natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
In support of this claim, Italy provided a cursory assessment of the four Altmark criteria.
Italijanski organi so trdili tudi, da dejavnosti letališča niso bile rentabilne.
Italy contended that SO.G.A.S. had in fact been entrusted with a public service mission.
To je bilo podprto z dejstvom, da postopek na koncu ni bil uspešen, čeprav je bil začetni namen delne privatizacije družbe zelo oglaševan.
The mission was confirmed, directly and indirectly, by several administrative acts issued by the local authorities.
Ker bi se morali morebitni vlagatelji zavezati kritju izgub, pričakovanih v naslednjih letih, kot je bilo navedeno v poslovnem načrtu, objavljenem v razpisu za zbiranje ponudb, in ker se edina prejeta ponudba ni štela za gospodarno, je bilo jasno, da dejavnost po naravi prinaša izgubo.
Italy provided the minutes of a meeting of the municipal executive of Reggio Calabria that took place on 17 October 2007, at which the executive decided to subsidise the airport manager's losses, and the minutes of meetings of the same body that took place on 16 June 2009 and 31 December 2009, which it said showed that the activities of the the airport did constitute SGEIs.
Poleg tega je dejstvo, da ponudniki niso bili pripravljeni kriti morebitnih prihodnjih izgub v neomejenem obsegu, ampak le do vnaprej določenih mej, dokazalo, da trg ni bil privlačen za vlagatelje in da zato ukrepi ne bi mogli vplivati na trgovino med državami članicami.
The minutes of the meeting of 17 October 2007 state that ‘the Region of Calabria had taken the view that certain activities of Reggio Calabria airport were necessary for the provision of a service of general economic interest, and had imposed a number of public service obligations on SO.G.A.S. in order to ensure that the public interest was properly served; in such cases, the airport manager could be subsidised by the authorities for the additional costs arising out of the discharge of those obligations, which were such that it could not be ruled out that the overall management of the airport might be considered a service of general economic interest’.
UGOTOVITVE ITALIJE GLEDE PRIPOMB, KI SO JIH PREDLOŽILE ZAINTERESIRANE STRANI
In more general terms, the Region of Calabria was party to a Protocol for the development of Lamezia Terme, Crotone and Reggio Calabria airports, which made it clear that airport services were public services essential to the economic and social development of the region, and consequently that they could be financed by means of EU, national or regional funds.
Italijanski organi so z dopisom z dne 27. aprila 2012 v imenu dežele Kalabrija Komisiji poslali ugotovitve glede pripomb SO.G.A.S-a.
Italy also emphasised that on 28 December 2008 the airport manager asked the shareholders to cover its losses specifically by virtue of its public service obligation, and argued that no private operator would provide the service of management of the airport on purely commercial terms.
Italija je podprla trditve SO.G.A.S.-a, vključno z njegovim zatrjevanjem, da so ukrepi, ki se ocenjujejo, povezani s storitvami splošnega gospodarskega pomena, kar je po mnenju Italije pomenilo, da se ne morejo šteti za državno pomoč.
The first test in Altmark was therefore satisfied.
Italija je trdila tudi, da ukrepi niso izkrivljali konkurence ali vplivali na trgovino med državami članicami.
The parameters on the basis of which the compensation was calculated could easily be inferred from SO.G.A.S.'s balance sheet, which provided a transparent statement of the operating costs.
OCENA POMOČI
Public financing was limited to the amount of the losses, with no extra margin given to the recipient.
Obstoj pomoči
With regard to the third Altmark test, Italy contended that in the case of public services the actions of a public shareholder were not comparable to those of a private investor.
Člen 107(1) PDEU določa, da je, razen če PDEU določa drugače, „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“.
The conduct of a public body could be justified by objectives in the public interest which prevented the application of the market economy investor principle.
Finančna podpora mora zato:
In this case the conduct of the public shareholders was not motivated by commercial considerations, and consequently could not be compared to that of a market investor.
biti dodeljena s strani države ali se dodeljevati prek državnih sredstev;
Italy concluded that the third Altmark test, which appeared to require the application of the market economy investor principle, was not relevant in the case under scrutiny.
dajati prednost določenim podjetjem ali proizvodnji določenega blaga;
Italy said that since SO.G.A.S.'s activities constituted a service of general interest, the capital injections could be considered compensation for the provision of such services, on the basis of an ex post assessment, and therefore did not constitute State aid.
izkrivljati konkurenco oz. imeti možnost izkrivljanja in
Italy stated that, were the measures be considered State aid, they should in any event be held compatible under Article 2(1) of Decision 2005/842/EC.
vplivati na trgovino med državami članicami.
No distortion of competition
Splošno sodišče je v sodbi v zadevi Leipzig-Halle Airport [10] navedlo, da sta gradnja in poslovanje civilnega letališča gospodarska dejavnost.
Italy referred to paragraph 39 of the 2005 aviation guidelines, which stated that ‘funding granted to small regional airports (category D) is unlikely to distort competition or affect trade to an extent contrary to the common interest’.
Edina izjema so določene dejavnosti, ki spadajo pod izvrševanje pooblastil javnih organov in jih zato ni mogoče šteti za gospodarske dejavnosti.
The Italian authorities further argued that the airport's activities were not profitable.
Državno financiranje takih dejavnosti ni vključeno v področje uporabe pravil o državni pomoči.
This was evidenced by the fact that, although the initial intention to partially privatise the company had been widely advertised, the procedure had ultimately been unsuccessful.
Zato je SO.G.A.S. za namene zakonodaje o državni pomoči nedvomno podjetje, ker upravlja letališče Stretto in gospodarskim subjektom (zlasti letalskim prevoznikom), ki poslujejo na letališču, zagotavlja letališke storitve proti nadomestilu.
Given that potential investors had to undertake to cover the losses expected in the following years, as stated in the business plan published in the tender, and given that the sole offer received was not considered economically advantageous, it was clear that the activity was by its nature loss-making.
Državna sredstva
In addition, the fact that bidders were not prepared to cover potential future losses to an unlimited extent, but only up to pre-established limits, proved that there was no market attractive to investors, and this in turn meant that the measures could have no impact on trade between Member States.
Pojem državne pomoči obsega vsako prednost, ki je dodeljena neposredno ali posredno, se financira iz javnih sredstev in jo dodeli država sama ali vmesni organ, ki deluje na podlagi javnega pooblastila, ki mu ga podeli država.
ITALY'S OBSERVATIONS ON THE COMMENTS SUBMITTED BY INTERESTED PARTIES
Torej obsega vse prednosti, ki jih dodelijo regionalni ali lokalni organi držav članic, ne glede na njihov status in opis [11].
By letter dated 27 April 2012, the Italian authorities, on behalf of the Region of Calabria, sent the Commission observations on SO.G.A.S.'s comments.
V točkah 27 in 28 sklepa o začetku postopka je Komisija navedla, da so ukrepi, ki se ocenjujejo, obsegali prenos sredstev od več regionalnih in lokalnih organov, in sicer dežele Kalabrije, pokrajine Reggio Calabria, občine Messina in občine Reggio Calabria, k SO.G.A.S.
Italy supported SO.G.A.S.'s arguments, including SO.G.A.S.'s contention that the measures under assessment related to an SGEI, which in Italy's view meant that they could not be considered State aid.
Komisija je zato menila, da so sporni ukrepi vključevali državna sredstva in jih je bilo mogoče pripisati državi.
Italy also argued that the measures did not distort competition or affect trade between Member States.
Komisija je za državna sredstva štela tudi sredstva italijanske gospodarske zbornice.
ASSESSMENT OF THE AID
Gospodarski zbornici sta bili javna organa, ki ju ureja javno pravo, v skladu s katerim sta sestavljala del javne uprave in sta bila pooblaščena za opravljanje javnih funkcij, Komisija pa je v skladu z navedenim menila, da je mogoče njune odločitve pripisati državi.
The criteria laid down in Article 107(1) are cumulative:
Komisija zato potrjuje, da so bili vsi ukrepi, ki se ocenjujejo, dodeljeni prek državnih sredstev in jih je mogoče pripisati državi.
the measures under scrutiny will constitute State aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU only if all the abovementioned conditions are fulfilled.
Selektivna gospodarska prednost
Thus the financial support must
Javno financiranje je selektivno, ker koristi enemu podjetju, tj. SO.G.A.S.-u.
be granted by the State or through State resources,
Krije izgube, ki so nastale pri rednem poslovanju SO.G.A.S.-a.
favour certain undertakings or the production of certain goods,
Če sta gradnja letališke infrastrukture in njeno poslovanje gospodarska dejavnost, Komisija meni, da javno financiranje, dodeljeno SO.G.A.S.-u, upravljavcu take infrastrukture, ki krije stroške, ki bi jih upravljavec letališča navadno moral kriti sam, dodeljuje gospodarsko prednost SO.G.A.S.-u, ker krepi njegov tržni položaj in preprečuje običajne učinke tržnih sil [12].
distort or threaten to distort competition, and
Čeprav je Italija na predhodni stopnji navedla, da letališče ni bilo uradno pooblaščeno za opravljanje storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena, Komisija opozarja, da je Italija po sprejetju sklepa o začetku postopka ponovno proučila svoje stališče in trdila, da je sporno javno financiranje dejansko nadomestilo za izpolnjevanje obveznosti javnih storitev [13].
affect trade between Member States.
Sodišče je v sodbi Altmark določilo naslednje preskuse za določanje, ali je nadomestilo za opravljanje storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena dodelilo prednost iz člena 107 PDEU1 [14]:
In its judgment in the Leipzig-Halle airport case [10], the General Court held that the construction and operation of a civil airport constituted an economic activity.
podjetje, ki prejema nadomestilo, mora dejansko izpolnjevati obveznosti javne službe, te obveznosti pa morajo biti jasno opredeljene („prvi preskus iz sodbe Altmark“);
The only exception is for certain activities which as a rule fall within the exercise of public powers and so cannot be considered economic activities.
merila, na podlagi katerih se izračuna nadomestilo, morajo biti določena vnaprej ter objektivno in pregledno („drugi preskus iz sodbe Altmark“);
The State financing of such activities falls outside the scope of the State aid rules.
nadomestilo ne sme presegati tistega, kar je potrebno za kritje vseh ali dela stroškov, ki so nastali z izpolnjevanjem obveznosti javne službe ob upoštevanju realiziranih prejemkov in razumnega dobička zaradi izpolnjevanja teh obveznosti („tretji preskus iz sodbe Altmark“);
There is no doubt, therefore, that SO.G.A.S. is an undertaking for the purpose of State aid law, in that it manages Stretto airport and offers airport services against remuneration to the economic operators (notably airlines) active in the airport.
če podjetje, ki se mu naloži izpolnjevanje obveznosti javne službe, v konkretnem primeru ni izbrano s postopkom oddaje javnega naročila, ki omogoča, da se izbere tisti ponudnik, ki lahko te storitve opravlja z najnižjimi stroški za skupnost, se mora raven potrebnega nadomestila določiti na podlagi analize stroškov, ki bi jih povprečno, dobro vodeno podjetje, ki je ustrezno opremljeno s prevoznimi sredstvi, zato da lahko zadosti zahtevam javne službe, imelo pri izpolnjevanju teh obveznosti ob upoštevanju realiziranih prejemkov in razumnega dobička zaradi izpolnjevanja teh obveznosti („četrti preskus iz sodbe Altmark“).
State resources
Prvi preskus iz sodbe Altmark
The concept of State aid applies to any advantage granted directly or indirectly, financed from public resources and granted by the State itself or by an intermediary body acting by virtue of powers conferred on it by the State.
Zahteva iz prvega preskusa iz sodbe Altmark se ujema z zahtevo iz člena 106(2) PDEU, da mora biti podjetje jasno pooblaščeno za opravljanje storitve, storitev pa mora biti jasno opredeljena15 [15].
Thus it applies to all advantages granted by regional or local bodies of Member States, whatever their status and description [11].
Člen 106(2) PDEU velja le za „podjetja, pooblaščena za opravljanje“ storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena.
In paragraphs 27 and 28 of the opening decision the Commission noted that the measures under assessment consisted in a transfer of funds to SO.G.A.S. from several regional and local authorities, namely the Region of Calabria, the Province of Reggio Calabria, the Municipality of Messina and the Municipality of Reggio Calabria.
Če se za opravljanje storitve pooblasti podjetje, je storitev seveda treba tudi opredeliti.
The Commission therefore took the view that the disputed measures involved State resources and were imputable to the State.
Komisija je že leta 2001 v sporočilu o storitvah splošnega gospodarskega pomena opozorila na povezavo med opredelitvijo pooblastitve in potrebo po sorazmernosti nadomestila za opravljanje storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena v skladu s členom 106(2) PDEU [18].V točki 22 Sporočila je navedeno, da „je treba v vsakem primeru za uporabo izjeme iz člena 86(2) jasno opredeliti poslanstvo javne storitve in jo poveriti z aktom organa oblasti […].
The Commission also considered the resources of the Italian chambers of commerce to be State resources.
Ta obveznost je nujna za zagotovitev pravne varnosti in preglednosti za državljane ter nepogrešljiva za Komisijo pri ocenjevanju sorazmernosti“.
The chambers of commerce were public bodies, governed by public law, according to which they formed part of the public administration and were entrusted with public functions, and the Commission accordingly considered that their decisions were imputable to Italy.
Pooblastitev in opredelitev sta tako logična predpogoja vsake resne ocene ravni sorazmernosti vsakega nadomestila.
On that basis the resources of Messina Chamber of Commerce constituted State resources, and their transfer could be imputed to the State.
Sodišča Unije so dosledno izpostavljala, da je za uporabo izjeme iz sodbe Altmark in člena 106(2) PDEU potrebna jasna opredelitev obveznosti javne službe [19].
In the course of the investigation neither Italy nor any interested party contested this preliminary finding.
Okvir Skupnosti za državne pomoči iz leta 2005 v obliki nadomestila za javne storitve [20] potrjuje ta pristop.
The Commission therefore confirms that all the measures under assessment were granted through State resources and are imputable to the State.
V točki 8 okvira je navedeno, da se lahko nadomestilo za javne storitve, ki pomeni pomoč v smislu člena 107(1) PDEU, razglasi za združljivo z notranjim trgom, če so izpolnjeni pogoji iz okvira.
Selective economic advantage
Ti pogoji vključujejo zlasti pooblastilo za opravljanje storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena, podeljeno z enim ali več uradnimi akti, ki med drugim določajo natančno naravo in trajanje obveznosti javnih storitev, parametre za izračun, nadzor in pregled nadomestila ter dogovore za preprečitev kakršnega koli prekomernega nadomestila in njegovo vračilo (točka 12 okvira).
The public funding is selective, as it benefits a single undertaking, SO.G.A.S.
V Sporočilu Komisije o uporabi pravil Evropske unije o državni pomoči za nadomestilo, dodeljeno za opravljanje storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena, iz leta 2011 [21] je navedeno tudi, da je treba storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena in obveznosti javnih storitev predhodno jasno opredeliti.
It covers the losses incurred by SO.G.A.S. in conducting its ordinary business.
V skladu s točko 51 Sporočila se „člen 106(2) Pogodbe […] uporablja, če je za izvajanje storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena pooblaščeno eno ali več podjetij.
In so far as the construction and operation of airport infrastructure is an economic activity, the Commission takes the view that public financing granted to SO.G.A.S., a manager of such infrastructure, which covers costs that the airport manager would normally have to bear itself, confers an economic advantage on SO.G.A.S., as it reinforces its market position and prevents market forces from having their normal effect [12].
Torej mora država zadevna podjetja pooblastiti za opravljanje posebne naloge.
Although at the preliminary stage Italy stated that the airport had not been formally entrusted with the provision of an SGEI, the Commission notes that following the adoption of the opening decision Italy reconsidered its position, and claimed that the disputed public financing did in fact represent public compensation for the discharge of public service obligations [13].
Prvo merilo iz sodbe Altmark določa tudi, da mora biti podjetju naložena obveznost opravljanja javne storitve.
In its judgment in Altmark the Court of Justice set out the following tests for determining whether compensation for the provision of an SGEI conferred an advantage caught by Article 107 TFEU [14]:
Da bi se upoštevala sodna praksa iz zadeve Altmark, morajo biti z dodelitvijo javne storitve določene tudi obveznosti zadevnih podjetij in organa.“V točki 52 je navedeno, da je treba nalogo opravljanja javnih storitev dodeliti z enim ali več akti, ki morajo določati vsaj vsebino in trajanje obveznosti javne storitve;
the recipient undertaking must actually have public service obligations to discharge, and the obligations must be clearly defined (‘the first Altmark test’);
zadevno podjetje in, če je primerno, ozemlje;
the parameters on the basis of which the compensation is calculated must be established in advance in an objective and transparent manner (‘the second Altmark test’);
vrsto vseh izključnih ali posebnih pravic, ki jih podjetju dodeli zadevni organ;
the compensation cannot exceed what is necessary to cover all or part of the costs incurred in the discharge of public service obligations, taking into account the relevant receipts and a reasonable profit for discharging those obligations (‘the third Altmark test’);
Vendar italijanski organi trdijo, da je pristop Komisije pretirano formalističen in da je bil SO.G.A.S. dejansko pooblaščen za opravljanje storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena.
where the undertaking which is to discharge public service obligations, in a specific case, is not chosen pursuant to a public procurement procedure which would allow for the selection of the tenderer capable of providing those services at the least cost to the community, the level of compensation needed must be determined on the basis of an analysis of the costs which a typical undertaking, well run and adequately provided with means of transport so as to be able to meet the necessary public service requirements, would have incurred in discharging those obligations, taking into account the relevant receipts and a reasonable profit for discharging the obligations (‘the fourth Altmark test’).
V zvezi s tem se sklicujejo zlasti na dokumente z datumom, ki je poznejši od odobritve spornih ukrepov.
The first Altmark test
Italija meni, da bi lahko bilo dejstvo, da je upravljanje letališča Stretto storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena, privzeto iz več regionalnih sklepov, ki se sklicujejo na javni interes, povezan z letališkimi storitvami, in njihovo pomembno vlogo pri gospodarskem razvoju regije.
In the absence of such an official act, the specific task of the undertaking is not known, and it cannot be determined what might be fair compensation [17].
Ko v podjetju nastanejo izgube pri poslovanju, bi lahko država članica to podjetje pooblastila za izpolnjevanje obveznosti javnih storitev in dodelila nadomestilo kot sredstvo za podporo podjetju, ne glede na katero koli predhodno oceno dejanske potrebe za opravljanje storitev v splošnem interesu.
The need for a clear definition of the SGEI is therefore inherent in and inseparable from the idea of entrustment, and thus derives directly from Article 106(2) TFEU.
Tega pristopa ni mogoče uskladiti z zahtevo, da je treba podjetje pooblastiti za opravljanje storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena z enim ali več uradnimi akti, ki med drugim določajo naravo in trajanje obveznosti javnih storitev, merila za izračun, pregled in nadzor nadomestila ter potrebne dogovore za preprečitev kakršnega koli prekomernega nadomestila in njegovo vračilo.
When a service is entrusted to an undertaking, logically, it also needs to be defined.
Trditev italijanskih organov, da so letališke storitve ključne za gospodarski razvoj regije, ni zadosten dokaz, da je bil prejemnik pravilno pooblaščen za opravljanje storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena, ker obveznosti javnih storitev in pravila za urejanje nadomestila niso bili pregledno opredeljeni vnaprej.
As long ago as the 2001 communication on services of general economic interest, the Commission drew attention to the link between the definition of entrustment and the necessity and proportionality of the compensation given for performing the SGEI under Article 106(2) TFEU [18].
Upoštevanje predloga italijanskih organov in možnost držav članic, da lahko pooblastilo za opravljanje storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena podelijo naknadno, bi pomenilo ugodnejšo obravnavo za države članice, ki so kršile obveznosti glede priglasitve in mirovanja.
Paragraph 22 of the communication stated that ‘in every case, for the exception provided for by Article 86(2) to apply, the public service mission needs to be clearly defined and must be explicitly entrusted through an act of public authority … This obligation is necessary to ensure legal certainty as well as transparency vis-à-vis the citizens and is indispensable for the Commission to carry out its proportionality assessment.’
Take države članice bi lahko trdile, da je bila pomoč, ki je bila podjetju dodeljena nezakonito, dejansko potrebna za kritje stroškov javne storitve, ki jo je opravljal prejemnik, pri čemer prej ni bila opredeljena, podjetje pa ni bilo pooblaščeno za njeno opravljanje.
Entrustment and definition are thus a logical prerequisite of any meaningful assessment of the proportionate level of any compensation.
Vendar bi morale države članice, ki nameravajo izpolnjevati svoje obveznosti glede priglasitve, predhodno jasno podeliti pooblastilo za opravljanje storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena in jih opredeliti, da bi ravnale skladno s pravili o storitvah splošnega gospodarskega pomena in sodno prakso iz zadeve Altmark.
The Union law courts have consistently underlined the need for a clear definition of public service obligations for the application both of the Altmark exception and of Article 106(2) TFEU [19].
To bi pomenilo spodbudo za države članice, da ne bi priglasile nove državne pomoči, kar je v nasprotju z dobro uveljavljenim načelom, da držav članic, ki ne priglasijo državne pomoči, ni mogoče obravnavati ugodneje kot držav članic, ki jo [22].
The 2005 Community framework for State aid in the form of public service compensation [20] confirms this approach.
Drugi preskus iz sodbe Altmark
Paragraph 8 of the Framework states that public service compensation that constitutes aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU may be declared compatible with the internal market if the conditions laid down in the Framework are satisfied.
Merila za izračun nadomestila niso bila določena vnaprej.