natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Exceptionally, operating aid may be granted in assisted areas eligible for aid under the exemption in Article 107(3)(a) TFEU.
Pomoč za tekoče poslovanje se lahko izjemoma dodeli za območja, ki prejemajo pomoč in so upravičena do pomoči na podlagi oprostitve iz člena 107(3)(a) PDEU.
According to point 4.15 of the Guidelines, operating aid can be granted exceptionally, provided that (i) it is justified in terms of its contribution to regional development and its nature and (ii) its level is proportional to the handicaps it seeks to alleviate.
V skladu s točko 4.15 smernic se lahko pomoč za tekoče poslovanje izjemoma dodeli, če (i) je upravičena zaradi svojega prispevka k regionalnemu razvoju in zaradi svoje narave ter (ii) je njena višina sorazmerna z ovirami, ki naj bi jih ublažila.
Under point 4.17 of the Guidelines, operating aid must be both limited in time and progressively reduced.
V skladu s točko 4.17 smernic mora biti pomoč za tekoče poslovanje časovno omejena in se mora postopno zmanjševati.
However, since there is no absolute prohibition of ad hoc regional aid, the Commission has considered whether there are any exceptional circumstances that would warrant the granting of the tariff.
Ker pa ni popolne prepovedi ad hoc regionalne pomoči, je Komisija obravnavala, ali morda obstajajo izjemne okoliščine, ki bi utemeljile odobritev cene.
The Commission has considered, in particular, the deficiencies of the Sardinian electricity market, as documented by Italy and the beneficiaries, to assess whether they might constitute a regional handicap.
Komisija je obravnavala zlasti pomanjkljivosti trga z električno energijo na Sardiniji, kot so jih navedli Italija in upravičenci, da bi ocenila, ali je to regionalna ovira.
The Italian electricity market is generally highly concentrated, although less so in the north of the country.
Italijanski trg z električno energijo je na splošno zelo koncentriran, čeprav nekoliko manj na severu države.
The dominant operator in all zones is the former monopolist ENEL, except in Sardinia, where it holds a duopoly with E.ON.
Prevladujoč nosilec dejavnosti na vseh delih Italije je nekdanji monopolist ENEL, razen na Sardiniji, kjer ima družba ENEL duopol z družbo E.ON.
ENEL has considerable market power and has been found by the Italian competition authority to have abused this power in several instances.
ENEL ima znatno tržno moč, pri čemer je italijanski organ za konkurenco ugotovil, da je ENEL v več primerih zlorabil svojo moč.
Electricity prices in Italy are generally high, owing to a generation mix based largely on fossil fuels (essentially gas), the absence of nuclear capacity, and congestion on the interconnectors with the rest of Europe.
Cene električne energije v Italiji so na splošno visoke zaradi proizvodne mešanice, ki temelji zlasti na fosilnih gorivih (zlasti plinu), neobstoja jedrske zmogljivosti in prezasedenosti povezovalnih daljnovodov z ostalo Evropo.
In Sardinia, which accounts for 4,1 % of net installed power in Italy [60], electricity is produced mainly in thermoelectric power plants using fossil fuels (coal, fuel oil, and refinery tar).
Na Sardiniji, ki obsega 4,1 % neto vgrajene moči v Italiji [60], se električna energija proizvaja večinoma v termoelektrarnah na fosilna goriva (premog, kurilno olje in rafinerijski katran).
The island has no natural gas distribution infrastructure.
Na otoku ni infrastrukture za distribucijo zemeljskega plina.
Sardinia suffers from excess generation capacity, especially in the high-cost segment (oil-fired plants), owing to the Government’s plans to concentrate Italy’s heavy industry on the island, which have never come to fruition, and which led ENEL to overinvest in generation plants.
Sardinija ima zaradi načrtov vlade o koncentraciji težke industrije na otoku, ki se niso nikdar uresničili, težave s presežno proizvodno zmogljivostjo, zlasti v segmentu z visokimi stroški (naftne elektrarne), ker je zaradi teh načrtov ENEL preveč vlagal v proizvodne obrate.
Apart from being structurally more expensive, the plants are quickly becoming technically obsolete.
Ti obrati hitro postanejo tehnično zastareli, poleg tega pa so strukturno dražji.
During the period under consideration, the export of Sardinian electricity to the Italian mainland was limited by the modest capacity of the interconnector, which was prone to congestion [61].
V obravnavanem obdobju je bil izvoz električne energije s Sardinije v celinsko Italijo omejen zaradi majhne zmogljivosti povezovalnega daljnovoda, ki je bil preobremenjen [61].
According to the Energy Sector Inquiry [62], Sardinia can be classified in competition terms as a duopoly with collective dominance.
Preiskava energetskega sektorja [62], je pokazala, da se lahko Sardinija v smislu konkurence opredeli kot duopol s skupnim prevladujočim položajem.
Market concentration is high, though not the highest in Italy [63].
Koncentracija na trgu je velika, čeprav ni največja v Italiji [63].
Owing to their control of virtually all mid-merit to peak plants, E.ON and ENEL set the price at most times of the day.
in ENEL zaradi nadzora nad praktično vsemi srednje velikimi in največjimi obrati določata ceno za večino delov dneva.
However, the situation in Sardinia appears less critical than in the south of Italy, where ENEL alone sets the price at all times of day [64].
Vendar se zdi, da so razmere na Sardiniji manj kritične kot na jugu Italije, kjer ENEL vedno sam določa ceno za vse dele dneva [64].
Wholesale electricity prices in Italy are among the highest in Europe [65], and prices in Sardinia are among the highest in Italy.
Veleprodajne cene električne energije v Italiji so med najvišjimi v Evropi [65], cene na Sardiniji pa so med najvišjimi v Italiji.
Prices paid in Sardinia by the beneficiaries of the tariffs in 2004/2005, on the basis of bilateral contracts, ranged from EUR 60 to EUR 65 per MWh.
Cene, ki so jih na Sardiniji plačevali upravičenci cen iz leta 2004/2005 na podlagi dvostranskih pogodb, so bile med 60 in 65 EUR/MWh.
It has not been possible to compare these prices to those recorded on the Italian mainland, as the Commission does not possess the relevant data (which Italy has claimed it is unable to provide — see recital 92 above).
Teh cen ni bilo mogoče primerjati s cenami, zabeleženimi na celinski Italiji, ker Komisija nima zadevnih podatkov (za katere je Italija trdila, da jih ne more predložiti – glej uvodno izjavo 92).
However, based on the above analysis of general price trends, which may be broadly representative of price trends in bilateral contracts, it seems possible to presume that, in the period under consideration, energy-intensive undertakings in Sardinia paid a higher price than on the Italian mainland.
Vendar se na podlagi izvedene analize splošnih gibanj cen, ki so lahko na splošno reprezentativna za gibanje cen v dvostranskih pogodbah, lahko predvideva, da so v obravnavanem obdobju energetsko intenzivne družbe na Sardiniji plačevale višjo ceno kot tiste v celinski Italiji.
In conclusion, the electricity market in Sardinia exhibits a combination of problems, including high prices, a high degree of market concentration, dominant operators’ market power, excess generation capacity in the high-cost segment, relative inefficiency of obsolete generating plants, lack of access to natural gas infrastructure, and insufficient interconnection.
Trg z električno energijo na Sardiniji je povezan z več težavami, vključno z visokimi cenami, visoko stopnjo koncentracije trga, tržno močjo prevladujočih nosilcev dejavnosti, presežno proizvodno zmogljivostjo v segmentu z visokimi stroški, sorazmerno neučinkovitostjo zastarelih proizvodnih obratov, pomanjkanjem dostopa do infrastrukture za zemeljski plin in nezadostnim medsebojnim povezovanjem.
These problems are likely to translate into higher electricity prices for end-users, including the most energy-intensive ones.
Te težave se bodo verjetno odražale v višjih cenah električne energije za končne uporabnike, vključno z najbolj energetsko intenzivnimi uporabniki.
Existence of a regional handicap
Obstoj regionalne ovire
The first issue to be addressed is whether such problems constitute a regional handicap, i.e. whether they have a severe impact on the economic development of Sardinia.
Najprej je treba obravnavati vprašanje, ali take težave pomenijo regionalno oviro, tj. ali resno vplivajo na gospodarski razvoj na Sardiniji.
In case C 34/02, the Commission did not accept that the lack of energy interconnection constituted a handicap [67].
Komisija v zadevi C 34/02 ni priznala, da pomanjkanje energetskih povezav pomeni oviro [67].
While it is true that SMEs suffer less from high electricity prices than do large, energy-intensive industries, nevertheless the welfare of an individual industry cannot be automatically equated to the welfare of a region.
Čeprav imajo mala in srednje velika podjetja resnično manj težav zaradi visokih cen električne energije kot velike, energetsko intenzivne industrije, blaginja posamezne industrije ne pomeni samodejno blaginje regije.
The Commission considers that Italy has not sufficiently substantiated the alleged regional handicap arising from the state of the Sardinian electricity market.
Komisija meni, da Italija ni dovolj utemeljila domnevne regionalne ovire, ki je nastala zaradi razmer na trgu z električno energijo na Sardiniji.
But even if one were to suppose that there was indeed a regional handicap, the criteria laid down by the Regional Aid Guidelines would still have to be fulfilled.
Tudi če bi se predvidevalo, da regionalna ovira dejansko obstaja, bi še vedno morala biti izpolnjena merila iz smernic o regionalni pomoči.
The Commission has accordingly assessed whether these tests are satisfied.
Komisija je temu ustrezno ocenila, ali so ti preskusi primerni.
Operating aid in an assisted region cannot be authorised by reason of difficulties experienced by one industry, but must be shown to make a lasting contribution to regional development.
Pomoči za tekoče poslovanje v regiji, ki prejema pomoč, ni mogoče odobriti zaradi težav ene industrije, ampak je treba dokazati, da bo pomoč trajno prispevala k regionalnemu razvoju.
In the case at hand, this is unlikely.
V zadevnem primeru to ni verjetno.
Even if one were to accept that the maintenance on the island of some industrial production facilities would contribute to employment and to the maintenance of a manufacturing base on the island, the effects would not be lasting.
Tudi če bi bila sprejeta trditev, da bi ohranjanje nekaterih obratov industrijske proizvodnje na otoku prispevalo k zaposlovanju in ohranitvi proizvodne baze na otoku, ti vplivi ne bi bili trajni.
If high electricity prices are a structural problem in Sardinia, as Italy claims, the difficulties experienced by energy-intensive industries will resurface as soon as the tariffs are removed.
Če so visoke cene električne energije na Sardiniji strukturna težava, kot trdi Italija, se bodo težave, ki jih imajo energetsko intenzivne industrije, ponovno pojavile takoj po prenehanju ugodnejših cen.
The Italian authorities present the tariffs as a temporary measure, designed to last only until the completion, in 2010, of the infrastructure projects currently under way in connection with energy generation and interconnection (the GALSI pipeline and the SAPEI marine cable) [68].
Italijanski organi so cene predstavili kot začasen ukrep, ki naj bi se ohranil le do dokončanja sedanjih infrastrukturnih projektov v zvezi s proizvodnjo energije in medsebojnim povezovanjem leta 2010 (plinovod GALSI in morski kabel SAPEI) [68].
Italy’s argument is that better interconnection will bring the prices charged to these companies down.
Italija trdi, da bo boljša povezava znižala cene, ki se zaračunavajo tem podjetjem.
The Commission considers that, while the new infrastructure may reduce or level out price disparities between Sardinia and the mainland, it seems highly unlikely that such projects could halve electricity prices, so as to bring them to the levels allegedly required to make these industrial activities profitable in the long term.
Komisija meni, da bi nova infrastruktura sicer lahko znižala ali izravnala razlike med cenami na Sardiniji in na celini, vendar je malo verjetno, da bi se lahko s temi projekti prepolovile cene električne energije, ki bi se tako znižale na raven, domnevno potrebno za dolgoročno donosnost teh industrijskih dejavnosti.
The Commission also points out that the existence of a State subsidy aimed at reducing electricity costs for large users does not encourage electricity suppliers to bring prices down in order to avoid losing their largest customers, nor does it prevent a worsening of their cost structures.
Komisija prav tako opozarja, da državna subvencija, katere cilj je znižanje stroškov električne energije za velike odjemalce, ne spodbuja dobaviteljev električne energije, da bi znižali cene, s čimer bi preprečili odhajanje največjih odjemalcev, in ne preprečuje poslabšanja njihove strukture stroškov.
Instead, the subsidy tends to heighten the incentive for suppliers to exploit their market power.
Namesto tega se zdi, da subvencija še bolj spodbuja dobavitelje, da izkoriščajo svojo tržno moč.
Therefore, even if were true, given the situation of overcapacity, that energy-intensive companies would normally be able to obtain a competitive price were it not for the market power of the electricity suppliers (who, according to Italy and the beneficiaries, have an interest in keeping prices high), the Commission considers that the preferential tariff is not the appropriate instrument to curtail such market power.
Zato tudi če bi lahko energetsko intenzivna podjetja ob upoštevanju presežne zmogljivosti resnično običajno pridobila konkurenčno ceno, če dobavitelji električne energije (ki imajo po mnenju Italije in upravičencev interes za ohranitev visokih cen) ne bi imeli tržne moči, Komisija meni, da ugodnejša cena ni primerno sredstvo za omejitev take tržne moči.
The subsidy granted to the beneficiaries of the tariffs is not calculated in such a way as to offset the regional disparity (i.e. the differential between electricity prices in mainland Italy and prices in Sardinia for the same category of customer), but rather aims to align Sardinian prices on those paid by the beneficiaries’ competitors in the EU.
Subvencija, ki je bila dodeljena upravičencem do ugodnejših cen, ni izračunana tako, da bi izravnala regionalno razliko (tj. razliko v cenah električne energije med celinsko Italijo in Sardiniji za isto kategorijo odjemalcev), ampak je namenjena prilagoditvi cen na Sardiniji tistim, ki jih plačujejo konkurenčni ponudniki upravičencev v EU.
The prices set for the Sardinian beneficiaries are particularly low, and certainly below prices on mainland Italy, which are among the highest in the EU.
Cene, določene za upravičence na Sardiniji, so izjemno nizke in zagotovo nižje od cen na celinski Italiji, ki so med najvišjimi v EU.
Therefore, the tariffs are not proportional to the regional handicap they allegedly seek to alleviate.
Zato cene niso sorazmerne z regionalno oviro, ki naj bi jo ublažile.
The very method chosen to calculate the amount of the subsidy suggests that the measure pursues an industrial policy objective rather than a regional objective.
Metoda, izbrana za izračun subvencije, kaže, da je ukrep namenjen cilju industrijske politike in ne regionalnemu cilju.
Indeed, the industrial policy dimension of the tariffs has been underlined repeatedly by Italy in its submissions.
Dejansko je Italija v svojih navedbah pri teh cenah večkrat poudarila vidik industrijske politike.
Regional operating aid must be progressively reduced (point 4.17 of the Regional Aid Guidelines).
Regionalna pomoč za tekoče poslovanje se mora postopno zmanjševati (točka 4.17 smernic o regionalni pomoči).
Since the updating mechanisms for the 2004 and the 2005 tariffs are different, they have been assessed separately.
Ker se mehanizma za posodabljanje cen iz leta 2004 in cen iz leta 2005 med seboj razlikujeta, jih je treba oceniti ločeno.
The 2004 tariffs are indexed on the basis of variations in fuel prices and can only increase or remain unchanged.
Cene iz leta 2004 so valorizirane na podlagi nihanj cene goriva in se lahko samo zvišajo ali ostanejo enake.
According to Italy, this ensures that the aid is progressively reduced.
Po mnenju Italije to zagotavlja postopno zmanjševanje pomoči.
The Commission considers that the requirement of degressivity can be considered fulfilled only if the compensatory payments — which are equal to the effective amount of the aid — are guaranteed to decrease over time.
Komisija meni, da se lahko zahteva o postopnem zmanjševanju šteje za izpolnjeno samo, če je za kompenzacijska plačila — ki so enaka učinkovitemu znesku pomoči — zagotovljeno, da se bodo postopno zmanjšala.
It is not sufficient that the tariff should increase over time, since a higher tariff may nevertheless represent a higher volume of aid if, in the meantime, the prices charged to end users in the market concerned have increased faster than the tariff.
Ni dovolj, da se ugodnejša cena sčasoma zviša, saj lahko višja cena kljub temu predstavlja večji obseg pomoči, če se med tem časom cene, zaračunane končnim uporabnikom na zadevnem trgu, zvišajo hitreje kot ugodnejša cena.
The Italian method does not provide any guarantee in this respect [69].
Italijanska metoda glede tega ne zagotavlja nobenega jamstva [69].
As regards the 2005 tariffs, The Commission has assessed the indexation mechanism introduced by Article 11(13) of Law No 80/2005, as interpreted by the AEEG in decision 217/05 (see recital 33).
Glede cen iz leta 2005 je Komisija ocenila mehanizem za indeksacijo, ki je bil uveden s členom 11(13) zakona št. 80/2005, kot ga razlaga AEEG v odločbi 217/05 (glej uvodno izjavo 33).
According to the implementing rules laid down by the AEEG, the tariff is to be increased yearly by a percentage reflecting trends in electricity prices in the EU, but the increase cannot exceed 4 %.
V skladu z izvedbenimi pravili, ki jih je določil AEEG, se ugodnejša cena letno zvišuje za odstotek, ki odraža gibanje cen električne energije v EU, vendar zvišanje ne sme preseči 4 %.
According to Italy, this mechanism ensures progressive reduction.
Po mnenju Italije ta mehanizem zagotavlja postopno zmanjševanje.
The Commission takes the view, however, that the fact that the nominal tariff is subject to a rather limited annual increase does not mean that the net amount of aid — as measured by the compensatory payments — will decrease over time.
Vendar je Komisija menila, da dejstvo, da na nominalno ceno vpliva precej omejeno letno zvišanje, ne pomeni, da se bo neto znesek pomoči — kot je izračunan s kompenzacijskimi plačili — sčasoma znižal.
If it is accepted that price trends on power exchanges can be considered broadly representative of changes in bilateral contract prices, as Italy has suggested, the 2005 tariffs would be degressive only in the event of a drop in average EU prices (since the tariffs cannot decrease, but only increase).
Če bi bila sprejeta trditev, da so gibanja cen na borzah električne energije na splošno reprezentativna za spremembe cen v dvostranskih pogodbah, kot je navedla Italija, bi se cene iz leta 2005 postopno zmanjševale samo v primeru padca povprečnih cen EU (ker se cene ne morejo znižati, lahko se samo zvišajo).
In all other cases the tariffs would confer a growing advantage [70].
V vseh drugih primerih bi cene predstavljale vedno večjo ugodnost [70].
Since, from 2004 until at least 2007, EU average electricity prices were on a sharp upward trend (rising faster than 4 % a year) the element of aid contained in the 2005 tariffs would have increased over time.
Ker so povprečne cene električne energije v EU od leta 2004 do vsaj leta 2007 strmo naraščale (za več kot 4 % na leto), bi se element pomoči v cenah iz leta 2005 sčasoma povečal.
Italy further contends that, in reality, bilateral contracts are less prone to price increases than prices on power exchanges, and that therefore the 2005 tariffs are de facto degressive.
Italija je nadalje trdila, da na dvostranske pogodbe zvišanje cen ne vpliva v tolikšni meri kot cene na borzah električne energije in da se cene iz leta 2005 dejansko postopno znižujejo.
The Commission points out that the indexation method submitted for assessment is based on variations in prices on power exchanges, and that Italy has not submitted data on the evolution of bilateral contract prices.
Komisija poudarja, da metoda za indeksacijo, predložena za oceno, temelji na nihanjih cen na borzah električne energije in da Italija ni predložila podatkov o razvoju cen iz dvostranskih pogodb.
Thus Italy’s statement is not sufficiently substantiated.
Zato trditev Italije ni dovolj utemeljena.
Thus neither the 2004 tariffs nor the 2005 tariffs fulfil the degressivity requirement.
Tako niti cene iz leta 2004 niti cene iz leta 2005 ne izpolnjujejo zahteve glede postopnega zmanjševanja.
Conclusions on the compatibility of the measure as regional aid
Sklepne ugotovitve v zvezi z združljivostjo ukrepa kot regionalne pomoči
The Commission took a similar negative position in 2005 in respect of a measure designed to reduce Eurallumina’s energy costs in Sardinia.
Komisija je leta 2005 zavzela podobno negativno stališče glede ukrepa, namenjenega znižanju stroškov energije družbe Eurallumina na Sardiniji.
The Commission considered that the disputed measure, which took the form of an exemption from excise duties on heavy oils, could not be authorised on the basis of the Regional Aid Guidelines [71].
Komisija je menila, da spornega ukrepa, ki je bil v obliki oprostitve plačila trošarine za težka olja, ni mogoče odobriti na podlagi smernic o regionalni pomoči [71].
Other considerations relevant to compatibility
Druge pripombe v zvezi z združljivostjo
It has been submitted by Italy and the undertakings concerned that the schemes serve the purpose of remedying the shortcomings of the electricity markets, which have not yet delivered competitive prices.
Italija in zadevne družbe so trdile, da so sheme namenjene odpravi pomanjkljivosti trgov z električno energijo, ki še niso zagotovili konkurenčnih cen.
They argue that energy prices are threatening the competitiveness of energy-intensive industries.
Trdile so, da visoke cene energije ogrožajo konkurenčnost energetsko intenzivnih industrij.
The aid has an incentive effect, they contend, since without it the companies would close down.
Po njihovih trditvah ima pomoč spodbujevalni učinek, saj bi brez tega podjetja prenehala z delovanjem.
The Commission does not consider it possible to accept that operating aid for a few industrial companies is an appropriate response to the lack of competition on the local electricity market, which affects all electricity users.
Komisija meni, da ni mogoče sprejeti trditve, da je pomoč za tekoče poslovanje nekaj industrijskim podjetjem ustrezen odziv na pomanjkanje konkurence na lokalnem trgu električne energije, ki vpliva na vse odjemalce električne energije.
It is also questionable whether the aid is an appropriate and proportional means of preventing relocation outside the EU.
Vprašljivo je tudi, ali je pomoč ustrezno in sorazmerno sredstvo za preprečevanje preseljevanja iz EU.
There is no precedent in the Commission’s decisions or in the judgments of the Union’s lawcourts for accepting this argument as a justification for the granting of State aid.
Med odločitvami Komisije ali sodbami sodišč Unije ni precedensa glede sprejetja te trditve kot utemeljitve za odobritev državne pomoči.
Decisions to relocate production, in whole or in part, are part of a company’s business strategy, and the Commission has never held that they constitute a market failure.
Odločitve glede preseljevanja proizvodnje, delno ali v celoti, so del poslovne strategije podjetja in Komisija nikoli ni menila, da pomenijo nedelovanje trga.
In the Terni [72] and Alcoa [73] cases the Commission expressed doubts about similar arguments linking aid measures to the goal of preventing the relocation of industry outside the EU.
V zadevah Terni [72] in Alcoa [73] je Komisija izrazila pomisleke v zvezi s podobnimi trditvami, ki povezujejo ukrepe pomoči s ciljem preprečevanja preselitve industrije zunaj EU.