natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
The Commission also expressed doubts as to whether the conditions imposed by the 2003 decision had been complied with, namely the principle of price leadership and the frequency of services to Corsica.
Komisija je prav tako izrazila dvom o upoštevanju pogojev, določenih z Odločbo iz leta 2003, to je načela price leadership in števila povratnih povezav s Korziko.
As regards the negative price at which SNCM was sold, the Commission had doubts regarding compliance of the recapitalisation by the State prior to the sale of SNCM with the principle of the private investor in a market economy.
Kar zadeva negativno prodajno ceno družbe SNCM, je Komisija izrazila dvom o skladnosti finančne sanacije, ki jo je opravila država pred odprodajo družbe SNCM, z načelom zasebnega vlagatelja v tržnem gospodarstvu.
In particular, the Commission expressed doubts as to the validity of the calculation of the liquidation costs which the State shareholder would be required to pay in the event of the liquidation of SNCM.
Komisija je zlasti izrazila dvom o veljavnosti izračuna stroškov likvidacije, ki bi jih država delničarka morala plačati v primeru likvidacije družbe SNCM.
The Commission questioned whether the financial measures might be justified under the guidelines on rescue and restructuring aid.
Komisija je podvomila o dejstvu, da bi bili finančni ukrepi lahko upravičeni na podlagi smernic o pomoči za reševanje in prestrukturiranje.
It also cast doubts concerning the second recapitalisation of EUR 8,75 million so far as concerns observance of the principles of concomitance of the individual and public investment and the similarity of the subscription conditions within the meaning of the case-law.
Poleg tega je izrazila dvom o drugi finančni sanaciji v višini 8,75 milijona EUR, kar zadeva upoštevanje načel sočasnosti med zasebnimi in javnimi naložbami ter istovetnost pogojev vpisa v smislu sodne prakse.
Finally, the Commission expressed doubts as to whether the additional social measures of EUR 38,5 million of aid could constitute an indirect advantage for the undertaking.
Komisija je nazadnje izrazila dvom o dejstvu, da lahko dodatni socialni ukrepi v znesku v višini 38,5 milijona EUR pomoči za osebe pomenijo posredno ugodnost za podjetje.
It also noted the risk of conflict with the supplementary redundancy payments as part of the risks borne by reasonable investors.
Poudarila je tudi tveganje protislovja s tem, da se dodatne odpravnine upoštevajo kot del tveganj, ki jih nosi preudarni vlagatelj.
POSITION OF THE FRENCH AUTHORITIES
STALIŠČE FRANCOSKIH ORGANOV
The 2002 recapitalisation
Finančna sanacija iz leta 2002
The sum of EUR 53,48 million in the light of the Altmark case
Znesek v višini 53,48 milijona EUR z vidika sodbe Altmark
Fulfilment of the four Altmark criteria
Upoštevanje štirih meril iz sodbe Altmark
In their letter of 7 April 2006 and in connection with the comments submitted following the 2006 decision, the French authorities called upon the Commission to find that, on account of its ‘public service compensation’ nature for the period 1991 to 2001, a part of the capital increase of 2002, namely EUR 53,48 million, does not constitute State aid in the light of Altmark, considering that the four conditions laid down in that judgment are fulfilled in the present case.
Francoski organi v dopisu z dne 7. aprila 2006 in v okviru svojih pripomb, predloženih na podlagi Odločbe iz leta 2006, Komisijo pozivajo, naj ugotovi, da del povečanja kapitala iz leta 2002, to je 53,48 milijona EUR, zaradi svoje narave „nadomestila za opravljanje javne službe“ za obdobje 1991–2001 na podlagi sodbe Altmark ne pomeni državne pomoči, ker so v obravnavanem primeru štirje pogoji, določeni v tej sodbi, izpolnjeni.
As regards, specifically, the second condition in Altmark, the French authorities note that under the Altmark judgment, only the parameters of the calculation must be established in advance in an objective and transparent manner.
Zlasti kar zadeva drugi pogoj iz sodbe Altmark, francoski organi poudarjajo, da je na podlagi sodbe Altmark treba vnaprej objektivno in pregledno določiti samo parametre izračuna.
In the present case, they state that the amount of EUR 53,48 million was paid in November 2003 on the basis of calculation parameters established prior to the period in question (1991-2001).
Pojasnjujejo, da je bil v obravnavanem primeru znesek v višini 53,48 milijona EUR novembra 2003 izplačan na podlagi parametrov izračuna, določenih pred zadevnim obdobjem (1991–2001).
Accordingly, in the opinion of France, the fact that the payment of the revaluation for under-compensation occurred a posteriori does not call into question its conclusion that the parameters on the basis of which the compensation of EUR 53,48 million is calculated were clearly established in an objective and transparent manner prior to the performance of public service tasks.
Zato po mnenju Francije dejstvo, da je popravek vrednosti za prenizko nadomestilo izplačan naknadno, ne izpodbija njene ugotovitve, da so bili parametri izračuna, na podlagi katerih je izračunano nadomestilo v višini 53,48 milijona EUR, očitno objektivno in pregledno določeni pred izvedbo nalog javne službe.
In respect of the fourth condition in Altmark, the French authorities take the view that that refers to characteristics of an undertaking entrusted with a public service task fitting the description of average good management but, on the other hand, makes no reference to any requirement of minimum or average profitability of the undertaking in question.
Kar zadeva četrti pogoj iz sodbe Altmark, francoski organi menijo, da se ta nanaša na značilnosti podjetja, pooblaščenega za izvajanje javne službe, in ustreza opredelitvi povprečnega dobrega upravitelja, vendar pa se nikjer ne sklicuje na kakršno koli zahtevo po minimalni ali povprečni donosnosti zadevnega podjetja.
SNCM therefore acted as an averagely well-run undertaking would act.
SNCM naj bi torej ravnala kot povprečno dobro vodeno podjetje.
France notes that the public operator was the only undertaking capable of taking on those obligations in terms of annual regularity and frequency of service and did so in spite of the arrival in 1996 of a private operator, which only operated certain lines and only during the high season.
Francija poudarja, da je bil javni gospodarski subjekt edino podjetje, ki je bilo sposobno prevzeti te obveznosti v smislu rednega prometa med letom in pogostosti storitve, in to kljub prihodu zasebnega gospodarskega subjekta leta 1996, ki je povezave opravljal samo na nekaterih linijah in samo v glavni sezoni.
Moreover, no other undertaking existed in the strict sense whose costs could be used as a reference for determining whether or not the level of compensation granted to SNCM exceeded the costs necessarily incurred in the performance of public service obligations.
Poleg tega ni bilo nobenega podjetja stricto sensu, katerega stroški bi se lahko uporabili kot referenca za ugotovitev, ali bo višina nadomestila, dodeljenega družbi SNCM, presegala stroške, ki obvezno nastanejo pri izvajanju obveznosti javne službe, ali ne.
According to the French authorities, it would therefore be difficult to compare the costs structure of SNCM and that of other shipping companies, having regard to the specific nature of the activity of the latter and the market on which it operates.
Po mnenju francoskih organov naj bi bilo torej kočljivo primerjati strukturo stroškov družbe SNCM in strukturo stroškov drugih pomorskih družb ob upoštevanju posebnosti dejavnosti te družbe in trga, na katerem deluje.
In spite of the practical impossibility of finding an undertaking which could be used as a reference point for that period, France believes that it sought to provide, during its dealings with the Commission which took place in 2005 and 2006, objective and justifiable evidence proving the nature of SNCM as a ‘typical well-run and adequately equipped undertaking’ and demonstrating that the fourth criterion laid down in the Altmark judgment is fulfilled.
Čeprav je praktično nemogoče najti podjetje, ki bi se lahko uporabilo kot referenčna točka za to obdobje, Francija meni, da se je potrudila in na podlagi izmenjav s Komisijo v letih 2005 in 2006 predložila objektivne in upravičljive elemente, na podlagi katerih je mogoče določiti, da je družba SNCM „povprečno dobro vodeno in ustrezno opremljeno podjetje“, ter ugotoviti, da je četrti pogoj iz sodbe Altmark izpolnjen.
France considers, moreover, that a comparison based on the evidence available relating to the costs structure of CFF and that of SNCM is far from being inconsistent with the presumption of SNCM’s good management, above all because it does not make it at all possible to take into account a not inconsiderable part of the costs of the public service activity which relates to the transport of goods.
Francija med drugim meni, da naj bi bila primerjava, ki temelji na razpoložljivih podatkih o strukturi stroškov družbe CFF in strukturi stroškov družbe SNCM, daleč od tega, da bi izpodbijala domnevo o dobrem upravljanju družbe SNCM, zlasti ker nikakor ne omogoča upoštevanja nezanemarljivega dela stroškov dejavnosti javne službe, ki se nanaša na prevoz blaga.
In addition, France states that, in a case like this, it is possible to take the view that the case-law which led to the judgment in Altmark (and in particular the Ferring case) must be understood as a review only as to the absence of overcompensation.
Poleg tega Francija trdi, da se v primeru, kot je ta, lahko šteje, da je treba sodno prakso, ki je privedla do sodbe Altmark (in zlasti sodbe Ferring), razumeti tako, da se preverja samo neobstoj čezmernega nadomestila.
In that respect, the French authorities state that the subsidies granted did not exceed the costs actually borne by SNCM on account of the public service obligations with which it is entrusted, as the Commission pointed out in its decision of 30 October 2001.
V zvezi s tem francoski organi navajajo, da dodeljene subvencije niso presegale stroškov, ki jih je družba SNCM dejansko imela zaradi obveznosti javne službe, za katere je bila zadolžena, kot je Komisija navedla v odločbi z dne 30. oktobra 2001.
In conclusion, France takes the view that the existence of public service obligations, in conjunction with the absence of over-compensation in the period 1991 to 2001, confirms that the 4 conditions in Altmark are fulfilled.
Skratka, Francija meni, da obstoj obveznosti javne službe v povezavi z neobstojem čezmernega nadomestila v obdobju 1991–2001 potrjuje izpolnjevanje štirih pogojev iz sodbe Altmark.
The compatibility of the amount of EUR 53,48 million in the light of Article 86(2) EC
Združljivost zneska v višini 53,48 milijona EUR z vidika člena 86(2) ES
If the Commission were to conclude that that intervention were State aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) EC, the French authorities submit that the autonomous and independent measure of the 2002 restructuring plan is compatible in terms of Article 86(2) EC, since that basis of compatibility was not challenged by the Court of First Instance in its judgment in Case T-349/03.
Če bi Komisija ugotovila, da ta pomoč pomeni državno pomoč v smislu člena 87(1) ES, francoski organi menijo, da je ta samostojni in neodvisni ukrep načrta prestrukturiranja iz leta 2002 združljiv na podlagi člena 86(2) ES, ker Sodišče prve stopnje te podlage za združljivost ni izpodbijalo v sodbi iz leta 2005.
In that respect, France states that the amount of EUR 53,48 million covering compensation for public service costs for the period 1991 to 2001 is not a measure granted during restructuring, irrespective of whether it relates to the restructuring plan notified in 2002 or its updating, but rather a measure preceding the restructuring plans in question.
V zvezi s tem Francija trdi, da znesek v višini 53,48 milijona EUR, ki krije nadomestila za stroške storitev javne službe za obdobje od leta 1991 do leta 2001, ni ukrep, odobren med prestrukturiranjem, naj bo to načrt prestrukturiranja, priglašen leta 2002, ali njegova posodobitev, ampak ukrep, odobren pred zadevnima načrtoma prestrukturiranja.
Moreover, the French authorities submit that a measure designed to offset the costs burdening undertakings on account of their public service obligations is not in the nature of restructuring aid as defined in the guidelines.
Poleg tega francoski organi trdijo, da ukrep, s katerim naj bi se nadomestili stroški, ki jih nosijo podjetja zaradi svojih obveznosti javne službe, nima značaja pomoči za prestrukturiranje, kot je opredeljena v smernicah.
The French authorities submit that, even if that amount was notified in connection with the total cash injection in respect of restructuring aid, the Commission is not bound by the classifications adopted by the Member States and that, on the other hand, it is for the Commission to reclassify a measure, depending on the circumstances, as non-State aid, or, on the contrary, to classify a measure as State aid even though the Member State in question did not present it in that manner.
Francoski organi menijo, da Komisije, čeprav je bil ta znesek priglašen v okviru celovite finančne injekcije na podlagi pomoči za prestrukturiranje, ne zavezujejo opredelitve, ki so jih sprejele države članice, in da je nasprotno njena naloga, da po potrebi ukrep na novo opredeli tako, da ga ne šteje za državno pomoč, ali da ga nasprotno opredeli kot državni ukrep pomoči, čeprav ga zadevna država članica ni predstavila tako.
The balance notified for restructuring aid
Preostanek, priglašen iz naslova pomoči za prestrukturiranje
In the light of the foregoing, France takes the view that, if the amount of EUR 53,48 is considered to be free from aid elements or if it is classified as aid compatible with Article 86(2) EC, the amount of aid which must be considered to be restructuring aid under the 2002 notification would amount, not to EUR 76 million, but to EUR 15,81 million.
Glede na zgoraj navedeno Francija meni, da če se za znesek v višini 53,48 milijona EUR šteje, da ne vsebuje elementov pomoči, ali če je opredeljen kot združljiva pomoč na podlagi člena 86(2) ES, naj znesek pomoči, ki ga je treba šteti kot pomoč za prestrukturiranje na podlagi priglasitve iz leta 2002, ne bi bil več 76 milijonov EUR, ampak 15,81 milijona EUR.
France recalls, first, that the seriousness of the industrial action of 2004 to 2005 and the deterioration in the economic and financial situation of SNCM led the State shareholder to launch a procedure for selecting private investors in January 2005 and to implement urgent measures (in particular the sale of Asco and the shareholding in Sud Cargos.
Francija najprej opozarja, da je zaradi resnosti socialnih gibanj v letih 2004/2005 ter poslabšanja gospodarskega in finančnega položaja družbe SNCM država delničarka januarja 2005 sprožila postopek izbire zasebnih vlagateljev in izvedla nujne ukrepe (zlasti prodajo ladje Asco in deleža v družbi Sud Cargos.
The negative transfer price of SNCM
Negativna cena prodaje družbe SNCM
Pursuant to the relevant Community case-law, the French authorities call upon the Commission to consider that the negative sale price of SNCM of EUR 158 million does not contain any measure which may be classified as aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) EC in so far as the French State acted like a private investor in a market economy.
Francoski organi na podlagi sodne prakse Skupnosti na tem področju pozivajo Komisijo k ugotovitvi, da negativna cena prodaje družbe SNCM v višini 158 milijonov EUR ne vsebuje nobenega ukrepa, ki bi ga bilo mogoče opredeliti kot pomoč v smislu člena 87(1) ES, ker naj bi francoska država ravnala kot zasebni vlagatelj v tržnem gospodarstvu.
First of all, France observes that the final price of EUR 158 million, which is lower than the negative price which the purchasers asked for initially at the time of their audit of SNCM, is the result of a negotiation of transfer of control conducted in connection with an open, transparent and non-discriminatory competitive tendering procedure and, on that ground, does in fact constitute a market price.
Francija najprej poudarja, da je končna cena 158 milijonov EUR, ki je nižja od negativne cene, ki so jo sprva zahtevali kupci po koncu svoje revizije družbe SNCM, rezultat pogajanja o prenosu nadzora, opravljenem na podlagi odprtega, preglednega in nediskriminacijskega javnega razpisa, in dejansko pomeni tržno ceno.
France takes the view that, in so far as that search for a private partner for SNCM was made in an open, transparent and non-discriminatory competitive tendering procedure, at the end of which the best bid was chosen, the sale price is a market price.
Francija meni, da je prodajna cena tržna cena, ker je bilo to iskanje zasebnega partnerja za družbo SNCM opravljeno na podlagi odprtega, preglednega in nediskriminacijskega postopka javnega razpisa, po koncu katerega je bila izbrana najboljša ponudba.
According to the French authorities, the negative sale price of EUR 158 million took place in the most favourable conditions for the State in accordance with Community case-law and the Commission’s line of decisions and contains no aid element.
Po mnenju francoskih organov naj bi prodaja po negativni ceni 158 milijonov EUR potekala pod najugodnejšimi pogoji za državo v skladu s sodno prakso Skupnosti in prakso odločanja Komisije ter naj torej ne bi vsebovala nobenega elementa pomoči.
France takes the view that that negative price is lower than the liquidation cost which the State would have to bear in the event of the liquidation of the undertaking.
Francija namreč meni, da je ta negativna cena nižja od stroškov likvidacije, ki bi jih država morala nositi v primeru likvidacije podjetja.
That is the only conclusion which can be reached irrespective of whether the approach followed is that stemming from the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Communities (the Gröditzer case-law’) or that based on the analysis of the actual liquidation costs of SNCM (the ABX decision).
Ta ugotovitev naj bi držala tako ob uporabi pristopa, ki izhaja iz sodne prakse Sodišča Evropskih skupnosti (v nadaljnjem besedilu: sodba Gröditzer, kot ob uporabi pristopa, ki temelji na analizi dejanskih stroškov likvidacije družbe SNCM (odločba ABX.
As regards the first method, based on the Gröditzer case-law, France states that that judgment confirmed the Commission’s assessment in its decision of 8 July 1999, to the effect that ‘the cost of liquidation comprises only the liquidation value of the asset’s.
Kar zadeva prvo metodo, ki temelji na sodbi Gröditzer, Francija navaja, da naj bi bila s to sodbo potrjena ocena Komisije v odločbi z dne 8. julija 1999, v skladu s katero „je treba kot strošek likvidacije upoštevati samo likvidacijsko vrednost […] sredstev […]“.
In that respect, the reports of CGMF and Oddo-Hastings estimate the liquidation value of the assets at a minimum of EUR […] million on 30 September 2005.
V zvezi s tem je v poročilih CGMF in Oddo-Hastings likvidacijska vrednost sredstev na dan 30. septembra 2005 ocenjena na najmanj […] milijonov EUR.
Accordingly, in so far as the State as the owner and shareholder of a company is responsible for its debts only up to a maximum of the liquidation value of their assets (the Hytasa case), France asserts that the liquidation value of the assets of the company estimated at EUR […] million is considerably higher than the negative sale price of EUR 158 million.
Posledično, ker je država kot lastnica delnic družbe odgovorna za njene dolgove samo v višini likvidacijske vrednosti njenih sredstev (sodba Hytasa, Francija trdi, da je likvidacijska vrednost sredstev družbe, ocenjena na najmanj […] milijonov EUR, očitno višja od negativne prodajne cene 158 milijonov EUR.
On the second method, France states that it follows from the Commission decision on the State aid implemented by Belgium for ABX Logistics, in which the Commission examined a negative sale price, having, as in this case, the character of a market price, by comparing it to the costs which the State shareholder would actually bear in the event of a voluntary liquidation or compulsory liquidation as assessed by an independent third party.
V zvezi z drugo metodo Francija navaja, da izhaja iz odločbe Komisije o državni pomoči Belgije za ABX Logistics, v kateri je Komisija preučila negativno prodajno ceno, ki ima, kot v obravnavanem primeru, značaj tržne cene, tako da jo je primerjala s stroški, ki bi jih država delničarka dejansko imela pri sporazumni ali sodni likvidaciji, kot jih je ocenila neodvisna tretja oseba.
According to France, the Commission recognises in particular in that decision the legality of a certain number of costs which can result from an action ‘en comblement de passif’ (to make good liabilities) by creditors or from the liquidation for other branches of the group liquidating its subsidiary.
Po mnenju Francije Komisija zlasti v tej odločbi priznava veljavnost določenega števila stroškov, ki lahko izhajajo iz tožbe za plačilo dolgov s strani upnikov ali likvidacije v drugih panogah skupine, ki likvidira svojo hčerinsko družbo.
On the basis of the CGMF and Oddo-Hastings reports cited above, the French authorities submit that the actual costs which the French Republic would have to bear as a shareholder amounted to between EUR […] and […] million on 30 September 2005.
Francoski organi na podlagi zgoraj navedenih poročil CGMF in Oddo-Hastings menijo, da bi vsi realni stroški, ki bi jih kot delničarka morala nositi Francoska republika, na dan 30. septembra 2005 znašali med […] in […] milijoni EUR.
That method takes account, in particular, of the risk that the French State would be called upon ‘en comblement de passif’ if the court were to consider it to be managing de facto SNCM.
Pri tej metodi se zlasti upošteva tveganje, da bi bila francoska država pozvana k „plačilu dolgov“, če bi sodišče ugotovilo, da je dejanski upravitelj družbe SNCM.
The French authorities believe that the risk of an action ‘en comblement de passif’ cannot be averted, particularly in light of a precedent of the Cour de Cassation (Court of Cassation) in France.
Francoski organi menijo, da tveganja tožbe za plačilo dolgov ni mogoče izločiti, zlasti glede na precedenčni primer, o katerem je odločalo kasacijsko sodišče v Franciji.
Accordingly, in several letters to the Commission, the French authorities submitted that a situation in which a national court orders the State to make good the liabilities of the undertaking which it manages is a scenario which is more than plausible and that it had to be taken into account in calculating the actual cost of a possible liquidation of SNCM.
Tako so francoski organi v več dopisih Komisiji trdili, da je predpostavka, da bo nacionalno sodišče državi naložilo plačilo dolgov podjetja, ki ga vodi, več kot verjeten scenarij in da jo je bilo treba uporabiti pri izračunu dejanskih stroškov morebitne likvidacije družbe SNCM.
Furthermore, the French authorities take the view that, because of its dependency on SNCM, and in accordance with another French case, the liquidation of the undertaking might have led the court to order the payment of damages to employees.
Poleg tega francoski organi menijo, da bi lahko sodišče zaradi vezi na podlagi odvisnosti z družbo SNCM ter v skladu z drugo francosko sodno prakso ob likvidaciji podjetja odredilo izplačilo odškodnine zaposlenim.
According to that case-law, the French authorities believe that it would be very likely that a court would fix the amount of additional compensation on the basis of the compensation which would be paid under a social plan submitted prior to the liquidation.
V skladu s to sodno prakso francoski organi menijo, da naj bi bilo več kot verjetno, da bi sodišče določilo znesek dodatnih odpravnin na podlagi odpravnin, ki bi bile izplačane v okviru socialnega načrta, predloženega pred likvidacijo.