natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
The Commission considers therefore that, despite weakening the company, the compensatory measures will not prevent a restoration of viability.
Zato Komisija meni, da izravnalni ukrepi ne bodo ovirali ponovne vzpostavitve sposobnosti preživetja podjetja, čeprav ga bodo oslabili.
Avoidance of undue distortions of competition
Preprečevanje čezmernega izkrivljanja konkurence
Analysis of the necessity of the compensatory measures
Analiza nujnosti izravnalnih ukrepov
Point 38 of the restructuring guidelines provides that, in order for restructuring aid to be authorised by the Commission, compensatory measures must be taken to lessen the adverse effects of the aid on trading conditions.
Odstavek 38 smernic za prestrukturiranje določa, da lahko Komisija odobri pomoč za prestrukturiranje samo, če se sprejmejo izravnalni ukrepi za zmanjšanje negativnih učinkov pomoči na pogoje trgovanja.
Otherwise, the aid will be regarded as ‘contrary to the common interest’ and declared incompatible with the common market.
V nasprotnem primeru je treba za pomoč šteti, da je „v nasprotju s skupnimi interesi“, in jo razglasiti za nezdružljivo s skupnim trgom.
This condition often takes the form of a limitation on the presence which the company can maintain in its market or markets after the end of the restructuring period.
Ta pogoj se pogosto izrazi z omejitvijo prisotnosti, ki jo podjetje lahko ohrani na trgu ali trgih po koncu obdobja prestrukturiranja.
In its notification, France asserted that compensatory measures did not appear necessary in this case, inter alia, because the aid would not have any excessive distortive effects.
Francija je v priglasitvi trdila, da se izravnalni ukrepi v obravnavanem primeru ne zdijo nujni, zlasti ker naj pomoč ne bi imela učinkov čezmernega izkrivljanja.
In paragraphs 37, 38 and 40 of the opening decision, the Commission explained briefly why it rejected this assertion.
Komisija v odstavkih 37, 38 in 40 odločitve o sprožitvi postopka na kratko pojasnjuje, zakaj to trditev zavrača.
In the paragraphs that follow, the Commission explains in greater detail why it considers that the aid causes distortion and why, contrary to what the French authorities assert, the implementation of the compensatory measures is necessary.
V naslednjih odstavkih Komisija podrobneje pojasnjuje, zakaj pomoč po njenem mnenju povzroča izkrivljanje in zakaj je izvajanje izravnalnih ukrepov nujno potrebno, v nasprotju s trditvami francoskih organov.
As already indicated, FagorBrandt is present in the sector of the manufacture and marketing to distributors (as opposed to the distribution and sale to private individuals) of large electrical household appliances.
Kot je bilo že navedeno, je podjetje FagorBrandt prisotno v sektorju proizvodnje bele tehnike in njenega trženja pri distributerjih (v nasprotju z distribucijo in prodajo posameznikom).
As regards the geographic dimension of the large electrical household appliance market, the Commission has in the past considered it to be at least Community-wide owing, among other things, to the absence of entry barriers, technical harmonisation and relatively low transport costs [20].
Glede geografske razsežnosti trga bele tehnike je Komisija v preteklosti menila, da zajema najmanj celotno Skupnost, zlasti ker ni vstopnih ovir ter zaradi tehničnega usklajevanja in razmeroma nizkih prevoznih stroškov [20].
The data provided by FagorBrandt and the two competitors which submitted comments confirm that the market is Community-wide in scale.
Podatki, ki so jih predložili FagorBrandt in dva konkurenta, ki sta poslala pripombe, potrjujejo, da ima trg razsežnost Skupnosti.
The Commission considers that restructuring aid automatically creates a distortion of competition by preventing the recipient from being forced out of the market and thus hindering the development of competing firms.
Komisija meni, da pomoč za prestrukturiranje že sama po sebi pomeni izkrivljanje konkurence, ker upravičencu preprečuje umik s trga in tako zavira razvoj konkurenčnih podjetij.
Such aid therefore obstructs the market exit of the least efficient firms, which is, in the words of point 4 of the restructuring guidelines, ‘a normal part of the operation of the market’.
Taka pomoč torej zavira umik najmanj uspešnih podjetij, ki je „običajen del delovanja trga“, kot je navedeno v odstavku 4 smernic za prestrukturiranje.
The notified aid in favour of FagorBrandt therefore gives rise to the abovementioned distortion of competition.
Priglašena pomoč za podjetje FagorBrandt torej povzroča navedeno izkrivljanje konkurence.
The Commission would observe, however, that the following factors tend to limit the negative consequences of this distortion of competition.
Vendar Komisija ugotavlja, da naslednji dejavniki omejujejo negativne posledice takega izkrivljanja konkurence.
Firstly, in the European market for large electrical appliances, FagorBrandt has a market share of at most 5 % [21].
Prvič, FagorBrandt ima na evropskem trgu bele tehnike največ petodstotni tržni delež [21].
Secondly, there are in this market four competitors (Indesit, Whirlpool, BSH and Electrolux) with market shares of 10 % or more [22].
Drugič, na tem trgu so štirje konkurenti z več kot 10-odstotnim tržnim deležem (Indesit, Whirlpool, BSH in Electrolux) [22].
The competitor requesting anonymity acknowledges, moreover, that FagorBrandt is a relatively small player in the European market (see above the doubts expressed by this competitor concerning the company’s return to viability, related to its small size) whose market share is diminishing [23].
Tudi konkurent, ki je želel ostati anonimen, priznava, da je FagorBrandt razmeroma majhen akter na evropskem trgu (glej zgornje dvome, ki jih je ta konkurent imel o ponovni vzpostavitvi sposobnosti preživetja podjetja in njegovi majhnosti), njegov tržni delež pa se zmanjšuje [23].
Thirdly, the aid amount is small in relation to FagorBrandt’s European turnover (being equal to less than 4 % of 2007 turnover) — even more so when compared with that of the four main market operators, whose turnovers are larger than that of FagorBrandt [24].
Tretjič, znesek pomoči je omejen glede na promet, ki ga FagorBrandt ustvarja v Evropi (pomoč pomeni manj kot 4 % prometa iz leta 2007), še bolj pa glede na promet štirih glavnih akterjev na trgu, katerih promet je večji od prometa skupine FagorBrandt [24].
While the previous paragraph analyses the distortion of competition brought about by the aid, it is also necessary, as indicated in point 38 of the restructuring guidelines, which in turn reflects Article 87(3)(c) of the Treaty, to analyse the scale of the ‘adverse effects on trading conditions’ between Member States.
Medtem ko je v prejšnjem odstavku analizirano izkrivljanje konkurence zaradi pomoči, je treba, kot je navedeno v odstavku 38 smernic za prestrukturiranje, v katerem se odraža člen 87(3)(c) Pogodbe, analizirati obseg „škodljivih učinkov na pogoje trgovanja“ med državami članicami.
As already observed in paragraph 38 of the opening decision, the aid distorts the location of economic activities, and hence trade, between Member States.
Kot je bilo navedeno že v odstavku 38 odločitve o sprožitvi postopka, pomoč izkrivlja izbiro kraja za opravljanje gospodarskih dejavnosti med državami članicami, posledično pa tudi trgovanje med njimi.
FagorBrandt is a company the great majority of whose production activities and employees are located in France ([75-100] % of the volumes produced by the company are produced there).
FagorBrandt je podjetje, ki ima veliko večino proizvodnih dejavnosti in zaposlenih v Franciji ([75–100] % proizvedene količine podjetje proizvede v Franciji).
Without aid from the French State, FagorBrandt would soon exit the market.
Brez pomoči francoske države bi se podjetje FagorBrandt hitro umaknilo s trga.
However, the products manufactured at FagorBrandt’s production sites are in competition mainly with products manufactured by competitors in other Member States [25].
Proizvodi, ki prihajajo iz proizvodnih obratov skupine FagorBrandt, v glavnem konkurirajo proizvodom, ki jih konkurenti proizvajajo v drugih državah članicah [25].
Consequently, the disappearance of FagorBrandt would enable those European competitors to increase appreciably their sales and hence their production.
Zato bi zaradi izginotja podjetja FagorBrandt ti evropski konkurenti lahko precej povečali svojo prodajo, torej tudi proizvodnjo.
The aid has the effect of maintaining in France production activities which would otherwise have been partly moved to other Member States.
Zaradi pomoči se bodo v Franciji ohranile proizvodne dejavnosti, ki bi se v nasprotnem primeru preselile v druge države članice.
It therefore has an adverse effect on trading conditions by reducing the opportunities for competitors based in other Member States to export to France [26].
Pomoč ima torej škodljiv učinek na pogoje trgovanja, saj konkurentom s sedežem v drugih državah članicah zmanjšuje možnosti izvoza v Francijo [26].
The aid also reduces the opportunities for selling to those countries where FagorBrandt is going to continue to export its products.
S pomočjo se tudi zmanjšujejo možnosti za prodajo v države, v katere bo podjetje FagorBrandt še naprej izvažalo svoje proizvode.
In view of the scale of FagorBrandt’s sales and the corresponding number of jobs, these adverse effects on trading conditions are not negligible.
Glede na prodajni obseg skupine FagorBrandt in število s tem povezanih delovnih mest ti škodljivi učinki na pogoje trgovanja niso zanemarljivi.
On the basis of the above analysis, the Commission considers that real (i.e. non-negligible) compensatory measures, the size of which is nevertheless limited, are necessary.
Komisija na podlagi navedene analize meni, da so potrebni dejanski (to je nezanemarljivi) izravnalni ukrepi, vendar v omejenem obsegu.
Analysis of the measures already implemented
Analiza že izvedenih ukrepov
During the course of the formal investigation procedure, France repeated that it considered that the cessation of the manufacture of chest freezers and freestanding microwave ovens, together with the sale of Brandt Components, constituted three meaningful compensatory measures.
Francija je na podlagi formalnega postopka preiskave ponovila, da so ukinitev proizvodnje zamrzovalnih skrinj in samostoječih mikrovalovnih pečic ter prodaja podružnice Brandt Components trije veljavni izravnalni ukrepi.
The Commission accordingly conducted a detailed analysis of these measures and drew the following conclusions.
Zato je Komisija te ukrepe podrobno proučila in ugotovila naslednje.
Regarding the closure of the chest freezer manufacturing plant (at Lesquin) in 2005, France indicated in its notification of 6 August 2007 that this plant, ‘which made chest freezers and wine cellars for the whole FagorBrandt group, had fallen to a size … which no longer enabled it to cover either its variable costs or its fixed costs and had generated an operating loss of EUR [5-10] million in 2004’.
Francija je v zvezi z zaprtjem tovarne za proizvodnjo zamrzovalnih skrinj leta 2005 (obrat v Lesquinu) v dopisu z dne 6. avgusta 2007 navedla, da je ta obrat, „v katerem so izdelovali zamrzovalne skrinje in vinske vitrine za celotno skupino FagorBrandt, dosegel velikost […], ki mu ni več omogočala kritja variabilnih stroškov niti fiksnih stroškov, in leta 2004 ustvaril [5–10] milijonov EUR izgube iz poslovanja“.
There can therefore be no doubt that what is involved here is a closure of a loss-making business rendered necessary in order to restore viability [27] and that, in accordance with point 40 of the restructuring guidelines, it cannot be taken into account as a compensatory measure.
Nobenega dvoma torej ni, da gre v obravnavanem primeru za opustitev deficitne dejavnosti, ki je nujna za ponovno vzpostavitev sposobnosti preživetja [27], in da je na podlagi odstavka 40 smernic za prestrukturiranje ni mogoče šteti za izravnalni ukrep.
The cessation of production of freestanding microwave ovens at the Aizenay plant also involved the closure of a loss-making activity needed in order to re-establish viability — something which the French authorities explicitly acknowledged in their submissions [28].
Tudi pri ukinitvi proizvodnje samostoječih mikrovalovnih pečic v obratu v Aizenayu je šlo za opustitev deficitne dejavnosti, ki je bila nujna za ponovno vzpostavitev sposobnosti preživetja, kar so tudi francoski organi izrecno priznali v predloženih dokumentih [28].
The unprofitability of that activity is not surprising given that freestanding microwave ovens are one of the market segments products from low-cost countries have penetrated the most [29].
Nedobičkonosnost te dejavnosti ni presenetljiva, saj so samostoječe mikrovalovne pečice eden od tržnih segmentov, na katerega so proizvodi iz poceni držav najbolj prodrli [29].
Moreover, the Aizenay plant had lost important microwave oven production contracts for other groups [30].
Poleg tega je tovarna iz Aizenaya izgubila pomembna naročila za proizvodnjo mikrovalovnih pečic za druge skupine [30].
In conclusion, on the basis of point 40 of the restructuring guidelines, this measure cannot be taken into account as a compensatory measure.
Skratka, na podlagi odstavka 40 smernic za prestrukturiranje tega ukrepa torej ni mogoče šteti za izravnalni ukrep.
By contrast, in March 2004 the company divested its subsidiary Brandt Components (Nevers plant) to the Austrian group ATB for EUR [2-5] million.
Po drugi strani je marca 2004 podjetje za [2–5] milijonov EUR podružnico Brandt Components (obrat v Neversu) prodalo avstrijski skupini ATB.
What was involved here, therefore, was neither a write-off [31] nor a closure of an activity.
Zato to ni odpis dolgov [31] niti opustitev dejavnosti.
This measure is therefore not excluded by the said provision in point 40 of the restructuring guidelines.
Tega ukrepa torej ne izključuje navedena določba iz odstavka 40 smernic za prestrukturiranje.
The business divested in March 2004 [32] had in 2003 a turnover of EUR [25-45] million — equivalent to [2-5] % of the company’s 2003 turnover — and [250-500] employees — equivalent to [5-10] % of the company’s workforce.
Marca 2004 [32] prodana dejavnost je v letu 2003 ustvarila promet v višini [25–45] milijonov EUR – kar je [2–5] % prometa podjetja v letu 2003 – in štela [250–500] zaposlenih – kar je [5–10] % vseh zaposlenih v podjetju.
It was active in the design, development, manufacture and marketing of electric motors for washing machines.
Vključena je bila v zasnovo, razvoj, proizvodnjo in trženje električnih motorjev za pralne stroje.
The divestment has accordingly led to a reduction in the company’s presence in the washing machine component market.
Zaradi te prodaje se je torej zmanjšala prisotnost podjetja na trgu sestavnih delov za pralne stroje.
While accepting that this measure constitutes a compensatory measure, the Commission considers that it cannot on its own outweigh the adverse effects of the aid described above.
Čeprav se Komisija strinja, da je ta ukrep izravnalen, pa meni, da sam po sebi ne more izravnati škodljivih učinkov zgoraj opisane pomoči.
The Commission would observe notably that the measure does not reduce FagorBrandt’s presence in the large electrical household appliance market [33], the main market in which FagorBrandt will remain present.
Komisija zlasti ugotavlja, da se s tem ukrepom ne zmanjšuje prisotnost podjetja FagorBrandt na trgu bele tehnike [33], to je na največjem trgu, na katerem bo podjetje FagorBrandt še naprej prisotno.
Additional compensatory measures proposed by the French authorities
Dodatni izravnalni ukrepi, ki jih predlagajo francoski organi
To meet the concerns raised in the opening decision regarding the inadequacy of the notified compensatory measures, the French authorities propose the cessation of the marketing of Vedette refrigeration appliances and cooking appliances for a period of five years.
Da bi odpravili dvome o nezadostnosti priglašenih izravnalnih ukrepov iz odločitve o sprožitvi postopka, francoski organi predlagajo petletno ustavitev trženja proizvodov hladilne tehnike in kuhalnih aparatov Vedette.
Moreover, they propose either the cessation of the marketing of Vedette dishwashers or the divestment of the […] brand.
Poleg tega predlagajo ustavitev trženja pomivalnih strojev Vedette ali prodajo blagovne znamke […].
As indicated above, FagorBrandt achieves [50-80] % of its sales in the French market, where in 2006 the company had a market share of [10-20] % in terms of value and [10-20] % in terms of volume.
Kot je bilo navedeno, FagorBrandt ustvari [50–80] % prodaje na francoskem trgu, na katerem je imelo podjetje leta 2006 [10–20]-odstotni tržni delež po vrednosti in [10–20]-odstotni tržni delež po količini.
This means that if FagorBrandt had ceased trading, it is mainly its competitors in the French market that would have benefited in the form of increased sales.
To pomeni, da bi od prodaje dejavnosti podjetja FagorBrandt imeli največjo korist njegovi konkurenti na francoskem trgu, saj bi lahko povečali svojo prodajo.
It is therefore those companies that are the most affected by the continued existence of FagorBrandt due to the aid.
Preživetje podjetja FagorBrandt na podlagi pomoči bi torej najbolj prizadelo ta podjetja.
Conversely, FagorBrandt’s sales in the Italian market are very limited.
Nasprotno pa je prodaja podjetja FagorBrandt na italijanskem trgu zelo omejena.
The Commission would therefore give preference as a compensatory measure to cessation of the marketing of dishwashers under the Vedette brand as opposed to divestment of the […] brand, products of the Vedette brand [34] being sold exclusively in the French market whereas products […] are sold primarily […].
Komisija je torej kot izravnalnemu ukrepu bolj naklonjena ustavitvi trženja pomivalnih strojev pod blagovno znamko Vedette kot pa prodaji blagovne znamke […], saj se proizvodi blagovne znamke Vedette [34] tržijo izključno na francoskem trgu, medtem ko se proizvodi […] prodajajo v glavnem […].
The scale of these additional compensatory measures must therefore be analysed to establish their adequacy.
Treba je torej proučiti obseg teh dodatnih izravnalnih ukrepov in ugotoviti, ali so zadostni.
Refrigeration products
Proizvodi hladilne tehnike
Sales of refrigeration products (refrigerators and freezers) of the Vedette brand were worth, in 2007, EUR [10-20] million, equivalent to [1-3] % of the FagorBrandt group’s turnover.
Prodaja proizvodov hladilne tehnike (hladilnikov in zamrzovalnikov) blagovne znamke Vedette je leta 2007 dosegla [10–20] milijonov EUR, kar je [1–3] % prometa skupine FagorBrandt.
Cessation of the marketing of refrigeration products for a period of five years will enable competitors in the French market to strengthen their position in the refrigeration segment.
Petletna ustavitev trženja proizvodov hladilne tehnike bo konkurentom na francoskem trgu omogočila, da utrdijo položaj v sektorju hladilne tehnike.
According to the 2007 GfK study, the main competitors of FagorBrandt — which has a market share based on value of […] % — in the refrigerator market in France are Whirlpool ([…] %), Indesit ([…] %) and Electrolux ([…] %).
Po podatkih iz študije GfK iz leta 2007 so glavni konkurenti skupine FagorBrandt – ki ima […]-odstotni tržni delež po vrednosti – na trgu hladilnikov v Franciji Whirlpool ([…] %), Indesit ([…] %) in Electrolux ([…] %).
In the freezer market, the main competitors of FagorBrandt ([…] %) are Whirlpool ([…] %), Liebherr ([…] %) and Electrolux ([…] %).
Na trgu zamrzovalnikov so glavni konkurenti skupine FagorBrandt ([…] %) Whirlpool ([…] %), Liebherr ([…] %) in Electrolux ([…] %).
Cooking products
Kuhalni aparati
Sales of cooking products of the Vedette brand were worth, in 2007, EUR [5-10] million, equivalent to [0,5-1,5] % of the FagorBrandt group’s turnover.
Prodaja kuhalnih aparatov blagovne znamke Vedette je leta 2007 dosegla [5–10] milijonov EUR, kar je [0,5–1,5] % prometa skupine FagorBrandt.
Cessation of the marketing of cooking products for a period of five years will therefore enable competitors to strengthen their position in the cooker market.
Zato bo petletna ustavitev trženja kuhalnih aparatov konkurentom omogočila, da utrdijo svoj položaj na trgu štedilnikov.
According to the 2007 GfK study, the main competitors of FagorBrandt (which has a market share based on value of […] %) in the cooker market in France are Indesit ([…] %), Electrolux ([…] %) and Candy ([…] %).
Po podatkih študije GfK iz leta 2007 so glavni konkurenti skupine FagorBrandt (ki ima […]-odstotni tržni delež po vrednosti) na trgu štedilnikov v Franciji Indesit ([…] %), Electrolux ([…] %) in Candy ([…] %).
Dishwashers
Pomivalni stroji
Sales of dishwashers of the Vedette brand were worth, in 2007, EUR [5-10] million, equivalent to [0,5-1,5] % of the FagorBrandt group’s turnover.
Prodaja pomivalnih strojev blagovne znamke Vedette je leta 2007 dosegla [5–10] milijonov EUR, kar je [0,5–1,5] % prometa skupine FagorBrandt.
According to the 2007 GfK study, the main competitors of FagorBrandt (which has a market share based on value of […] %) in the dishwasher market in France are BSH ([…] %), Whirlpool ([…] %) and Electrolux ([…] %).
Po podatkih iz študije GfK iz leta 2007 so glavni konkurenti skupine FagorBrandt (ki ima […]-odstotni tržni delež po vrednosti) na trgu pomivalnih strojev v Franciji BSH ([…] %), Whirlpool ([…] %) in Electrolux ([…] %).
Consequently, cessation of the marketing of dishwashers under the Vedette brand will enable competitors to expand their presence in the market.
Zato bo ukinitev trženja pomivalnih strojev pod blagovno znamko Vedette konkurentom omogočila, da povečajo prisotnost na trgu.
Conclusion on the additional compensatory measures
Sklep o dodatnih izravnalnih ukrepih
To sum up, the Vedette products the marketing of which will be stopped account for [3-5] % of the group’s turnover [35].
Če povzamemo, proizvodi Vedette, katerih trženje se bo ustavilo, obsegajo [3–5] % prometa skupine [35].
The French authorities indicate that this will necessitate significant adjustments within the company […].
Francoski organi navajajo, da bo to zahtevalo precej prilagajanja znotraj podjetja […].
Conclusion on all the compensatory measures
Sklep o vseh izravnalnih ukrepih
The compensatory measures are the cessation of the marketing for a period of five years of certain products of the Vedette brand (cooking, refrigeration and dishwashing) [36] and the divestment of Brandt Components.
Izravnalni ukrepi zajemajo petletno ustavitev trženja nekaterih proizvodov (kuhalnih aparatov, hladilne tehnike in pomivalnih strojev) blagovne znamke Vedette [36] in prodajo podružnice Brandt Components.
The result is a real (i.e. non-negligible) reduction in market presence, the size of which is, however, limited.
Gre za dejansko (to je nezanemarljivo), vendar omejeno zmanjšanje prisotnosti na trgu.
This reduction is therefore proportionate to the extent of the distortion of competition and trade as analysed above.
To zmanjšanje je torej sorazmerno z obsegom izkrivljanja konkurence in trgovanja, kot je bilo analizirano zgoraj.
Consequently, the Commission considers that these measures can avert the risk of excessive distortions of competition within the meaning of points 38 to 40 of the restructuring guidelines.
Zato Komisija meni, da se s temi ukrepi lahko prepreči čezmerno izkrivljanje konkurence v smislu odstavkov od 38 do 40 smernic za prestrukturiranje.
Aid limited to the minimum: real contribution, free of aid
Omejitev pomoči na najmanjšo potrebno: realni prispevek brez pomoči
In order for aid to be authorised, the amount and intensity of the aid must, pursuant to points 43 to 45 of the restructuring guidelines, be limited to the strict minimum necessary to enable restructuring to be undertaken in the light of the existing financial resources of the company, its shareholders or the business group to which it belongs.
Da se pomoč lahko odobri, morata biti znesek in intenzivnost pomoči v skladu z odstavki od 43 do 45 smernic za prestrukturiranje strogo omejena na najmanjša potrebna za prestrukturiranje, ob upoštevanju dejanskih finančnih virov podjetja, njegovih delničarjev ali skupine, v katero spada.