natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Lastly, Germany argues that the broadcasting of television programmes over DVB-T is a service of general economic interest and that the Aid could be approved under Article 86(2).
Nemčija tudi navaja, da predstavlja oddajanje televizijskih programov prek DVB-T storitev splošnega gospodarskega interesa in da je pomoč v skladu s členom 86(2) Pogodbe mogoče odobriti.
Under the agreements with Mabb on the capacity allocation and the granting of assistance, the commercial broadcasters were charged with providing a service, namely ‘participation in the digital switch-over and broadcasting of programmes over the digital terrestrial mode of transmission’.
Zasebnim izdajateljem televizijskega programa je bilo s pogodbami z Mabbom o dodelitvi zmogljivosti in pomoči zaupano zagotavljanje storitve, in sicer „udeležbe pri digitalnem prehodu in oddajanju programov po digitalni prizemni prenosni poti“.
Without the assistance, they would not have been willing to broadcast over the DVB-T network, and this would have jeopardised the survival of this mode of transmission, the preservation of which was in the public interest.
Brez pomoči zasebni izdajatelji televizijskega programa ne bi bili pripravljeni oddajati v omrežju DVB-T, kar bi postavilo pod vprašaj preživetje te prenosne poti, katere ohranitev je v javnem interesu.
In its response to the comments from the interested parties, Germany makes the point that, as a rule, the regulation of infrastructure in accordance with Directive 2002/21/EC on the Common Regulatory Framework for Electronic Communications Networks and Services (Framework Directive) [39] is based on different markets for cable, satellite and terrestrial broadcasting.
V odgovoru na pripombe zainteresiranih strank Nemčija opozarja na dejstvo, da se pri reguliranju infrastrukture v skladu z Direktivo 2002/21/ES Evropskega parlamenta in Sveta z dne 7. marca 2002 o skupnem regulativnem okviru za elektronska komunikacijska omrežja in storitve (okvirna direktiva) [39] praviloma izhaja iz različnih trgov za kabelsko, satelitsko in prizemno radiodifuzijo.
In addition, the operators of these networks have failed as yet to provide evidence that cable and satellite have been disadvantaged in practice by the digital switch-over in Berlin-Brandenburg.
Operaterji teh omrežij zaenkrat še niso predložili dokazila o dejanski škodi za kabelsko in satelitsko radiodifuzijo zaradi digitalnega prehoda v Berlin-Brandenburgu.
No broadcaster had yet abandoned satellite broadcasting because Mabb was promoting the switch-over to DVB-T.
Noben izdajatelj televizijskega programa doslej še ni prenehal oddajati prek satelita, ker Mabb podpira prehod na DVB-T.
However, Germany states that, through the measure, it intended to secure ‘viable infrastructure-based competition’ that, as in the case of the broadband sector, could be expected to have a positive effect.
Po drugi strani pa zvezna vlada navaja, da želi s tem ukrepom zagotoviti na infrastrukturi temelječo konkurenčnost, ki bo sposobna preživeti in od katere je – kot v širokopasovnem sektorju – mogoče pričakovati pozitiven vpliv.
In its response to additional comments from interested parties, Germany disputes in particular the arguments which cast doubt on the open, transparent and non-discriminatory nature of the procedure to allocate the network licences.
V odgovoru na nadaljnje pripombe zainteresiranih strank Nemčija zavrača predvsem dokaze, ki izražajo dvom glede javnosti in preglednosti razpisa za dodelitev frekvenc.
Moreover, Germany disputes that the customer data submitted by cable operators show a negative competitive effect of the launch of DVB-T on cable operators.
Poleg tega Nemčija oporeka podatkom o potrošnikih, ki so jih predložili kabelski operaterji in ki kažejo na negativne vplive na konkurenco zaradi zagona DVB-T.
Instead, Germany highlights the strong competitive position of cable operators.
Nasprotno Nemčija poudarja močan konkurenčni položaj kabelskih operaterjev.
V. LEGAL ASSESSMENT
V. PRAVNA PRESOJA
State Aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty
Državna pomoč v smislu člena 87(1) Pogodbe ES
The Commission has examined whether the measure can be classified as State Aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty, according to which ‘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.’
Komisija je preverila, ali je ukrep mogoče obravnavati kot državno pomoč v smislu člena 87(1) Pogodbe ES, po katerem je „vsaka pomoč 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, v kolikor negativno vpliva na trgovino med državami članicami.“
In the decision to initiate the procedure, the Commission stated that advantages granted by a public or private body designated or established by the State fall within the scope of Article 87(1) [40].
V odločbi o sprožitvi postopka Komisija ugotavlja, da prednosti, ki jih je zagotovila s strani države imenovana ali postavljena zasebna ali javna ustanova, spadajo v področje uporabe člena 87(1) Pogodbe ES [40].
It maintained that Mabb should be considered a public body established or appointed by the State which performs a public task and that the advantages granted by this body should be considered State resources within the meaning of Article 87(1) [41].
Nadalje navaja, da je Mabb mogoče obravnavati kot s strani države imenovano ali postavljeno javno ustanovo, ki izvaja javno nalogo, in da je prednosti, ki jih dodeli ta ustanova, mogoče označiti kor državna sredstva v smislu člena 87(1) Pogodbe ES [41].
Germany replied that, for a measure to rank as State resources, it must constitute a burden for the State budget.
Nemčija je odgovorila, da je ukrep mogoče obravnavati kot državna sredstva le takrat, ko le-ta obremeni državni proračun.
Since, in the present case, the funding does not represent a financial burden for the budgets of the Länder of Berlin and Brandenburg but is financed from the licence fee (Rundfunkgebühr) collected from TV viewers, the funding does not constitute State resources.
Ker pomoč ne predstavlja finančne obremenitve za proračuna dežel Berlin in Brandenburg, temveč se financira iz RTV-naročnine, pomoč ne izhaja iz državnih sredstev.
Secondly, Germany stated that Mabb decided independently and according to its status as an institution independent of the State which concrete measures were necessary to promote the digital switch-over.
Poleg tega se je Mabb na lastno odgovornost in v skladu s svojo od države neodvisno organizacijsko strukturo odločil, kateri ukrepi so potrebni za pospeševanje digitalnega prehoda.
Accordingly, there was no direct influence by the State.
Neposredni vpliv države torej ne obstaja.
In the Commission's view, the advantage granted by Mabb is granted indirectly through State resources and is imputable to the State.
Po mnenju Komisije so bila sredstva, ki jih je dodelil Mabb, posredno dodeljena iz državnih sredstev, zato jih je mogoče pripisati državi.
It is funded from Mabb's budgetary resources.
Sredstva se financirajo iz proračuna Mabb-a.
Irrespective of whether the German licence fee, which provides Mabb's budgetary resources, is to be regarded as forming part of State resources, these monies are to be considered State resources as of the moment they become part of Mabb's budget.
Ne glede na to, ali je nemško naročnino, iz katere se financira proračun Mabb-a, mogoče obravnavati kot državna sredstva ali ne, je potrebno ta sredstva obravnavati kot državna sredstva od trenutka, ko se stečejo v proračun Mabb-a.
The fact that these monies are collected from private individuals, as argued by Germany, does not, in any event, contradict the finding that Mabb's budget ranks as State resources.
Dejstvo, da so ta sredstva prejemali zasebniki, kot trdi Nemčija, v nobenem primeru ne spodbija ugotovitve, da je proračun Mabb-a mogoče označiti kot državna sredstva.
By analogy, tax revenue collected from private individuals becomes State resources once the taxes have been levied and collected by the State.
Podobno veljajo davki, ki jih država pobere od zasebnikov, za državna sredstva.
Clearly, the costs incurred by Mabb in conferring the advantage constitute a burden for Mabb's budget.
Stroški, ki so pri Mabb-u nastali zaradi dajanja prednosti, predstavljajo obremenitev za proračun Mabb-a.
Moreover, Mabb is a public authority established by the State Media Treaty of the Länder of Berlin and Brandenburg.
Poleg tega je Mabb javna ustanova, ki je bila ustanovljena z državno pogodbo o medijih med deželama Berlin in Brandenburg.
The Treaty defines Mabb's organisational structure and assigns to Mabb a broad range of public tasks in the field of broadcasting and frequency management.
Pogodba opredeljuje organizacijsko strukturo Mabb-a in mu dodeljuje široko paleto javnih nalog na področju upravljanja radiodifuzije in frekvenc.
It is described as the promotion of the technical infrastructure of broadcasting and of projects of new broadcasting transmission technologies [44].
Opisana je kot pospeševanje tehnične infrastrukture za oskrbo z radiodifuzijo in projektov za nove tehnike prenosa radiodifuzije [44].
More specifically with respect to the digital switch-over, the State Media Treaty assigns to Mabb the task of supervising the digital switch-over and, if necessary, adopting statutes (Satzung) defining the necessary measures [45].
Glede digitalnega prehoda državna pogodba o medijih Mabb-u daje nalogo, da nadzoruje ta digitalni prehod in s statutom določi potrebne ukrepe [45].
In particular, Mabb is entitled to lay down specific rules on the allocation of the digital terrestrial frequencies.
Tako ima Mabb pravico določiti posebna pravila za oddajo digitalnih prizemnih frekvenc.
To this end, it has the right to conclude agreements specifying the development of the digital technology and the overall programme offer [46].
Ima torej pravico sklepati pogodbe, v katerih je določen razvoj digitalnih tehnologij in celotna televizijska ponudba [46].
Mabb acted on these provisions of the State Media Treaty when it adopted the statutes specifying the conditions of the digital switch-over ( DVB-T Satzung) on 9 July 2001, when it concluded the Switch-over Agreement (Umstiegsvereinbarung) with several terrestrial broadcasters on 13 February 2002 and when it concluded the Agreements with the individual commercial broadcasters on their respective DVB-T licences and the related funding in the course of 2003.
Mabb se je skliceval na te določbe državne pogodbe o medijih, ko je dne 9. julija 2001 sprejel Statut DVB-T, ko je 13. februarja 2002 z več izdajatelji televizijskega programa po prizemni prenosni poti sklenil sporazume o prehodu in ko je leta 2003 s posameznimi zasebnimi izdajatelji televizijskega programa sklenil sporazume o njihovih licencah za DVB-T ter ustrezni podpori.
The Commission therefore considers that the present measure is imputable to the State.
Komisija je zato mnenja, da je obravnavane ukrepe mogoče pripisati državi.
Finally, Community law cannot permit the rules on State Aid to be circumvented merely through the creation of autonomous institutions charged with allocating aid [47].
Zakonodaja Skupnosti ne more dovoliti, da se določbam o državni pomoči izogne z ustanovitvijo neodvisnih ustanov, na katere se prenese dodeljevanje pomoči [47].
In spite of allowing for a certain degree of autonomy, the State Media Treaty clearly defines the public tasks to be performed by Mabb and leaves limited discretion to it on how to spend its budgetary resources.
Čeprav državna pogodba o medijih dopušča določeno stopnjo neodvisnosti, so javne naloge, ki jih mora Mabb izvesti, jasno opredeljene, pogodba pa mu dovoljuje omejeno presojo pri uporabi proračunskih sredstev.
In particular, Mabb's autonomy does not preclude its activities and, more specifically, its use of financial resources from being guided by political considerations and not simply by economic considerations.
Mabb-ova neodvisnost ne izključuje možnosti, da njegove dejavnosti in predvsem uporabo finančnih sredstev vodijo politični in ne zgolj gospodarski interesi.
The lack of economic considerations in the present case is apparent, for example, from the fact that the funding is given in the form of non-repayable grants with no direct benefit to Mabb.
Pomanjkanje gospodarskih interesov je v tem primeru razvidno iz dejstva, da je bila pomoč dodeljena v obliki nepovratnih sredstev, od katerih Mabb ni imel neposredne koristi.
In the decision to initiate the procedure, the Commission held that the measure seemed to favour two groups of beneficiaries, firstly, the commercial service broadcasters as direct beneficiaries and, secondly, the operator of the DVB-T network, T-Systems, as indirect beneficiary.
V odločbi o sprožitvi postopka je Komisija zastopala stališče, da ukrep koristi dvema skupinama upravičencev. Prvič, zasebnim izdajateljem televizijskega programa kot neposrednim upravičencem in drugič, operaterju omrežja DVB-T T-Systems kot posrednemu upravičencu.
At the level of broadcasters, the subsidy granted by Mabb covers some of the CSBs’ transmission costs via the DVB-T network for a period of five years.
Na ravni televizijskih postaj krije subvencija, dodeljena s strani Mabb-a za obdobje petih let, del stroškov oddajanja zasebnih izdajateljev televizijskega programa v omrežju DVB-T.
The support thus relieves them of expenses which are part of their normal operating costs.
Podpora jih torej razbremeni izdatkov, ki so del njihovih običajnih operativnih stroškov.
Germany has maintained that Mabb's subsidy compensates broadcasters for giving up their previous ATT licences and does therefore not constitute an advantage for them.
Nemčija je vztrajala, da je na subvencijo Mabb-a potrebno gledati kot na odškodnino za to, da so se izdajatelji televizijskega programa odpovedali svojim do tedaj analognim prizemnim licencam, in da subvencija za njih ne predstavlja prednosti.
There are, however, a number of reasons why this argument cannot be accepted.
Vendar pa vrsta razlogov govori proti tej utemeljitvi.
Firstly, the subsidy does not take into account in any way the outstanding duration of the different ATT licences.
Prvič, subvencija nikakor ne upošteva preostale veljavnosti različnih analognih prizemnih licenc.
Indeed, the subsidy was also granted to channels which were not previously present in ATT [48] or whose ATT licence expired shortly before the analogue switch-off on 28 February 2003 [49].
Dejansko je bila subvencija dodeljena tudi televizijskim postajam, ki prej niso bile prisotne v prizemnem omrežju [48] ali katerih licenca je potekla malo pred analogno ukinitvijo 28. februarja 2003 [49].
In any event, the agreements with the CSBs relate the subsidy exclusively and explicitly to the transmission costs in the new DVB-T network and not to the return of the ATT licences.
V sporazumih z zasebnimi izdajatelji televizijskega programa je subvencija v vsakem primeru vezana izključno in izrecno na stroške oddajanja v novem omrežju DVB-T in ne na opustitev analognih prizemnih licenc.
Secondly, since the switch-over was planned several years in advance, Mabb could have limited the duration of the ATT licences to the switch-over date in order to avoid any potential compensation claims on the part of the CSBs.
Drugič, ker je bil prehod načrtovan več let vnaprej, bi lahko Mabb veljavnost analognih prizemnih licenc omejil na datum prehoda in se tako izognil morebitnim zahtevam za odškodnino s strani zasebnih televizijskih postaj.
This was the approach followed, for example, in Bavaria and the United Kingdom.
Takšen je bil postopek na primer na Bavarskem in v Združenem kraljestvu.
Thirdly, the CSBs which were present in ATT were already, if not completely then at least partially, compensated for the switch-off of their ATT transmission by the allocation of DVB-T channels.
Tretjič, zasebne televizijske postaje, ki so bile prisotne v analognem prizemnem omrežju, so za analogno ukinitev prejele odškodnino – če ne v celoti, pa vsaj delno – tako, da so jim bila dodeljena programska mesta v DVB-T.
RTL Group and ProSiebenSat.1 were, in fact, allocated more DVB-T channels than they previously had in ATT.
Skupina RTL in ProSiebenSat.1 sta dejansko dobila več programskih mest, kot sta jih imela v analognem prizemnem omrežju.
Fourthly, as regards transmission costs, the subsidy is not designed as temporary support to facilitate the transition during the simulcast phase (which, in the case of the CSBs, lasted only four months), but for the five years after switch-over.
Četrtič, glede stroškov oddajanja je potrebno pripomniti, da subvencija ni namenjena začasni podpori za lažji prehod med fazo simultanega oddajanja (ki je pri zasebnih izdajateljih trajala le štiri mesece), temveč traja še pet let po prehodu.
More generally, the transmission costs per programme channel are lower for DVB-T than in analogue mode so that, even without any subsidy, the broadcasters achieve per channel cost savings by switching to DVB-T.
Poleg tega so stroški oddajanja za programsko mesto v DVB-T nižji od stroškov analognega oddajanja, tako da izdajatelji televizijskega programa pri prehodu na DVB-T pri programskem mestu celo brez subvencije prihranijo pri stroških.
At the network level, it appears that the network operator T-Systems receives an indirect advantage stemming from Mabb's subsidy [50].
Na ravni omrežja marsikaj kaže na to, da omrežni operater T-Systems iz subvencije Mabb-a prejema neposredno prednost [50].
Under agreements between Mabb and the CSBs — of which the financial support is an integral part — T-Systems has the guarantee that the two major German CSBs in particular, which together account for about 90 % of total German TV advertising revenue and for close on half of German TV viewing [51], will use its network for five years.
V skladu s sporazumi med Mabb-om in zasebnimi televizijskimi postajami – katerih sestavni del je finančna podpora – ima T-Systems zagotovilo, da bosta zlasti oba največja zasebna izdajatelja televizijskega programa v Nemčiji, ki pobereta okoli 90 odstotkov celotnega prihodka iz oglaševanja in imata skoraj 50-odstotno gledanost [51], pet let uporabljala omrežje DVB-T.
The guaranteed participation of the German CSBs is thus important for T-Systems in terms of guaranteed revenue.
Zagotovljena udeležba zasebnih nemških televizijskih postaj je torej za T-Systems pomembna kot zagotovilo za prihodke.
In addition, compared with a situation in which no subsidy is granted, T-Systems might be able to charge CSBs higher transmission prices than under normal market conditions [52], while possibly avoiding the need to charge end-users for access to DVB-T (subscription fees), as happens, for example, in the Netherlands and Sweden.
V primerjavi s stanjem brez dodeljene subvencije bi T-Systems zasebnim televizijskim postajam lahko zaračunal višje cene za oddajanje kot pod normalnimi tržnimi pogoji [52] in se morebiti izognil zaračunavanju končnim uporabnikom (naročnina) za dostop do DVB-T, kot se je to zgodilo na Nizozemskem in Švedskem.
It is however not possible to establish to what extent the transmission fees currently charged by T-Systems and not being subject to price regulation exceed market prices.
Vendar ni mogoče določiti, v kolikšni meri plačila za oddajanje, ki jih T-Systems zaračunava in ki niso urejena, presegajo tržne cene.
It is therefore not possible either to quantify the price which the CSBs would have been prepared to pay in the absence of the aid and hence to establish whether there has been a transfer of state resources.
Zato tudi ni mogoče določiti cene, ki bi jo bile v odsotnosti pomoči pripravljene plačati zasebne televizijske postaje, ter tako določiti, ali je prišlo do prenosa državnih sredstev.
Award of network licences and broadcasting licences
Dodelitev licenc za omrežje in radiodifuzijo
Germany has argued that the measure does not distort competition since it does not confer a selective advantage on either the commercial broadcasters or on the network operator T-Systems because the respective licences were acquired through open and transparent tender procedures.
Nemčija trdi, da ukrep ne izkrivlja konkurence, saj ne daje selektivne prednosti niti zasebnim televizijskim postajam niti omrežnemu operaterju T-Systems, ker so bile licence dodeljene z javnim in preglednim razpisnim postopkom.
According to this argument, the tendering has ensured that any broadcaster or network operator could, in principle, have benefited from the funding, so that the measure cannot be regarded as selective.
Načelno bi lahko vsaka televizijska postaja ali omrežni operater koristil to pomoč, zato ukrepa ni mogoče označiti kot selektivnega.
Germany argues that it is in particular in the case of indirect beneficiaries that a measure needs to be selective in order to rank as aid.
Zlasti v primeru neposrednih upravičencev bi ukrep moral biti selektiven, da bi ga bilo mogoče obravnavati kot pomoč.
The Commission has doubts that the tender procedures were such as to ensure that the selective economic advantage deriving from Mabb's subsidy would be minimised or even eliminated and thus adequate to prevent a distortion of competition.
Komisija dvomi, da sta bila razpisna postopka pripravljena tako, da bi bila selektivna gospodarska prednost subvencije Mabb-a zmanjšana na najmanjšo možno mero oziroma ukinjena in tako zadostna za preprečitev izkrivljanja konkurence.
Indeed, at the level of broadcasters, the majority of licences were not subject to any tender procedure.
Na ravni televizijskih postaj je bila večina licenc dodeljena brez kakršnega koli razpisnega postopka.
Of the total capacity of 14 DVB-T channels reserved for CSBs and qualifying for Mabb's subsidy, Mabb allocated ten without any tender procedure.
Od skupno štirinajst programskih mest DVB-T, ki so bila rezervirana za zasebne televizijske postaje in za katera je bila predvidena subvencija Mabb-a, jih je Mabb oddal deset brez razpisnega postopka.
The basis for the direct allocation of these channels was that the respective broadcasters (RTL Group, ProSiebenSat.1, BBC World and FAB) were already present in the analogue terrestrial network [53].
Odločilno pri neposredni dodelitvi teh programskih mest je bilo, da so bile posamezne televizijske postaje (Skupina RTL, ProSiebenSat.1, BBC World in FAB) že prisotne v analognem prizemnem omrežju [53].
Contrary to the argument put forward by Germany, there was, in the case of these broadcasters, no tender procedure which could possibly have eliminated the selective advantage conferred by Mabb's funding.
V nasprotju s trditvami Nemčije v primeru teh televizijskih postaj ni bilo nobenega razpisnega postopka, ki bi morda lahko ukinil selektivno prednost, ki je bila dodeljena s strani Mabb-a.
In the case of the remaining transmission capacity for CSBs, Mabb published a first tender on 8 May 2002 and a second tender on 16 April 2004 [54].
Za preostale, zasebnim televizijskim postajam namenjene prenosne zmogljivosti, je Mabb 8. maja 2002 odprl prvi javni razpis in 16. aprila 2004 drugi javni razpis [54].
Although the attribution of licences via a tender is generally preferable to the direct attribution, the Commission considers for the following reasons that the tender procedures in the present case cannot be considered to have minimised or even eliminated the economic advantage of Mabb's funding and were thus inadequate to prevent a distortion of competition.
Čeprav ima podeljevanje licenc z razpisnim postopkom načeloma prednost pred neposrednim podeljevanjem, je Komisija mnenja, da iz različnih razlogov ni mogoče sklepati, da bi razpisna postopka v obravnavanem primeru lahko omejila gospodarsko prednost podpore Mabb-a na najmanjšo možno mero ali da bi jo lahko celo ukinila in tako preprečila izkrivljanje konkurence.
Neither of the two tenders gave a binding commitment that Mabb would subsidise the transmission costs.
Nobeden izmed javnih razpisov ne vsebuje zavezujoče obljube, da bo Mabb subvencioniral stroške oddajanja.