natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
The measure was simply an adjustment needed in the light of the new situation in which there was now not just one gambling operator but several.
Ukrep naj bi namreč preprosto ustrezal nujni prilagoditvi novemu položaju, v katerem ni več enega samega ponudnika iger, ampak jih je več.
The burden on the PMU prior to the change would simply be spread over all operators.
Breme, ki ga je prej nosilo združenje PMU, naj bi bilo preprosto porazdeljeno na vse ponudnike.
The French authorities also considered that the PMU could not gain any advantage from the measure because it would pay the entire proceeds from the levy to the horse racing companies.
Francoski organi tudi menijo, da se z ukrepom ne bi mogla dajati prednost združenju PMU, saj naj bi to vse prihodke od dajatve preneslo na družbe za prirejanje konjskih dirk.
Impact on competition and effect on trade
Izkrivljanje konkurence in vpliv na trgovino
The French authorities considered that there was no potential distortion of competition in the online horse-race betting market because the levy applied uniformly to all online horse-race betting operators, nor was there any distortion of competition at the level of the organisation of the horse races themselves because the horse racing companies did not compete but worked together at the European, and indeed, global level (for example, the racing calendar was optimised to avoid conflicting dates).
Francoski organi menijo, da ni izkrivljanja konkurence na trgu spletnih stav na konjske dirke, saj se dajatev uporablja enotno za vse ponudnike spletnih stav na konjske dirke, prav tako ni izkrivljanja konkurence na ravni prirejanja samih konjskih dirk, saj družbe za prirejanje konjskih dirk niso tekmeci, ampak med seboj sodelujejo na evropski in celo svetovni ravni (razpored konjskih dirk naj bi bil na primer optimiziran, da bi se preprečila prekrivanja).
Regarding the SGEI status of the horse racing companies' activities
Opredelitev dejavnosti družb za prirejanje konjskih dirk kot SSGP
The French authorities insisted on the margin of discretion granted to Member States in defining and organising SGEIs.
Francoski organi so vztrajali, da imajo države članice prosto presojo pri opredelitvi in organizaciji SSGP.
On several occasions, the Court of Justice of the European Union had found that, when Member States defined the services of general economic interest which they entrusted to certain enterprises, they could take into account ‘objectives pertaining to their national policy’ [19].
Sodišče naj bi večkrat menilo, da lahko države članice pri opredelitvi storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena, za katere odgovornost naložijo nekaterim podjetjem, „upošteva[jo] cilje [svoje] nacionalne politike“ [19].
The French authorities considered that the organisation of horse races by the horse racing companies did indeed contribute towards an SGEI for the improvement of the equine species, the promotion of horse breeding, personnel training in the horse racing and breeding sector, and rural development.
Francoski organi menijo, da organizacija konjskih dirk, za katero skrbijo družbe za prirejanje konjskih dirk, dejansko prispeva k SSGP, ki obsega plemenitev konj, spodbujanje konjereje, usposabljanje v sektorju konjskih dirk in konjereje ter razvoj podeželja.
By the Law of 12 May 2010, the French legislature had sought to make clear the existence of a public service mission to which the horse racing companies contributed.
Francoski zakonodajalec naj bi obstoj naloge javne službe, h kateri prispevajo družbe za prirejanje konjskih dirk, želel pojasniti z zakonom z dne 12. maja 2010.
Among the main objectives of the State's policy in the area of gambling, as stipulated in Article 3 of that law, was the 'balanced and fair development of the different types of game in order to avoid any economic destabilisation of the sectors concerned.'
Med glavnimi cilji državne politike na področju iger na srečo, kot so navedeni v členu 3 tega zakona, je „uravnotežen in pravičen razvoj različnih vrst iger, da se prepreči kakršna koli gospodarska oslabitev zadevnih dejavnosti“.
Article 65 stipulated that 'the horse racing companies participate inter alia through the organisation of horse races in the public service of improving the equine species, promoting horse breeding, training personnel in the horse racing and breeding sector and developing the countryside.'
V členu 65 je navedeno, da „družbe za prirejanje konjskih dirk zlasti s prirejanjem konjskih dirk prispevajo k javni storitvi plemenitve konj in spodbujanja vzreje, usposabljanja v sektorju konjskih dirk in konjereje ter razvoja podeželja“.
The mission complied with the Community's requirements in the area of SGEIs because its application was universal and compulsory and conferred by an act of a public authority, and it was specific in nature when compared with the operations of an ordinary private business.
Naloga naj bi bila v skladu z zahtevami Skupnosti na področju SSGP, saj naj bi bila splošna in obvezna, dodeljena z aktom javnega organa in posebne narave v primerjavi z dejavnostmi običajnega zasebnega podjetja.
The general-interest dimension of the improvement of the bloodline had been recognised by the Commission through the following in particular:
Splošni pomen plemenitve konjske pasme naj bi priznala Komisija, med drugim z:
The Directive on trade in equidae intended for competitions [20], which recognised the interest in 'ensur[ing] the rational development of equidae production' and encouraging 'the safeguard, development and improvement of breeding'.The position adopted in Ladbroke v Commission [21], in which the Commission had asserted that 'the contribution to the development and greater efficiency of the totalisator betting sector and above all to the improvement of bloodstock constitute legitimate objectives consistent with the Community interest.'(50) The French authorities also emphasised the importance of the horse sector in developing the countryside, particularly by means of the 250 race courses, and in preserving a certain cultural heritage.
direktivo o prometu s kopitarji, namenjenimi tekmovanjem [20], v kateri naj bi bil priznan pomen „zagotavljanja racionalnega razvoja reje kopitarjev“ in spodbujanja „zaščite, razvoja in napredka reje“; stališčem, sprejetim v zadevi Ladbroke proti Komisiji [21], v kateri je menila, da je „prispevek k razvoju in večji učinkovitosti sektorja stav z nagradnim skladom ter predvsem k plemenitenju konjske pasme […] legitimen cilj in v skladu z interesom Skupnosti“. (50) Francoski organi so vztrajali tudi pri pomenu konjeniške dejavnosti kot gonila za razvoj podeželja, zlasti prek 250 hipodromov, in za ohranitev določene kulturne dediščine.
Finally, they pointed out that the Council of State in its opinion of 26 November 2009 [22] had found that such an SGEI existed, by referring both to the objectives set out in the abovementioned Directive and to the general interest objectives such as the promotion of breeding and rural development.
Nazadnje so trdili, da je Conseil d'État v mnenju z dne 26. novembra 2009 [22] potrdilo obstoj take SSGP, pri čemer se je sklicevalo na cilje, upoštevane v zgoraj navedeni direktivi, in cilje splošnega pomena, kot sta spodbujanje vzreje in razvoj podeželja.
In addition, the Council of State had found that the promotion of breeding was not unrelated to regional planning and rural development, which might also be considered to be general interest objectives.
Poleg tega naj bi menilo, da je spodbujanje vzreje povezano s prostorskim načrtovanjem in razvojem podeželja, ki bi ju prav tako lahko šteli za cilja splošnega pomena.
Horse racing contributed to these objectives particularly because of the considerable number of race courses in France.
Konjske dirke naj bi prispevale k tem ciljem, zlasti zaradi velikega števila hipodromov v Franciji.
Regarding the compatibility of the measure under Article 106(2) TFEU
Združljivost ukrepa na podlagi člena 106(2) PDEU
The French authorities considered that the conditions of compatibility based on Article 106(2) TFEU were met.
Francoski organi so menili, da so pogoji združljivosti na podlagi člena 106(2) PDEU izpolnjeni.
In particular, they considered that compensation for the performance of the public service was necessary (race prizes, for example, made up jockeys' wages) and proportionate.
Francoski organi zlasti menijo, da je nadomestilo za izvajanje javne naloge nujno (nagrade na konjskih dirkah naj bi bile na primer plače džokejev) in sorazmerno.
The percentage of the levy assigned to the horse racing companies was precisely determined on the basis of the total cost of the public service obligations and the total amount of the stakes collected from horse-race betting, which should avoid any overcompensation.
Stopnja dajatve, namenjene družbam za prirejanje konjskih dirk, naj bi bila namreč določena prav na podlagi skupnih stroškov obveznosti javne službe in skupnega zneska vložkov pri stavah na konjske dirke, kar bi moralo preprečiti kakršno koli čezmerno nadomestilo.
Furthermore, the notification specified a mechanism for controlling overcompensation.
Poleg tega je v priglasitvi predviden mehanizem nadzora nad čezmernim nadomestilom.
Regarding the compatibility of the measure with the principle of free movement of services
Združljivost ukrepa z načelom svobode opravljanja storitev
The French authorities argued that the parafiscal levy did not contain any discriminatory elements because it benefited:
Francoski organi so trdili, da parafiskalna dajatev ne vsebuje diskriminacijskih elementov, ker koristi:
In the first instance, the horse racing companies, and particularly those that constituted the PMU, the authorised betting operator.
najprej družbam za prirejanje konjskih dirk, zlasti tistim, ki sestavljajo združenje PMU, ki je odobreni ponudnik stav.
However, these companies gained no advantage, either financial or competitive, over other operators as this income was used solely and exclusively to finance the public service mission which was entrusted to them by the French authorities and which made no distinction according to the nationality of the participants in races.
Vendar te družbe nimajo niti finančno niti konkurenčno nobene prednosti v primerjavi z drugimi ponudniki, saj naj bi bili ti prihodki namenjeni zgolj in izključno financiranju naloge javne službe, ki so jim jo dodelili francoski organi in pri kateri ni razlikovanja glede na državljanstvo udeležencev konjskih dirk;
Ultimately, and indirectly, all authorised betting operators whether French or foreign.
nazadnje in posredno vsem odobrenim ponudnikom stav, ne glede na to, ali so domači ali tuji.
They would benefit from the positive externalities of a high-quality and highly appealing race organisation.
Vsi naj bi namreč imeli koristi od prirejanja visokokakovostnih in izjemno privlačnih konjskih dirk.
COMMENTS BY INTERESTED PARTIES
6 PRIPOMBE DELEŽNIKOV
The Commission received comments from eight interested parties.
Komisija je prejela pripombe osmih deležnikov.
Of these, five were associations, two were the horse racing parent companies and one wished to remain anonymous (see recital (5)).
Od teh je bilo pet združenj, dve sta bili matični družbi za konjske dirke, ena pa je želela ostati anonimna (glej točko 5 obrazložitve tega sklepa).
Comments by interested parties in support of the notified measure
Pripombe deležnikov v podporo priglašenemu ukrepu
Six interested parties were in favour of the notified measure.
Šest deležnikov je bilo naklonjenih priglašenemu ukrepu.
They included the two horse racing parent companies which stood to benefit significantly from the measure.
Med njimi sta matični družbi za konjske dirke, ki sta pomembni koristnici tega ukrepa.
The main arguments put forward by the interested parties in favour of the notified measure were as follows:
Glavni argumenti deležnikov, naklonjenih priglašenemu ukrepu, so:
Importance of the measure for the future of horse racing
Pomen ukrepa za prihodnost konjskih dirk
Some interested parties explained that horse races throughout Europe were financed by the revenues from bets and were therefore totally dependent on these revenues.
Nekateri deležniki so pojasnili, da naj bi se konjske dirke po vsej Evropi financirale s prihodki od stav in naj bi bile torej popolnoma odvisne od teh prihodkov.
There was therefore a correlation between the level of direct employment in the horse racing sector and the revenues generated from betting on horse races that were redirected towards this sector.
Tako naj bi obstajala povezava med neposrednim zaposlovanjem v sektorju konjskih dirk in prihodki, ustvarjenimi s stavami na konjske dirke, ki se preusmerijo v ta sektor.
A drop in revenues would have repercussions on the breeding industry and would not allow horse racing to fulfil its task of improving the equine species and promoting horse breeding.
Upad prihodkov bi imel posledice za vzrejno dejavnost, tako da konjske dirke ne bi mogle izpolnjevati svoje naloge plemenitenja konjske rase in spodbujanja konjereje.
Moreover, the horse racing sector was a considerable asset for Europe, and the 250 race courses in France played a very significant social role because of the attachment of the French to the horse racing tradition and because they were often located in the more disadvantaged regions of France.
Poleg tega naj bi bil sektor konjskih dirk velika priložnost za Evropo, 250 hipodromov v Franciji pa naj bi imelo zelo pomembno družbeno vlogo zaradi navezanosti Francozov na tradicijo konjskih dirk in zato, ker te pogosto prirejajo v regijah Francije z omejenimi možnostmi.
It was also important to protect the totalisator betting system, as it provided the best possible guarantee of transparency and integrity and aimed to secure a fair return for the sport.
Prav tako naj bi bilo pomembno zaščititi sistem stav z nagradnim skladom, ki naj bi zagotavljal največjo preglednost in celovitost ter katerega cilj naj bi bil zagotoviti pravično vračilo za šport.
Some interested parties argued that the notified measure was not aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU for the following reasons:
Nekateri deležniki so trdili, da priglašeni ukrep ne pomeni pomoči v smislu člena 107(1) PDEU iz naslednjih razlogov:
It did not confer any economic advantage on the horse racing companies benefiting from it: the income from the levy, which corresponded to 8 % of the stakes placed in online horse race betting, was much lower than the cost to the horse racing parent companies of implementing the public service obligations [23].
Družbam za prirejanje konjskih dirk naj ne bi prinašal gospodarske prednosti: prihodki od namenske dajatve, ki ustreza 8 % vložkov, vplačanih pri spletnih stavah na konjske dirke, naj bi bili mnogo nižji od stroškov, ki jih imata matični družbi za konjske dirke pri izvajanju obveznosti javne službe. [23]
Moreover, the measure did not affect trade and neither distorted nor was likely to distort competition because there was no market for horse racing in the strict sense that could be subject to a distortion of competition, but simply a market for horse-race betting.
Poleg tega naj ukrep ne bi vplival na trgovino in naj ne bi izkrivljal ali mogel izkrivljati konkurence, saj naj ne bi obstajal trg konjskih dirk v pravem pomenu besede, ki bi lahko bil predmet takega izkrivljanja konkurence, ampak obstaja samo trg stav na konjske dirke.
Even if the Commission were to find that there was a market for horse racing, the horse racing companies benefiting from the measure were not in competition with horse racing companies in other Member States because the horse racing companies coordinated their operations at a Europe-wide or even worldwide level to avoid competition of this kind, by holding races on different dates for example.
Tudi če bi Komisija menila, da trg konjskih dirk obstaja, naj družbe za prirejanje konjskih dirk ne bi konkurirale družbam za prirejanje konjskih dirk iz drugih držav članic, saj naj bi družbe za prirejanje konjskih dirk svoje dejavnosti usklajevale na evropski in celo svetovni ravni, da bi se izognile taki konkurenci, na primer s prirejanjem dirk ob različnih datumih.
Furthermore, should the Commission increase the scope of its analysis to include the horse-race betting market, no distortion could arise in this market given that the measure did not discriminate between betting operators.
Po drugi strani, če bi Komisija analizo razširila na trg stav na konjske dirke, ukrep prav tako ne bi mogel povzročiti izkrivljanja na tem trgu, saj ponudnikov stav ne obravnava diskriminacijsko.
Finally, certain interested parties also argued that the activities of the horse racing companies were local in nature and therefore had no effect on trade between Member States.
Nazadnje, nekateri deležniki so tudi navedli, da je dejavnost družb za prirejanje konjskih dirk po naravi lokalna in torej ne more vplivati na trgovino med državami članicami.
Definition of SGEI
Opredelitev SSGP
Some interested parties insisted on the Member States' margin of discretion in defining and organising SGEIs.
Nekateri deležniki so vztrajali, da imajo države članice prosto presojo pri opredelitvi in organizaciji SSGP.
They also explained that the SGEI status of the horse racing companies' activities was justified by the historical, cultural and economic dimension of the French horse racing and equine industry.
Pojasnili so tudi, da je opredelitev dejavnosti družb za prirejanje konjskih dirk za SSGP upravičena zaradi zgodovinske, kulturne in gospodarske razsežnosti francoske konjeniške dejavnosti.
The organisation of horse races satisfied a public need and was in keeping with the choice to preserve a cultural and genetic heritage and specific areas of expertise in a context of spatial planning.
Prirejanje konjskih dirk naj bi bilo v skladu z zagotavljanjem javnega reda ter odločitvijo za ohranitev kulturne in genetske dediščine ter posebnega znanja pri prostorskem načrtovanju.
Lastly, the organisation of horse races also had a sporting dimension.
Ne nazadnje, prirejanje konjskih dirk naj bi imelo športno razsežnost.
Some interested parties argued further that horse racing was a structurally loss-making activity which relied on the non-recoverable contributions of owners, as well as a network of 6000 volunteers, in order to exist.
Nekateri deležniki so še navedli, da so konjske dirke strukturno deficitarna dejavnost, ki naj bi se za obstoj opirala na nepovratne naložbe lastnikov in mrežo 6000 prostovoljcev.
Consequently, horse racing could not be ruled satisfactorily by the market, and hence the SGEI status of the horse racing companies' activities was justified.
Trg naj torej ne bi mogel zadovoljivo ponujati konjskih dirk, zato naj bi bila opredelitev dejavnosti družb za prirejanje konjskih dirk za SSGP upravičena.
Compatibility under Article 106(2) TFEU
Združljivost na podlagi člena 106(2) PDEU
Some interested parties maintained that, should the measure be deemed to be state aid, it was compatible under the rules governing the financing of SGEIs.
Nekateri deležniki so trdili, da bi bil ukrep, če bi se štel za državno pomoč, združljiv glede na pravila o financiranju SSGP.
All the resources of the horse racing parent companies were allocated to the performance of structurally loss-making public services and any overcompensation that could potentially feed into competitive activities was excluded per se.
Vsa sredstva matičnih družb za konjske dirke naj bi bila namreč namenjena izpolnjevanju strukturno deficitarnih nalog javne službe, vsako čezmerno nadomestilo, s katerim bi se lahko financirale konkurenčne dejavnosti, pa naj bi bilo po naravi izključeno.
Moreover, the amount collected through the levy would be relatively marginal compared with the total amount of the costs borne by the horse racing companies in implementing the SGEI entrusted to them.
Znesek, zbran z dajatvijo, naj bi bil poleg tega razmeroma nepomemben v primerjavi s skupnim zneskom stroškov, ki bi jih družbe za prirejanje konjskih dirk prevzele za izvajanje SSGP, ki bi jim bila zaupana.
Some interested parties argued that the tasks entrusted to the horse racing companies served to support and develop horse breeding, an economic activity within the meaning of Article 107(3)(c) TFEU.
Nekateri deležniki so trdili, da se z nalogami, zaupanimi družbam za prirejanje konjskih dirk, podpira in razvija konjereja, ki naj bi pomenila gospodarsko dejavnost v smislu člena 107(3)(c) PDEU.
Without a horse racing and equine sector that was viable in the long term, horse races could no longer take place.
Brez konjeniškega sektorja, sposobnega dolgoročnega preživetja, prirejanje konjskih dirk ne bi bilo mogoče.
A direct link between the levy and the organisation of horse races was therefore established.
Neposredna povezava med dajatvijo in prirejanjem konjskih dirk naj bi bila torej dokazana.
Inasmuch as all the costs of the horse racing companies contributed to the organisation of races and hence benefited all horse-race betting operators, it was also possible, according to these interested parties, using an approach based on Article 107(3)(c) TFEU, to approve the funding through a parafiscal levy of activities of common interest to a sector.
Ker naj bi vsi stroški družb za prirejanje konjskih dirk prispevali k prirejanju konjskih dirk in naj bi tako koristili vsem ponudnikom stav na konjske dirke, naj bi bilo po mnenju teh deležnikov na podlagi pristopa, temelječega na členu 107(3)(c) PDEU, mogoče potrditi tudi, da se s parafiskalno dajatvijo financirajo dejavnosti skupnega interesa za sektor.
All the costs of the horse racing companies should be taken into account in such an approach, which justified the rate of 8 % proposed by the French authorities for the notified measure, as well as the procedures planned for reviewing that rate.
Pri takem pristopu naj bi se upoštevali vsi stroški družb za prirejanje konjskih dirk, kar naj bi upravičevalo 8-odstotno stopnjo, ki so jo za priglašeni ukrep predlagali francoski organi, in tudi podrobna pravila, predvidena za spreminjanje te stopnje.
Compatibility of the levy with the principle of freedom to provide services
Združljivost dajatve z načelom svobode opravljanja storitev
The levy that would be imposed in a non-discriminatory manner on all online horse-race betting operators, including the PMU, could not in any way violate the principle of freedom to provide services set out in Article 56 TFEU or the principle of non-discrimination set out in Article 110 TFEU.
Dajatev, ki bi bila nediskriminacijsko naložena vsem ponudnikom spletnih stav na konjske dirke, vključno z združenjem PMU, naj nikakor ne bi mogla škodovati načelu svobode opravljanja storitev v smislu člena 56 PDEU ali načelu prepovedi diskriminacije iz člena 110 PDEU.
Comments by the interested parties opposed to the notified measure
Pripombe deležnikov, ki nasprotujeta priglašenemu ukrepu
Two interested parties - an association and a body which wished to remain anonymous - were opposed to the measure.
Ukrepu sta nasprotovala dva deležnika, in sicer združenje in subjekt, ki je želel ostati anonimen.
The main arguments of the interested parties opposed to the notified measure were as follows:
Glavni argumenti deležnikov, ki nasprotujeta priglašenemu ukrepu, so:
The interested parties emphasised that the specifications annexed to Decree No 2010–1314 of 2 November 2010 on horse racing companies' public service obligations and the intervention procedures of the horse racing parent companies, stated that the horse racing companies had to ensure that French horse races maintained the same level of appeal as those organised in other Member States.
Deležnika sta poudarila, da je v specifikaciji, priloženi odloku št. 2010-1314 z dne 2. novembra 2010 o obveznostih javne službe, naloženih družbam za prirejanje konjskih dirk, in podrobnih pravilih o ukrepanju matičnih družb za konjske dirke, navedeno, da morajo družbe za prirejanje konjskih dirk zagotoviti, da francoske konjske dirke ostanejo enako privlačne kot dirke, ki se prirejajo v drugih državah članicah.
This provision confirmed the impact of the measure on trade between Member States and the possibility of distortion of competition at that level.
Ta določba naj bi potrjevala vpliv ukrepa na trgovino med državami članicami in možnost izkrivljanja konkurence na tej ravni.