL crystal works using the same human and production resources.
Belgicko bude Komisiu informovať o pokroku dosiahnutom v súvislosti s vnútroštátnymi opatreniami, ktoré sa prijali na vykonanie tohto rozhodnutia, až do úplného vrátenia pomoci uvedenej v článku 1.
Moreover, the guarantee itself was granted with a view to ensuring the continuity of the activity.
Belgicko na požiadanie Komisie bezodkladne poskytne všetky informácie o opatreniach, ktoré sa už prijali a ktoré sa plánujú prijať na dosiahnutie súladu s týmto rozhodnutím.
Consequently, for the reasons noted above, the Commission concludes that there was economic continuity between CVSL and VSL.
Poskytne tiež podrobné informácie o sumách pomoci a úrokoch, ktoré príjemca už vrátil.
The takeover of all the means of production (at a price subject to conditions, which did not correspond to the actual market value), of employment contracts and of the exclusive and unlimited use of trade marks with a view to continuing to produce crystal items forms a decisive factor in establishing economic continuity.
Článok 5
The advantage resulting from the granting of the guarantee to CVLS when it was bankrupt continued after the takeover and VSL retained the benefit of this advantage.
Toto rozhodnutie je určené Belgicku.
Compatibility of Measures 4 (sale and use of the trade marks), 5 (loan of EUR 1,5 million), 6 (capital injection of EUR 1,5 million) and 8 (SPAQuE's provision of certain buildings to VSL)
V Bruseli 31. júla 2014
Belgium provided no justification for the compatibility of these measures in its comments on the opening decision and the Commission has no information with which to conclude that any of the exceptions laid down in Article 107(2) and (3) might apply.
Za Komisiu
Consequently, the Commission considers that these aid measures are incompatible with the common market.
podpredseda
Recovery
Štátna pomoc SA.34791 20../C (ex 2012/NN) – Belgicko – Pomoc na záchranu podniku Val Saint-Lambert – a štátna pomoc SA.35528 20../C (ex 2012/N) – Belgicko – Pomoc na reštrukturalizáciu podniku Val Saint-Lambert – Výzva na predloženie pripomienok podľa článku 108 ods. 2 Zmluvy o fungovaní Európskej únie (Ú. v. EÚ C 213, 26.7.2013, s. 38).
The Commission points out that, in in accordance with Article 14(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 [26], all unlawful aid that is incompatible with the internal market must be recovered from the beneficiary.
Pozri poznámku pod čiarou č. 1.
In this case, it is clear from the above considerations that the following measures involve aid, that this aid is unlawful and incompatible and, in so far as the aid was made available to VSL, it must be recovered:
Obchodné tajomstvo.
Measure 1: soft loan of EUR 1 million granted to VSL on 3 April 2012 by the Walloon Region, represented by the Société Wallonne de Gestion et de Participations (hereinafter ‘Sogepa’).
Cieľom súdneho reorganizačného konania je pod súdnym dohľadom zachovať kontinuitu podniku v ťažkostiach alebo jeho časti, prípadne jeho podnikateľských činností.
The entire loan constitutes aid.
Toto konanie predchádzalo súdnemu rozhodnutiu o konkurze zo 14. októbra 2013.
EUR 400000 was granted the same day that the agreement was concluded.
Nariadenie Komisie (ES) č. 1998/2006 z 15. decembra 2006 o uplatňovaní článkov 87 a 88 zmluvy na pomoc de minimis (Ú. v. EÚ L 379, 28.12.2006, s. 5).
The remaining EUR 600000 was granted at a later date not specified by the Belgian authorities.
Pozri poznámku pod čiarou č. 4.
Measure 2: restructuring aid consisting of an extension of the EUR 1 million loan.
Ú. v. EÚ C 244, 1.10.2004, s. 2.
This measure was not implemented and so recovery is not necessary.
Rozhodnutie z 8. februára 2010 N541/2009 Sweden – State guarantee in favour of Saab Automobile AB.
Measure 3: guarantee of EUR 150000 granted by Sogepa on 24 September 2008 to CVSL's insolvency administrators.
Pozri rozsudok zo 16. mája 2002, Francúzsko/Komisia, C-482/99, EU:C:2002:294, bod 38.
This guarantee involves aid because it was not remunerated at the market price.
Rozhodnutím ministra pre územné plánovanie z 27. apríla 2012.
The aid element must be calculated using the method set out in this Decision.
Vec C-482/99, Francúzska republika/Komisia, už citovaná.
Measure 4: sale and use of the Val Saint-Lambert trade marks agreed on 29 January 2009 between CFV and VSL.
Ú. v. EÚ C 155, 20.6.2008, s. 10.
This sale of the trade marks did not take place and so recovery is not necessary.
Oznámenie Komisie o revízii spôsobu stanovenia referenčných a diskontných sadzieb (Ú. v. EÚ C 14, 19.1.2008, s. 6).
The element of aid concerning the use of the trade mark must be calculated in accordance with generally used and accepted methods of managing intellectual property assets.
Pozri odôvodnenia 21 až 23.
Measure 5: loan of EUR 1,5 million granted by Sogepa to VSL on 31 August 2009.
Ú. v. EÚ C 14, 19.1.2008, s. 6.
This aid was provided unlawfully and must therefore be repaid.
Podľa belgických orgánov štúdia charakterizácie podrobným spôsobom opisuje a lokalizuje kontamináciu pôdy s cieľom pomôcť správnym orgánom pri rozhodovaní o potrebe a podmienkach sanácie.
Measure 6: capital injection of EUR 1,5 million by the Walloon Region into VSL decided on 17 March 2011.
Nariadenie (ES) č. 1998/2006.
The entire capital injection constitutes aid since it cannot be deemed equivalent to the behaviour of a private investor.
Nariadenie (EÚ) č. 1407/2013.
Measure 8: relating to the provision of part of the ‘Cristalleries du Val Saint-Lambert’ site free of charge
SA N 541/09 – Sweden – State guarantee in favour of Saab Automobile AB, 8. februára 2010.
The agreement for the temporary provision of a part of the Val Saint-Lambert crystalworks site, concluded on 11 December 2012 between SPAQuE and VSL, confers an advantage on VSL that consists of the amount of rental income that SPAQuE willingly waived.
Rozsudok z 28. marca 2012 vo veci T-123/09, Ryanair Ltd/Európska komisia, EU:T:2012:164, bod 155.
The precise amount of this aid must be calculated in accordance with recital 123.
Zb.
For the purposes of recovery, the Belgian authorities must also add to the amount of the aid the recovery interest due from the date on which the aid in question was first made available to the company until the aid is recovered, in accordance with Chapter V of Commission Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 [27].
P. I-4035.
CONCLUSION
Pozri podobné rozhodnutie Komisie 2008/717/ES z 27. februára 2008 o štátnej pomoci C 46/07 (ex NN 59/07), ktorú Rumunsko poskytlo v prospech spoločnosti Automobile Craiova (bývalá Daewo Romania) (Ú. v. EÚ L 239, 6.9.2008, s. 12).
The Commission finds that Belgium unlawfully implemented a set of measures in breach of Article 108(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Nariadenie Rady (ES) č. 659/1999 z 22. marca 1999 ustanovujúce podrobné pravidlá na uplatňovanie článku 108 Zmluvy o ES (Ú. v.
These measure are the following: the rescue aid of EUR 1 million (Measure 1), the guarantee of EUR 150000 (Measure 3), the sale and use of the Val Saint-Lambert trade marks (Measure 4), the loan of EUR 1,5 million (Measure 5), the capital injection of EUR 1,5 million (Measure 6) and SPAQuE's provision of certain buildings to VSL free of charge (part of Measure 8).
ES L 83, 27.3.1999, s.
By letter dated 18 June 2014, the Belgian authorities authorised the Commission to adopt and notify this Decision in French only,
1).
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1
Nariadenie Komisie (ES) č. 794/2004 z 21. apríla 2004, ktorým sa vykonáva nariadenie Rady (ES) č. 659/1999, ustanovujúce podrobné pravidlá na uplatňovanie článku 93 Zmluvy o ES (Ú. v.
The following measures: the rescue aid of EUR 1 million (Measure 1), the guarantee of EUR 150000 (Measure 3), the sale and use of the Val Saint-Lambert trade marks (Measure 4), the loan of EUR 1,5 million (Measure 5), the capital injection of EUR 1,5 million (Measure 6) and SPAQuE's provision of certain buildings to VSL free of charge (a part of Measure 8) involve elements of aid that have been unlawfully implemented by Belgium, in breach of Article 108(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and are incompatible with the internal market.
EÚ L 140, 30.4.2004, s.
In accordance with Article 8(2) of Regulation (EC) No 659/1999, Belgium withdrew its notification concerning Measure 2 (restructuring aid) following the decision to initiate the formal investigation procedure.
1).
Belgium shall recover the aid referred to in Article 1 from the beneficiary.
EÚ L 82, 25.3.2008, s. 1).
The sums to be recovered shall bear interest from the date on which they were made available to the beneficiary until the date of their actual recovery.
Informácie o sumách pomoci, ktoré boli poskytnuté, majú sa vrátiť alebo už boli vrátené
The interest shall be calculated on a compound basis in accordance with Chapter V of Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 271/2008 [28] amending Regulation (EC) No 794/2004.
(v miliónoch národnej meny)
Article 3
Totožnosť príjemcu
The recovery of the aid referred to Article 1 shall be immediate and effective.
Celková suma pomoci poskytnutá v rámci schémy
Belgium shall ensure that this Decision is implemented within 4 months following the date of its notification.
Celková suma pomoci, ktorá sa má vrátiť
Article 4
(Istina)