natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Greece acknowledges that for the period between the two court decisions (January 2007-March 2008), AoG paid EUR 131,4 million, under the preferential tariff, instead of EUR 148,8 million, which would be the charge under the ‘standard’ tariff for large industrial consumers.
Grčija priznava, da je v obdobju med obema sodnima odločbama (med januarjem 2007 in marcem 2008) družba AoG na podlagi ugodnejše cene plačala 131,4 milijona EUR namesto 148,8 milijona EUR, kolikor bi ta strošek znašal na podlagi „standardne“ cene za velike industrijske odjemalce.
However, Greece argues that the privileged pricing to AoG, even if it was considered as aid, would be existing aid.
Vendar pa Grčija trdi, da tudi če je ugodnejša cena za družbo AoG pomenila pomoč, je bila ta pomoč že obstoječa.
In this respect, AoG argues that the national court decision of January 2007 did not entail any substantial amendment to the original agreement and that the court merely decided to ‘suspend’ the notice to end the preferential rate and to postpone the court ruling on the merits of the dispute between AoG and PPC.
S tem v zvezi družba AoG trdi, da v odločbi nacionalnega sodišča iz januarja 2007 ni bilo nobene večje spremembe prvotnega dogovora in da se je sodišče zgolj odločilo, da „zadrži“ obvestilo o ukinitvi ugodnejše cene in preloži odločitev sodišča o vsebinski presoji spora med družbo AoG in podjetjem PPC.
Measure 2:
Ukrep 2:
Extension of the gas grid to AoG
razširitev plinovodnega omrežja do družbe AoG
Greece denies that AoG received a selective advantage through the subsidisation of the construction cost of its gas pipeline.
Grčija zanika, da je bila družba AoG deležna selektivne prednosti s subvencioniranjem stroškov izgradnje njenega plinovoda.
In particular, Greece argues that national rules on the basis of which the extension of the grid was decided are applicable on equal terms to all gas end-users, therefore AoG was not given any selective advantage.
Grčija zlasti trdi, da nacionalna pravila, na podlagi katerih je bila sprejeta odločitev o razširitvi, pod enakimi pogoji veljajo za vse končne uporabnike plina, zato družba AoG ni bila deležna nobene selektivne prednosti.
Furthermore, Greece argues that the pipeline in question is not dedicated to AoG but also open to other industrial and household end-users in the area.
Poleg tega Grčija trdi, da zadevni plinovod ni namenjen samo družbi AoG, ampak ga lahko uporabljajo tudi drugi industrijski in gospodinjski končni uporabniki na območju.
It is part of the national gas transmission system capacity and property of the NGSO.
Je del zmogljivosti nacionalnega prenosnega plinskega omrežja in last družbe NGSO.
Moreover, its capacity exceeds the annual consumption of AoG (1,7 billion Nm3/year comparing to 0,7 billion Nm3/year).
Poleg tega zmogljivost plinovoda presega letno porabo s strani družbe AoG (1,7 milijarde Nm3/leto v primerjavi z 0,7 milijarde Nm3/leto).
AoG has argued that its yearly contractual gas consumption equals to 13,5 % of the total national consumption and that its yearly actual gas consumption equals to 10,5 % of the total national consumption.
Družba AoG trdi, da je njena letna poraba plina po pogodbi 13,5 % skupne nacionalne porabe in da je njena dejanska letna poraba plina 10,5 % skupne nacionalne porabe.
AoG also states that the investment brings to the grid operator annual tariff revenue of EUR 11,6 million, which makes the investment very interesting and profitable for the grid operator.
Družba AoG trdi tudi, da naložba upravljavcu omrežja prinese letni prihodek od cen v višini 11,6 milijona EUR, zaradi česar je naložba za upravljavca omrežja zelo zanimiva in dobičkonosna.
These figures have been confirmed by the Greek authorities.
Te številke so potrdili grški organi.
IV(b) COMMENTS FROM PPC
IV(b) PRIPOMBE PODJETJA PPC
PPC supports the Commission’s investigation on the electricity tariff measure.
Podjetje PPC podpira preiskavo Komisije glede ukrepa o cenah električne energije.
PPC confirms that the advantage to AoG would be EUR 17,4 million.
Podjetje PPC je potrdilo, da prednost za družbo AoG znaša 17,4 milijona EUR.
On the basis of the above facts and also of the arguments of Greece and other third parties, the Commission will assess the measures in question in this section.
Na podlagi teh dejstev, trditev Grčije in trditev drugih tretjih strani bo Komisija v tem delu ocenila zadevna ukrepa.
First, the Commission will assess the presence of aid in the measures under scrutiny, in order to conclude if there is aid or not (sub-section V(a)).
Komisija bo najprej ocenila prisotnost pomoči v ukrepih, ki se preiskujejo, da bi lahko ugotovila, ali pomoč obstaja ali ne (pododdelek V(a)).
Secondly, where a measure indeed involves aid, the Commission will assess its compatibility with the internal market (sub-section V(b)).
Če ukrep dejansko vključuje državno pomoč, bo Komisija ocenila njegovo združljivost z notranjim trgom (pododdelek V(b)).
V(a) PRESENCE OF AID IN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 107(1) TFEU
V(a) OBSTOJ POMOČI V SMISLU ČLENA 107(1) PDEU
Article 107(1) TFEU states that ‘Save as otherwise provided in the Treaties, any aid granted by Member State or through State resources in any form whatsoever which distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring certain undertakings or the production of certain goods shall, in so far as it affects trade between Member States, be incompatible with the internal market’.
Člen 107(1) PDEU navaja, da „razen če Pogodbi ne določata drugače, je vsaka pomoč, ki jo dodeli država članica, ali kakršna koli vrsta pomoči iz državnih sredstev, ki izkrivlja ali bi lahko izkrivljala konkurenco z dajanjem prednosti posameznim podjetjem ali proizvodnji posameznega blaga, nezdružljiva z notranjim trgom, kolikor prizadene trgovino med državami članicami“.
In the light of this provision, the Commission will assess hereunder whether the contested measures in favour of AoG constitute State aid.
Komisija bo ob upoštevanju te določbe v tem delu ocenila, ali izpodbijani ukrepi v korist družbe AoG pomenijo državno pomoč.
The Commission observes that the tariff paid by AoG is lower than the standard tariff paid by other large industrial consumers.
Komisija ugotavlja, da je cena, ki jo je plačevala družba AoG, nižja od standardne cene, ki so jo plačevali drugi veliki industrijski odjemalci.
The Commission considers that a market economy vendor would not accept to charge a monthly reduced tariff without any specific justification.
Komisija meni, da se prodajalec v tržnem gospodarstvu ne bi strinjal z zaračunavanjem nižje mesečne cene brez posebne utemeljitve.
In this regard, Greece did not submit any convincing arguments permitting to conclude that this preferential tariff was a market tariff although the Commission formally raised this issue in its correspondence.
Glede tega Grčija ni navedla nobenih prepričljivih argumentov, ki bi utemeljevali ugotovitev, da je bila ta ugodnejša cena tržna cena, čeprav je Komisija to vprašanje uradno zastavila v svojih dopisih.
To the contrary, two significant factors indicate that the tariff paid by AoG cannot be considered as a price fixed by the market forces:
Nasprotno, dva pomembna dejavnika kažeta, da cene, ki jo je plačevala družba AoG, ni mogoče obravnavati kot ceno, ki so jo določile tržne sile:
The first indication refers to PPC’s behaviour.
prvi kazalnik se nanaša na ravnanje podjetja PPC.
Indeed, as soon as it could free itself from the legal constraint imposed by the 1960 statutes laying down the privileges for AoG, PPC took the decision to move immediately away from the preferential tariff and started charging the standard rate for large industrial customers.
Dejansko se je podjetje PPC, takoj ko se je osvobodilo pravnih omejitev iz statutov iz leta 1960, ki so določali ugodnosti za družbo AoG, odločilo, da takoj preneha zaračunavati ugodnejšo ceno, in začelo zaračunavati standardno ceno za velike industrijske odjemalce.
This is demonstrated by PPC’s renouncement notified to AoG in February 2004 (see paragraph 8 above).
To kaže odpoved s strani podjetja PPC, ki jo je le-to februarja 2004 predložilo družbi AoG (glej uvodno izjavo 8).
The Commission considers this to constitute a good indication that the tariff set by the 1960 statutes doesn’t reflect market price for PPC;
Komisija meni, da je to dober pokazatelj, da cena, določena v statutih iz leta 1960, ne odraža tržne cene za podjetje PPC;
The second indication derives from a previous Commission decision.
drugi kazalnik izhaja iz predhodne odločbe Komisije.
On 16 October 2002, the Commission approved a subsidy of maximum EUR 178 million, to be granted by Greece to PPC (case N133/01 [5]).
Komisija je 16. oktobra 2002 odobrila subvencijo v višini največ 178 milijonov EUR, ki jo je Grčija dodelila podjetju PPC (zadeva N133/01 [5]).
The subsidy aimed at allowing PPC to be compensated for stranded costs it had to bear in the context of the 1960 privileged tariff in favour of AoG, until its expiry in March 2006.
Namen subvencije je bil omogočiti podjetju PPC nadomestilo za nasedle stroške, ki jih je podjetje imelo zaradi ugodnejše cene iz leta 1960 v korist družbe AoG do konca veljavnosti te cene marca 2006.
The subsidy was approved as no aid to PPC, because it was merely a compensation for a disadvantage that it had to bear.
Subvencija je bila odobrena kot subvencija, ki ne pomeni državne pomoči podjetju PPC, z utemeljitvijo, da je samo nadomestilo za neugoden položaj, v katerem je bilo.
The decision also included a remark that if the subsidy was to be considered as aid, it would be aid in favour of AoG and not in favour of PPC.
Ta odločba je vsebovala tudi pripombo, da če bi bila ta subvencija državna pomoč, bi bila to pomoč družbi AoG in ne podjetju PPC. Ta odločba priznava, da je moralo podjetje PPC družbi AoG zaračunavati ugodnejšo ceno, do česar pod običajnimi tržnimi pogoji ne bi prišlo.
In conclusion, this decision acknowledges that PPC had to bear a privileged tariff in favour of AoG that it would not have had to bear under normal market conditions., Thus, the Commission considers that the advantage for AoG consists of the difference between the standard tariff for large industrial consumers (that AoG would have paid in the absence of the special ‘privileged’ tariff) and the tariff paid by AoG between January 2007 and March 2008.
Zato Komisija meni, da je ugodnost za družbo AoG v razliki med standardno ceno za velike industrijske odjemalce (ki bi jo morala družba AoG plačati, če ne bi bilo posebne „ugodnejše“ cene) in ceno, ki jo je družba AoG plačevala med januarjem 2007 in marcem 2008.
The lower pricing resulted in reduced revenue for PPC.
Zaradi zaračunavanja nižje cene je imelo podjetje PPC manjši prihodek.
PPC SA is a company controlled by the State.
Podjetje PPC SA je podjetje pod nadzorom države.
The Greek State has a 51 % shareholding and the Greek Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change is supervising the company (Ministry of Finance until 2009).
Grčija ima v podjetju 51-odstotni delež, podjetje pa je pod nadzorom grškega ministrstva za okolje, energijo in podnebne spremembe (do leta 2009 je bilo pod nadzorom ministrstva za finance).
The Greek State can appoint the majority of the members of the Board and it is directly represented in the General Assembly by the Greek Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change (Minister of Finance until 2009).
Grčija lahko imenuje večino članov odbora, v generalni skupščini pa jo neposredno zastopa grški minister za okolje, energijo in podnebne spremembe (do leta 2009 jo je zastopal minister za finance).
Therefore, State resources are involved.
Zato so vključena državna sredstva.
In addition, the Commission notes that the prolongation decision is imputable to the Greek State, as it was adopted by a Greek court, which constitutes a body of the State.
Poleg tega Komisija ugotavlja, da je za odločbo o podaljšanju odgovorna Grčija, saj jo je sprejelo grško sodišče, ki je državni organ.
Thus, the State resources criterion is fulfilled.
Zato je merilo glede državnih sredstev izpolnjeno.
The privileged tariff was applied only to AoG, therefore the latter benefited selectively from the measure.
Ugodnejša cena je veljala samo za družbo AoG, ki ji je bila zato z ukrepom dodeljena selektivna prednost.
Thus, the Commission considers that the measure is selective.
Zato Komisija meni, da je ukrep selektiven.
Distortion of competition and affectation of trade between Member States
Izkrivljanje konkurence in vpliv na trgovino med državami članicami
AoG is active in sectors whose products are widely traded among Member States.
Družba AoG je dejavna v sektorjih, v katerih države članice veliko trgujejo.
In particular, there is aluminium production in 9 Member States, apart from Greece, i.e. in France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom [6].
Proizvodnja aluminija poleg Grčije poteka v še devetih državah članicah, in sicer v Franciji, Nemčiji, Italiji, na Nizozemskem, Poljskem, v Romuniji, Španiji, na Švedskem in v Združenem kraljestvu [6].
As regards the production of electricity, it exists in all Member States as a liberalised economic activity.
Proizvodnja električne energije poteka v vseh državah članicah kot liberalizirana gospodarska dejavnost.
When State aid strengthens the position of an undertaking compared with other undertakings competing in trade between Member States, those other undertakings must be regarded as affected by that aid.
Kadar se z državno pomočjo okrepi položaj enega podjetja v primerjavi z drugimi podjetji, ki med seboj konkurirajo na ravni trgovine med državami članicami, se šteje, da pomoč vpliva na ta podjetja.
Thus, the criterion of distortion of competition and affectation of trade between Member States is indeed fulfilled.
Zato je merilo glede izkrivljanja konkurence in vpliva na trgovino med državami članicami izpolnjeno.
Neither Greece nor the beneficiary has contested this point.
Niti Grčija niti upravičenka te točke nista izpodbijali.
Conclusion on the existence of aid in measure 1
Sklepna ugotovitev o obstoju pomoči v ukrepu 1
On the basis of the above, the Commission concludes that the preferential electricity tariff to AoG constitutes State aid in favour of the latter within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU.
Na podlagi navedenega je Komisija sklenila, da ugodnejša cena električne energije za družbo AoG pomeni državno pomoč v korist te družbe v smislu člena 107(1) PDEU.
The amount of aid equals EUR 17,4 million, which is the difference between (a) the revenues of PPC from the standard tariff that should have been applied in period January 2007- March 2008, i.e. EUR 148,8 million, and (b) the revenues of PPC from the tariff that was actually applied in the same period, i.e. EUR 131,4 million.
Pomoč znaša 17,4 milijona EUR, kar je razlika med (a) prihodki podjetja PPC od standardne cene, ki bi morala biti uporabljena v obdobju od januarja 2007 do marca 2008, tj. 148,8 milijona EUR, in (b) prihodkov podjetja PPC od cene, ki se je v tem obdobju dejansko uporabljala, tj. 131,4 milijona EUR.
Measure 1 is unlawful aid
Ukrep 1 pomeni nezakonito pomoč
AoG argues that the first court decision of January 2007 did not involve a substantial amendment to the original privilege agreement (see paragraph 16 above).
Družba AoG trdi, da v prvi odločbi sodišča iz januarja 2007 ni bilo nobene večje spremembe prvotnega preferencialnega dogovora (glej uvodno izjavo 16).
Therefore, according to AoG, the decision did not grant new aid to AoG and the measure of privileged electricity pricing remained as existing aid.
Zato družbi AoG po njenem mnenju ni bila dodeljena nova pomoč in ukrep o ugodnejši ceni električne energije pomeni obstoječo pomoč.
The Commission cannot accept AoG’s argument.
Komisija se s trditvijo družbe AoG ne strinja.
The original terms of the preferential rate, which constituted existing aid, provided that the aid would end in March 2006 on condition that PPC gives due notice.
Prvotni pogoji za ugodnejšo ceno, ki so pomenili obstoječo pomoč, so določali, da se pomoč zaključi marca 2006, če podjetje PPC družbo AoG o tem pravočasno obvesti.
Once this was done, the existing aid ceased, as it was due to do under the terms of the original grant of the privileged rate.
Ko je bila družba AoG o tem obveščena, je obstoječa pomoč prenehala veljati, kot je bilo to zahtevano v skladu s pogoji prvotne odobritve ugodnejše cene.
Any granting of a reduced electricity rate which meets the definition of State aid (as is the case here) is thus new aid, irrespective of the fact that its terms may be similar to the earlier existing aid.
Vsaka odobritev nižje cene električne energije, ki ustreza opredelitvi državne pomoči (kot v tem primeru), je zato nova pomoč, ne glede na to, da so pogoji za to pomoč podobni prejšnjemu ukrepu obstoječe pomoči.
The case-law of the Court of justice clearly spells out that the extension of an existing aid constitutes a new aid and must be notified [7].
Sodna praksa Sodišča jasno navaja, da podaljšanje obstoječe pomoči pomeni novo pomoč, ki jo je treba priglasiti [7].
A fortiori, this is also the case when a terminated existing aid is reactivated several months later.
Iz tega sledi, da to velja tudi, kadar je ukinjena obstoječa pomoč ponovno uvedena nekaj mesecev kasneje.
As this new aid has not been notified to the Commission pursuant to Article 108 TFEU, it is unlawful.
Ker ta nova pomoč Komisiji ni bila priglašena v skladu s členom 108 PDEU, je nezakonita.
The investigation has shown that the decision to extend the grid has led to a considerable increase of tariff revenues for NGSO.
Preiskava je pokazala, da so se družbi NGSO z odločitvijo, da razširi omrežje, precej povečali prihodki iz uporabniških pristojbin.
Indeed, customers like AoG have to pay tariff to NGSO for their use of the network.
Dejansko morajo uporabniki, kot je družba AoG, družbi NGSO za uporabo omrežja plačati uporabnino.
The Commission has found that the measure, i.e. the construction of the pipeline, was economically rational for the grid operator and consequently did not entail any advantage to AoG.
Komisija je ugotovila, da je bil ukrep, tj. izgradnja plinovoda, za upravljavca omrežja gospodarsko smiseln in zato ni pomenil nobene prednosti za družbo AoG.
Indeed, a private grid operator would have carried out the same investment.
Dejansko bi zasebni upravljavec omrežja izvedel enako naložbo.
According to the submissions of the Greek authorities, the investment cost of the AoG pipeline was EUR 12,64 million in total (9,04 million paid by NGSO and 3,6 financed by Community support as described under point 14 above).
V skladu z navedbami grških organov so stroški plinovoda za družbo AoG skupaj znašali 12,64 milijona EUR (9,04 milijona EUR je plačala družba NGSO, 3,6 milijona EUR pa je bilo financiranih s sredstvi Skupnosti, kot je opisano v uvodni izjavi 14).
In addition to the one-off investment cost, the annual operating expenses are evaluated to EUR 0,933 million. Therefore, it is clear that the annual revenue of EUR 11,6 million provides NGSO with a very high return.
Ob stroških za enkratno naložbo so letni stroški obratovanja ocenjeni na 0,933 milijona EUR. Zato je jasno, da letni prihodek v višini 11,6 milijona EUR za družbo NGSO pomeni zelo visok donos.
The pay-back period of the investment (including the part financed by Community support) is lower than 15 months.
Obdobje za povračilo naložbe (vključno z delom, financiranim iz sredstev Skupnosti) je manj kot 15 mesecev.
The return on investment (IRR – Internal Rate of Return) assuming, hypothetically, a 20-year exploitation period for the gas connection, is 84 %.
Če hipotetično predvidevamo, da bo plinovod v uporabi 20 let, je donosnost naložbe (IRR – notranja stopnja donosa) 84 %.
In view of its high level, the Commission is satisfied that the return would have been sufficient to motivate a private investor to make the same investment [8].
Glede na visoko donosnost Komisija meni, da bi bil donos dovolj visok, da bi zasebnega vlagatelja spodbudil k izvedbi iste naložbe [8].
Thus, the Commission considers that the State decision to extent the gas grid did not grant AoG an advantage that it would not have been able to obtain on market terms.
Zato Komisija meni, da odločitev države, da razširi plinsko omrežje, družbi AoG ni dodelila prednosti, ki je ne bi mogla pridobiti pod tržnimi pogoji.
Thus, the advantage criterion is not fulfilled.
Zato merilo glede prednosti ni izpolnjeno.
There is consequently no need to further assess the other criteria that need to be fulfilled for a measure to constitute State aid under Article 107(1) TFEU.
Nobene potrebe ni po nadaljnjem ocenjevanju meril, ki bi morala biti izpolnjena, da bi ukrep pomenil državno pomoč na podlagi člena 107(1) PDEU.
Conclusion on the existence of aid in measure 2
Sklepna ugotovitev o obstoju pomoči v ukrepu 2
On the basis of the above, the Commission concludes that the extension of the gas grid does not constitute State aid in favour of AoG within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU.
Na podlagi navedenega je Komisija sklenila, da razširitev plinskega omrežja za družbo AoG ne pomeni državne pomoči v korist te družbe v smislu člena 107(1) PDEU.
V(b) COMPATIBILITY OF THE AID WITH THE INTERNAL MARKET
V(b) ZDRUŽLJIVOST POMOČI Z NOTRANJIM TRGOM
Inasmuch as measure 1 constitutes State aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU, its compatibility must be assessed in the light of the exceptions laid down in paragraphs 2 and 3 of that Article.
V kolikor ukrep 1 pomeni državno pomoč v smislu člena 107(1) PDEU, je treba njegovo združljivost oceniti ob upoštevanju izjem iz odstavkov 2 in 3 tega člena.
Article 107(2) and 107(3) TFEU provide for exemptions to the general rule that State aid is incompatible with the internal market as stated in Article 107(1).
Člen 107(2) in člen 107(3) določata izjeme od splošnega pravila iz člena 107(1), da državna pomoč ni združljiva z notranjim trgom.
Exemptions under Article 107(2) TFEU
Izjeme na podlagi člena 107(2) PDEU
The exemptions in Article 107(2) TFEU do not apply in the present case because this measure does not have a social character, has not been awarded to individual consumers, is not designed to make good damage caused by natural disasters or exceptional occurrences and has not been awarded to the economy of certain areas of the Federal Republic of Germany affected by the division of that country.
Izjeme iz člena 107(2) PDEU v tem primeru ne veljajo, ker ta ukrep ni socialnega značaja, ni bil dodeljen posameznim potrošnikom, ni namenjen povrnitvi škode, ki so jo povzročile naravne nesreče ali izjemni dogodki, in ni bil dodeljen gospodarstvu nekaterih območij Zvezne republike Nemčije, ki jih je prizadela delitev te države.
Exemptions under Article 107(3) TFEU
Izjeme na podlagi člena 107(3) PDEU
Further exemptions are laid out in Article 107(3) TFEU.
Nadaljnje izjeme so določene v členu 107(3) PDEU.
The exceptions laid down in Article 107(3)(b), (d) and (e) are clearly not applicable and have not been invoked by the Greek authorities.
Izjeme iz člena 107(3)(b), (d) in (e) očitno ne veljajo in se grški organi nanje niso sklicevali.
In the following, the Commission will assess the potential compatibility of measure 1 under Article 107(3)(a) and (c).
V nadaljevanju bo Komisija ocenila morebitno združljivost ukrepa 1 na podlagi člena 107(3)(a) in (c).
Article 107(3)(a) states that ‘aid to promote the economic development of areas where the standard of living is abnormally low or where there is serious underemployment’ may be declared compatible with the internal market.
Člen 107(3)(a) navaja, da se lahko „pomoč za pospeševanje gospodarskega razvoja območij, kjer je življenjska raven izjemno nizka ali kjer je podzaposlenost velika“, razglasi za združljivo z notranjim trgom.
AoG is located in an assisted area under Article 107(3)(a) TFEU, therefore it could potentially be eligible for regional aid.
Družba AoG se nahaja na območju, ki je upravičeno do pomoči na podlagi člena 107(3)(a) PDEU, zato bi lahko bila upravičena do regionalne pomoči.