natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
It has first to be underlined that, in general terms, “the concept of undertaking, in the context of competition law, covers any entity engaged in an economic activity, regardless of the legal status (e.g. non-profit-making) and of the entity or the way in which it is financed” and that “any activity consisting in offering goods and services on a given market is an economic activity” [7]
Predvsem je potrebno poudariti, da se, kot je razvidno iz pravnih primerov Sodišča [7], kot koncept podjetja v kontekstu konkurenčnega prava pod splošnimi pogoji razume vsak subjekt, ki se ukvarja z gospodarsko dejavnostjo ne glede na njen pravni status (npr. neprofitnost), program ali način financiranja, in da je vsakršna dejavnost, ki temelji na ponudbi blaga ali storitev na določenem trgu gospodarska dejavnost.
This view was also expressed in the 1996 [8] and 2000 [9] communications by the Commission on services of general interest in Europe as well as in the Commission report to the Laeken European Council [10].
To stališče je bilo izraženo tudi v sporočilih Komisije iz leta 1996 [8] in iz leta 2000 [9] o storitvah širšega interesa v Evropi, kot tudi v poročilu Komisije Evropskem svetu v Laekenu [10].
As regards in particular the distinction between services of an economic nature and services of a non-economic nature, it has been recently underlined by the Commission (see in particular point 44 of the green paper on SGI [11]), quoted, among others in the white paper on SGI [12] that any activity consisting in offering goods and services on a given market is an economic activity.
Kar posebno zadeva razlikovanje med storitvami gospodarske narave in storitvami negospodarske narave, je bilo pred kratkim s strani Komisije poudarjeno (glej točko 44 zelene knjige o storitvah splošnega interesa [11], citirano med drugim v beli knjigi pod isto temo [12], da je vsaka dejavnost, ki temelji na ponudbi blaga ali storitev na določenem trgu, gospodarska dejavnost.
Thus, economic and non-economic services can co-exist within the same sector and sometimes even be provided by the same organisation.
Zato lahko gospodarske in negospodarske dejavnosti sočasno obstajajo znotraj istega sektorja in jih včasih opravlja celo ista organizacija.
The internal market, competition and state aid rules apply to the former.
Pravila notranjega trga o konkurenci in še posebej o državnih pomočeh se uporabljajo za prve.
On the contrary, internal market and competition rules do not apply to non-economic activities and therefore have no impact on services of general interest to the extent that these services indeed constitute non-economic activities.
Nasprotno pravila notranjega trga in konkurence ne veljajo za negospodarske dejavnosti in torej ne vplivajo na storitve splošnega interesa v tolikšni meri, da bi slednje lahko predstavljale dejanske negospodarske dejavnosti.
With regard to national education the European court of Justice ruled that the State, in establishing and maintaining such a system, is not seeking to engage in gainful activity but is fulfilling its duty towards its own population in the social, cultural and educational field [13].
V zvezi z nacionalnim usposabljanjem je Sodišče Evropskih skupnosti v zadevi Humbel presodilo, da država v ustanavljanju in vzdrževanju tega sistema ne poskuša vzpostavljati profitne dejavnosti, ampak namerava izpolnjevati svojo dolžnost do prebivalstva na socialnem, kulturnem in izobraževalnem področju [13].
Judgement Humbel in particular stipulates that courses taught in a technical institute under the national education system cannot be regarded as services for the purposes of Article 50 of the EC Treaty.
Sodba v primeru Humbel ugotavlja, da tečaji, ki se izvajajo na tehničnem inštitutu v okviru nacionalnega izobraževalnega sistema ne morejo šteti za „storitve“ v smislu člena 50 Pogodbe ES.
Actually the first paragraph of the latter Treaty provides that only services “normally provided for remuneration” are to be considered to be services within the meaning of the Treaty.
Prvi odstavek tega člena dejansko predvideva, da lahko le dela, ki so običajno izvedena proti ustreznemu plačilu, štejejo za storitve v smislu Pogodbe.
Judgement Wirth [14] confirms the findings of the Court in Case Humbel, according to which the essential characteristic of remuneration lays in the fact that it constitutes consideration for the service in question, and is normally agreed upon between the provider and the recipient of the service.
Sodba Wirth [14] potrjuje sklepe Sodišča v zadevi Humbel, po katerih naj bi bila bistvena značilnost nadomestila ta, da predstavlja ustrezno protivrednost storitve in je običajno dogovorjeno med izvajalcem in prejemnikom storitve.
In the same judgment the Court considered that such a characteristic was absent in the case of courses provided under the national education system.
V isti sodbi Sodišče meni, da v primeru izvedbe tečajev v okviru nacionalnega izobraževalnega sistema te značilnosti ni.
More in general, according to the case law of the Court of Justice, many activities conducted by organisations performing largely social functions, which are not profit oriented and which are not meant to engage in industrial or commercial activity, will normally be excluded from the Community competition and internal market rules [15].
Bolj splošno, na osnovi sodne prakse Sodišča mnogo dejavnosti, ki jih izvajajo organizacije, ki v bistvu opravljajo socialne funkcije in niso profitno usmerjene ter niso ustanovljene z namenom opravljanja industrijskih ali trgovskih dejavnosti, je ponavadi izključenih iz uporabe pravil Skupnosti o konkurenci in notranjem trgu [15].
In the case at hand, it resulted, from the information supplied by Italy, that the activity carried out by the training institutes concerned was twofold.
V zadevi, o kateri presojamo, se je po podatkih, ki smo jih prejeli od Italije, izkazalo, da so zadevni inštituti za usposabljanje opravljali dvojno dejavnost.
On the one hand they assured institutional, social targeted vocational training, they had been entrusted with, addressed to individuals, delivered in the framework of public education system and paid by the State or its regions on the basis of the mere reimbursement of certain eligible costs.
Po eni strani so zagotavljali institucionalne storitve usposabljanj s socialnim namenom, ki so bile namenjene posameznikom in ki so bili del sistema javnega izobraževanja ter jih je financirala država ali dežele na osnovi enostavnega povračila določenih dopustnih stroškov.
On the other hand they were entitled to, and, in several cases, indeed exploited market training activities, addressed both to undertakings and their employees and individuals, paying a market price.
Po drugi strani pa so imeli možnost opravljati, in v številnih primerih so jih dejansko opravljali, komercialne storitve usposabljanj, ki so bile namenjene podjetjem ali njihovim zaposlenim ter posameznikom, in so bile plačane po tržni ceni.
Accordingly, an obligation to separate the accounts, related to these two fields of activity, had been imposed by Italy to the beneficiaries.
Kot posledica tega so italijanske oblasti zahtevale od prejemnikov, da ločeno vodijo računovodstvi obeh dejavnosti.
Thus, the former can be considered not to involve any economic activity.
Iz tega torej sledi, da prvi tip storitev ne spada med gospodarske dejavnosti.
This would result in the activity in cause not being subject to the competition and internal market rules, thus not falling under the scope of Article 87(1).
Iz tega lahko sklepamo, da dejavnost, o kateri je tu govora, ni podvržena pravilom o konkurenci in notranjem trgu, in torej ne spada v okvir uporabe člena 87(1) Pogodbe.
Nevertheless the Commission notes that recent case law also shows that the concept of economic activity is an evolving concept linked in part to the political choices of each Member State.
Vendar kljub temu Komisija ugotavlja, kot je razvidno iz nedavnega pravnega primera, da je koncept gospodarske dejavnosti šele v razvoju in deloma vezan na politično izbiro vsake države članice.
Member States may decide to transfer to undertakings certain tasks traditionally regarded as falling within the sovereign powers of States.
Države članice se lahko odločijo in prenesejo podjetjem naloge, ki so že po tradiciji štele za suvereno moč držav.
Member States may also create the conditions necessary to ensure the existence of a market for a product or service that would otherwise not exist.
Države članice lahko postavijo tudi potrebne pogoje za zagotovitev obstoja trga za izdelek ali storitev, ki v nasprotnem primeru ne bi moglo obstajati.
The result of such state intervention is that the activities in question become economic and fall within the scope of the competition rules.
Posledica tega posega pa je, da te dejavnosti postanejo gospodarske dejavnosti in spadajo na področje uporabe pravil o konkurenci.
In its judgment in “Ambulanz Glockner” [16] case, the Court pointed out that the transport of patients is an activity offered against remuneration by various operators on the market for emergency transport services and patient transport services.
Sodišče je na primer ugotovilo, da je prevoz bolnikov dejavnost, ki jo ponujajo proti plačilu različni izvajalci na trgu storitev nujnih reševalnih prevozov in prevozov bolnikov.
In the case in point, these services were provided by non-profit making bodies.
V primeru sodbe, ki jo je obravnavalo Sodišče, so te storitve izvajale neprofitne ustanove.
However, the Court recalled that these particular characteristics are not such as to rule out classification as an undertaking within the meaning of Article 87 of the EC Treaty in cases where those bodies carry out an economic activity.
Kljub temu je Sodišče opomnilo, da ta značilnost ne izključuje klasifikacije ustanove kot podjetja v skladu s členom 87 Pogodbe, v primerih, da te iste ustanove opravljajo tudi gospodarsko dejavnost [16].
In its judgment on “Henning Veedfald” [17] case, the Court ruled that the manufacture within a hospital of a substance used in the course of a medical service at the hospital constitutes an economic activity.
Sodišče je ugotovilo tudi, da primer proizvodnje znotraj bolnišnice, ko le-ta proizvaja substanco, ki se uporablja v okviru zdravstvene službe v bolnišnici, predstavlja gospodarsko dejavnost.
The fact that the service is not paid for directly by the patient but is financed from public funds does not affect its classification as an economic activity.
Dejstvo, da storitve ne plača bolnik sam, ampak je financirana iz javnih skladov, ne vpliva na klasifikacijo gospodarske dejavnosti [17].
This approach has been confirmed in two other Court judgments [18], in which certain Member States argued that medical services did not constitute economic activities on the ground that the patient receiving treatment in a hospital needs not necessarily to pay for the services provided.
Ta pristop je bil potrjen tudi v nadaljnjih dveh sodbah Sodišča [18]. Določene države članice so zagovarjale stališče, da zdravstvene storitve ne spadajo med gospodarske dejavnosti na podlagi dejstva, da bolniki, katerim je nudena bolniška oskrba, ne plačajo nujno za storitve, ki so jim bile nudene.
The Court ruled that medical activities are economic activities, irrespective of whether the services need not to be paid for directly by the patients but by the public authorities or sickness funds.
Sodišče je ugotovilo, da so zdravstvene storitve gospodarske dejavnosti, ne glede na dejstvo, da teh uslug ne plača nujno neposredno bolnik ampak jih plačajo javni organi ali bolniška blagajna.
Moreover, the presence of an element of solidarity does not necessarily rule out the possibility of carrying out an activity in a profit making capacity.
Poleg tega prisotnost komponente solidarnosti ne izključuje nujno možnosti opravljanja pridobitvene dejavnosti.
Some operators may agree to take such aspects of solidarity into account in the light of other benefits they may obtain from intervening in the sector under consideration.
Nekateri izvajalci lahko sprejmejo te vidike solidarnosti in upoštevajo pri tem druge ugodnosti, do katerih lahko pridejo s posegom v ta sektor.
Conversely, non-profit-making entities may compete with profit-making undertakings and may, therefore, constitute undertakings within the meaning of Article 87 of the EC Treaty.
Nasprotno nepridobitveni subjekti lahko tekmujejo s pridobitvenimi podjetji in tako lahko štejejo za podjetja v skladu s členom 87 Pogodbe.
As a consequence the Commission can not exclude that some activities carried out by the training institutions, even in the case of vocational training given in the framework of the public education system, were to be qualified as economic activities.
Posledično Komisija ne more izključiti, da dejavnosti, ki jih opravljajo ustanove za usposabljanje, tudi v primeru poklicnega usposabljanja v okviru javnega izobraževalnega sistema, ne bi mogle biti kvalificirane kot gospodarske dejavnosti.
Should the latter be the case, Art.86(2) of the Treaty - undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest – would apply.
V tem zadnjem primeru, bi bila mogoča uporaba člena 86(2) Pogodbe ES, ki ureja podjetja, katerim je dodeljeno opravljanje storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena.
The quoted provision states that such undertakings are subject to the rules of the Treaty, an in particular to the rules on competition, in so far as the application of such rules does not obstruct the performance, in law or in fact, of the particular tasks assigned to them.
V navedenem členu je ugotovljeno, da za ta podjetja veljajo pravila pogodbe, posebno pravila o konkurenci, v tolikšni meri, da njihova uporaba pravno ali dejansko ne ovira izvajanja posebne naloge, ki jim je bila dodeljena.
It further stipulates that the development of trade must not be affected to such an extent as would be contrary to the interest of the Community.
Člen tudi natančno določa, da razvoj trgovine ne sme biti v nasprotju z interesi Skupnosti.
Accordingly, given the training institutions were entrusted with a public service mission, within the framework of the relevant national and regional rules, by means of binding acts, i.e. through the covenants entered into among Italian regions and training institutions, and there was no risk of overcompensation, i.e. as aid could not exceed the amount of the relevant costs, according to the separate accounting established, an exemption can be accorded pursuant to Article 86(2) of the Treaty.
Ker je bila ustanovam za usposabljanje v okviru ustreznih nacionalnih in regionalnih predpisov zaupana naloga javnih storitev z obvezujočimi akti, kar pomeni s konvencijami, sklenjenimi med italijanskimi deželami in ustanovami za usposabljanje, in ker ni bilo tveganja, da bi šlo za prekomerno kompenzacijo, kajti pomoč ni mogla presegati določenih stroškov, ki so bili izkazani z ločenim knjigovodstvom, se lahko odobri izvzetje v skladu s členom 86(2) Pogodbe ES.
On the contrary, the Commission draws the conclusion that the presence of economic activity is sufficiently proved with respect to the second type of activity listed at point 48 above, and this on the basis of the data supplied by the Italian authorities themselves.
Nasprotno Komisija ugotavlja, da je prisotnost gospodarske dejavnosti dovolj potrjena kot druga vrsta dejavnosti, navedeni v točki 48, in sicer ugotavlja to na podlagi podatkov, ki so jih predložili italijanski organi.
Distortion of competition and effects on trade
Izkrivljanje konkurence in vpliv na trgovino
In order to fall within the scope of Article 87, aid must distort or threaten to distort competition, insofar trade between Member States is affected.
Na področju uporabe člena 87 Pogodbe lahko pomoč izkrivlja ali predstavlja nevarnost izkrivljanja konkurence v tolikšni meri, kolikor vpliva na trgovino med državami članicami.
As far as State aid is concerned, these two conditions are often linked.
Kar zadeva državno pomoč, sta ta dva pogoja pogosto povezana.
As it concerns, in particular, intra-community trade, the Court of First Instance [19] recalled that when financial aid strengthens the position of an undertaking compared with other undertakings competing in intra-Community trade, the latter must be regarded as affected by that aid.
Kot zlasti zadeva trgovino znotraj Skupnosti, je prvostopenjsko sodišče [19], spomnilo, da kadar finančna pomoč utrdi položaj podjetja glede na druga konkurenčna podjetja na trgu Skupnosti, ta vpliva na slednjega.
This is so where the undertaking receiving the aid is actively involved in trade between Member States or participates in contracts awarded following a tendering procedure in several Member States.
To velja, kadar je podjetje, ki je prejelo pomoč, aktivno dejavno na področju trgovine med državami članicami ali je udeleženo pri pogodbah, ki so bile sklenjene na podlagi razpisnih postopkov v več državah članicah.
Moreover, aid may also be of such a kind as to affect trade between Member States and distort competition even if the recipient undertaking, which is in competition with undertakings from other Member States, does not itself participate in cross-border activities.
Poleg tega lahko pomoč vpliva na trgovino med državami članicami in lahko izkrivlja konkurenco tudi če podjetje, ki je prejelo pomoč in konkurira podjetjem iz drugih držav članic, ni neposredno udeleženo pri čezmejnih dejavnostih.
Where a Member State grants aid to an undertaking, internal supply may be maintained or increased, with the consequence that the opportunities for undertakings established in other Member States to offer their services to the market of that Member State are reduced.
Ko država članica dodeli pomoč podjetju, lahko notranja ponudba ostane nespremenjena ali pa se poveča, posledica tega pa je, da se zmanjšajo možnosti za podjetja, ki so bila ustanovljena v drugih državah članicah, da bi ponujale svoje storitve na trgu te države članice.
Thus, neither direct participation to the export activities by the recipients [20], nor proof of actual exchanges, in the same market segment, between Member States are necessary to prove the affectation of trade.
Zato za dokaz vplivanja na trgovino ni pomembna niti neposredna vpletenost v izvozne dejavnosti podjetij, ki so prejeli pomoč [20], niti obstoj dejanske menjave na tem tržnem segmentu med državami članicami.
In addition, neither the relatively small amount of aid nor the relatively small size of the recipient allow to draw, a priori, the conclusion that trade is not affected.
Prav tako ne moremo sklepati, da ne gre za vplivanje na trgovino, niti če gre za omejen znesek pomoči, niti če gre za relativno majhno upravičeno podjetje.
In this respect, the Commission notes that in the case under examination, some of the beneficiaries are active at least at regional or supra-regional (sometimes national) level and have a sizeable economic turnover which is deemed to allow them to bridge the barriers to training services supply being spread over the community market.
S tem v zvezi Komisija ugotavlja, da so v zadevnem primeru nekatera upravičena podjetja dejavna vsaj na regionalni ali nadregionalni ravni (včasih na nacionalni ravni) in predstavljajo pomemben tržni delež, ki jim, tako domneva Komisija, omogoča premagovati ovire, ki preprečujejo razširjenost ponudbe storitev usposabljanja na trgu Skupnosti.
Furthermore, the Commission observes that some beneficiaries are already active at a supra-national level.
Poleg tega Komisija ugotavlja, da podjetja, ki so prejela pomoč, že delujejo na nadnacionalni ravni.
Thus, in particular, a single recipient of the aid is already operating in some Member States like Belgium (4 seats), France (7 seats), Germany (4 seats) and U.K. (1 seat), non Member States (Switzerland) and non European Countries (Argentine) as well.
Tako eno samo podjetje, ki je prejelo pomoč, že opravlja svoje dejavnosti v nekaterih državah članicah, v Belgiji (4 sedeži), Franciji (7 sedežev), Nemčiji (4 sedeži) in v Združenem Kraljestvu (1 sedež) in v nekaterih državah, ki niso države članice, npr. v Švici in v neevropskih državah, npr. Argentini.
It is furthermore partner in the “Exemplo” international network, composed by 14 European Training agencies, which is intended to reach some targets as knowledge sharing, benchmarking, cooperation in the framework of the European projects, the development of a specific market segment for e-commerce and on-line training.
Podjetje je tudi partner mednarodne mreže „Exemplo“, ki jo je ustanovilo 14 evropskih agencij za usposabljanje, za spremljanje podatkov kot so souporaba znanja, primerjalne analize, sodelovanje v okviru projektov Skupnosti, razvoj specifičnih segmentov trga za elektronsko trgovanje in spletno usposabljanje.
In the light of the above and as far as the effects on trade are at stake, the Commission comes to the conclusion that the qualification of State aid, in the meaning of Art.87§1 of the EC Treaty, with respect to the measures at hand, is to be confirmed, as intra-community trade is indeed susceptible to be affected.
Glede na navedeno in glede na vplivanje na trgovino Komisija ugotavlja, da bi morala biti ocena državne pomoči v skladu s členom 87(1) Pogodbe ES glede programa, ki je predmet te presoje, potrjena, ker lahko močno vpliva na trgovino znotraj Evropske unije.
Assessment of the legality of the aid
Zakonitost pomoči
The Commission observes that the notification obligation pursuant to Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty has not been fulfilled in the present case.
Komisija ugotavlja, da v obravnavanem primeru ni bila izpolnjena obveznost predhodne priglasitve, ki izhaja iz člena 88(3) Pogodbe ES.
Having not been previously notified to the Commission as regards its compatibility with the State aid rules, the aforementioned scheme has been put into effect in contravention of Article 88(3) of the Treaty. It is consequently unlawful.
Ker pomoč ni bila predhodno priglašena Komisiji, kar zadeva skladnost s pravili o državnih pomočeh, je bil z izvajanjem zgoraj navedene sheme kršen člen 88(3) Pogodbe ES in je zato nezakonita.
Assessment of the compatibility with Article 87 of the EC Treaty
Skladnost pomoči s členom 87 Pogodbe
Grants for payment of past burdens
Dodelitev finančnih sredstev za plačilo obveznosti iz preteklosti
While the sub-programme “grants for payment of past burdens” could in principle qualify as “de minimis” [21], as neither the sectors which are not covered by the “de minimis” Regulation, nor aid to export related activities or contingent upon the use of domestic goods are taken into consideration by the scheme, it has to be stressed that the amount of the aid often exceeds the ceiling of 100000€.
Podprogram „dodelitev finančnih sredstev za plačilo obveznosti iz preteklosti“ bi načeloma lahko spadal v okvir uporabe pravila „de minimis“ [21], saj ukrep ne predvideva sektorjev, ki so izključeni iz pravila „de minimis“, niti pomoči za dejavnosti, ki so povezane z izvozom ali pogojevanja uporabe domačih proizvodov. Poudariti je treba, da znesek pomoči pogosto presega zgornjo mejo 100000 EUR.
Thus, the Commission holds the view that the measure under consideration could not be deemed to be in compliance with the “de minimis” Regulation.
Kljub temu je Komisija mnenja, da obravnavani ukrep ne more biti skladen s pravilom „de minimis“.
Furthermore, the Italian authorities did never invoke the qualification of the scheme at hand as “de minimis”.
Poleg tega se italijanski organi za zadevno shemo niso nikoli sklicevali na pravilo „de minimis“.
As the present sub-programme does not take in consideration any of the eligible costs laid down at Article 4, point 7, letters a) to f) of the Regulation on training aid [22], it could not be granted an exemption on the basis of the above mentioned Regulation.
Ker ta podprogram ne vsebuje stroškov, ki so dovoljeni in predvideni v členu 4 (7)(a) –(f) Uredbe o pomoči za usposabljanje [22], se ne more odobriti izvzetje na podlagi zgoraj navedene uredbe.
Furthermore, it has not been qualified as training aid by the Italian authorities themselves.
Poleg tega program nikoli ni bil kvalificiran kot pomoč za usposabljanje, niti s strani italijanskih organov.