natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Article 73 of the EC Treaty provides for overland transport that ‘aids shall be compatible with this Treaty if they meet the needs of coordination of transport or if they represent reimbursement for the discharge of certain obligations inherent in the concept of a public service.’
V členu 73 Pogodbe ES je za kopenski promet določeno: „Pomoči so združljive s to pogodbo, če so potrebne za usklajevanje prevoza ali če so nadomestilo za opravljanje določenih storitev, ki so del javne službe“.
The Altmark case law on the applicability of Article 73
Sodna praksa iz sodbe Altmark glede uporabe člena 73
According to the Court, ‘Article 77 of the EC Treaty (now Article 73 EC) provides that aids which meet the needs of coordination of transport or represent reimbursement for the discharge of certain obligations inherent in the concept of a public service are compatible with the Treaty. … Following the adoption of Regulation No 1107/70 on the granting of aids for transport by rail, road and inland waterway, Member States are no longer authorised to rely on Article 77 of the Treaty, which provides that aids which meet the needs of coordination of transport or represent reimbursement for the discharge of certain obligations inherent in the concept of a public service are compatible with the Treaty, outside the cases referred to in secondary Community legislation. To the extent that Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 on action by the Member States concerning the obligations inherent in the concept of a public service in transport by rail, road and inland waterway does not apply and the subsidies at issue fall within Article 92(1) of the Treaty (now, after amendment, Article 87(1) EC), Regulation (EEC) No 1107/70 lists exhaustively the circumstances in which the authorities of the Member States may grant aids under Article 77 of the Treaty.’ [20]
Sodišče je menilo, da je „v členu 77 [postal člen 73 Pogodbe ES […]] določeno, da so pomoči združljive s to pogodbo, če so potrebne za usklajevanje prevoza ali če so nadomestilo za opravljanje določenih storitev, ki so del javne službe. […] Odkar je bila sprejeta Uredba (EGS) št. 1107/70 o dodeljevanju pomoči v železniškem in cestnem prevozu ter prevozu po celinskih plovnih poteh, se države članice – razen v primerih, na katere se nanaša sekundarno pravo Skupnosti – ne smejo več sklicevati na prednost iz člena 77 Pogodbe, v katerem je določeno, da so pomoči združljive s Pogodbo, če so potrebne za usklajevanje prevoza ali če so nadomestilo za opravljanje določenih storitev, ki so del javne službe. Če se torej v danem primeru Uredba (EGS) št. 1191/69 o ukrepanju držav članic glede obveznosti javne službe v železniškem in cestnem prometu ter prometu po celinskih plovnih poteh ne uporablja in spadajo zadevne subvencije z postopka v glavni stvari na področje uporabe člena 92(1) Pogodbe ES (po spremembi postal člen 87(1)), so v Uredbi (EGS) št. 1107/70 izčrpno navedeni pogoji, pod katerimi lahko organi držav članic dodelijo pomoči na podlagi člena 77 Pogodbe“ [20].
The question therefore is whether Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 or Regulation (EEC) No 1107/70 contain rules on the compatibility of State aid which are applicable in the present case.
Zato se postavlja vprašanje, ali Uredba (EGS) št. 1191/69 ali Uredba (EGS) št. 1107/70 vsebujeta pravila glede združljivosti za državne pomoči, ki jih je mogoče uporabiti v obravnavanem primeru.
Compatibility on the basis of Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69
Združljivost na podlagi Uredbe (EGS) št. 1191/69
Scope of Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69
Področje uporabe Uredbe (EGS) št. 1191/69
The scope of Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 is defined as follows in Article 1(1) and (2) of the Regulation:
V členu 1(1) in (2) je področje uporabe Uredbe (EGS) št. 1191/69 opredeljeno:
This Regulation shall apply to transport undertakings which operate services in transport by rail, road and inland waterway.
Ta uredba se uporablja za prevozna podjetja, ki opravljajo storitve v železniškem in cestnem prometu ter prometu po celinskih plovnih poteh.
Member States may exclude from the scope of this Regulation any undertakings whose activities are confined exclusively to the operation of urban, suburban or regional services.
Države članice lahko s področja uporabe te uredbe izključijo vsa podjetja, katerih dejavnosti so omejene samo na izvajanje mestnih, primestnih ali regionalnih prevozov.
“urban and suburban services” means transport services meeting the needs of an urban centre or conurbation, and transport needs between it and surrounding areas,
‚mestni in primestni prevozi‘ pomenijo prevozne storitve za zadovoljevanje potreb mestnega središča ali mestnega območja ter potrebe po teh storitvah med mestom ali mestnim območjem in okoliškimi območji,
“regional services” means transport services operated to meet the transport needs of a region.’
‚regionalni prevozi‘ pomenijo prevozne storitve za zadovoljevanje potreb regije po prevoznih storitvah.“
Austria has availed itself of the option of excluding certain undertakings from the scope of the Regulation: according to Article 2 of the Privatbahnunterstützungsgesetz 1998 (1998 Private Railways Support Act) [21], undertakings which operate exclusively in the field of urban or suburban services are excluded from the scope of Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69.
Avstrija je uporabila možnost izključitve nekaterih podjetij s področja uporabe zadevne uredbe: na podlagi člena 2 Privatbahnunterstützungsgesetz 1998 [21] so s področja uporabe Uredbe (EGS) št. 1191/69 izključena podjetja, katerih dejavnosti so omejene na izvajanje mestnih in primestnih prevozov.
However, in the present case the services concerned are regional services.
Vendar so v zadevnem primeru obravnavane storitve regionalni prevozi.
Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 does therefore apply to them.
Zato se zanje uporablja Uredba (EGS) št. 1191/69.
The scheme chosen by Austria
Sistem, ki ga je izbrala Avstrija
Article 1(3) to (5) of Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 describe the two different schemes between which Member States can choose as regards the organisation and financing of public transport, namely the scheme under which public service obligations are imposed and the contractual scheme.
V členu 1(3) do (5), Uredbe (EGS) št. 1191/69 sta opisana dva sistema, med katerima lahko države članice izbirajo, kar zadeva organizacijo in financiranje javnega prevoza, tj. sistem naložitve obveznosti javne službe in pogodbeni sistem:
The competent authorities of the Member States shall terminate all obligations inherent in the concept of a public service as defined in this Regulation imposed on transport by rail, road and inland waterway.
Pristojni organi držav članic prenehajo z vsemi obveznostmi javne službe, določenimi v tej uredbi, ki veljajo za železniški in cestni promet ter promet po celinskih plovnih poteh.
In order to ensure adequate transport services which in particular take into account social and environmental factors and town and country planning, or with a view to offering particular fares to certain categories of passenger, the competent authorities of the Member States may conclude public service contracts with a transport undertaking.
Da bi zagotovili ustrezne prevozne storitve, ki zlasti upoštevajo socialne in okoljske dejavnike ter načrtovanje mest in podeželja, ali da bi določenim skupinam potnikov ponudili posebne voznine, lahko pristojni organi držav članic s prevozniškim podjetjem sklenejo pogodbe o izvajanju javne službe.
The conditions and details of operation of such contracts are laid down in Section V.
Pogoji in podrobnosti glede uresničevanja takih pogodb so določeni v oddelku V.
However, the competent authorities of the Member States may maintain or impose the public service obligations referred to in Article 2 for urban, suburban and regional passenger transport services.
Vendar lahko pristojni organi držav članic ohranijo ali uvedejo obveznosti javne službe iz člena 2 za prevoze potnikov v mestnem, primestnem in regionalnem prometu.
The conditions and details of operation, including methods of compensation, are laid down in Sections II, III and IV.
Pogoji in podrobnosti glede izvajanja, skupaj z načini nadomestila, so določeni v oddelkih II, III in IV.
Where a transport undertaking not only operates services subject to public service obligations but also engages in other activities, the public services must be operated as separate divisions meeting at least the following conditions:
Kadar prevozno podjetje ne izvaja samo storitev javne službe, temveč opravlja tudi druge dejavnosti, mora izvajati javne službe kot ločene dejavnosti, pri tem pa izpolnjevati vsaj naslednje pogoje:
the operating accounts corresponding to each of these activities shall be separate and the proportion of the assets pertaining to each shall be used in accordance with the accounting rules in force;
poslovni računi so za vsako dejavnost ločeni, delež sredstev za vsako od teh dejavnosti pa se uporablja v skladu z veljavnimi računovodskimi pravili;
expenditure shall be balanced by operating revenue and payments from public authorities, without any possibility of transfer from or to another sector of the undertaking’s activity.’
izdatki se izravnajo s prihodki iz poslovanja in s plačili javnih organov brez možnosti prenosa iz enega ali v drugi sektor dejavnosti podjetja.“
Austria has opted for the contractual scheme (section 19 ÖPNRV-G).
Avstrija se je odločila za pogodbeni sistem (odstavek 19 ÖPNRV-G).
Consequently, the provisions applicable to the measures in question are those in Section V of Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69.
Zato je treba za obravnavane ukrepe uporabiti predpise iz oddelka V Uredbe (EGS) št. 1191/69.
Application of Section V of Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69
Uporaba oddelka V Uredbe (EGS) št. 1191/69
Section V of Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 consists of a single article, Article 14, which provides:
Oddelek V Uredbe (EGS) št. 1191/69 je sestavljen iz enega samega člena (člena 14), v katerem je določeno:
A “public service contract” shall mean a contract concluded between the competent authorities of a Member State and a transport undertaking in order to provide the public with adequate transport services.
‚Pogodba o izvajanju javne službe‘ pomeni pogodbo med pristojnimi organi države članice in prevoznim podjetjem, da se javnosti zagotovijo ustrezne prevozne storitve.
A public service contract may cover notably:
Pogodba o izvajanju javne službe lahko obsega predvsem:
transport services satisfying fixed standards of continuity, regularity, capacity and quality,
prevozne storitve, ki zadovoljujejo določene standarde o stalnosti, rednosti, zmogljivosti in kakovosti,
additional transport services,
dodatne prevozne storitve,
transport services at specified rates and subject to specified conditions, in particular for certain categories of passenger or on certain routes,
prevozne storitve po določenih tarifah in ob upoštevanju določenih pogojev, zlasti za določene skupine potnikov ali na določenih progah,
adjustments of services to actual requirements.
prilagajanje storitev dejanskim potrebam.
A public service contract shall cover, inter alia, the following points:
Pogodba o izvajanju javne službe med drugim obsega naslednje:
the price of the services covered by the contract, which shall either be added to tariff revenue or shall include the revenue, and details of financial relations between the two parties;
ceno storitev, ki jih obsega pogodba in ki se bodisi prišteje k prihodku od tarif ali vključuje prihodek ter podrobne finančne odnose med obema pogodbenicama;
penalties in the event of failure to comply with the contract.
pogodbene kazni v primeru kršitve določil pogodbe.
Those assets involved in the provision of transport services which are the subject of a public service contract may belong to the undertaking or be placed at its disposal.
Sredstva v zvezi z zagotavljanjem prevoznih storitev, ki jih ureja pogodba o izvajanju javne službe, so lahko last podjetja ali so podjetju dana na voljo.
This provision shall not affect other national procedures applicable as regards entitlement to terminate or modify transport services.
Ta določba ne vpliva na druge nacionalne postopke, ki veljajo za ukinjanje ali spreminjanje prevoznih storitev.
After receiving the information referred to in paragraph 4 the competent authorities may insist on the maintenance of the service concerned for up to one year from the date of notification and they shall inform the undertaking at least one month before the expiry of the notification.
Po prejemu podatkov iz odstavka 4 lahko pristojni organi vztrajajo pri ohranitvi zadevne prevozne storitve še eno leto od datuma uradnega obvestila, podjetje pa o tem obvestijo vsaj en mesec pred potekom uradnega obvestila.
They may also take the initiative of negotiating the establishment or modification of such a transport service.
Prav tako lahko dajo pobudo za pogajanja o uvedbi ali spremembi take prevozne storitve.
Expenditure arising for transport undertakings from the obligations referred to in paragraph 5 shall be compensated in accordance with the common procedures laid down in Sections II, III and IV’.
Izdatki prevoznih podjetij, ki izhajajo iz obveznosti iz odstavka 5 se poravnajo v skladu z enotnimi postopki, določenimi v oddelkih II, III in IV.“
The contract concluded between Postbus and Verkehrsverbund Tirol is a contract concluded between a competent authority of a Member State and a transport undertaking in order to provide the public with adequate transport services.
Pogodba, ki sta jo sklenila družba Postbus in Verkehrsverbund Tirol, je pogodba med pristojnim organom države članice in prevoznim podjetjem, da se javnosti zagotovijo ustrezne prevozne storitve.
This contract includes in particular: transport services satisfying fixed standards of continuity, regularity, capacity and quality; transport services at specified rates and subject to specified conditions, in particular for certain categories of passenger; adjustments of services to actual requirements.
Ta pogodba obsega zlasti: prevozne storitve, ki zadovoljujejo določene standarde o stalnosti, rednosti, zmogljivosti in kakovosti, prevozne storitve po določenih tarifah in ob upoštevanju določenih pogojev, zlasti za določene skupine potnikov ter prilagajanje storitev dejanskim potrebam.
This contract may therefore be considered to be a public service contract within the meaning of Article 14 of Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69.
To pogodbo je mogoče zato šteti za pogodbo o izvajanju javne službe v smislu člena 14 Uredbe (EGS) št. 1191/69.
It should be noted that both the intended purpose (to provide the public with adequate transport services) and the content of the public service contracts (‘fixed standards of continuity, regularity, capacity and quality’, determination of fares, conditions of service ‘for certain categories of passenger or on certain routes’, ‘adjustment of services to actual requirements’ etc.) do not differ from those which may be the subject of public service obligations imposed by the State or public bodies.
Navesti je treba, da niti namen („da se javnosti zagotovijo ustrezne prevozne storitve“) niti vsebina pogodb o izvajanju javne službe („določeni standardi o stalnosti, rednosti, zmogljivosti in kakovosti“, opredelitev tarif in pogojev „za določene skupine potnikov ali na določenih progah“, „prilagajanje storitev dejanskim potrebam“) ne odstopata od namena in vsebine, na katera se lahko nanašajo obveznosti javne službe, ki jih naložijo država ali javni organi.
However, it has already been explained that compensation for such services constitutes aid to the provider.
Vendar je bilo že jasno navedeno, da je nadomestilo za take storitve pomoč v korist izvajalca storitev.
In this respect, it should firstly be noted that the legislator’s aim when adopting Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 was to define under which conditions ‘aid […] which corresponds to the reimbursement of certain obligations inherent in the notion of public services’ as referred to in Article 73 of the Treaty is compatible with the common market.
Glede tega je najprej treba opozoriti, da je želel zakonodajalec s sprejetjem Uredbe (EGS) št. 1191/69 opredeliti, pod katerimi pogoji so pomoči v obliki „nadomestil[a] za opravljanje določenih storitev, ki so del javne službe“ iz člena 73 Pogodbe ES združljive s skupnim trgom.
Both the application of Article 73 of the Treaty and the application of Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 presuppose the existence of State aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) of the Treaty.
Zato se za uporabo člena 73 Pogodbe ES in torej tudi uporabo Uredbe (EGS) št. 1191/69 predpostavi, da obstaja državna pomoč v smislu člena 87(1) Pogodbe ES.
If the content of contracts can be covered by the concept in Article 73 of the EC Treaty of ‘obligations inherent in the concept of public services’, the type of instrument, a contract and not a unilaterally imposed obligation, should not per se prevent aid which might be contained in the price from being deemed to be compatible.
Če lahko torej pojem „storitve, ki so del javne službe“, iz člena 73 zaobjema vsebino pogodb, ne bi smelo biti dopuščeno, da se samo zaradi oblike instrumenta (pogodba, in ne enostransko naložena obveznost) izključi možnost, da se razglasi združljivost pomoči, ki so lahko zajete v ceno.
The decisive factor when determining the nature of a service, whether imposed by the State or approved by the parties to a contract, as a public service obligation is its content and not the form in which it originates [22].
Odločilni dejavnik za opredelitev storitve (ne glede na to, ali jo naloži država ali se zanjo dogovorita pogodbenici) za obveznost javne službe je namreč vsebina zadevne storitve, in ne oblika, v kateri je določeno njeno opravljanje [22].
It can therefore be concluded that there is no legal obstacle to aid included in the cost of services provided for by a public service contract being deemed by the Commission to be compatible with the common market.
Na podlagi tega je mogoče sklepati, da s pravnega vidika nič ne nasprotuje možnosti, da Komisija pomoč, zajeto v ceni storitev, ki je določena s pogodbo o izvajanju javne službe, razglasi za združljivo s skupnim trgom.
It should be noted that this solution was also chosen by the co-legislators in the new Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on public passenger transport services by rail and by road [23].
Opozoriti je treba, da sta tako rešitev sprejela tudi sozakonodajalca v novi Uredbi (ES) št. 1370/2007 Evropskega parlamenta in Sveta z dne 23. oktobra 2007 o javnih storitvah železniškega in cestnega potniškega prevoza [23].
However, Article 12 of that Regulation stipulates that it does not enter into force until 1 December 2009.
Vendar je v členu 12 te uredbe določeno, da začne veljati šele 3. decembra 2009.
It is therefore not applicable to the contract in question which has been concluded before the Regulation enters into force.
Zato se ne uporablja za obravnavano pogodbo, ki je bila sklenjena pred začetkom veljavnosti navedene uredbe.
In the absence of specific conditions regarding compatibility in Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69, the Commission considers that the general principles which flow from the Treaty, the case-law and the decision-making practice in other fields should apply when determining whether such aid is compatible.
Ker z Uredbo (EGS) št. 1191/69 niso določeni natančni pogoji glede združljivosti, Komisija meni, da bi se bilo treba pri odločanju o združljivosti takih pomoči ravnati po splošnih načelih, ki izhajajo iz Pogodbe, sodne prakse in prakse odločanja Komisije na drugih področjih.
The Commission provided a general summary of those principles in part 2,4 of the above-mentioned Framework [24].
Komisija je ta načela v splošnem povzela v delu 2.4 Okvira Skupnosti za državne pomoči v obliki nadomestila za javne storitve [24].
As regards the compatibility of the aid included in the cost paid by a public authority to a public service provider, paragraph 14 of the Framework provides:
Kar zadeva združljivost pomoči, zajetih v ceno, ki jo izvajalcu javne službe plača javni organ, je v točki 14 tega okvira določeno:
‘The amount of compensation may not exceed what is necessary to cover the costs incurred in discharging the public service obligations, taking into account the relevant receipts and reasonable profit for discharging those obligations. The amount of compensation includes all the advantages granted by the State or through State resources in any form whatsoever.’
„Znesek nadomestila ne sme presegati zneska, potrebnega za pokrivanje stroškov, ki so nastali pri izpolnjevanju obveznosti javnih storitev, ob upoštevanju ustreznih prejemkov in zmernega dobička za izpolnjevanje navedenih obveznosti. Znesek nadomestila vključuje vse prednosti, ki jih dodeli država, ali kakršno koli vrsto prednosti iz državnih sredstev.“
The payments from Verkehrsverbund Tirol to Postbus must therefore be deemed to be compatible with the common market if they satisfy these requirements.
Plačila Verkehrsverbund Tirol družbi Postbus je torej treba razglasiti za združljiva s skupnim trgom, če izpolnjujejo navedene pogoje.
These requirements correspond very precisely to the third Altmark criterion which – as stated above – has been met in the case in question.
Ti pogoji se zelo natančno ujemajo s tretjim merilom iz sodbe Altmark, glede katerega je bilo odločeno, da je v obravnavanem primeru izpolnjeno.
It can therefore be concluded that the State aid granted by Verkehrsverbund Tirol to Postbus in the framework of the public service obligation is compatible with the common market on the basis of Article 14 of Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69.
Na podlagi tega je torej mogoče ugotoviti, da je državna pomoč, ki jo je Verkehrsverbund Tirol dodelil družbi Postbus na podlagi pogodbe o izvajanju javne službe, združljiva s skupnim trgom na podlagi člena 14 Uredbe (EGS) št. 1191/69.
No exceptions to notification obligation
Neobstoj izvzetja iz obveznosti priglasitve
Austria considers that, on the basis of Article 17(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69, the public service contract between Verkehrsverbund Tirol and Postbus is exempt from compulsory notification under Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty.
Avstrija meni, da iz člena 17(2) Uredbe (EGS) št. 1191/69 izhaja, da je pogodba o izvajanju javne službe, ki sta jo sklenila Verkehrsverbund Tirol in družba Postbus, izvzeta iz priglasitve na podlagi člena 88(3) Pogodbe ES.
Article 17(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 states that ‘compensation paid pursuant to this Regulation shall be exempt from the preliminary information procedure laid down in Article 93(3) of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community’.
Člen 17(2) Uredbe (EGS) št. 1191/69 se glasi: „Nadomestilo, ki se izplača po tej uredbi, je izvzeto iz predhodnega postopka obveščanja, določenega v členu 93(3) Pogodbe o ustanovitvi Evropske gospodarske skupnosti.“
The question therefore is whether the payments which Verkehrsverbund Tirol makes under the public service contract with Postbus constitute compensation within the meaning of Article 17(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69.
Torej se postavlja vprašanje, ali so plačila, ki jih Verkehrsverbund Tirol zagotavlja na podlagi pogodbe o izvajanju javne službe, sklenjene s podjetjem Postbus, nadomestila v smislu člena 17(2) Uredbe (EGS) št. 1191/69.