natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
The Commission, in its preliminary assessment, considered that the measure constituted state aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU and it did not see any grounds on which it could be compatible with the internal market, since no derogation seemed to be applicable.
Španija je v zvezi s ponudniki strojne opreme izrazila stališče, da dejstvo o njihovi zmagi na razpisih za dobavo opreme izključuje obstoj dajanja prednosti.
GENERAL REMARKS
Omrežje upravljajo nekateri regionalni upravljavci, avtonomne skupnosti ali lokalni sveti, ki najemajo Abertisove prostore in opremo.
In its defence to the opening decision, Spain and the Autonomous Communities have put forward numerous arguments [31].
Avtonomne skupnosti in lokalni sveti ne konkurirajo drugim omrežnim operaterjem ter zato nimajo konkurenčnih prednosti.
Broadly speaking they fall into two categories.
Poleg tega ne prejemajo nobenih prihodkov, saj izdajatelji televizijskega programa ne plačujejo za zagotavljanje storitev prenosa na območju II.
First, the Spanish authorities argue that there is no state aid involved, because as the service is an SGEI the measure does not constitute aid, as it falls under the public service remit of public broadcasting.
V zvezi z izdajatelji televizijskega programa Španija trdi, da je učinek preiskovanih ukrepov na izdajatelje televizijskega programa skoraj neobstoječ.
Moreover, it does not generate any advantage.
Ukrepi niso povečali občinstva izdajateljev televizijskega programa v primerjavi s časom, ko so bili programi predvajani analogno, saj je 2,5 % ciljnega prebivalstva, pri katerem je potekala razširitev pokritja, že imelo analogno prizemno televizijo.
Secondly, even if there was any state aid, it would be compatible under Article 106(2) or Article 107(3)(c) given that (a) the analogue network already existed and, from an efficiency perspective, a mere upgrade of the existing infrastructure would be less costly than switching to a new platform;
Ukrepi posledično niso vplivali na finančno stanje teh podjetij.
only the DTT technology would fulfil the necessary quality criteria and (c) the tenders were technologically neutral and other platform operators could have participated in the tendering.
ZDRUŽLJIVOST NA PODLAGI ČLENA 106(2) IN ČLENA 107(3)(c)
These arguments are summarised below.
Baskovski organi so navedli, da je državna pomoč, dodeljena Itelazpiju, združljiva z notranjim trgom na podlagi člena 106 PDEU.
ABSENCE OF AID
V zvezi s tem so prepričani, da ukrep izpolnjuje vse pogoje Odločbe Komisije z dne 28. novembra 2005 o uporabi člena 86(2) Pogodbe ES za državne pomoči v obliki nadomestila za javne storitve, dodeljene nekaterim podjetjem, pooblaščenim za opravljanje storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena (v nadaljnjem besedilu: Odločba 86(2)) [33].
Service of General Economic Interest (SGEI)
Tudi ob odločitvi Komisije, da ukrepi, ki so jih španski organi sprejeli v zvezi z uporabo digitalne prizemne televizije na območju II, pomenijo državno pomoč in niso združljivi z notranjim trgom pri uporabi člena 106 PDEU, bi Španija še naprej trdila, da so zagotovo združljivi z notranjim trgom, saj je njihov namen zagotoviti doseganje cilja, ki je v interesu Skupnosti (prehod na digitalno radiodifuzijo), zato bi morali biti izvzeti na podlagi člena 107(3)(c) PDEU.
Regarding the network operators, according to the Spanish authorities they provide a service of general economic interest within the meaning of the Altmark judgement [32].
Argumenti o učinkovitosti
However, as the Autonomous Communities are responsible for actions to extend coverage, the applicability of the Altmark judgment must be examined on a case-by-case basis and it is up to the Autonomous Communities to prove that the Altmark conditions had been fulfilled.
Španija meni, da nacionalni tehnični načrt in načrt prehoda na nacionalni ravni nista načrta razširitve pokritja, saj se nanašata zgolj na preklop na območju I. Načrta sama po sebi ne omejujeta tehnoloških možnosti, ki so dostopne pri razširitvi pokritja.
The most thorough arguments were those submitted by the Basque Country, which carried out digitisation through a public company, Itelazpi S.A. (hereinafter ‘Itelazpi’).
Okvirni sporazumi po drugi strani nimajo enakega regulativnega statusa kot načrta ter temeljijo na sporazumih med centralnimi in regionalnimi organi.
No advantage
Poleg tega po mnenju Španije ne vključujejo uporabe satelitskih in drugih tehnologij.
Concerning the hardware providers, Spain expressed the view that the fact that they won tenders for supply of equipment ruled out the existence of a selective advantage.
Razširitev pokritja in izbiro tehnologije so izvedle avtonomne skupnosti, običajno prek razpisnega postopka.
As regards the network operators, although Abertis is the main operator in Area I and it owns 29 % of the sites in Area II which were upgraded, it does not operate the network in Area II.
Eden takih razpisov, ki je bil izveden v avtonomni skupnosti Kastilja in León, je bil tehnološko nevtralen, sama izvedba takega razpisa pa dokazuje, da centralni organi niso vsiljevali prizemne tehnologije avtonomnim skupnostim.
Abertis would therefore not benefit from the measure as a network operator.
Čeprav se nekateri razpisi, ki so bili izvedeni drugje, sklicujejo na določene tehnične elemente prizemne tehnologije, je to mogoče utemeljiti z dejstvom, da prizemna radiodifuzija zahteva nekatere elemente, ki pri satelitski radiodifuziji niso prisotni in ki jih je bilo treba vključiti, da prizemne rešitve ne bi bile izključene iz razpisov.
Network operation is, instead, carried out by some regional operators, by the Autonomous Communities or by local councils, which simply rent Abertis' premises and installations.
Španski organi se sklicujejo tudi na študijo možnosti zagotavljanja univerzalne storitve digitalne prizemne televizije s pomočjo različnih tehnologij (digitalna prizemna televizija in satelit), ki jo je MITT izvedlo julija 2007, tj. pred predlogom financiranja za razširitev pokritja z digitalno prizemno televizijo.
The Autonomous Communities and local councils do not compete with other network operators, and therefore they do not obtain a competitive advantage.
Čeprav organi priznavajo, da je študija zgolj notranji dokument in se pozneje ni začela izvajati, kljub temu poudarjajo, da je upoštevala realistične stroške uporabe digitalne prizemne televizije ali satelitskega prenosa.
Moreover, they do not earn any revenue, as broadcasters do not pay for the provision of transmission services in Area II.
V sklepnih ugotovitvah študije je navedeno, da ni mogoče vnaprej določiti, katera tehnologija je učinkovitejša ali cenejša za razširitev pokritja s televizijskim signalom.
As for the DTT broadcasters, Spain argues that the impact of the investigated measures on broadcasters is almost non-existent.
Izbrati bi jo bilo treba glede na posamezno regijo, po možnosti na podlagi študij, ki so jih izvedle zadevne avtonomne skupnosti in v katerih so proučeni dejavniki, kot so topografija, ozemeljska porazdelitev prebivalstva in stanje obstoječe infrastrukture.
The measures did not increase broadcasters' audiences compared with when programmes were transmitted on analogue, as 2,5 % of the population targeted by the extended coverage already received analogue terrestrial television.
Kvalitativne zahteve
As a result, the measures have no impact on these businesses' finances.
Predložena sta bila dva argumenta v zvezi s kakovostjo.
COMPATIBILITY UNDER ARTICLE 106(2) AND 107(3)(c)
Prvič, do danes nekodirani kanali digitalne prizemne televizije na tem območju niso bili na voljo prek satelitske radiodifuzije.
The Basque Country authorities submitted that the state aid granted to Itelazpi is compatible with the internal market by virtue of the provisions of article 106 TFEU.
Preklop na satelitsko platformo bi zato pomenil, da bi bila ta storitev za stranke plačljiva.
In this respect, they believe that the measure fulfils all the conditions of the Decision of 28 November 2005 on the application of Article 86(2) of the EC Treaty to state aid in the form of public service compensation granted to certain undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest (hereinafter ‘86(2) Decision’) [33].
Drugič, poleg nacionalnih kanalov je treba prenašati tudi regionalne kanale.
In the event of the Commission deciding that the measures taken by the Spanish authorities with regard the deployment of digital terrestrial television in Area II constitute state aid, and that they are not compatible with the internal market in application of article 106 TFEU, Spain claims that they would certainly be compatible with the internal market insofar as their purpose is to ensure that an objective which is of community interest is achieved (the conversion to digital broadcasting), so they would benefit from the exemption provided for in Article 107(3)(c) TFEU.
Tehnologija digitalne prizemne televizije omogoča, da se v vsakem geografskem območju prenašajo tudi kanali navedenega območja.
Efficiency arguments
Na podlagi regionalnih in lokalnih kanalov ima prizemna televizija po vsej Španiji na voljo 1380 frekvenc, ki ne zahtevajo nobenih tehničnih omejitev in razširitve radiodifuzije nad ciljno območje vsakega kanala.
According to Spain, at national level the National Technical Plan and Transition Plan are not coverage extension plans since they refer only to the switchover in Area I. As such, the plans do not restrict the technology options available for the extension of coverage.
Po mnenju Španije to ne bi bilo mogoče pri satelitskih omrežjih, saj ne zagotavljajo možnosti geografske omejitve in bi bilo zato treba uporabiti večplasten sistem pogojnega dostopa.
The framework agreements, on the other hand, do not have the same regulatory status as the Plans and they are based on agreements between the central and regional authorities.
S tem bi se nadalje povečali stroški satelitske radiodifuzije, izdajatelji televizijskega programa pa ne bi hoteli odobriti dostopa do svojih kanalov, če ne bi bili prepričani, da je omejitev mogoča.
Moreover, according to Spain, they would not exclude the use of satellite and other technologies.
Tehnološka nevtralnost
In any event, the extension of coverage and the choice of technology were done by the Autonomous Communities, usually through tendering procedure.
Po mnenju Španije dvostranski sporazumi med centralnimi in regionalnimi organi niso vsiljevali določene digitalizacijske tehnologije.
One such tender — carried out in Castilla y Leon — was technologically neutral and the mere fact that such a tender was held proves that the central authorities did not impose the terrestrial technology on the Autonomous Communities.
Določali so le prenos na avtonomne skupnosti, skladen s stroški digitalizacije, ki so bili izračunani na podlagi domnevno učinkovite referenčne tehnologije, tj. digitalne prizemne televizije.
Even if some tenders held elsewhere do refer to certain technical elements of the terrestrial technology, this is explained by the fact that terrestrial broadcasting requires certain elements that satellite does not, and their insertion was necessary in order not to exclude terrestrial solutions from the tenders.
Zato bi bilo treba po mnenju Španije upoštevati, da je prizemna analogna televizija ob razširitvi dosegala 98,5 % španskih gospodinjstev.
The Spanish authorities also refer to a study into the feasibility of providing a universal DTT service through different technologies (DTT and satellite) carried out by the MITyC in July 2007, i.e. before proposing funding to extend DTT coverage.
Ob upoštevanju razpisa v Kantabriji, na katerega se sklicuje odločitev o sprožitvi postopka, španski organi poudarjajo, da je razpis, na katerem je zmagala Astra, zadeval območji II in III ter je bil njegov cilj tako zagotoviti univerzalno digitalno televizijo v Kantabriji.
Although the authorities admit that the study was only an internal document not later taken on board, they nevertheless emphasise that it took into account the realistic costs of using either DTT or satellite transmission.
To bi imelo dvojen učinek na oceno primera.
The conclusions of the study were that it is not possible to establish in advance which technology is more efficient or cheaper to extend the coverage of television signal.
Prvič, kantabrijski projekt je postal neuspešen, ko so po dodelitvi pogodbe Astri nekateri glavni izdajatelji televizijskega programa obvestili Astro in kantabrijsko vlado, da ne bodo dovolili oddajanja svojih vsebin prek satelita.
Instead, a choice should be made on a region-by-region basis, preferably by means of studies carried out by the particular Autonomous Communities which analyse such factors as topography, territorial distribution of population and the state of the existing infrastructure.
Namen načrta posledično ni bil več nedvomno izvedljiv.
Qualitative requirements
Drugič, glavni razlog za prekinitev pogodbe je bila odločitev centralne vlade, da zagotovi satelitsko pokritje na celotnem območju III v Španiji, in ne odločitev centralne vlade, da zagotovi financiranje za razširitev pokritja na območju II.
Two qualitative arguments have been put forward.
Poleg tega je bila pogodba novembra 2008 prekinjena, ker je bilo do takrat jasno, da Astra ne bo mogla izpolniti svojih obveznosti.
Firstly, to date DTT free-to-air channels have not been available via satellite broadcast in this area.
Astra zlasti ni pravočasno izvedla potrebnih del in ni prejela pooblastil izdajateljev nekodiranega televizijskega programa, da lahko oddaja njihove kanale.
Switching to the satellite platform would therefore mean that customers would have to pay for the service.
V okviru tega sklepa je kantabrijski projekt relevanten zgolj v smislu, da se lahko satelitska platforma šteje kot veljavna alternativa prizemni platformi.
Secondly, apart from national channels, regional channels also need to be broadcast.
V zvezi s tem zgornji argumenti niso ustrezni.
DTT technology allows each geographical area to receive the channels for that area.
Pri odločitvi za satelitsko platformo na območju III so španski organi sprejeli nacionalni načrt in sprejeli posebno uredbo, ki od izdajateljev televizijskega programa zahteva, da se medsebojno uskladijo in izberejo enega skupnega ponudnika satelitske platforme.
On the basis of the regional and local channels, a total of 1380 frequencies are allocated to terrestrial television throughout Spain, without the need for any technical restrictions and without extending broadcasting beyond the target area of each channel.
Podoben mehanizem bi se lahko uporabil tudi za območje II.
According to Spain, this would be impossible for satellite networks as they do not provide the possibility of geographical delimitation and would therefore have to use a complex system of conditional access.
Navedeni razlogi za prekinitev pogodbe ne postavljajo pod vprašaj dejstva, da bi satelitska tehnologija lahko bila veljavna platforma za prenos televizijskih signalov na območju II.
This would further increase the costs of satellite broadcasting, and broadcasters would not be willing to give access to their channels without being sure that delimitation is possible.
Poleg tega jih je ovrglo tudi nacionalno sodišče Španije.
Technological neutrality
Odsotnost izkrivljanja konkurence in trgovine
According to Spain, the bilateral agreements between the central and regional authorities did not impose a particular digitisation technology.
V zvezi s konkurenco med omrežnimi operaterji je Španija izrazila stališče, da prizemna in satelitska televizija pomenita dva popolnoma drugačna trga, zato preiskovani ukrepi na prizadetih trgih niso izkrivljali konkurence.
They merely established transfers to the Autonomous Communities in line with the costs of digitisation, calculated on the basis of what was considered to be an efficient reference technology, i.e. DTT.
Španija trdi, da preiskovani ukrepi ne vplivajo na trg znotraj Skupnosti, saj so namenjeni prebivalcem na omejenem geografskem območju.
In this respect it should be taken to consideration, according to Spain, that at the time of extension, terrestrial analogue television reached 98,5 % of Spanish homes.
Ker gre za lokalne storitve, ni verjetno, da bi ukrep vplival na trgovanje med državami članicami.
Concerning the tender in Cantabria referred to in the opening decision, the Spanish authorities emphasise that the tender won by Astra concerned both Areas II and III, i.e. was aimed at universal provision of digital television in Cantabria.
UPORABA PRAVILA DE MINIMIS
This would have a twofold impact on the assessment of the case.
Španski organi so izrazili tudi stališče, da se pravilo de minimis, ki je bilo uvedeno z Uredbo Komisije (ES) št. 1998/2006 [34] o pomoči de minimis, nedvomno uporablja za znatni delež financiranja.
Firstly, the Cantabrian project became a failure when, after the award of the contract to Astra, some of the main broadcasters informed Astra and the Cantabrian government that they would not allow their content to be broadcast via satellite.
Strojna oprema je bila kupljena neodvisno v posameznih avtonomnih skupnostih ali lokalnih svetih, zato bi bilo treba določbe de minimis proučiti na navedeni ravni.
As a result, the objective of the plan was no longer readily achievable.
Ker so v teh primerih poznani natančen znesek, ki je bil izplačan, ter blago in storitve, ki so bile kupljene, je bila pomoč dovolj pregledna, da se lahko uporabijo pragovi de minimis.
Secondly, the main reason for termination of the contract was the decision of the central government to provide satellite coverage across the whole of Area III in Spain, and not the decision to provide funding from the central government to extend the coverage in Area II.
STALNA DRŽAVNA POMOČ
Furthermore, the contract was terminated in November 2008 because at this point in time it was obvious that Astra would not be able to comply with its obligations.
V zvezi z upravljanjem in vzdrževanjem centrov za razpošiljanje signala španski centralni organi menijo, da nista povezana z razširitvijo pokritja, ki ga delno financira MITT.
In particular, Astra did not undertake the necessary works on time and did not receive authorisations from free-to-air broadcasters to broadcast their channels.
Ministrstvo ni pristojno, da bi od svetov in avtonomnih skupnosti zahtevalo, da nadaljujejo upravljanje in vzdrževanje tudi po obdobju iz razpisov za razširitev pokritja.
In the context of this decision, the Cantabria project is relevant only to the extent that the satellite platform can be considered to be a valid alternative to the terrestrial platform.
Zato ni mogoče zagotovo izključiti, da upravljanje in vzdrževanje nekaterih centrov ne bosta prekinjena zaradi znižanja proračunskih sredstev lokalnih svetov.
In this regard the above arguments are not pertinent.
Letne stroške upravljanja in vzdrževanja so centralni organi začasno ocenili na 10 % začetne naložbe.
When opting for the satellite platform for Area III, the Spanish authorities adopted a national plan and enacted a special regulation requiring broadcasters to coordinate among themselves and to select one common satellite platform provider.
Med preiskavo je več avtonomnih skupnosti predložilo podrobnejše podatke o sredstvih, porabljenih za upravljanje in vzdrževanje omrežja digitalne prizemne televizije na območju II.
A similar mechanism could also have been applied for Area II.
PRIPOMBE ZAINTERESIRANIH STRANI
The reasons given for the termination of the contract do not cast any doubt on the fact that satellite technology may be a valid platform for the transmission of TV signals in Area II.
Splošne pripombe
Furthermore, they have been refuted by a national Court in Spain.
Astra prevzema svoje predhodno stališče, da so bili ukrepi, ki so vodili k preklopu na digitalno prizemno televizijo, usklajen načrt, ki je bil zasnovan na ravni centralne vlage in so ga izvajali regionalni organi.
No distortion of competition and trade
Astra pa je celo ob predpostavki, da je bila državna pomoč za razširitev pokritja zasnovana, organizirana in izvajana na regionalni ravni, prepričana, da ukrepi pomenijo nezakonito in nezdružljivo pomoč.
Concerning competition between network operators, Spain expressed the view that terrestrial and satellite television are two completely different markets and that therefore the investigated measures did not distort competition on the affected markets.
V zvezi z razpisom v Kantabriji Astra v nasprotju s trditvami Španije vztraja, da bi morali pooblastila za dostopnost kanalov na satelitski platformi od izdajateljev televizijskega programa pridobiti kantabrijski organi.
Spain maintains that the investigated measures have no effect on the intra-Union market as they are aimed at the residents of a restricted geographical area.
Čeprav so bili dopisi izdajateljev televizijskega programa poslani marca 2008, so kantabrijski organi avtonomnim skupnostim poleg tega ponudili drugo možnost, za katero so se odločili julija 2008.
Since they are local services, the measure is unlikely to affect trade between Member States.
Obstoj državne pomoči
THE APPLICABILITY OF THE DE MINIMIS RULE
V zvezi s prednostjo omrežnih operaterjev, zlasti Abertisovo, Astra ugotavlja, da je Abertis kot dobavitelj strojne opreme zmagal na približno […] [35] razpisih v zvezi z digitalizacijo prizemnih lokacij na območjih z razširjenim pokritjem.
The Spanish authorities also expressed the view that the de minimis rule introduced by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1998/2006 [34] on de minimis aid certainly applies to a significant proportion of the funding.
Ker je Abertis operater platforme, digitalizacija omrežja koristi njegovi komercialni ponudbi izdajateljem televizijskega programa, saj bo omrežje digitalne prizemne televizije zdaj brez dodatnih stroškov dosegalo skoraj 100 % prebivalstva v nasprotju s 96/98 % prebivalstva, ki bi bilo prizemno digitalizirano, če izpodbijani ukrep ne bi obstajal.
The hardware was purchased independently in each Autonomous Community or local council, and therefore the de minimis provisions should be analysed at that level.
Poleg tega bi Abertisu koristilo tudi, da Astra kot glavni konkurenčni operater alternativne platforme z vstopom na območje II ne bi mogla obstati na španskem trgu.
As in these cases the exact amount paid is known, as are the goods and services which were acquired, the aid was sufficiently transparent for the de minimis thresholds to apply.
Po mnenju Astre je Abertis na podlagi ukrepov imel tudi druge prednosti.
ONGOING STATE AID
Prvič, sredstva španskih organov v področju uporabe preiskovanih ukrepov je izkoristilo znatno število Abertisovih prizemnih lokacij, ki jih dejansko upravlja Abertis.
Concerning the operation and maintenance of the transmission centres, the Spanish central authorities believe that they fall outside the work to extend coverage partially funded by the MITyC.
To zlasti velja za lokacije na območju, kjer mora signal zagotavljati RTVE (javni izdajatelj televizijskega programa), zasebni izdajatelji televizijskega programa pa te obveznosti nimajo (približno 2,5 % prebivalstva).
The ministry has no jurisdiction to require councils or the Autonomous Communities to continue operation and maintenance beyond the period included in the tenders for extension of coverage.
Drugič, Astra trdi, da je imel Abertis zaradi državne pomoči posredne koristi na sosednjih trgih, npr. na prevoznem trgu.
Therefore it cannot be entirely excluded that operation and maintenance of some centres might be interrupted because of local council budget cuts.
Poleg tega pritožnik ugotavlja, da preiskovani ukrep povzroča izkrivljanje konkurence na območju III [36].
The yearly costs of operation and maintenance were provisionally assessed by the central authorities as amounting to 10 % of the initial investment.
Astra meni, da bi morale biti satelitska in prizemna platforma del istega trga.
During the course of the investigation, several Autonomous Communities provided more detailed data on the funds spent for operation and maintenance of the DTT network in Area II.
Razlika med plačljivo in nekodirano televizijo tako ne bi bila pomembna v smislu konkurence med platformami.