natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
By letters dated 26 and 27 February 2004, the Commission sent France copies of the comments made by the VDFU and SMVP.
V pismih z dne 26. februarja in 27. februarja 2004 je Komisija Franciji predložila kopijo ugotovitev, ki sta jih posredovala VDFU in SMVP.
By letter of 26 March 2004, registered as received the same day, France sent the Commission its observations on the comments made by the VDFU and SMVP.
V pismu z dne 26. marca 2004, vnesenem v register isti dan, je Francija Komisiji posredovala svoje pripombe na ugotovitve VDFU in SMVP.
By letter of 25 August 2004, registered as received on 31 August, France provided further information on the measure.
V pismu z dne 25. avgusta 2004, ki ga je Komisija vnesla v register 31. avgusta 2004, je Francija posredovala dodatne podatke o ukrepih.
The Bioscope theme park project
Projekt tematskega parka Bioscope
The Bioscope theme park project was launched in 1994 by the region of Alsace.
Projekt tematskega parka Bioscope je bil začet leta 1994 v regiji Alzacija.
The aim was to construct a scientific, educational and fun theme park focusing on health, life and the environment.
Gre za izvajanje zamisli o naravnem in delno znanstvenem, izobraževalnem in igralnem tematskem parku v zvezi s tematiko zdravja, življenja in okolja.
The Alsatian regional authorities’ idea was that the park should allow visitors to learn while enjoying themselves.
Po zamisli alzaških regionalnih organov naj bi park obiskovalcem omogočal učenje na zabaven način.
It should distance itself from the traditional approach of more conventional scientific and technical museums such as the ‘Palais de la découverte’ or the ‘Cité des sciences’ in Paris, which were not considered attractive enough fully to meet their original objective.
Park naj bi se oddaljil od tradicionalnega pristopa klasičnih znanstvenih in tehničnih muzejev, kot sta „Palais de la découverte (Palača odkritij)“ ali „Cité des sciences (Mesto znanosti)“ v Parizu, ki nista dovolj privlačna, da bi v celoti izpolnjevala svojo nalogo.
Visitors should see Bioscope above all as a place of relaxation and enjoyment which would, at the same time, also enable them to learn at their own pace.
Bioscope bodo obiskovalci za razliko od tega dojemali najprej kot kraj oddiha in zabave, ki jim poleg tega omogoča učenje v tempu, ki ga določajo sami.
In addition, the regional authorities point out that Bioscope also aims to increase the number of tourist attractions in Alsace, something which is not incompatible with the objective mentioned above.
Regionalne oblasti navajajo, da drugi cilj ustanovitve parka Bioscope, povečanje turistične ponudbe v Alzaciji, ni v nasprotju s prvim ciljem.
Selection of the beneficiary
Postopek izbire upravičenega podjetja
By order of 12 January 1998, the Regional Council of Alsace and the Departmental Councils of Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin set up the mixed consortium Symbio (Symbio) with a view to implementing the necessary procedures for the construction of Bioscope.
S sklepom prefekture z dne 12. januarja 1998 sta Alzaški regionalni svet in Svet departmajev Haut-Rhin in Bas-Rhin ustanovila mešani sindikat SYMBIO (v nadaljevanju „Symbio“), katerega naloga je izvajanje postopkov, potrebnih za realizacijo parka Bioscope.
The regional authorities chose to operate Bioscope in accordance with the legal principle of public-service delegation [4].
Regionalne oblasti so izbrale park Bioscope po pravnem načelu izbire javnih storitev [4].
The State finances the acquisition of land and some of the investment costs.
Država sama financira nakup ozemelj in del investicijskih stroškov.
It delegates the construction and operation of the park to a concessionaire for 30 years, with the concessionaire paying the State compensation in the form of a charge levied on its turnover.
Izgradnjo in upravljanje parka je odobrila koncesionarju za dobo 30 let, koncesionar pa bo državi plačeval pristojbino na prihodek.
At the end of the concession, the property is returned to the State.
Po koncu trajanja koncesije so sredstva povrnjena državi.
In order to select a concessionaire for Bioscope, Symbio published an invitation to tender for private operators in the Official Journal of the European Communities [5] in September 1998.
Za izbiro koncesionarja za park Bioscope, je Symbio septembra 1998 začel postopek zbiranja kandidatur zasebnih subjektov. Ta postopek je bil objavljen v Uradnem listu Evropskih skupnosti [5].
After a lengthy selection procedure aimed at finding an operator with the necessary experience to construct and operate the park satisfactorily, Symbio opted for Parc Astérix, which has since become a part of the Grévin et Compagnie group.
Po dolgem postopku izbire operaterja, ki bi imel potrebne izkušnje za izgradnjo in upravljanje parka na ustrezen način, se je Symbio odločil za podjetje Parc Astérix, ki je del skupine Grévin et Compagnie.
This was confirmed on 13 March 2001 with the signing of a public-service delegation contract for ‘the design, construction and management of the Bioscope theme park’ between Symbio, on the one hand, and SMVP, a subsidiary of Parc Astérix, on the other.
Ta izbira je bila udejanjena s podpisom dne 13. marca 2001 dodelitve javne storitve „koncesije za zasnovo, realizacijo in upravljanje tematskega parka Bioscope“ med sindikatom Symbio na eni strani in podjetjem „SMVP – Mise en Valeur du Patrimoine Culturel“, podružnico podjetja Parc Astérix, na drugi strani.
An amendment to the contract was signed on 9 July 2002.
Dodatek k tej dodelitvi javne storitve je bil podpisan 9. julija 2002.
The contract as amended is referred to below as the ‘concession’.
Podelitev javne storitve, kot je spremenjena v dodatku, je v nadaljevanju poimenovana „koncesija“.
The project resulting from the competitive tendering procedure — Participation by the State [6]
Projekt, ki izhaja iz postopka odprtja za konkurenco – pogoji sodelovanja države [6]
The concession envisages a small park corresponding to an initial investment of EUR 61,5 million and with an initial target of 400000 visitors per year, eventually rising to 800000.
Koncesija predvideva manjši park, ki ustreza začetnim vlaganjem v višini 61,5 milijonov EUR in z začetnim obiskom 400000 oseb na leto, s postopnim povečevanjem na 800000 oseb na leto.
The arrangements for participation by the State are laid down in the concession.
Pogoji sodelovanja države so določeni v koncesiji.
The following points in particular are set out:
Posebej so predvidene naslednje točke:
the State makes available to SMVP, in tranches and for 30 years, the necessary land, i.e. 50 hectares.
Država bo podjetju SMVP po delih za obdobje 30 let dala na razpolago potrebno zemljišče, to je 50 hektarjev.
This land remains the property of the State and will be returned free of charge at the end of the concession.
To zemljišče je last države in bo po koncu tega obdobja predmet brezplačne vrnitve državi.
The buildings, works and concessions acquired, fitted out, built and set up by SMVP during the concession, which are its property and are linked to the operation of the park, will be returned free of charge to the State at the end of the concession if they have been fully written off. Otherwise, the State will have to pay an allowance corresponding to the remaining accounting value for them to be returned,
Poslopja, delo in koncesije, ki jih je med trajanjem koncesije kupilo, uredilo, zgradilo ali postavilo podjetje SMVP in ki se uporabljajo za upravljanje parka, so predmet brezplačne vrnitve državi po končanem obdobju trajanja koncesije in so v celoti amortizirani. V nasprotnem primeru mora država plačati odškodnino, ki ustreza preostali računovodski vrednosti;
SMVP designs the Bioscope theme park under State control before constructing it and operating it for 30 years,
SMVP pod nadzorom države zasnuje in ustanovi tematski park in ga upravlja 30 let;
the park built by SMVP represents an investment with an initial tranche of EUR 61,5 million. The State is the only investor in this first tranche, with a participation of EUR 30,5 million, through Symbio,
park, ki ga ustvari SMVP, ustreza prvemu delu vlaganj v znesku 61,5 milijard EUR. Država pri prvem delu vlaganj sodeluje z zneskom 30,5 milijonov EUR, prek sindikata Symbio;
the subsequent investments in the park’s renovation are entirely the financial responsibility of SMVP.
nadaljnja vlaganja v obnovo parka nosi podjetje SVMP.
The plans must be approved by the State, which checks in particular whether they are consistent with the park’s educational concept,
Zasnovo mora potrditi država, ki preveri zlasti skladnost s pedagoško zasnovo parka;
SMVP pays an annual charge to the State representing 2,5 % of its annual gross turnover earned from all the activities carried out within the geographical bounds of the concession (except for the first two calendar years, even if not full operating years, for which the charge is 1 and 2 % respectively), less any other charges levied by the State on subcontracted activities.
SMVP državi letno plačuje pristojbino v višini 2,5 % bruto prihodka, ki izhaja iz dejavnosti na območju koncesije (razen v prvih dveh koledarskih letih, tudi delnih, za katere je stopnja pristojbine 1 % in 2 %), pri čemer se odštejejo kakršne koli dajatve, ki jih država pobira na dejavnosti podizvajalcev.
REASONS FOR INITIATING THE PROCEDURE
RAZLOGI ZA ZAČETEK POSTOPKA
In the correspondence preceding the initiation of the formal investigation procedure, France pointed out that, in its view, the public authorities’ intervention in this case was compensation for obligations linked to a task of general economic interest entrusted to the concessionaire responsible for operating Bioscope.
Po izmenjavi pisem pred začetkom uradnega preiskovalnega postopka je Francija navedla, da ni pričakovala, da bi posredovanje javnih organov v tem primeru zvišalo obvezna nadomestila, povezana z nalogo splošnega gospodarskega interesa, ki je bila dodeljena koncesionarju in upravljavcu parka Bioscope.
When initiating the formal investigation procedure, the Commission expressed the following doubts regarding the French State’s assistance for Bioscope and the justification given by France at the time.
Ob začetku uradnega preiskovalnega postopka je Komisija izrazila dvome v posredovanje Francije v pomoč parku Bioscope in o dokazilih, ki jih je predložila Francija.
Firstly, the Commission felt that there were doubts as to whether France’s reasoning that the beneficiary company had been entrusted with a task of general economic importance could be followed.
Najprej je Komisija ocenila, da obstajajo dvomi glede sklepanja Francije, da se v primeru naloge skupnega gospodarskega interesa, ki je dodeljena upravičenemu podjetju, lahko slednjemu dodeli državna podpora.
It doubted whether France had clearly defined that task.
Zato Komisija dvomi, da je Francija to nalogo jasno opredelila.
Even if it had, the Commission doubted whether France had provided sufficient justification for the absence of overcompensation for the extra costs associated with that task.
Prav tako kot v opredelitev naloge, Komisija dvomi, da je Francija predložila ustrezno dokazilo o odsotnosti prekomernih kompenzacij dodatnih stroškov omenjene naloge.
Secondly, the Commission felt that the State’s support probably constituted aid, particularly as no evidence had been provided to show that the beneficiary company would receive from the State a payment corresponding to the market price for operating a theme park.
Drugič, Komisija ocenjuje, da je državna podpora zelo verjetno pomoč, zlasti, ker ni bilo predloženo nobeno dokazilo o tem, da je upravičeno podjetje od države prejelo plačilo, ki ustreza tržni ceni pristojbine za uporabo tematskega parka.
Thirdly, the Commission assessed the compatibility of the potential aid in the light of the various provisions of the EC Treaty.
Tretjič, Komisija je analizirala skladnost morebitne pomoči z različnimi določbami Pogodbe.
It concluded that, given its aims, the potential aid could be considered only in the light of the provisions concerning regional aid or of Article 87(3)(d) of the EC Treaty concerning the promotion of culture.
Prišla je do zaključka, da ob upoštevanju lastnih ciljev morebitna pomoč ne more biti analizirana drugače kot v smislu določb v zvezi z regionalnimi pomočmi ali določbami iz člena 87(3)(d) Pogodbe v zvezi s spodbujanjem kulture.
In the absence of any justification from France in this respect, the Commission doubted whether the conditions necessary for potential aid to be authorised under either set of provisions had been met.
Zaradi odsotnosti dokazil Francije v zvezi s tem, je Komisija pojasnila dvome v zvezi z dejstvom, da so pogoji, potrebni za odobritev pomoči iz naslova ene ali druge določbe, združeni.
COMMENTS FROM FRANCE ON THE INITIATION OF THE FORMAL INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE
UGOTOVITVE FRANCIJE O ZAČETKU URADNEGA PREISKOVALNEGA POSTOPKA
On the nature of State assistance for Bioscope as compensation for the obligation to provide a service of general economic interest
O značaju obveznega nadomestila za storitve splošnega gospodarskega interesa v zvezi s posredovanjem države pri pomoči projektu Bioscope
In its comments on the initiation of the formal investigation procedure, France restates its position that State assistance for the Bioscope project does not constitute State aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) of the Treaty, but rather compensation for the costs associated with an obligation to provide a service of general economic interest.
V ugotovitvah o začetku uradnega preiskovalnega postopka Francija potrjuje svoje stališče, da sodelovanje države pri projektu Bioscope ni državna pomoč v smislu člena 87(1) Pogodbe, vendar nadomestilo stroškov, povezanih z obveznostmi splošnega gospodarskega interesa.
To back up this position, France begins by reminding the Commission of how the idea for Bioscope came about and then gives a practical description of the park project as drawn up by Symbio in conjunction with SMVP.
V podkrepitev tega sklepa, je Francija začela naštevati pogoje za nastanek parka Bioscope in nato dodala še konkreten opis projekta, kot ga je opredelil sindikat Symbio v sodelovanju s podjetjem SMVP.
This description emphasises the educational nature of the park and its attractions which are very different from the attractions found in traditional theme parks.
Ta opis temelji na pedagoškem značaju parka in izobraževalnem vidiku razstavljenih zanimivosti, ki so zelo drugačne od tradicionalnih tematskih parkov.
France stresses that the concept of the park would, under no circumstances, alter in the future since any change in its educational vocation would be in breach of the agreement between the concessionaire and the State.
Francija vztraja na dejstvu, da park v nobenem primeru v prihodnosti ne more spremeniti zasnove, ker vsaka sprememba vpliva tudi na drugačno pedagoško usmeritev, ki bi bila v nasprotju s konvencijo med koncesionarjem in državo.
France then points out what, in its view, the task of general economic interest entrusted to Bioscope comprises.
Francija nato navaja vsebino naloge splošnega gospodarskega interesa, ki pripada projektu Bioscope.
France considers that the task was unambiguously spelt out in the concession linking SMVP to the State.
Po njenem mnenju je naloga jasno opredeljena v koncesiji, ki zavezuje SMVP in državo.
It backs this up with extracts from the concession which emphasise generally the social and educational aims of Bioscope and with other extracts dealing more specifically with the prices to be charged for certain categories of visitor (children accompanied by their parents, school groups, elderly people).
Francija je to podprla z izvlečki iz koncesije in vztraja na socialnem in izobraževalnem cilju projekta Bioscope in tudi z drugimi izvlečki, ki bolj podrobno obravnavajo tarife za določene kategorije obiskovalcev (otroci v spremstvu staršev, šolske skupine, starejši občani).
France also emphasises that Symbio will always have control over the activities of the concessionaire.
Francija zato poudarja nadzor, ki ga bo nad dejavnostjo koncesionarja izvajal Symbio.
France examines individually, the criteria laid down by the European Court of Justice in Altmark [7] for assessing public support in the form of compensation for costs associated with a task of general economic interest.
Francija je posamično pregledala vsa merila za ocenjevanje javne podpore za nadomestila stroškov nalog splošnega gospodarskega interesa, ki jih je določilo Sodišče Evropskih skupnosti v sklepu Altmark [7].
While highlighting the fact that it cannot be held responsible for being unaware of these criteria when provision was made for State support since the judgment was delivered well after the signing of the concession, France points out that:
Ob poudarjanju, da ni bilo razloga za pritožbo in Francija ni upoštevala teh meril od začetka izvajanja državne pomoči, kajti omenjen sklep je bil izdan šele po datumu podpisa koncesije, Francija navaja, da:
the public service obligations are clearly defined since the operation as a whole is a service of general economic interest,
so obveznosti javnih storitev jasno opredeljene, ker je dejavnost pravzaprav naloga skupnega gospodarskega interesa;
the parameters on which the calculation of compensation is based were clearly defined beforehand since they were laid down before the concession was granted and since their very principle and nature were determined before the competitive tendering procedure was launched,
parametri, na podlagi katerih se izračuna nadomestilo, so jasno opredeljeni vnaprej in so določeni že pred koncesijo, njihova narava in načela pa so določena že pred samim postopkom odpiranja trga;
the compensation does not exceed that which is necessary to cover the costs involved in performing a task of general economic interest, as a study carried out by independent experts, Rise Conseil, has shown that the return on SMVP’s investment in the Bioscope project (between [5-10 %] [8] and [10-15 %]* depending on the calculation assumptions) would be comparable to or lower than the usual rates of return in the theme-park sector (between 11 and 15 % for a sample of profitable theme parks) [9].
nadomestilo ne sme preseči zneska, potrebnega za kritje stroškov, ki nastanejo zaradi izvajanja splošnega gospodarskega interesa, kot je bilo dokazano v strokovni študiji, ki jo je izvedlo neodvisno podjetje Rise Conseil, po kateri je stopnja vračil za vlaganje za podjetje SMVP v okviru projekta Bioscope (med [5 %–10 %] [8] in [10 %–15 %]* glede na računske hipoteze), kar je primerljivo s stopnjami, ki so ponavadi navedene v sektorju tematskih parkov (med 11 % in 15 % v sektorju donosnih tematskih parkov) [9].
On the existence of State aid
O obstoju državne pomoči
France takes the view that the public authorities’ assistance for Bioscope does not constitute State aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) of the Treaty.
Francija ocenjuje, da posredovanje javnih organov v dobro projekta Bioscope ni državna pomoč v smislu člena 87 (1) Pogodbe.
As a preliminary observation, France considers that Bioscope does not exercise an economic activity.
Francija predhodno ocenjuje, da projekt Bioscope ni gospodarska dejavnost.
Rather than a theme park, Bioscope should be considered as an alternative form of museum.
Bioscope mora biti obravnavan kot alternativna oblika muzeja, ne pa kot tematski park.
Like a museum, school or hospital, Bioscope is the embodiment of the determination to serve the public in Alsace.
Park Bioscope bo kot muzej, šola ali bolnišnica utelešenje volje ustreči prebivalstvu alzaške regije.
Furthermore, France considers that Bioscope's existence will not affect trade between Member States.
Poleg tega Francija navaja, da obstoj projekta Bioscope ne vpliva na izmenjave med državami članicami.
It does not deny that the Bioscope project specifically aims to attract visitors from other countries, and especially its very close neighbour, Germany.
Francija ne zanika, da projekt Bioscope želi privabiti predvsem obiskovalce iz drugih bližnjih evropskih držav, zlasti Nemčije.
It points out, however, that the theme park’s catchment area does not extend over more than a few hundred kilometres.
Vendar navaja, da se privlačno območje parka ne razprostira prek nekaj sto kilometrov.
The only other leisure park in the area, Europa-Park in Rust, could not be considered to be in competition with Bioscope due to the difference in size between the two parks and their fundamentally different concepts.
Torej drugi tematski park v tem območju, Europa-Park v kraju Rust, ne more biti obravnavan kot konkurent parka Bioscope zaradi različne velikosti parkov in tudi zaradi različne osnovne zasnove.
France points out that, more generally, there can be no effect on competition since, in so far as Bioscope exercises a commercial activity, the relevant product market is confined to itself or, at the very least, to a quite small number of distant locations.
Francija tudi navaja, da v širšem smislu do poseganja v konkurenco ne prihaja, saj Bioscope izvaja komercialno dejavnost, njegov trg je izdelkov ustrezno omejen oziroma obstaja le majhno število podobnih krajev, ki pa so ustrezno oddaljeni.
It claims that very few tourist products could replace that offered by Bioscope.
Zato lahko zelo malo turističnih proizvodov nadomesti tisto, kar ponuja Bioscope.
It emphasises the many differences between Bioscope, on the one hand, and the EuroDisney and Europa-Park leisure parks, on the other.
Francija vztraja, da med parkom Bioscope na eni strani in parkoma Eurodisney in Europa-Park obstajajo precejšnje razlike.
It mentions the Spanish park Terra Mítica, whose concept is closer to Bioscope’s, but points out that, in practice, visitors are highly unlikely to have to decide between two parks thousands of kilometres away from each other.
Prav tako omenja španski park Terra Mítica, katerega zasnova je bližja parku Bioscope, vendar navaja, da je v praksi manj verjetno, da se bodo turisti odločali med obiskom dveh parkov, ki sta med seboj oddaljena več tisoč kilometrov.
Lastly, France considers that the public assistance for Bioscope confers no advantage on SMVP or its parent company, Grévin et Compagnie.
Končno Francija ocenjuje, da posredovanje javne oblasti v podporo projektu Bioscope podjetju SMVP niti njegovemu matičnemu podjetju Grévin et Compagnie ne omogoča prednosti.
It bases its reasoning on the existence of a competitive tendering procedure which, it claims, ensured that a bid was accepted that reflected market conditions and on a detailed economic analysis by the independent experts Rise Conseil showing that the return on SMVP’s investment in the Bioscope project would be comparable to or lower than the usual rates of return in the theme park sector.
Francija je ugotovitve osnovala na obstoju postopka odprtja trga, ki bo zagotavljal ponudbo, ki odraža pogoje na trgu in na podrobni ekonomski analizi, ki jo je izvedlo neodvisno podjetje Rise Conseil in katere rezultati nakazujejo, da je stopnja vračil za vlaganje podjetja SMVP v okviru projekta Bioscope primerljiva ali nižja od stopnje, ki je ponavadi navedena v sektorju tematskih parkov.
On the compatibility of potential State aid with the Treaty
O združljivosti morebitne državne pomoči s Pogodbo
France points out that, if the public authorities’ assistance for the Bioscope project were to be considered State aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) of the Treaty, this aid would, in any case, be compatible with the common market.
Francija navaja, da je treba v primeru sodelovanja javnih organov pri projektu Bioscope obravnavati kot državno pomoč v smislu člena 87(1) Pogodbe, ta pomoč pa je v vseh primerih skladna s skupnim trgom.
Firstly, France notes that the aid could be considered compatible with the Treaty by virtue of the derogation provided for in Article 87(3)(c).
Najprej Francija navaja, da je pomoč lahko obravnavana kot skladna s Pogodbo ob izvajanju odstopanja iz člena 87(3)(c).
It claims that the aid meets the conditions laid down in the Guidelines on national regional aid [10] (hereinafter the regional guidelines).
Vsekakor mora ustrezati pogojem smernic o državnih pomočeh za regionalni namen [10] (v nadaljevanju „regionalne smernice“).