natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
The information submitted by the interested parties also suggests that the machinery rings offer certain services (e.g. sale of equipment) on the market.
Informacije, ki so jih predložile zainteresirane stranke, kažejo na to, da lahko kmetijske strojne zadruge na trgu nastopajo same kot ponudniki nekaterih storitev (npr. prodaja opreme).
One interested party submitted detailed information demonstrating that one machinery ring had sold plant protection products at a price below the market price, perhaps even below the manufacturer’s selling price.
V enem od stališč so bile predložene natančne informacije, ki kažejo, da je neka kmetijska strojna zadruga prodala sredstva za zaščito rastlin po ceni, nižji od tržne cene, morda celo nižji od prodajne cene proizvajalca.
In other cases, in the view of the interested parties, although it was the commercial subsidiaries that submitted tenders in response to open invitations to tender, provision of the services was sub-contracted out, inter alia, to the machinery rings.
V drugih primerih so po izjavah zainteresiranih strank gospodarske hčerinske družbe nastopale kot ponudnik, npr. na javnih razpisih, pri čemer je bilo izvajanje storitev dodeljeno podizvajalcem, med drugim kmetijskim strojnim zadrugam.
The interested parties therefore feel that it is impossible to make a clear distinction between the core tasks of machinery rings and their other commercial activities.
Po mnenju zainteresiranih strank je zato nemogoče jasno razlikovati med glavnimi nalogami in drugimi gospodarskimi dejavnostmi kmetijskih strojnih zadrug.
Because of the unified nature, in staffing and geographical terms, of the machinery rings — or KBM — and their subsidiaries, the interested parties argue that it is not possible to prevent the cross-subsidisation of the commercial activities referred to in recital 25.
Z enotnostjo pri zaposlovanju in prostorsko enotnostjo kmetijskih strojnih zadrug ali KBM in njihovih hčerinskih družb ni mogoče preprečiti navzkrižnega subvencioniranja gospodarskih dejavnosti iz uvodne izjave (25).
One interested party also considers that machinery rings abuse their dominant position within the meaning of Article 82 of the EC Treaty, make agreements and engage in practices that distort competition within the meaning of Article 81 of the Treaty.
Zato neka zainteresirana stranka meni, da kmetijske strojne zadruge zlorabljajo svoj prevladujoči položaj na trgu v skladu s členom 82 Pogodbe ES ter sklepajo sporazume in prakse, ki izkrivljajo konkurenco v skladu s členom 81 Pogodbe ES.
It should be noted that the evidence provided by the interested parties to substantiate their claims does not refer specifically to the period preceding 2001, which is the object of this decision.
Treba je upoštevati, da dokazi o trditvah, ki so jih predložile zainteresirane stranke, ne veljajo izrecno za časovno obdobje pred letom 2001, ki je predmet te odločbe.
The Commission is of the opinion that such evidence is nonetheless relevant for the purposes of assessing whether there was scope for cross-subsidisation and distortion of competition outside the agriculture sector also in the period preceding 2001.
Komisija meni, da so ti dokazi kljub temu pomembni za oceno, ali je v času pred letom 2001 obstajala možnost za navzkrižno subvencioniranje in izkrivljanje konkurence izven kmetijskega sektorja.
COMMENTS FROM GERMANY
STALIŠČA NEMČIJE
In its letter of 4 April 2003, Germany holds that neither KBM nor the machinery rings are enterprises within the meaning of State aid legislation.
V pismu z dne 4. aprila 2003 je Nemčija izrazila mnenje, da KBM in kmetijske strojne zadruge niso podjetja, ki delujejo v skladu z zakonodajo državne pomoči.
Germany argues that KBM has not offered goods or services on a specific market and the State-subsidised areas of activity (core tasks) of machinery rings should not be classified as economic activities, since they are not intended to turn a profit.
KBM ni ponujal blaga ali storitev na danem trgu, področja dejavnosti kmetijskih strojnih zadrug, ki jih subvencionira država (glavne naloge), niso uvrščena med gospodarske dejavnosti, ker ne prinašajo dobička.
In the additional information submitted by letter of 14 September 2004, Germany contends that, since the statute of the machinery rings bars them from carrying out economic activities, it is sufficiently proven that the aid could only benefit farmers, and no further evidence is necessary in this respect.
V dodatnih informacijah v pismu z dne 14. septembra 2004 Nemčija meni, da je dejansko stanje, da kmetijske strojne zadruge v skladu s statutom ne smejo opravljati gospodarskih dejavnosti, zadosten dokaz, da morajo pomoči izkoriščati izključno kmetje in v zvezi s tem niso potrebni dodatni dokazi.
Germany submitted figures showing that social assistance alone accounts for a very large proportion of the financial contribution to be passed on to farmers by the machinery rings.
Nemčija je predložila številke, ki kažejo, da je gospodarska pomoč za socialno varstvo zelo velik del finančnih prispevkov, ki jih kmetijske strojne zadruge prenašajo na kmete.
Germany concludes that the entire amount paid by the Land of Bavaria to KBM and the machinery rings can be deemed to have been passed on to farmers as sole final beneficiaries.
Nemčija ugotavlja, da se lahko šteje, da je bil znesek, ki ga je zvezna dežela Bavarska plačala KBM in kmetijskim strojnim zadrugam, v celoti prenesen na kmete kot edine prejemnike.
In its letter of 4 April 2003, Germany maintains that aid granted to farmers through the machinery rings falls within the definition of ‘soft aids’ of section 14 of the Guidelines, and complies with the requirements of that section.
V pismu z dne 4. aprila 2003 Nemčija vztraja, da pomoči, ki jih kmetijske strojne zadruge odobrijo kmetom, sodijo pod opredelitev majhnih pomoči v skladu z oddelkom 14 Smernic Skupnosti in določbami v tem oddelku.
Therefore, it can be considered compatible with the common market.
Pomoč se tako lahko šteje za združljivo s skupnim trgom.
In its letter of 4 April 2003, Germany quotes the judgment of the European Court of Justice of 24 July in Case C-280/00 (Altmark Trans GmbH and Regierungspräsidium Magdeburg) [10], which rules that State compensatory measures, provided they are merely compensation for the services provided in order to discharge public service obligations, do not, under certain conditions, fall under the heading of State aid.
V pismu z dne 4. aprila 2003 Nemčija citira sodbo Evropskega sodišča z dne 24. julija 2003 v zadevi C-280/00 (Altmark Trans GmbH in predsedstvo vlade Magdeburg) [10], ki pravi, da državni izravnalni ukrepi, če so le nadomestilo za izpolnjevanje obveznosti opravljanja javnih storitev, pod nekaterimi pogoji ne sodijo med državne pomoči.
Germany considers that, in the case in hand, those conditions can be considered to be fulfilled.
Nemčija meni, da se lahko ti pogoji v tem primeru štejejo kot izpolnjeni.
Germany makes the following Statements in respect of the interested parties’ objections concerning the impact of the measure on certain non-agricultural activities of the machinery rings and the allegation of cross-subsidisation affecting other sectors of the economy.
V zvezi s pomisleki zainteresiranih strank v zvezi z vplivi ukrepa na nekatere nekmetijske dejavnosti kmetijskih strojnih zadrug in očitkom v zvezi z navzkrižnim subvencioniranjem drugih gospodarskih sektorjev je Nemčija sporočila naslednje:
In its letter of 14 September 2004, Germany points out that, between 1994 and 2000, thirteen independent subsidiaries were set up to carry out the activities outlined in recital 15.
V pismu z dne 14. septembra 2004 Nemčija poudarja, da je bilo v časovnem obdobju med letoma 1994 in 2000 ustanovljenih trinajst samostojnih hčerinskih družb za izvajanje dejavnosti iz uvodne izjave (15).
KBM, the machinery rings and each of their subsidiaries have always been under an obligation to keep separate accounts, as laid down in Article 12, fifth sentence, of the LwFöG.
KBM, kmetijske strojne zadruge in vse hčerinske družbe so bile v skladu s členom 12(5) LwFöG vedno zavezane za vodenje ločenih računov.
The Bavarian authorities have duly checked for compliance with this obligation.
Bavarske oblasti so izpolnjevanje te obveznosti ustrezno preverile.
On the other hand, since KBM and the machinery rings could carry out only the core tasks laid down in their statutes, whilst the commercial subsidiaries could only carry out the five ‘non-core tasks’ enumerated in the Act, Germany did not deem it necessary to have records of working time.
Ker so lahko KBM in kmetijske strojne zadruge izvajale le glavne dejavnosti, ki so navedene v njihovem statutu, gospodarske hčerinske družbe pa le pet „dodatnih dejavnosti“, navedenih v zakonu, Nemčija vodenje evidence o delovnem času ni štela za potrebno.
Germany claims that a comprehensive package of measures and a supervision mechanism were in place to ensure that the aid was used exclusively for the three core tasks of the machinery rings, ruling out any danger of cross-subsidisation of non-agricultural sectors, as follows:
Nemčija trdi, da so bili uvedeni številni ukrepi in nadzorni mehanizem za zagotovitev, da se pomoč uporablja izključno za tri glavne naloge kmetijskih strojnih zadrug in se izključi nevarnost navzkrižnega subvencioniranja nekmetijskih področij, kot so:
Separate accounting and budgeting requirement for KBM, machinery rings and their subsidiaries;
obvezno vodenje ločenih računov in finančnih bilanc za KBM, kmetijske strojne zadruge in njihove hčerinske družbe;
Clear delimitation of areas of activity (core tasks for the machinery rings, non-core tasks for the subsidiaries);
jasna razmejitev področij dejavnosti (glavne naloge kmetijskih strojnih zadrug, dodatne naloge hčerinskih družb);
Limitation of non-core tasks to five clearly identified areas in the LwFöG;
omejitev dodatnih dejavnosti na pet področij, jasno določenih v LwFöG;
Payable aid was calculated based on ‘necessary cost’ (Article 12, first sentence of the LwFöG).
izračun izplačanih pomoči je bil narejen na podlagi „nujnih stroškov“ (člen 12, stavek 1, LwFöG).
For the purposes of establishing such ‘necessary cost’, the Bavarian authorities checked each item of expenditure and ascertained whether it was related to the machinery rings’ core tasks.
Za izračun „nujnih stroškov“ so bavarske oblasti za vsak posamezni izdatek preverile, ali je v skladu z glavnimi dejavnostmi kmetijskih strojnih zadrug;
Explicit exclusion from support of non-core tasks (Article 12, third sentence of the LwFöG);
dodatne dejavnosti so izrecno izvzete iz podpore (člen 12, stavek 3, LwFöG);
10 % reduction in support for machinery rings having commercial subsidiaries (Article 12, sixth sentence of the LwFöG).
zmanjšanje finančne pomoči za kmetijske strojne zadruge z gospodarskimi hčerinskimi družbami za 10 % (člen 12, stavek 6, LwFöG).
V. ASSESSMENT OF THE AID
V. OBSTOJ POMOČI
Existence of aid
Odobritev pomoči
Under Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty, any aid granted by a Member State or through State resources in any form whatsoever is prohibited if it distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring certain undertakings or the production of certain goods in so far as it affects trade between Member States.
V skladu s členom 87(1) Pogodbe ES je prepovedana kakršna koli pomoč držav članic ali pomoč iz državnih sredstev, ki izkrivlja konkurenco ali za katero obstaja nevarnost, da bo izkrivila konkurenco, z dajanjem prednosti nekaterim podjetjem ali veji proizvodnje, če vpliva na trgovanje med državami članicami.
These conditions are fulfilled, as shown below.
Ti pogoji so izpolnjeni, kot je prikazano spodaj.
The measure is financed through State resources.
Ukrep pomoči se financira iz državnih sredstev.
Aid to KBM
Pomoč KBM
KBM's activities do not relate to the production, processing and marketing of products listed in Annex I to the EC Treaty.
Dejavnosti KBM niso v zvezi s proizvodnjo, predelavo in trženjem izdelkov iz Priloge I k Pogodbi ES.
Germany has provided a list of activities carried out by KBM (see recital 16).
Nemčija je pripravila seznam dejavnosti, ki jih izvaja KBM (glej uvodno izjavo (16)).
Some of these activities are not of an economic nature.
V nekaterih primerih gre za negospodarske dejavnosti.
In particular, KBM’s activities as central contact for the Bavarian Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, its administrative and technical supervision of machinery ring managers and its management of the public funds made available to the machinery rings are not services rendered on a given market.
Zlasti dejavnosti KBM v skladu z njegovo funkcijo osrednje službe za stike z bavarskim državnim ministrstvom za kmetijstvo in gozdarstvo, njegovo nadzorovanje storitev in strokovnosti direktorjev kmetijskih strojnih zadrug ter upravljanje javnih sredstev, namenjenih kmetijskim strojnim zadrugam, ne morejo biti storitve, izvedene na danem trgu. Zato niso uvrščene med gospodarske dejavnosti.
Therefore, they are not classifiable as economic activities, and KBM cannot be considered an undertaking within the meaning of Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty in respect of those activities.
KBM se zato v zvezi s temi dejavnostmi ne sme uvrščati med podjetja v skladu s členom 87(1) Pogodbe ES.
Payments covering KBM’s administrative costs do not have all the features specified in Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty, and therefore do not constitute State aid within the meaning of that Article.
Plačila za pokrivanje upravnih stroškov KBM ne ustrezajo dejanskemu stanju iz člena 87(1) Pogodbe ES. Zato to niso državne pomoči v skladu s tem členom.
However, KBM also carries out activities of an economic nature, as it
KBM izvaja tudi gospodarske dejavnosti:
offers certain consultancy services for machinery rings;
ponuja posebne svetovalne storitve za kmetijske strojne zadruge;
offers training and further training of machinery rings staff;
ponuja izobraževanje in usposabljanje za osebje kmetijskih strojnih zadrug;
develops computer programmes which are then sold to farmers.
razvija programsko opremo, ki se nato proda kmetom.
Since the goods and services in question are provided on a specific market and constitute economic activities, KBM must be considered an undertaking within the meaning of Article 87(1) [11] of the EC Treaty.
Ker se blago in storitve ponujajo na danem trgu in gre za gospodarske dejavnosti, se KBM uvršča med podjetja v skladu s členom 87(1) [11] Pogodbe ES.
As regards KBM’s consultancy and training activities, these services should benefit mainly the machinery rings and their subsidiaries, as these receive the services free of charge or against a contribution to costs which is below the market price.
V zvezi s svetovalnimi storitvami ter izobraževanjem in usposabljanjem KBM morajo te storitve koristiti predvsem kmetijskim strojnim zadrugam in njihovim hčerinskim družbam, ker so zanje te storitve brezplačne ali brez prispevka za stroške, ki je pod tržno ceno.
However, Germany has not provided any information as to whether the amounts paid yearly to KBM correspond to the costs actually incurred by KBM in the exercise of these activities, and therefore can be taken to be payments at market price for a service provided, on behalf of the Land of Bavaria, by KBM to machinery rings, or whether they may in fact exceed the market price.
Vseeno Nemčija ni predložila nobenih informacij o tem, ali zneski, ki se na leto plačajo KBM, ustrezajo stroškom, ki dejansko nastanejo pri izvajanju teh storitev s strani KBM, in se tako lahko ti zneski štejejo za plačilo po tržni ceni za storitve, ki jih izvaja KBM za kmetijske strojne zadruge po naročilu zvezne dežele Bavarske, in ali ti zneski mogoče presegajo stroške.
Furthermore, the provision of public funds to KBM is not explicitly linked to the condition that all elements of aid contained therein should be integrally passed on to the machinery rings or their subsidiaries.
Razen tega dodelitev javnih sredstev KBM ni izrecno povezana s pogojem, da morajo biti vsi elementi pomoči v celoti preneseni na kmetijske strojne zadruge ali njihove hčerinske družbe.
It is therefore not possible, on the basis of the available information, to completely rule out the possibility that the measure in question includes an aid component to KBM.
Zato na podlagi danih informacij ni mogoče popolnoma izključiti, da zadevni ukrep ne vključuje elementa pomoči KBM.
Besides, it cannot be established whether such aid is so small that, under Regulation (EC) No 69/2001, it does not constitute State aid because not all the conditions of Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty are fulfilled.
Razen tega se ne da ugotoviti, ali je ta pomoč tako majhna, da v skladu z Uredbo (ES) št. 69/2001 ne sodi med državne pomoči, ker niso izpolnjene vse značilnosti dejanskega stanja iz člena 87(1) Pogodbe ES.
It must be assumed that the measure benefiting KBM’s economic activities is liable to have an impact on trade between Member States.
Treba je izhajati iz tega, da ima lahko ukrep v korist gospodarske dejavnosti KBM posledice za trgovanje med državami članicami.
According to the case law of the European Court of Justice in the case Altmark Trans GmbH and Regierungspräsidium Magdeburg [12], there is no threshold and no percentage under which it may be considered that trade between Member States is not affected.
Po sodni praksi Sodišča Evropskih skupnosti v zadevi Altmark Trans GmbH in predsedstvo vlade Magdeburg [12] ne obstaja prag ali odstotek, do katerega bi se lahko štelo, da trgovina med državami članicami ni oškodovana.
Neither the relatively small amount of the aid, nor the relatively small size of the beneficiary undertaking enable to rule out, in principle, the possibility of an impact on trade between Member States.
Niti sorazmerno majhen obseg pomoči niti sorazmerno majhna velikost podjetij, ki imajo korist, namreč vnaprej ne izključuje možnosti oškodovanja trgovanja med državami članicami.
Therefore, financial contributions granted to KBM must be classified as State aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty in favour of KBM.
Zato morajo biti finančni prispevki za KBM uvrščeni med državno pomoč v skladu s členom 87(1) Pogodbe ES.
Aid to machinery rings
Pomoč kmetijskim strojnim zadrugam
Machinery rings carry out economic activities in that they provide services (e.g. coordinating provision of machinery, exchange of labour, etc.) in return for payment on an actual or potential market.
Kmetijske strojne zadruge izvajajo gospodarske dejavnosti, tako da na dejanskem ali možnem trgu za plačilo ponujajo storitve (usklajevanje zagotavljanja strojev, izmenjava delovne sile itd.).
Therefore, machinery rings should be considered undertakings within the meaning of Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty.
Kmetijske strojne zadruge je treba pri tem uvrstiti med podjetja v smislu člena 87(1) Pogodbe ES.
Machinery rings do not own the machinery and do not provide the staff themselves.
Kmetijske strojne zadruge niso lastnice strojev. Same ne zaposlujejo posredovane delovne sile.
Their core activity is entirely confined to an intermediary role, comparable with that of an estate agent or employment agency, which bring together supply and demand.
Njihova glavna dejavnost je torej izključno posredniška dejavnost, primerljiva z dejavnostjo nepremičninskega posrednika ali agencije za zaposlovanje, ki povezuje ponudbo in povpraševanje.
They are not active in the production, processing and marketing of products listed in Annex I to the EC Treaty.
Kmetijske strojne zadruge niso dejavne na področju proizvodnje, predelave in trženja izdelkov iz Priloge I k Pogodbi ES.
The machinery rings’ core tasks typically give rise to operational and personnel costs, such as staff salaries, rent for premises and other office expenditure.
Pri izvajanju „glavnih dejavnosti“ kmetijskih strojnih zadrug navadno nastajajo stroški poslovanja in dela, kot so na primer plače osebja, najemnina za pisarno in podobni pisarniški izdatki.
In the absence of State aid, these costs are financed from membership contributions and ad hoc payments made by farmers for the provision of labour and/or machinery.
Če državnih pomoči ni, se ti izdatki financirajo prek članarine in začasnih plačil kmetov za zagotavljanje delovne sile in/ali strojev.
State aid granted to the machinery rings leads, in principle, to a reduction in membership fees and ad hoc payments.
Zagotavljanje državnih pomoči kmetijskim strojnim zadrugam načeloma povzroča znižanje članarine in začasnih plačil.
Aid to machinery rings can be expected to be at least partially passed on to the farmers who are members of the rings, and available evidence shows that a large amount of the financial transfers received by the machinery rings through KBM was indeed transferred to farmers.
Lahko se izhaja iz tega, da so pomoči, plačane kmetijskim strojnim zadrugam, vsaj deloma posredovane kmetom, ki so člani kmetijskih strojnih zadrug, iz razpoložljivih dokazil pa je razvidno, da so velik del plačil, ki so jih kmetijske strojne zadruge prejele od KBM, dejansko prejeli kmetje.
However, Germany has not provided conclusive evidence to rule out the existence of a component of State aid remaining with the machinery rings, as the machinery rings were not under a legal obligation to pass on the full amount of aid received to farmers in the form of services at reduced price.
Nemčija pa ni predložila ključnih dokazov, da sestavni del pomoči ni ostal pri kmetijskih strojnih zadrugah, ker jih zakon ni zavezoval, da morajo celoten prejeti znesek pomoči kmetom posredovati v obliki storitev po znižanih cenah.
The machinery rings and their subsidiaries also received economic benefits stemming from the services put at their disposal by KBM for consultancy, training and further training of machinery ring staff, since such services were provided either free of charge or below the market price.
Kmetijske strojne zadruge in njihove hčerinske družbe so imele s storitvami, ki jih je zanje opravljala KBM v obliki svetovanja ter izobraževanja in usposabljanja osebja kmetijskih strojnih zadrug, tudi gospodarske koristi, ker so bile te storitve zagotovljene brezplačno ali za plačilo, ki ni dosegalo tržne cene.
Germany has not provided the Commission with information enabling it to quantify the amount of aid granted to machinery rings in this form.
Nemčija Komisiji ni predložila informacij, ki bi ji omogočile ugotoviti višino pomoči, ki je bila v tej obliki posredovana kmetijskim strojnim zadrugam.
It is therefore impossible to assess whether aid possibly received by machinery rings in the form of payments and services from KBM is so small that it can be classified as de minimis aid under Regulation (EC) No 69/2001.
Zato ni mogoče ugotoviti, ali je pomoč, ki so jo kmetijske strojne zadruge najverjetneje v obliki plačil in storitev prejele od KBM, tako majhna, da se jo lahko v skladu z Uredbo (ES) št. 69/2001 uvrsti med pomoči de minimis.
On the basis of the available information, it must therefore be assumed that the measure favours certain undertakings (the machinery rings) in Bavaria.
Na podlagi predloženih informacij je treba izhajati iz tega, da ukrep daje prednost nekaterim podjetjem (kmetijskim strojnim zadrugam) na Bavarskem.
It must also be assumed that the measure benefiting machinery rings is liable to distort competition and affect trade between Member States, since some of the machinery rings’ services could also be offered across borders.
Poleg tega je treba izhajati iz tega, da lahko ukrep, ki je ugoden za kmetijske strojne zadruge, izkrivlja konkurenco in oškoduje trgovanje med državami članicami, ker bi se lahko nekatere storitve kmetijskih strojnih zadrug izvajale tudi čez mejo.
According to the case law of the Court of Justice, there is no threshold and no percentage under which it may be considered that trade between Member States is not affected.
Po sodni praksi Sodišča Evropskih skupnosti ne obstaja prag ali odstotek, do katerega bi se lahko štelo, da trgovina med državami članicami ni oškodovana.