natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
In the decision to open the procedure, the Commission concluded that this possibility could not be applied in the case in question, given that a letter from the Commission to the Netherlands dated 25 June 1999 refused all financing based on the SPD.
Komisija je v odločitvi o sprožitvi postopka ugotovila, da v zadevnem primeru te možnosti ni mogoče uporabiti, ker je v dopisu Komisije Nizozemski z dne 25. junija 1999 zavrnjeno kakršno koli financiranje na podlagi EPD.
The Commission also examined the argument of the Dutch authorities, according to which the aid had been granted by way of compensation for damage suffered as a result of an error by the authorities in initially granting aid which had later turned out to be illegal and perhaps incompatible with the common market.
Komisija je proučila tudi argument nizozemskih organov, da je bila pomoč dodeljena kot nadomestilo za škodo, ki je nastala zaradi napake organov, ki so sprva dodelili pomoč, nato pa se je izkazalo, da je nezakonita in morda nezdružljiva.
The Commission concluded that the company which received the aid could not however have believed in good faith in the legitimacy of the aid if it had not been awarded in accordance with the procedure laid down.
Komisija je sklenila, da podjetje, ki mu je bila dodeljena pomoč, ne more legitimno pričakovati, da je pomoč zakonita, če ni bila dodeljena po ustreznem postopku.
It consequently expressed doubts that the compensation was an adequate justification allowing the conclusion that the measure in question did not constitute aid.
Zato je izrazila dvom, da je sklep, da zadevni ukrep ni pomoč, mogoče ustrezno utemeljiti s tem, da gre za nadomestilo.
As the Dutch authorities did not advance any other legal basis, the Commission concluded that there were doubts as to the compatibility of the measures in question and considered that it could not be excluded that they constituted operating aid.
Ker nizozemski organi niso navedli nobene druge pravne podlage, je Komisija ugotovila, da dvomi o združljivosti zadevnih ukrepov ostajajo, in ocenila, da ni izključeno, da gre za pomoč za poslovanje.
Comments from third parties
Pripombe tretjih strani
First of all, Farm Dairy indicated its surprise at the publication of the decision to open the formal investigation procedure.
Uvodoma Farm Dairy izraža presenečenje nad objavo odločitve o sprožitvi uradnega postopka pregleda.
Farm Dairy was convinced that the case had long since been closed.
Farm Dairy je bil namreč prepričan, da je ta spis že dolgo zaključen.
Farm Dairy then complained that it had not been able to exercise any influence on the correspondence between Flevoland Province and the Commission, not having been informed of the Commission’s investigation until the formal investigation procedure was opened.
Nato se Farm Dairy pritožuje, da ni imel nobenega vpliva na dopisovanje med pokrajino Flevoland in Komisijo, ker je bil o preiskavi Komisije obveščen šele, ko je bil sprožen uradni postopek pregleda.
Farm Dairy’s comments are subdivided into four parts: firstly, the general background of the measure and the recipient’s legitimate faith; secondly, the application of the Flevoland SPD measures; thirdly, the assessment with regard to Decision 94/173/EC; and fourthly, the contesting of the application of compound interest in the event of a negative decision with recovery.
Pripombe Farm Dairy so predstavljene v štirih delih: prvič, splošne okoliščine ukrepa in legitimno pričakovanje upravičenca, drugič, uporaba ukrepov iz EPD Flevoland, tretjič, ocena z vidika Odločbe 94/173/ES in četrtič, izpodbijanje uporabe obrestnih obresti v primeru negativne odločbe z vračilom.
General background of the measure
Splošne okoliščine ukrepa
In this context, the Farm Dairy project seemed particularly relevant, as it intended to build an independent milk processing plant in Lelystad.
V tem okviru se je projekt Farm Dairy zdel še posebej obetaven, ker je imel namen zgraditi neodvisen obrat za predelavo mleka v Lelystadu.
Farm Dairy reported a posteriori the positive results engendered by the construction of the Lelystad plant: emergence of competition on the Dutch dairy products market, dominated at the time by Friesland Coberco and Campina Melkunie; proximity of the milk producers; innovations (make-to-order system); introduction of 2-litre containers on the Dutch market; increase in employment in an ‘objective 1’ region; stimulation of economic growth in the region.
Farm Dairy naknadno navaja pozitivne učinke izgradnje obrata v Lelystadu: nastanek konkurence na nizozemskem trgu mlečnih izdelkov, na katerem sta takrat prevladovala Friesland Coberco in Campina Melkunie; bližina dobaviteljev mleka; inovacije (sistem „make-to-order“); uvedba dvolitrske embalaže na nizozemskem trgu; večja zaposlenost v regiji Cilja 1; spodbujanje gospodarske rasti v regiji.
At the time, Farm Dairy intended to develop a line of special and innovative products on the Dutch market.
Farm Dairy je takrat nameraval razviti linijo posebnih in inovativnih proizvodov na nizozemskem trgu.
Farm Dairy indicated that the application for subsidies had been assessed positively by the Province and by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture (LNV) on the basis of an independent opinion from the IKC, which concluded that the project was innovative in part.
Farm Dairy navaja, da sta pokrajina in ministrstvo za kmetijstvo (LNV) pozitivno ocenila zahtevek za nepovratna sredstva na podlagi neodvisnega mnenja IKC, v katerem je bilo ugotovljeno, da je projekt delno inovativen.
An agreement had consequently been signed on 24 February 1999 between Flevoland Province and Farm Dairy, awarding a subsidy under measure 3.3 of the Flevoland SPD.
Zato sta pokrajina Flevoland in Farm Dairy 24. februarja 1999 podpisala pogodbo o dodelitvi nepovratnih sredstev v okviru ukrepa 3.3 EPD Flevoland.
Farm Dairy emphasises that it was only in 2001 that it was informed by Flevoland Province that the aid was not authorised under State aid rules.
Farm Dairy poudarja, da ga je pokrajina Flevoland šele leta 2001 obvestila, da pomoč ni bila odobrena z vidika pravil o državnih pomočeh.
To avoid legal proceedings, the Province proposed paying compensation.
Pokrajina je, da bi se izognila sodnemu postopku, predlagala plačilo nadomestila.
Farm Dairy noted that the decision to open the investigation procedure mentions that the incompatibility of the aid was brought up only in the course of a conversation between the Province and the Commission.
Farm Dairy navaja, da je v odločitvi o sprožitvi postopka navedeno, da je bila nezdružljivost pomoči omenjena na pogovoru med pokrajino in Komisijo.
Yet, the Province had indicated to Farm Dairy that a Commission official had suggested that compensation could be paid.
Vendar je pokrajina povedala Farm Dairy, da je uradnik Komisije predlagal, da je mogoče izplačati nadomestilo.
In view of these elements, Farm Dairy indicates that it could have legitimate faith in the fact that the case was closed.
Farm Dairy navaja, da je glede na te elemente lahko legitimno pričakoval, da je spis zaključen.
As far as the intensity of the aid is concerned, Farm Dairy noted that the final intensity of the aid was […] [6] % of the real investment costs, contrary to the figure of 8,5 % of the estimated investment costs.
V zvezi z intenzivnostjo pomoči Farm Dairy navaja, da je bila končna intenzivnost pomoči […] [6] % dejanskih stroškov naložb, v nasprotju s predvidenimi 8,5 % stroškov naložb.
This percentage is clearly lower than the authorised percentages (for example, in favour of small and medium-sized enterprises).
Ta odstotek je očitno nižji od dovoljenih odstotkov (na primer za mala in srednja podjetja).
Farm Dairy’s observations concerning assessment under the Flevoland SPD
Pripombe Farm Dairy k oceni z vidika EPD Flevoland
Flevoland Province assessed the measure under measure 3.3 of the Flevoland SPD, which is intended to stimulate new agricultural activities and has environmental and job creation goals.
Pokrajina Flevoland je ta ukrep ocenila z vidika ukrepa 3.3 EPD Flevoland, namenjenega spodbujanju nove kmetijske dejavnosti s ciljem ustvarjanja delovnih mest in okoljskimi cilji.
Farm Dairy expressed its surprise to see the Commission qualify the measure as requiring assessment under point 3.2 of the Flevoland SPD regarding Council Regulation (EEC) No 866/90 of 29 March 1990 on improving the processing and marketing conditions for agricultural products [7].
Farm Dairy je presenečen, da je Komisija ta ukrep opredelila kot ukrep, ki ga je treba oceniti z vidika točke 3.2 EPD Flevoland, ki se nanaša na Uredbo Sveta (EGS) št. 866/90 z dne 29. marca 1990 o izboljšanju pogojev predelave in trženja kmetijskih proizvodov [7].
An assessment from this perspective entails an obligation to meet the criteria for investments in point 2.3 of the Annex to Decision 94/173/EC.
Taka ocena pomeni, da je treba upoštevati pogoje za naložbe iz točke 2.3 Priloge k Odločbi 94/173/ES.
Farm Dairy noted that it considered that the conditions set out in point 3.3 of the Flevoland SPD had been met: in particular, in 2000 Farm Dairy had created 61 jobs (instead of the 35 initially planned) and had invested a total of NLG […] million (instead of the 18,5 million initially planned).
Po mnenju Farm Dairy so pogoji iz točke 3.3 EPD Flevoland izpolnjeni: leta 2000 je Farm Dairy ustvaril 61 delovnih mest (namesto predvidenih 35 in vložil skupaj […] milijonov NLG namesto predvidenih 18,5).
Moreover, the investment was positive in environmental terms: there was a reduction in the rates of CO2 emissions and in the use of fuels because of the proximity of the milk producers.
Poleg tega je bila naložba dobra za okolje: zaradi bližine dobaviteljev mleka sta se zmanjšala delež emisij CO2 in poraba goriva.
The innovative concept of the ‘make-to-order’ system reduced the need for refrigerated capacity, which consumes a lot of energy.
Inovativna zasnova sistema „make-to-order“ je zmanjšala potrebo po hladilnih zmogljivostih, ki porabijo veliko energije.
Farm Dairy concluded this point by indicating that the Commission should have approved the subsidy under measure 3.3 instead of measure 3.2 of the Flevoland SPD.
Farm Dairy zaključi točko z navedbo, da bi Komisija morala odobriti nepovratna sredstva na podlagi ukrepa 3.3 namesto ukrepa 3.2 EPD Flevoland.
Farm Dairy’s observations concerning an assessment under Decision 94/173/EC
Pripombe Farm Dairy k oceni z vidika Odločbe 94/173/ES
Firstly, Farm Dairy considered that the aid was compatible with the criteria set out in point 1.1 of Decision 94/173/EC.
Najprej Farm Dairy meni, da je pomoč združljiva s pogoji iz točke 1.1 Odločbe 94/173/ES.
As indicated above, the investment was beneficial for the environment and featured technological innovations.
Kot je navedeno zgoraj, je naložba namreč koristila okolju in je vključevala tehnološke inovacije.
Furthermore, the proximity of milk suppliers allowed the interim costs of collecting the milk to be reduced and the concept of centralising the production chain in one company allowed direct distribution.
Poleg tega so zaradi bližine dobaviteljev mleka nižji vmesni stroški zbiranja mleka, centralizirano zasnovana proizvodna veriga v podjetju pa je omogočila neposredno distribucijo.
Secondly, Farm Dairy considered that the aid in question met the requirements made by the criteria mentioned in point 2.3 of the Annex to Decision 94/173/EC mentioned earlier.
Nato Farm Dairy ocenjuje, da zadevna pomoč ustreza merilom iz točke 2.3 Priloge k zgoraj navedeni Odločbi 94/173/ES.
In particular, Farm Dairy argued that the investment included a major innovative part, for two reasons: firstly, the company’s internal process is based on a ‘make-to-order’ system.
Farm Dairy zlasti trdi, da naložba vsebuje velik delež inovacij, prvič, ker notranji postopek podjetja temelji na sistemu „make-to-order“.
This means that the raw material, the milk, is transformed within the company to a finished product, which is packed on site and loaded immediately into refrigerated lorries.
To pomeni, da se surovina, tj. mleko, v podjetju predela v končni izdelek, ki se tam pakira in naloži na tovornjake hladilnike.
Consequently, this eliminates the need to use a central distribution facility.
Zato je potreba po uporabi logističnega centra za distribucijo manjša.
The system also makes it possible to match the initial supply of milk exactly to the quantity of orders in hand.
Ta sistem omogoča tudi, da vnos mleka natančno ustreza knjigi naročil.
Consequently, this significantly reduces the refrigeration costs connected with transporting milk to the plant.
Zato so stroški hlajenja, povezani s prevozom mleka iz obrata, dosti nižji.
Farm Dairy emphasised that it has invested in modern pasteurisation systems with a high yield in proportion to energy requirements.
Farm Dairy poudarja svojo naložbo v moderne linije za pasterizacijo, ki imajo visok donos glede na porabljeno energijo.
This production process has contributed to the high quality of the Farm Dairy products.
Ta proizvodni postopek je prispeval k visoki kakovosti izdelkov Farm Dairy.
Secondly, Farm Dairy reported having also innovated at production level by introducing 2-litre polyethylene containers on the Dutch market.
Drugič, Farm Dairy navaja, da je uvedel tudi inovacije na ravni proizvodnje, s tem ko je na nizozemski trg uvedel dvolitrsko embalažo iz polietilena. Leta 1999 je bil Farm Dairy prva mlekarna, ki je dala na trg tako embalažo. Takrat je bila na voljo samo manjša embalaža iz kartona. Zato je Farm Dairy iz Združenih držav uvozil poseben stroj za proizvodnjo te embalaže.
In 1999, Farm Dairy was the first dairy product company to put containers like this on the market. At the time, only smaller cardboard containers were available. To this end, Farm Dairy had imported a special machine from the United States to manufacture these containers. In 1999 the demand for these containers was not yet very high.
Leta 1999 ni bilo veliko povpraševanja po taki embalaži.
It was not until 2004 that these containers were in high demand.
Naraslo je šele leta 2004.
Since 2004 Farm Dairy has filled 2-litre containers with more than […] million litres of milk, which makes up […] % of its total milk production.
Od leta 2004 Farm Dairy polni več kot […] milijonov litrov mleka v dvolitrsko embalažo, kar je […] % njegove celotne proizvodnje mleka.
Annexed to Farm Dairy’s observations is a press article reporting on this innovation, along with company statistics indicating the growing proportion of milk sold in 2-litre containers in the period from 1999 to 2008.
Farm Dairy k svojim trditvam prilaga članek, ki govori o tej inovaciji, in statistične podatke podjetja, ki kažejo naraščajoči delež mleka, ki se prodaja v dvolitrski embalaži med letoma 1999 in 2008.
Also enclosed with the comments from Farm Dairy is a report entitled ‘Innovations by Farm Dairy at the time of the SPD application in 1998’, by […], who was the then […] of the competitor company […].
Farm Dairy k svojim trditvam prilaga še poročilo z naslovom „Inovacije podjetja Farm Dairy v času zahteve EPD leta 1998“, ki ga je napisal […] , takratni […] pri konkurenčnem podjetju […] .
Farm Dairy emphasised that this independent report shows that the introduction of 2-litre polyethylene containers on the Dutch market was revolutionary to the extent that the two dominant parties (Friesland-Coberco and Campina Melkunie) tried to curb the introduction of this packaging.
Farm Dairy poudarja, da je v tem neodvisnem poročilu navedeno, da je bila uvedba dvolitrske embalaže iz polietilena na nizozemski trg prava revolucija, ker sta obe prevladujoči podjetji (Friesland-Coberco in Campina Melkunie) ovirali njeno uvedbo.
This container had numerous advantages in comparison with the cardboard containers available at the time.
Ta embalaža je imela v primerjavi z embalažo iz kartona, ki je bila takrat na voljo, številne prednosti.
Farm Dairy was clearly the first to introduce this container to the Netherlands.
Farm Dairy je bil prvo podjetje, ki je na Nizozemskem uvedlo to embalažo.
Furthermore, the logistical concept of the company (production chain in one company) allowed the milk to be kept for longer because of the absence of central distribution facilities and the lack of need for extended supply chains.
Poleg tega logistična zasnova podjetja (proizvodna veriga v enem podjetju) omogoča daljši čas hranjenja mleka, ker ni logističnih centrov za distribucijo in ker ni treba imeti širokih linij za oskrbo.
Farm Dairy also supplied a table where the specific costs of the investment relative to the production of 2-litre containers were isolated from the remaining investment costs.
Farm Dairy predloži tudi preglednico, v kateri so stroški naložbe v proizvodnjo dvolitrske embalaže prikazani ločeno od ostalih stroškov naložbe.
When Farm Dairy was built, four packaging lines were created, including one dedicated specifically to packaging 2-litre containers.
Med gradnjo Farm Dairy so bile zgrajene štiri polnilnice, od katerih je bila ena posebej namenjena polnjenju dvolitrske embalaže.
These costs were also separated from the other investment costs.
Tudi ti stroški so bili prikazani ločeno od ostalih stroškov naložbe.
Farm Dairy also indicated that at the time of the application for investment, it envisaged launching a line of special products: cream in goblets, fruit yoghurts and other cream and fruit-based desserts.
Farm Dairy navaja še, da je v času zahtevka za naložbo nameraval uvesti linijo posebnih izdelkov, smetano v lončkih in sadne jogurte, ter ustvariti druge sladice iz smetane in sadja.
In response to the criteria mentioned in point 2.3 of the Annex to Decision 94/173/EC on the development of demand, Farm Dairy indicated that essentially the demand came from supermarkets and that they were extremely enthusiastic about the idea of having a new player on the market.
Farm Dairy v odgovor na merilo iz točke 2.3 Priloge k Odločbi 94/173/ES, ki se nanaša na gibanje povpraševanja, navaja, da povpraševanje obstaja predvsem v veleblagovnicah, ki so bile izjemno navdušene nad novim subjektom na trgu.
From the start, Farm Dairy had supply contracts with the main supermarkets operating in the Netherlands.
Od vsega začetka je Farm Dairy imel pogodbe o dobavi z največjimi veleblagovnicami, ki poslujejo na Nizozemskem.
As far as the exception concerning the shortage of capacities and the existence of real and effective outlets is concerned, it is clear from the reaction of the supermarkets mentioned in recital 43 that the existence of real and effective outlets was clearly shown.
V zvezi z izjemo, ki se nanaša na nezadostne zmogljivosti in obstoj resničnih in dejanskih prodajnih možnosti, je odziv veleblagovnic, omenjen v triinštirideseti uvodni izjavi, jasno dokazoval, da so obstajale resnične in dejanske prodajne možnosti.
According to Farm Dairy, the shortage of capacities is clear from the Dutch competition authorities decision of 23 December 1998 in the context of Friesland Coberco Dairy Foods taking over the De Kievit dairy product company.
Po navedbah Farm Dairy so nezadostne zmogljivosti razvidne iz odločbe nizozemskih organov za konkurenco (NMa) z dne 23. decembra 1998 v okviru prevzema mlekarne De Kievit s strani Friesland Coberco Dairy Foods.
The Netherlands import more milk for processing than they export.
Nizozemska uvozi več mleka za predelavo, kot ga izvozi.
The import-export balance shows that only 2,5 % of the milk processed in the Netherlands was imported.
Razlika med uvozom in izvozom kaže, da je 2,5 % mleka, predelanega na Nizozemskem, uvoženega.
Farm Diary deduced from all this information that the fresh milk market in the Netherlands did not have excess capacity.
Farm Dairy iz vseh teh informacij sklepa, da zmogljivost trga svežega mleka ni presežena.
In addition, Farm Dairy mentioned that the Flevoland milk suppliers had decided to no longer supply milk to Campina Melkunie, their client, to deliver their milk to Comelco in Belgium.
Farm Dairy še navaja, da so se dobavitelji mleka v Flevolandu odločili, da ne bodo več dobavljali odjemalcu Campina Melkunie, pač pa podjetju Comelco v Belgiji.
However, Campina Melkunie’s takeover of Comelco in 1991 and its final implementation in 1996 forced the milk suppliers to find another alternative.
Vendar sta prevzem Comelca s strani Campina Melkunie leta 1991 in njegova dokončna izvedba leta 1996 dobavitelje mleka prisilila v iskanje druge možnosti.
This other alternative was the arrival of Farm Dairy in 1999.
Druga možnost je prišla leta 1999 s Farm Dairy.
Farm Dairy concluded this point by indicating the difficulties of finding more precise information ten years after the facts, and queries the duration of the procedure between the Commission and the Netherlands.
Farm Dairy zaključi točko z navedbo, da je 10 let po nastanku dejstev težko najti natančnejše informacije in se sprašuje o trajanju postopka med Komisijo in Nizozemsko.
Payment of a compound interest rate
Plačilo obrestnih obresti
Farm Dairy noted the duration of the procedure and its legitimate faith that the case seemed to have been closed to contest the imposition of a compound interest rate as of the award of the aid.
Farm Dairy se sklicuje na trajanje postopka in legitimno pričakovanje, da je spis zaključen, za izpodbijanje obrestnih obresti, ki tečejo od dodelitve pomoči dalje.
Farm Dairy cannot be held responsible for the fact that the case remained inactive for a long period, which caused the accumulation of interest rates.
Farm Dairy ne more odgovarjati za to, da je bil spis dolgo neaktiven, kar je povzročilo kopičenje obresti.
For this reason, Farm Dairy requested the application of a simple interest rate because if it had known that the aid was illegal and if it had had the choice, it would have chosen to repay the sum earlier.
Zato Farm Dairy predlaga, da se uporabi linearna obrestna mera, kajti če bi vedel, da je pomoč nezakonita, in če bi lahko izbiral, bi znesek povrnil že prej.
Farm Dairy based its request on the Commission communication dated 8 May 2003, which indicated that up until then it was not clear what type of interest rate should be applied.
Farm Dairy se pri svoji zahtevi opira na sporočilo Komisije z dne 8. maja 2003, v katerem je navedeno, da do tega datuma ni bilo jasno, katero vrsto obrestne mere je treba uporabiti.
On the basis of the principle of equal treatment, Farm Dairy requested that the Commission decide that the compound interest rate period should not apply for the period before 8 May 2003.
Farm Dairy zaradi načela enakosti predlaga, naj Komisija odloči, da se za obdobje pred 8. majem 2003 obrestne obresti ne uporabijo.
V. Observations presented by the Netherlands
V. Pripombe Nizozemske
By letter of 19 January 2009, the Netherlands presented their comments on the Commission’s decision to initiate the procedure provided for in Article 108(2) of the TFEU in respect of the unnotified aid.
Nizozemska je z dopisom z dne 19. januarja 2009 predložila pripombe k odločitvi Komisije, da sproži postopek iz člena 108(2) PDEU zoper nepriglašeno pomoč.
The Netherlands reaction was limited to noting that they had no additional information to submit, having already supplied it in the context of the preliminary investigation procedure.
Nizozemska v odzivu samo navede, da nima dodatnih informacij, ker je vse predložila že v postopku predhodne preiskave.
In the light of Farm Dairy’s comments, the Commission nonetheless wished to obtain additional explanations.
Glede na pripombe Farm Dairy je Komisija kljub temu želela dodatna pojasnila.
To this effect, it asked the Netherlands to inform it whether the introduction of 2-litre containers was an innovation as Farm Dairy claimed, and whether this aspect was taken into consideration when the Dutch authorities assessed the project.
V ta namen je pozvala Nizozemsko, naj navede, ali je bila uvedba dvolitrskih steklenic taka inovacija, kot navaja Farm Dairy, in ali so nizozemski organi pri oceni projekta upoštevali ta vidik.