natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
The Commission departments concerned had invited the Italian authorities to provide guarantees that the measures provided for in the Decision of the Provincial Executive would be implemented in accordance with the non-retrospectiveness principle laid down at 3.6 of the Guidelines and to undertake not to grant aid for activities or work initiated prior to the recipient submitting an application and its binding approval by the relevant authorities, once the aid had been approved by the Commission.
Službe Komisije so pozvale italijanske organe, da zagotovijo izvajanje ukrepov iz zadevne določbe skladno z načeli neveljavnosti za nazaj iz točke 3.6 usmeritev, in da ne podeljujejo pomoči za dejavnosti ali dela, ki so bila začeta preden je upravičenec do pomoči vložil prošnjo za pomoč in preden je pomoč, ki je zavezujoča s strani pristojnih organov, prejel, potem ko je Komisija predhodno sprejela shemo pomoči.
Information transmitted by the Italian authorities shows that aid has neither been paid, nor will be paid, without the scheme being approved by the Commission; the latest reply from the Italian authorities does not, however, contain the requested undertaking not to grant aid for activities or work initiated prior to a recipient submitting an aid application and its binding approval by the relevant authorities.
Iz informacij, ki so jih posredovali italijanski organi, izhaja, da ni bila in niti ne bo nakazana nobena pomoč, dokler ne bo Komisija sprejela sheme; vsekakor pa zadnji odgovor, ki so ga podali italijanski organi, ne vsebuje obveze, da ne bodo odobrili pomoči za dejavnosti ali dela, ki so bila začeta, preden je upravičenec do pomoči vložil prošnjo za pomoč in preden je pomoč, ki je zavezujoča s strani pristojnih organov, prejel.
Accordingly the Commission could not, when it initiated proceedings, rule out the possibility that retrospective aid without an incentive effect might be granted under the scheme.
V fazi uvajanja postopka Komisija ni mogla izključiti, da bi bila v okviru sheme odobrena pomoč z veljavnostjo za nazaj, ki ni imela nikakršnega spodbujevalnega učinka.
In this respect too, therefore, the Commission could not but doubt whether the aid was compatible with the common market.
Zato je Komisija tudi s tega vidika dvomila v združljivost predvidene pomoči s skupnim trgom.
COMMENTS SUBMITTED BY ITALY AND OTHER PARTIES
PRIPOMBE ITALIJE IN TRETJIH STRANK
Italy has not, in the wake of the Decision to initiate proceedings under Article 88(2) of the Treaty, transmitted to the Commission departments concerned any comment on the aid in question.
Italija ni posredovala službam Komisije nobene pripombe v zvezi z zadevno pomočjo zaradi odločitve o uvajanju postopka člena 88(2) Pogodbe.
Nor has the Commission received any comments from other interested parties.
Prav tako ni Komisija prejela pripomb tretjih.
LEGAL ASSESSMENT
PRAVNA OCENA
Existence of aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) of the Treaty
Obstoj pomoči v skladu s členom 87(1) Pogodbe
By virtue of Article 87(1) of the Treaty, any aid granted by a Member State or through State resources in any form whatsoever which distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring certain undertakings or the production of certain goods shall, in so far as it affects trade between Member States, be incompatible with the common market.
Skladno s členom 87(1) Pogodbe je vsaka pomoč, ki jo dodeli država članica ali kakršna koli vrsta pomoči iz državnih sredstev, ki izkrivlja ali bi lahko izkrivljala konkurenco z dajanjem prednosti posameznim podjetjem ali proizvodnji posameznega blaga, nezdružljiva s skupnim trgom, kolikor prizadene trgovino med državami članicami.
The measures in question conform to that definition, in so far as they favour certain types of production (basic agricultural production, since the investment is made at primary production level) and can affect trade, given the wide range of products concerned (in 1998, for instance, Italy’s imports and exports of agricultural products totalled ECU 15222 billion and ECU 9679 billion respectively; that same year the corresponding figures for intra-Community trade in agricultural products were ECU 128256 billion and ECU 132458 billion respectively).
Zadevni ukrepi ustrezajo taki opredelitvi, saj spodbujajo nekatere vrste proizvodnje (osnovno kmetijsko proizvodnjo, saj se vršijo vlaganja v primarno proizvodnjo) in zaradi širokega izbora proizvodov lahko vplivajo na izmenjave, na katere se nanašajo (primer: leta 1998 je Italija uvozila za 15222 milijard ekujev kmetijskih proizvodov in izvozila za 9679 milijard ekujev; istega leta je znašal uvoz kmetijskih proizvodov znotraj ES 128256 milijard, izvoz pa 132458 milijard ekujev).
The measure in question thus falls within the definition of state aid laid down in Article 87(1) of the Treaty.
Zadevni ukrep se torej uvršča med državno pomoč, kot je opredeljena v členu 87(1) Pogodbe.
The ban on the granting of state aid is not unconditional.
Prepoved dodeljevanja pomoči je brezpogojna.
In this particular case the exceptions provided for in Article 87(2) of the Treaty are manifestly inapplicable and indeed have not been invoked by the Italian authorities.
V tem primeru očitno izjeme iz člena 87(2) Pogodbe ne veljajo in jih tudi sicer italijanski organi ne navajajo.
Nor is Article 87(3)(a) of the Treaty applicable, since the aid is not intended to promote the economic development of areas where the standard of living is abnormally low or where there is serious underemployment.
Prav tako ni mogoče uporabljati člena 87(3)(a) Pogodbe, saj pomoč ni namenjena spodbujanju gospodarskega razvoja regij, v katerih je življenjska raven nenormalno nizka, ali v katerih se otepajo z visoko stopnjo nezaposlenosti.
Regarding Article 87(3)(b) of the Treaty, it should be pointed out that the aid in question is not intended to promote the execution of an important project of common European interest or to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State.
Pomoč, ki se dodeli na podlagi člena 87(3)(b) Pogodbe, ni namenjena promociji projekta skupnega evropskega interesa, niti popravljanju hudih gospodarskih motenj v državi članici.
The aid in question is not intended to achieve the objectives referred to in Article 87(3)(d) of the Treaty.
Takšna pomoč ne zadeva ciljev iz člena 87(3)(d) Pogodbe.
In view of the nature of the measure in question, the only exception which may be invoked is that provided for in Article 87(3)(c) of the Treaty, whereby aid to facilitate the development of certain economic activities or of certain economic areas, where such aid does not adversely affect trading conditions to an extent contrary to the common interest, may be considered to be compatible with the common market.
Ob upoštevanju navedenih ukrepov izhaja edina izjema iz člena 87(3)(c) Pogodbe, na podlagi katere je združljiva z evropskim trgom pomoč za spodbujanje razvoja nekaterih dejavnosti ali nekaterih gospodarskih regij, vendar le v primeru, ko se pogoji izmenjave ne spremenijo do mere, ki ni v skladu s skupnimi interesi.
Scrutiny of the compatibility of the aid
Preverjanje združljivosti pomoči
The Decision of the Provincial Executive must be examined in the light of the Guidelines since it is aimed at introducing an investment aid scheme in the agriculture sector and was duly notified by the Italian authorities in accordance with Article 88(3) of the Treaty.
Preučiti je treba skladnost obravnavane odločbe z usmeritvami, saj odločba želi oblikovati režim pomoči za vlaganja v kmetijski sektor in so jo italijanski organi pravilno prijavili skladno s členom 88(3) Pogodbe.
The Guidelines are, by virtue of 23.3 thereof, applicable to new State aids in the agriculture sector, including pending notifications by Member States, with effect from 1 January 2000.
Točka 23.3 usmeritev dejansko določa, da se tovrstna pomoč uporablja pri dodeljevanju novih državnih pomoči v kmetijskem sektorju, vključno s tistimi, ki so jo prijavile države članice, vendar pa o katerih Komisija še ni odločala, začenši s 1. januarjem 2000.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 of 23 December 2003 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products [5] is not applicable in this case because it is not possible, on the basis of the information provided regarding the recipients, to determine in every instance whether the aid is intended for small and medium-sized enterprises which are eligible under that Regulation [6].
Uredba Komisije (ES) št. 1/2004 z dne 23. decembra 2003 o uporabi členov 87 in 88 Pogodbe ES za državno pomoč malim in srednjim podjetjem, ki se ukvarjajo s proizvodnjo, predelavo in trženjem kmetijskih proizvodov [5], se v tem primeru ne uporablja, ker na podlagi posredovanih informacij o upravičencih do pomoči v vseh primerih ni mogoče določiti, če je pomoč namenjena malim ali srednjim podjetjem, ki so do pomoči iz gornje uredbe upravičena [6].
According to the information transmitted by the Italian authorities, the maximum aid intensities allowed are those laid down in Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999, which correspond to those specified at 4.1 of the Guidelines concerning investment in agricultural holdings.
V posredovanih informacijah so italijanski organi navedli, da je najvišja intenzivnost dopustne pomoči določena s členom 7 Uredbe (ES) št. 1257/1999, ki ustreza tisti, ki je določena v točki 4.1 usmeritev in zadeva vlaganja v kmetijska podjetja.
In the light of these indications and the above-mentioned reference, the following aid rates are applicable: 40 % in areas other than less-favoured areas and 50 % in less-favoured areas with, in both cases, an additional five percentage points if the investment is made by young farmers.
Ob upoštevanju gornjih navedb in napotitve na ukrep 4.9, je stopnja pomoči naslednja: 40 % za območja brez omejenih možnosti in 50 % za območja z omejenimi možnostmi, s povečanjem za 5 odstotnih točk v obeh primerih ob vlaganju mladih kmetovalcev.
The aids concerned can, however, be classified as belonging to three types of investment, the conditions for approval of which are laid down at various points of the Guidelines:
Vsekakor se zadevna pomoč nanaša na tri vrste vlaganj, katerih pogoje odobritve določajo različne točke usmeritev:
investment in agricultural holdings (4.1);
vlaganja v kmetijska podjetja (točka 4.1),
investment in connection with the processing and marketing of agricultural products (4.2);
vlaganja v sektor za predelavo in trženje kmetijskih proizvodov (točka 4.2),
investments to promote the diversification of farm activities (4.3, which refers back to points 4.1 and 4.2).
vlaganja, ki so usmerjena v promocijo diverzifikacije kmetijskih dejavnosti (točka 4.3, ki napoti na točki 4.1 in 4.2).
By virtue of 4.1 of the Guidelines, state aids for investment in agricultural holdings may be granted subject to the following requirements:
Skladno s točko 4.1 usmeritev, se lahko državno pomoč za vlaganje v kmetijska podjetja odobri le pod naslednjimi pogoji:
the investment should pursue one or more of the following objectives: to reduce production costs, to improve and redeploy production, to increase quality, to preserve and improve the natural environment, hygiene conditions and animal welfare standards or to promote the diversification of farm activities;
Cilj vlaganja je vsaj ena izmed naslednjih postavk: znižanje proizvodnih stroškov, izboljšanje in preusmeritev proizvodnje, povečanje kakovosti, varovanje in izboljšanje okolja, higienskih pogojev in dobrega počutja živali in promocija diverzifikacije kmetijskih dejavnosti.
the intensity of the aid must not exceed 40 % (50 % in less-favoured areas).
Intenzivnost pomoči je omejena na 40 % (50 % na območjih z omejenimi možnostmi).
However, in the case of investments made by young farmers the maximum rate of aid rises to 45 % and 55 % respectively;
V primerih, ko vlagajo mladi kmetovalci se lahko v prvih petih letih delovanja, najvišja intenzivnost pomoči povzpne na 45 % oziroma 55 % za posamezno vrsto.
investment aid may be granted only to holdings the economic viability of which can be demonstrated by an assessment of the prospects of the holding and where the farmer processes adequate occupational skill and competence.
Pomoč pri vlaganju se dodeli izključno podjetjem, katerih donosnost je mogoče potrditi z ocenitvijo pričakovanj in katerih vodstvo ima primerno strokovno znanje in usposobljenost.
Moreover the holding must comply with minimum Community standards regarding the environment, hygiene and animal welfare;
Poleg tega mora podjetje zadoščati minimalnim kriterijem skupnosti na področju okolja, higiene in dobrega počutja živali.
aid may not be granted for investment whose objective is increased production unless normal market outlets can be found for the products concerned;
Vlaganja, s katerimi se želi povečati proizvodnjo, se subvencionirajo samo v primeru, ko se za zadevne proizvode lahko na trgu dobijo normalne prodajne poti.
the eligible expenses cover only: the construction, acquisition or improvement of immovable property; new machinery and equipment, including computer software; general costs, such as architects, engineers and consultation fees, feasibility studies, the acquisition of patents and licences, up to 12 % of the expenditure referred to above; land purchase, including legal fees, taxes and land registration costs;
Dopustni stroški vsebujejo izključno: izgradnjo, pridobivanje ali izboljšavo nepremičnin, nove stroje in naprave, vključno z informacijskimi programi; splošne izdatke, kot so honorarji arhitektom, inženirjem in svetovalcem, raziskave o izvedljivosti, pridobivanje patentov in dovoljenj, vse do 12 % navedenih izdatkov; nakup zemljišč, vključno s sodnimi stroški, taksami in stroški registracije.
the maximum expenses eligible for support may not exceed the limit for total investment eligible for support set by the Member State in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999.
Dopustni stroški ne presegajo skupno okvira celotnega dopustnega vlaganja, ki so ga določile države članice skladno s členom 7 Uredbe (ES) št. 1257/1999.
Aid may, in accordance with 4.2 of the Guidelines, be granted for investments in connection with the processing and marketing of agricultural products, subject to the following requirements:
Skladno s točko 4.2 usmeritev, se lahko državno pomoč za vlaganje v predelavo in trženje odobri le pod naslednjimi pogoji:
the economic viability of the holdings receiving the aid must be demonstrated on the basis of an assessment of their prospects;
Donosnost podjetja, ki je upravičeno do pomoči, se dokaže z ocenitvijo pričakovanj.
the holdings receiving the aid must comply with minimum standards regarding the environment, hygiene and animal welfare.
Podjetja, ki so upravičena do pomoči, spoštujejo minimalne zahteve na področju okolja, higiene in dobrega počutja živali.
However, where investments are made in order to comply with newly introduced minimum standards regarding the environment, hygiene and animal welfare, aid may be granted in order to reach these new standards;
Če je cilj vlaganj prilagajanje novim minimalnim zahtevam na področju okolja, higiene in dobrega počutja živali, se lahko pomoč odobri za ta namen.
the aid rate may not exceed 40 % (50 % in the case of Objective 1 regions).
Stopnja pomoči ne presega 40 % (50 % v regijah iz Cilja 1).
eligible expenses may include only: the construction, acquisition or improvement of immovable property; new machinery and equipment, including computer software; general costs, such as architects, engineers and consultation fees, feasibility studies, the acquisition of patents and licences, up to 12 % of the expenditure referred to above; land purchase, including legal fees, taxes and land registration costs;
Dopustni stroški vsebujejo izključno: izgradnjo, pridobivanje ali izboljšavo nepremičnin, nove stroje in naprave, vključno z informacijskimi programi; splošne izdatke, kot so honorarji arhitektom, inženirjem in svetovalcem, raziskave o izvedljivosti, pridobivanje patentov in dovoljenj, vse do največ 12 % navedenih izdatkov; nakup zemljišč, vključno s sodnimi stroški, taksami in stroški registracije.
aid may not be granted for products for which normal market outlets cannot be found;
Pomoč se ne odobri za proizvode, za katere na trgu ni moč najti normalnih prodajnih poti.
aids for investments with eligible expenses in excess of EUR 25 million must be specifically notified to the Commission in accordance with Article 88(3) of the Treaty.
Pomoč pri vlaganju, katerega dopustni stroški presegajo 25 milijonov EUR, so predmet posebnega obvestila Komisiji, skladno s členom 88(3) Pogodbe.
By virtue of 4.3 the compatibility of aids to promote the diversification of farm activities must be assessed in accordance with 4.1 where the total eligible expenses do not exceed the limit for total investment eligible for support set by the Member State in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999.
Skladno s točko 4.3 se združljivost pomoči za vlaganja v promocijo diverzifikacije kmetijskih dejavnosti ocenjuje na podlagi pogojev iz točke 4.1, če celotni sprejemljivi izdatki ne presegajo okvira, ki ga je določila zadevna država članica za vsa sprejemljiva vlaganja v skladu s členom 7 Uredbe (ES) št. 1257/99.
If that limit is exceeded the requirements applicable are those set out at 4.2 of the Guidelines.
Če se ta okvir preseže, se uporabijo pogoji iz točke 4.2 usmeritev.
The description clearly shows that, irrespective of the exact nature of the investment aids provided for in the Decision of the Provincial Executive, compliance with many of the above-mentioned requirements applicable under the Guidelines, requirements which are intended to determine the compatibility of the investment aid with the common market, is not guaranteed by the Italian authorities, viz.:
Iz opisa izhaja, da ne glede na opredelitev narave pomoči pri vlaganju, ki jo načrtuje zadevna odločba, italijanski organi ne dajejo jamstva za vrsto zgoraj navedenih pogojev iz usmeritev, ki zagotavljajo združljivost pomoči za vlaganja s skupnim trgom, oziroma:
the exact nature of the expenses eligible referred to by ‘etc.’ and a guarantee that the limit of 12 % of the other eligible expenses will be complied with as regards planning costs;
opredelitev narave sprejemljivih izdatkov, ki so podani z izrazom „in tako dalje“, in jamstvo o spoštovanju zgornje meje 12 % ostalih sprejemljivih izdatkov v okviru izdatkov za projektiranje;
the reliability of the criteria used for assessing the economic viability of the recipients;
verodostojnost kriterijev za ocenitev gospodarske donosnosti upravičencev do pomoči;
compliance, on the part of the recipients, with minimum environmental, hygiene and animal welfare standards;
spoštovanje minimalnih zahtev na področju okolja, higiene in dobrega počutja živali;
ruling out the possibility of aid being granted retrospectively under the scheme, i.e. without any incentive effect.
izključitev katere koli možnosti dodelitve pomoči z veljavnostjo za nazaj brez spodbujevalnega učinka v okviru sheme.
Moreover, the Italian authorities submitted no comment and provided no additional information in response to the Commission letter of 13 November 2001 initiating proceedings.
Italijanski organi tudi niso podali nobene pripombe niti dopolnilne informacije na pisni poziv Komisije z dne 13. novembra 2001 ob začetku postopka.
The Commission has thus not received any additional information which can dispel the doubts it harboured when it initiated proceedings under Article 88(2) of the Treaty.
Prav tako ni Komisija prejela nikakršnih dopolnilnih informacij, s katerimi bi razpršili dvome o dodeljevanju pomoči, ki jih je Komisija gojila ob začetku postopka v smislu člena 88(2) Pogodbe.
In the light of the above the Commission feels that the measure notified is incompatible with the Community rules on competition and in particular with Article 87(3)(c) of the Treaty.
Skladno z gornjimi opazkami Komisija meni, da je objavljeni ukrep združljiv z normativi skupnosti o konkurenci, še zlasti s členom 87(3)(c) Pogodbe.
V. CONCLUSIONS
V. ZAKLJUČEK
It may accordingly be concluded that the aid provided for in the Decision of the Provincial Executive constitutes state aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) of the Treaty and does not qualify under any of the exceptions provided for in Article 87(3).
Ob gornjih ugotovitvah se lahko sklene, da sestavlja pomoč po obravnavani odločbi tisto državno pomoč po členu 87(1) Pogodbe, ki ni upravičena do nobene izjeme, ki jo določa člen 87(3).
Since Decision No 629 of 29 December 1999 of the Campobasso Provincial Executive was notified in accordance with Article 88(3) of the Treaty, and since, according to information transmitted by the Italian authorities, no aid has been paid under the scheme in question, it is not necessary to require recovery of the aid provided for therein,
Ker je bila Odločba št. 629 Pokrajinskega odbora iz Campobassa z dne 29. decembra 1999 objavljena skladno s členom 88(3) Pogodbe in ker iz informacij, ki so jih podali italijanski organi, izhaja, da ni bila nakazana nobena pomoč v okviru zadevne sheme, ni potrebno zahtevati povračil za pomoči, obravnavanih v Odločbi –
The aid which Italy is planning to grant, on the basis of Decision No 629 of 29 December 1999 of the Campobasso Provincial Executive, to finance agricultural activities aimed at improving the quality of products and the quality of life of operators is incompatible with the common market.
Pomoč, ki jo namerava Italija dodeliti na podlagi Odločbe št. 629 Pokrajinskega odbora iz Campobassa z dne 29. decembra 1999 za financiranje kmetijske dejavnosti za izboljšanje kakovosti proizvodov in kakovosti življenja zaposlenih, ni združljiva z evropskim trgom.
The aid scheme may accordingly not be implementsed.
Take pomoči se zato ne odobri.
Italy shall inform the Commission, within two months of notification of this Decision, of the measures taken to comply with it.
V dveh mesecih od objave te odločbe Italija obvesti Komisijo o sprejetih uskladitvenih ukrepih.
OJ C 354, 13.12.2001, p. 18.
UL C 354, 13.12.2001, str. 18.
Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2223/2004 (OJ L 379, 24.12.2004, p. 1).
Uredba, kakor je bila nazadnje spremenjena z Uredbo (ES) št. 2223/2004 (UL L 379, 24.12.2004, str. 1).
Corrigendum published in OJ C 232, 12.8.2000, p. 17.
Popravek objavljen v UL C 232, 12.8.2000, str. 17.
OJ L 214, 13.8.1999, p. 31.
UL L 214, 13.8.1999, str. 31.
Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1763/2001 (OJ L 239, 7.9.2001, p. 10).
Uredba, kakor je bila nazadnje spremenjena z Uredbo (ES) št. 1763/2001 (UL L 239, 7.9.2001, str. 10).
OJ L 1, 3.1.2004, p. 1.
UL L 1, 3.1.2004, str. 1.
Cf. first subparagraph of Article 20(2) of the Regulation.
Gl. člen 20(2), prva alinea Uredbe.
of 21 April 2005
z dne 21. aprila 2005
on the clearance of the accounts of certain paying agencies in Germany, Spain, Greece, France, Italy, Portugal and the United Kingdom in respect of expenditure financed by the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), Guarantee Section, for the 2002 financial year
o potrditvi obračunov nekaterih plačilnih agencij v Nemčiji, Španiji, Grčiji, Franciji, Italiji, Portugalski in Združenem kraljestvu v zvezi z odhodki, financiranimi iz Jamstvenega oddelka Evropskega kmetijskega usmerjevalnega in jamstvenega sklada (EKUJS) za finančno leto 2002
(notified under document number C(2005) 1210)
(notificirano pod dokumentarno številko K(2005) 1210)
(Only the English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish texts are authentic)
(Besedila v španskem, nemškem, grškem, angleškem, francoskem, italijanskem in portugalskem jeziku so edina verodostojna)
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the financing of the common agricultural policy [1], and in particular Article 7(3) thereof,
ob upoštevanju Uredbe Sveta (ES) št. 1258/1999 z dne 17. maja 1999 o financiranju skupne kmetijske politike [1], in zlasti člena 7(3) Uredbe,