natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
It was unclear whether the company was providing a significant own contribution to the restructuring for want of a clear explanation as to how the own funds mentioned were to be sourced.
Ni bilo jasno, ali je družba prispevala pomemben del lastnih sredstev za prestrukturiranje, ker ni bilo jasno, od kod naj bi omenjena lastna sredstva izvirala.
No market analysis was provided to justify the non-existence of compensatory measures.
Predstavljena ni bila nobena tržna analiza, ki bi upravičevala odsotnost izravnalnih ukrepov.
Compliance with the ‘one time, last time’ principle was doubtful, given that the company had already received restructuring aid in 1999.
Izpolnjevanje načela enkratne pomoči je bilo dvomljivo, glede na to, da je družba prejela pomoč za prestrukturiranje že leta 1999.
COMMENTS FROM SLOVENIA
PRIPOMBE SLOVENIJE
Slovenia insisted that the state aid for Novoles Straža was allocated before Slovenia’s accession to the European Union, since the state's economic exposure was known before accession.
Slovenija vztraja, da je bila državna pomoč za družbo Novoles Straža dodeljena pred pristopom Slovenije k Evropski uniji, ker je bila ekonomska izpostavljenost države znana pred pristopom.
Second, Slovenia sought to allay the European Commission's doubts regarding whether or not Novoles Straža belongs to a larger business group by explaining the particularities of the ownership structure in Slovenia, as presented above, and by correcting the percentages of the participating interests of the shareholders.
Drugič, Slovenija je nasprotovala dvomom Evropske komisije glede tega, ali družba Novoles Straža pripada večji poslovni skupini, in pojasnila posebnosti lastniške strukture v Sloveniji, ki so predstavljene zgoraj, ter navedla prave podatke o odstotkih deležev delničarjev.
Third, Slovenia put forward evidence that Novoles Straža is a ‘company in difficulties’, explaining more fully the overall trend of financial difficulties the company has been facing since 1999 (as evidenced by growing inventories and debt and a decrease in sales, with certain extraordinary events causing the increase in 2002), culminating in its inability to obtain external financing in 2004.
Tretjič, Slovenija je predložila dokaze, da je družba Novoles Straža „podjetje v težavah“, in temeljiteje pojasnila splošni trend finančnih težav, s katerimi se je družba soočala od leta 1999 (kažejo jih večanje zalog in dolga, pa tudi upad prodaje, čeprav je zaradi nekaterih izjemnih dogodkov prišlo do povečanja v letu 2002) in so dosegle vrhunec leta 2004, ko družba ni mogla pridobiti zunanjega financiranja.
Fourth, the Slovenian authorities provided information indicating that Novoles Straža's strategy is based on market research and forecasts confirming relatively high furniture sales.
Četrtič, slovenski organi so posredovali podatke, ki kažejo, da strategija družbe Novoles Straža temelji na tržnih raziskavah in napovedih, ki potrjujejo razmeroma visoko prodajo pohištva.
Fifth, as regards compensatory measures, Slovenia submitted a market study showing that Novoles Straža's market share in the relevant product market in the EU-25 is very small.
Petič, kar zadeva izravnalne ukrepe, je Slovenija predložila tržno študijo, iz katere izhaja, da je tržni delež družbe Novoles Straža na trgu EU-25 na trgu zadevnih proizvodov zelo majhen.
The Slovenian authorities also pointed out that Novoles Straža is located in an assisted area within the meaning of Article 87(3)(a) EC.
Slovenski organi tudi opozarjajo, da se družba Novoles Straža nahaja na območju, ki prejema pomoč v smislu člena 87(3)(a) Pogodbe ES.
Finally, as regards state aid received in the past, Slovenia corrected some clerical errors regarding the sums received and, above all, stated that the aid originally identified as restructuring aid was not allocated for rescue and restructuring as defined in the Guidelines.
Končno, kar zadeva državno pomoč, prejeto v preteklosti, je Slovenija popravila nekatere pisarniške napake v zvezi s prejetimi zneski in predvsem zatrdila, da pomoč, ki je bila prvotno ugotovljena kot pomoč za prestrukturiranje, ni bila dodeljena za reševanje in prestrukturiranje, kakor je opredeljeno v smernicah.
According to Article 87 EC, 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, insofar as it affects trade between Member States, constitutes incompatible state aid unless it can be justified under Article 87(2) or (3) EC.
V skladu s členom 87 Pogodbe ES 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 državna pomoč, če prizadene trgovino med državami članicami, razen kadar jo je mogoče upravičiti na podlagi člena 87(2) ali (3) Pogodbe ES.
The Commission notes that the aid is granted through State resources to an individual company.
Komisija opaža, da je pomoč dodeljena iz državnih sredstev posameznemu podjetju.
This clearly applies to a direct grant, but also to a guarantee, in particular where a company is in difficulty and 100 % security for the loan is provided [11].
To jasno velja za neposredno pomoč, pa tudi za jamstvo, zlasti, če je podjetje v težavah in je zagotovljeno jamstvo za 100 % posojila [11].
Indeed, the guarantee allowed the company to secure a larger loan than it would have been able to obtain without the guarantee.
V resnici je jamstvo družbi omogočilo pridobiti večje posojilo, kakor bi ga lahko brez tega jamstva.
As there is trade in wood products between Slovenia and other Member States, the measure is liable to improve the position of the recipient in relation to its competitors in Slovenia and the EU. The aid therefore distorts competition and affects trade between Member States.
Ker trgovina z lesnimi izdelki med Slovenijo in drugimi državami članicami obstaja, bi lahko ukrep izboljšal položaj prejemnika v primerjavi z njegovimi konkurenti v Sloveniji in v EU, kar pomeni, da pomoč izkrivlja konkurenco in vpliva na trgovino med državami članicami.
Consequently, the Commission considers that the present measures in favour of Novoles Straža constitute state aid pursuant to Article 87(1) EC.
Zato Komisija meni, da sedanji ukrepi v korist družbe Novoles Straža pomenijo državno pomoč v skladu s členom 87(1) Pogodbe ES.
Existence of new state aid
Obstoj nove državne pomoči
The Slovenian authorities first questioned whether the Commission was empowered to assess the aid under Articles 87 and 88 EC, arguing that it was granted before accession.
Slovenski organi so sprva dvomili, da je Komisija pristojna za presojo pomoči na podlagi členov 87 in 88 Pogodbe ES, glede na to, da je bila pomoč dodeljena pred pristopom.
In the decision opening the procedure the Commission clarified that, in order to determine whether aid has been put into effect before or after accession, the relevant criterion is the legally binding act by which the competent national authorities undertake to grant the aid [12].
Komisija je v sklepu o sprožitvi postopka pojasnila, da je ustrezni kriterij, s katerim se ugotovi, ali je bila pomoč izvedena pred pristopom ali po njem, pravni akt, s katerim se pristojni nacionalni organi obvežejo, da bodo odobrili pomoč [12].
In the absence of such a decision before accession, the measure constitutes new aid, even if the exposure of the State was known beforehand.
Odsotnost takega sklepa pred pristopom pomeni novo pomoč, tudi če je bila izpostavljenost državne pomoči znana pred tem.
The Commission maintains its initial conclusion that the binding act by which the competent national authorities undertook to grant aid did not come into effect before accession.
Komisija vztraja pri svojem prvotnem zaključku, da pravni akt, s katerim so se pristojni nacionalni organi obvezali, da bodo odobrili pomoč, ni začel veljati pred pristopom.
The relevant Slovenian provisions state that the aid is to be awarded by a decision of the government on the basis of a proposal from the Ministry responsible.
Ustrezni slovenski predpisi določajo, da se pomoč dodeli s sklepom Vlade na predlog pristojnega ministrstva.
While prior decisions of the interdepartmental expert commission and the Ministry responsible are indeed necessary for the award, they are not sufficient to grant the aid.
Predhodni sklepi medresorskih strokovnih odborov in pristojnega ministrstva so sicer potrebni za dodelitev, vendar pa ne zadostujejo za odobritev pomoči.
The final decision lies with the Government.
Končno odločitev sprejme Vlada.
In the present case, the Government’s decision was issued on 27 May 2004 and Slovenia joined the European Union on 1 May 2004.
V tem primeru je bil sklep Vlade izdan 27. maja 2004, Slovenija pa se je pridružila Evropski uniji 1. maja 2004.
Therefore, the measures constitute new aid and have to be notified on the basis of Article 88 EC and assessed under Article 87 EC.
Zato ukrepi pomenijo novo pomoč in jih je treba priglasiti na podlagi člena 88 Pogodbe ES in presojati na podlagi člena 87 Pogodbe ES.
Given that the aid in question is restructuring aid, it is compatible with the common market if it complies with the criteria under the Community Guidelines on aid for rescuing and restructuring of firms in difficulty (hereinafter the Guidelines) [13].
Ker zadevna pomoč predstavlja pomoč za prestrukturiranje, je združljiva s skupnim trgom, če izpolnjuje merila iz Smernic Skupnosti o pomoči za reševanje in prestrukturiranje podjetij v težavah (v nadaljnjem besedilu „smernice“) [13].
In view of Slovenia’s comments and the information gathered in the course of its investigation, the Commission has reached the following conclusions on the points which caused it to open the formal procedure.
Komisija je na podlagi pripomb Slovenije in podatkov, ki jih je zbrala med svojo preiskavo, sprejela naslednje zaključke o točkah, zaradi katerih je bil sprožen formalni postopek.
In view of the information submitted by Slovenia, the Commission takes the view that the company's performance, as described in paragraphs (24) to (27) above, shows that it was indeed a company in difficulty at the time the state aid in issue was granted.
Glede na podatke, ki jih je predložila Slovenija, Komisija sprejme stališče, da poslovanje podjetja, opisano v točkah 24 do 27, kaže, da je bilo podjetje v času, ko je bila zadevna pomoč dodeljena, zares v težavah.
The Commission notes in particular that the problems were part of a trend for the years 2000-04 and not simply an exceptional occurrence in 2003.
Komisija posebej ugotavlja, da so bili problemi del trenda v letih 2000–2004 in ne le izjemen dogodek v letu 2003.
Moreover, the Slovenian authorities provided sufficient evidence that in 2004 the company would not have been able to refinance its short-term debts on its own.
Poleg tega so slovenski organi predložili zadostne dokaze, da družba v letu 2004 ne bi mogla sama refinancirati svojih kratkoročnih dolgov.
This is not contradicted by the fact that the company succeeded in obtaining some refinancing without aid, as this was achieved using a high level of security which the company could not have provided for the entire amount to be refinanced.
To ni v nasprotju z dejstvom, da je družbi uspelo pridobiti nekaj refinanciranja brez pomoči, saj je bilo to posledica visokega zavarovanja, ki ga družba ne bi mogla zagotoviti za celotni znesek refinanciranja.
The Commission also notes Slovenia’s explanations concerning the nature of Novoles Straža's ownership.
Komisija upošteva tudi pojasnila Slovenije v zvezi z naravo lastništva družbe Novoles Straža.
In view of the passive nature and poor capital resources of Novoles Straža’s institutional owners and the fragmentation of its remaining ownership, the Commission accepts that the company could not obtain the necessary funds from its shareholders.
Glede na pasivno naravo in skromna kapitalska sredstva institucionalnih lastnikov družbe Novoles Straža ter razdrobljenost preostalega lastništva družbe Komisija sprejema, da družba potrebnih sredstev ni mogla pridobiti od svojih delničarjev.
For the same reasons, and taking into account the fact that no single owner holds more than 22 % of Novoles Straža’s share capital, the Commission also takes the view that Novoles Straža does not belong to a larger business group.
Iz istega razloga in ob upoštevanju, da noben posamezni lastnik nima v lasti več kot 22 % delniškega kapitala družbe Novoles Straža, Komisija tudi sprejema stališče, da družba Novoles Straža ni del večje poslovne skupine.
The Commission accordingly accepts that Novoles Straža was eligible for restructuring aid.
Komisija v skladu s tem sprejema, da je bila družba Novoles Straža upravičena do pomoči za prestrukturiranje.
Return to viability
Ponovna vzpostavitev rentabilnosti
The Commission indicated in the decision opening the procedure that it was unclear how the restructuring plan would enable Novoles Straža to restore long-term viability.
Komisija je v sklepu o sprožitvi postopka navedla, da ni jasno, kako naj bi načrt prestrukturiranja družbi Novoles Straža omogočil ponovno vzpostavitev dolgoročne rentabilnosti.
This related mainly to the five-year financial projections indicating how the company was likely to evolve as a result of the restructuring measures.
To se je nanašalo predvsem na petletna finančna predvidevanja o tem, kako naj bi se družba razvijala zaradi ukrepov prestrukturiranja.
The Commission remarked that Slovenia had not submitted the information required by the Commission to assess the assumptions on Novoles Straža's likely performance under the restructuring plan.
Komisija je opozorila, da Slovenija ni predložila podatkov, ki jih Komisija potrebuje za presojo predpostavk glede verjetnega poslovanja družbe po načrtu prestrukturiranja.
In the course of the proceedings, Slovenia has submitted the complementary information mentioned in paragraphs (21) and (22) above.
Med potekom postopka je Slovenija predložila dopolnilne podatke, omenjene v prejšnjih odstavkih (21) in (22).
This information adequately explains the basis for the assumptions.
Ti podatki v zadostni meri pojasnjujejo podlago za te predpostavke.
The Commission notes that the sales forecasts for Novoles Straža might appear today rather optimistic given that in 2005 and 2006 the sector was facing fierce competition from Far East which resulted in excess supply and pressure to reduce prices.
Komisija opaža, da so predpostavke o gibanju prodaje družbe Novoles Straža morda preveč optimistične glede na to, da se je sektor v letih 2005 in 2006 soočal z močno konkurenco z Daljnega vzhoda, kar je povzročilo presežno ponudbo in pritisk na znižanje cen.
However, it is not clear that this information was already known at the beginning of 2004.
Vendar pa ni jasno, ali je bil ta podatek že znan v začetku leta 2004.
Moreover, the Commission itself observed in 2006 that: ‘plywood production and consumption have seen significant increase in the past few years, with a strong export market developing for certain grades’ [14].
Poleg tega je sama Komisija v letu 2006 ugotavljala: „proizvodnja in poraba vezanih plošč sta se v zadnjih nekaj letih občutno povečali, pri čemer se za nekatere razrede razvija zelo močen izvozni trg“ [14].
Since the Commission has been provided with no contradictory information which might call into question the company's or its own assumptions, it has no grounds to dispute them.
Glede na to, da Komisija ni dobila nobenih nasprotujočih podatkov, na podlagi katerih bi lahko podvomila v predpostavke podjetij in v svoje lastne predpostavke, Komisija tudi nima utemeljenih razlogov, da bi jih zavračala.
The Commission therefore considers that the projections do not appear implausible, and its doubts on this point have been allayed.
Zato Komisija meni, da ne kaže, da bi bila predvidevanja neverjetna, tako da je Komisija glede teh dvomov pomirjena.
In the decision opening the procedure the Commission also found that the restructuring plan contained several internal measures which, if implemented, were likely to contribute to a turnaround of the company.
Komisija je v sklepu o sprožitvi postopka tudi ugotovila, da načrt prestrukturiranja vsebuje več notranjih ukrepov, ki bi, če bi bili izvedeni, verjetno prispevali k preobratu stanja podjetja.
In the course of the investigation the Commission obtained information that the company has not yet implemented all the planned restructuring measures.
Komisija je med preiskavo pridobila podatke, da družba še ni izvedla vseh načrtovanih ukrepov prestrukturiranja.
According to the Slovenian authorities, the reasons for this were among other things the delayed receipt of the state aid and worse-than-expected operating results.
Slovenski organi so navedli, da je bilo to med drugim posledica zamude pri prejemu državne pomoči, pa tudi posledica slabših poslovnih rezultatov od pričakovanih.
In this context the Commission observes that, under the restructuring plan, the technical restructuring was to be financed mainly from own resources.
Komisija v zvezi s tem opaža, da je načrt prestrukturiranja predvideval financiranje tehničnega prestrukturiranja predvsem iz lastnih sredstev.
However, such a weakness was not apparent beforehand and can even be justified by the fact that the state aid did indeed have to be the minimum necessary, in particular for a Member State committing itself to such a plan [15] on the eve of accession.
Vendar pa taka pomanjkljivost vnaprej ni bila opazna in jo je celo mogoče opravičiti, ker naj bi bila državna pomoč resnično čim manjša, zlasti za državo članico, ki se je za tak načrt obvezala [15] tik pred pristopom.
So in this special case the Commission will not view that weakness as sufficient to call into question the existence of a viable restructuring plan.
Komisija zato te pomanjkljivosti v tem posebnem primeru ne bo štela za zadostni razlog, da bi podvomila v obstoj uresničljivega načrta prestrukturiranja.
However, the Commission would recall that approval of the aid is conditional upon full implementation of the restructuring plan (point 43) and will be monitored (point 46).
Vendar pa Komisija opozarja, da je odobritev pomoči pogojena s polno izvedbo načrta prestrukturiranja (točka 43) in bo spremljana (točka 46).
The Commission therefore expects Slovenia, pursuant to point 46 of the Guidelines, to submit at least two monitoring reports, one concerning 2007 by the end of January 2008 and one concerning 2008 by the end of January 2009, containing detailed information on the company's financial performance and the investments made.
Komisija zato pričakuje, da bo Slovenija v skladu s točko 46 smernic predložila najmanj dve poročili o spremljanju, eno konec januarja 2008 o letu 2007 in eno konec januarja 2009 o letu 2008, s podrobnimi podatki o finančnem poslovanju družbe in o izvedenih naložbah.
The Commission would point out that, even if the company restores its viability without making all the investments, it might be liable to pay back some state aid if the planned investments are not fully implemented [16].
Komisija želi opozoriti, da je lahko družba, tudi če ponovno vzpostavi svojo rentabilnost brez izvedbe vseh naložb, dolžna povrniti del državne pomoči, če načrtovane naložbe niso v celoti izvedene [16].
Aid limited to the minimum
Omejitev pomoči na najnižji možni znesek
The aid is also limited to the minimum.
Pomoč je tudi omejena na najnižji možni znesek.
In particular, the Commission's doubts as regards the provision of a significant own contribution have been allayed.
Zlasti dvomi Komisije glede zagotavljanja pomembnega lastnega prispevka so odpravljeni.
According to point 40 of the Guidelines, the aid must be limited to the strict minimum needed for restoring viability, whereas aid beneficiaries are expected to make a significant contribution to the restructuring plan from their own resources.
V skladu s točko 40 smernic je treba pomoč omejiti na najnujnejše za ponovno vzpostavitev rentabilnosti, medtem ko se pričakuje, da prejemniki pomoči pomembno prispevajo k načrtu prestrukturiranja iz lastnih virov.
The explanations by the Slovenian authorities regarding the own contribution, as indicated in paragraph (27), are detailed enough to allow the Commission to verify that the company has made or will make a significant number of disinvestments between 2005 and 2008 amounting to 30,5 % of the restructuring costs.
Pojasnila slovenskih organov o lastnem prispevku so, kakor je navedeno v točki 27, dovolj podrobna, da omogočajo Komisiji, da preveri, ali je družba izvedla ali da bo izvedla v obdobju 2005–2008 večje število dezinvesticij v višini 30,5 % stroškov prestrukturiranja.
Moreover, the Commission noted that Novoles Straža has obtained external financing free of aid amounting to 8,5 %.
Komisija je poleg tega ugotovila, da je družba Novoles Straža pridobila zunanje financiranje brez pomoči v višini 8,5 %.
On the other hand, the Commission reiterates that it cannot accept depreciation as an own contribution because it does not provide resources available to the company and also depends on future operations which are the result of the state aid provided [17].
Po drugi strani pa Komisija ponovno poudarja, da amortizacije ne more sprejeti kot lastnega prispevka, ker ta družbi ne zagotavlja razpoložljivih sredstev, poleg tega pa je odvisna od prihodnjega poslovanja, ki je rezultat zagotovljene državne pomoči [17].
Therefore, the Commission can in sum identify an own contribution of 39 %, which can be seen as significant under the 1999 Guidelines [18].
Zato lahko Komisija ugotovi skupni lastni prispevek v višini 39 %, ki ga je mogoče šteti kot pomembnega v skladu s smernicami iz leta 1999 [18].
Moreover, the aid is also limited to the strict minimum for restoring viability given that the aid essentially covers the imminent refinancing needs for mature short-term loans and thus does not equip the company with any surplus liquidity.
Pomoč je poleg tega tudi omejena na najnujnejše za ponovno vzpostavitev rentabilnosti, glede na to, da v glavnem pokriva neposredne potrebe po refinanciranju za zapadla kratkoročna posojila in s tem družbi ne zagotavlja presežne likvidnosti.
According to points 35 and 36 of the Guidelines, measures must be taken to mitigate as far as possible any adverse impact of the state aid on competitors.
V skladu s točkama 35 in 36 smernic je treba sprejeti ukrepe, ki bodo čim bolj zmanjšali škodljive učinke državne pomoči na položaj konkurentov.
However, according to point 36 of the Guidelines, such compensatory measures are not required where the beneficiary's share of the relevant market is negligible.
Vendar pa takšni izravnalni ukrepi v skladu s točko 36 smernic niso potrebni, kadar je zadevni tržni delež prejemnika zanemarljiv.
In these cases, compensatory measures are thus not a condition for finding the aid compatible with the common market.
Zato v teh primerih izravnalni ukrepi niso pogoj, da je državna pomoč združljiva s skupnim trgom.
The Commission does not dispute the claims of the Slovenian authorities that Novoles Straža is active in several product markets, which it defines as plywood, chairs and other furniture.
Komisija ne zavrača trditev slovenskih organov, da je družba Novoles Straža dejavna na več proizvodnih trgih, in sicer na trgu vezanih plošč, stolov in drugega pohištva.
As regards plywood the Commission notes that in a merger case a ‘market investigation has largely confirmed that the different type of wood-based boards such as plywood, hardboard, raw particleboards and coated particleboards, decorative laminates (HPL/CPL) and wood-based panel components for the furniture and construction industry belong to separate product markets [19].’
Kar zadeva vezane plošče, Komisija ugotavlja, da je v primeru združitve „tržna preiskava v veliki meri potrdila, da različne vrste lesenih plošč, kot so vezane plošče, lesonit plošče, surove iverne plošče in oplemenitene iverne plošče, dekorativni laminati (HPL/CPL) ter elementi iz lesenih plošč za pohištvo in gradbeno industrijo, pripadajo ločenim proizvodnim trgom [19].“