natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Is the aid measure proportional, i.e. could the same change in behaviour be obtained with less aid?
Pomoč je v skladu s politiko Unije o digitalni dividendi
Are the distortions of competition and the effect on trade limited, so that the overall balance is positive?
Komisija je prepoznala pomembnost digitalne dividende v svojem prvem Sporočilu o digitalni dividendi [88], kjer je navedla, da je treba digitalno dividendo obravnavati v najširšem smislu globalnega ravnovesja med ponudbo in povpraševanjem v radiofrekvenčnem spektru, ter poudarila potrebo, da Evropa zagotovi najboljšo možno uporabo digitalne dividende.
In addition to the balancing test, the Commission Communication on the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting sets criteria to be respected when paying subsidies in the digital switchover process; in particular the national measures have to respect the principle of technological neutrality [86].
Spodbujanje usklajene uporabe digitalne dividende je bilo nadalje okrepljeno v Sporočilu o pretvorbi digitalne dividende v družbene koristi in gospodarsko rast [89].
The Commission is of the view that the principle of technological neutrality is also relevant in relation to the release of the Digital Dividend.
Eden od ciljev omenjene Evropske digitalne agende je zagotovitev splošnega širokopasovnega pokritja z vedno večjimi hitrostmi, za kar je bila predlagana uporaba določenih frekvenc digitalne dividende za brezžične širokopasovne povezave [92].
Consideration of that issue will form part of the assessment of the case at hand.
Glede na zgoraj navedeno je mogoče zaključiti, da ukrep prispeva k doseganju dobro opredeljenega cilja politike.
A. Objective of common interest
Nedelovanje trga
The aid is in line with Union policy on the Digital Dividend
V svojem Akcijskem načrtu državnih pomoči [93] Komisija pojasnjuje svoj splošni pristop k državni pomoči za pospeševanje trajnostne rasti, konkurenčnosti in kohezije.
The Commission recognised the importance of the Digital Dividend in its first Communication on the Digital Dividend [88], where it stated that the Digital Dividend needed to be seen from the broadest sense of global balance between supply and demand of the radio frequency spectrum and highlighted the need for Europe to guarantee the best possible use of the Digital Dividend.
Poudarja, da lahko države članice dodelijo državno pomoč za premagovanje specifičnega nedelovanja trga ali za zagotovitev socialne in regionalne kohezije.
The promotion of coordinated use of the Digital Dividend was further strengthened in the Communication on transforming the Digital Dividend into social benefits and economic growth [89].
V takšnih primerih pa je treba prikazati, da je pomoč primeren instrument za reševanje težave, da je omejena na najmanjšo možno mero in da ne izkrivlja konkurence neupravičeno.
The release of the Digital Dividend is an important factor contributing to the achievement of the objectives of the Digital Agenda for Europe [90], which constitutes one of the flagship initiatives of the Europe 2020 strategy [91].
Španski organi so navedli, da ukrep odpravlja nedelovanje trga elektronskih komunikacij, in sicer pomanjkanje razpoložljivega spektra za ustrezno zagotavljanje elektronskih komunikacijskih storitev, predvsem za razvoj uporabe brezžičnih širokopasovnih storitev naslednje generacije (4G).
One of the objectives of the aforementioned European Digital Agenda is to guarantee universal bandwidth coverage with increasing speeds, for which it was proposed to use certain frequencies of the Digital Dividend for wireless broadband [92].
To pomanjkanje je Komisija prepoznala že v Sporočilu o prehodu z analogne na digitalno radiodifuzijo, zato je leta 2009 priporočila sprostitev frekvenčnega pasu 800 MHz, ki je zelo primeren za elektronske komunikacijske storitve.
In that regard, Decision No 243/2012/EU requests that all Member States provide the 800 MHz band for electronic communications as of 1 January 2013.
Sprostitev digitalne dividende kaže podobnosti z digitalnim prehodom, kjer je bilo treba sprostiti analogne prizemne frekvence, radiodifuzija pa je bila prenesena na digitalne prizemne frekvence.
The Commission was authorised to grant exceptions until 2015 in the event of exceptional national or local circumstances.
Komisija je v primerih digitalnega prehoda [94] priznala, da se lahko pojavi nedelovanje trga, na primer če se udeleženci na trgu niso pripravljeni dogovoriti o skupnem urniku preklopa z ene pasovne širine na drugo (problem usklajevanja) ali če udeleženci na trgu ne upoštevajo pozitivnih učinkov tega procesa na družbo kot celoto, ker nimajo pravih spodbud za to (pozitivni zunanji učinki).
In the light of the above considerations, it can be concluded that the Measure contributes to the achievement of a well-defined policy objective.
Pozitivni zunanji učinki, ki nastanejo s sprostitvijo digitalne dividende, so namenjeni operaterjem elektronskih komunikacij in splošnemu gospodarstvu, ne pa posebej izdajateljem televizijskega programa.
The market failure
V zvezi s tem je treba opozoriti, da je ukrep namenjen nadomestilu zasebnim izdajateljem televizijskega programa za dodatne stroške, ki so nastali zaradi obveznosti zagotavljanja sočasnega oddajanja.
In its State Aid Action Plan [93] the Commission explains its general approach to State aid geared to sustainable growth, competitiveness and cohesion.
Zato je za namene presoje državne pomoči vprašanje nedelovanja trga povezano z neprekinjenim zagotavljanjem storitev zasebnih izdajateljev televizijskega programa.
It points out that Member States may use State aid to overcome a specific market failure or to ensure social or regional cohesion.
V zvezi s tem je treba poudariti, da zasebni izdajatelji televizijskega programa v nasprotju z javnimi ne opravljajo javne storitve.
In such cases, it must however be shown that aid is the appropriate instrument to address the issue, is limited to the minimum necessary and does not distort unduly competition.
Poleg tega je treba upoštevati, da bi morali izdajatelji televizijskega programa, če ne bi izvajali sočasnega oddajanja, kljub temu prenesti svoje kanale na nove frekvence, kar bi lahko privedlo do občutnega zmanjšanja občinstva do prilagoditve vseh anten.
The Spanish authorities have argued that the Measure remedies a market failure in the electronic communications market, namely the scarcity in available spectrum for the adequate provision of electronic communications services, especially for the development of applications of for next-generation (4G) wireless broadband services.
Povedano drugače, izguba občinstva predstavlja dobro poslovno motivacijo za izdajatelje televizijskega programa, da sočasno oddajanje izvajajo tudi brez regulativne obveznosti.
This scarcity has been recognised by the Commission already in its Communication on the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting and therefore it recommended in 2009 to liberate the 800 MHz frequency band which is very suitable for the electronic communication services.
Če bi izdajatelji televizijskega programa morali nositi to breme, bi dejansko zagotovili, da bi bilo obdobje sočasnega oddajanja čim krajše ob hkratni zagotovitvi največjega možnega števila gledalcev po zaključku tega obdobja, s čimer bi svoje interese uskladili z interesi španskih organov brez potrebe po javnem financiranju.
The release of the Digital Dividend shows similarities with the digital switchover where the analogue terrestrial frequencies had to be released and the broadcasting was switched to digital terrestrial frequencies.
To potrjuje dejstvo, da je bil v vmesnem času prehod v pas 700 MHz že dosežen in so zasebni izdajatelji televizijskega programa že plačali stroške sočasnega oddajanja [95].
The Commission recognised in the digital switchover cases [94] that the market failure could arise, for example, if the market players were unwilling to agree on a common timetable to switch from one bandwidth to another (coordination problem) or where market players would not take into account the positive effects of this process for society as a whole because they do not have the right incentives to do so (positive externalities).
Poleg tega so španski organi v vmesnem času odpravili obveznost sočasnega oddajanja zasebnih izdajateljev televizijskega programa iz Kraljeve uredbe 805/2014 [96], kar potrjuje obrazložitev Komisije iz sklepa o začetku postopka, da izguba občinstva prestavlja dobro poslovno motivacijo za izdajatelje televizijskega programa za izvajanje sočasnega oddajanja in/ali da zagotavljanje sočasnega oddajanja morda ni potrebno in/ali ga lahko financirajo izdajatelji televizijskega programa.
The positive externalities produced by the release of the Digital Dividend are directed to the electronic communications operators as well as to the economy in general and not specifically to the broadcasters.
Ob upoštevanju zgornjih navedb Komisija zaključuje, da ni bil ugotovljen obstoj nedelovanja trga.
In this regard, it should be recalled that the Measure is aimed to compensate private broadcasters for the additional costs incurred due to the obligation to provide the simulcast.
Španski organi ali zainteresirane strani niso predstavile nobenega drugega dobro opredeljenega cilja skupnega interesa.
Therefore, for the purposes of assessing State aid, the issue of market failure relates to the continuity of services provided by private broadcasters.
Brez dobro opredeljenega cilja skupnega interesa ukrep ni združljiv z notranjim trgom v skladu s členom 107(3)(c) PDEU.
In this respect it should be noted that, unlike public broadcasters, private broadcasters do not have a public service remit.
Kljub temu bodo v nadaljevanju obravnavani ostali elementi preskusa izravnave (opisanega zgoraj).
It is also necessary to take into account that, if broadcasters did not carry out the simulcast, they would still be required to transfer their channels to new frequencies, which could result in a considerable loss of audience until all the antennas were adapted.
Prikazano bo, da tudi slednji nasprotujejo trditvam glede združljivosti ukrepa z notranjim trgom.
In other words, the loss of audience constitutes a sound business motivation for broadcasters to carry out the simulcast even absent a regulatory obligation.
B. Natančno opredeljena pomoč
In fact, if broadcasters were to bear this burden, they would ensure that the simulcast period is as limited as possible while ensuring the maximum possible number of viewers at the end of this period, thus aligning their interests with those of the Spanish authorities without the need for public funding.
Pomoč je ustrezen instrument
This is confirmed by the fact that in the meantime the switch to the 700 MHz band has already been accomplished and private broadcasters have already paid for the cost of simulcast [95].
Javni organi imajo različna sredstva za upravljanje sprostitve digitalne dividende.
Moreover, the Spanish authorities have in the meantime abolished the obligation of private broadcasters to simulcast in Royal Decree 805/2014 [96], thus confirming the Commission's reasoning from the opening decision that the loss of audience constitutes a sound business motivation for broadcasters to carry out the simulcast and/or that the provision of simulcast may not be necessary and/or can be financed by broadcasters.
V tem primeru so se španski organi odločili naložiti obveznost sočasnega oddajanja in povrniti dodatne stroške izdajateljev televizijskega programa DTT, ki so nastali zaradi te obveznosti.
In light of the above considerations the Commission concludes that it has not been established that a market failure exists.
Natančneje, španski organi so v Kraljevi uredbi 365/2010 načrtovali prerazporeditev frekvenc in njeno časovno umestitev.
No other well-defined objective of common interest has been claimed by either the Spanish authorities or the interested parties.
Kraljeva uredba je izdajateljem televizijskega programa naložila obveznost sočasnega oddajanja v starem in novem frekvenčnem pasu (tj. 800 MHz in 700 MHz), dokler jim ne bodo dodeljeni dokončni multipleksi [97] v nižjem frekvenčnem pasu 700 MHz, tj. dokler število elementov sprejemne infrastrukture (oddajnih anten), primernih za nove multiplekse, ne postane enako kot pri prejšnjih multipleksih (dodeljenih v fazi prehoda).
In the absence of a well-defined objective of common interest, the Measure is not compatible with the internal market according to Article 107(3)(c) TFEU.
Pozneje so španski organi v Zakonu o trajnostnem gospodarstvu pripoznali pravico izdajateljev televizijskega programa do finančnega nadomestila za stroške, povezane z obveznostjo sočasnega oddajanja.
Nevertheless, the other elements of the balancing test (described above) will be considered below.
Kljub temu je regulativna obveznost sama po sebi zadostovala za doseganje želenega cilja zagotavljanja sočasnega oddajanja na več frekvencah v prehodnem obdobju.
As will be shown, they also speak against the claim of compatibility of the Measure with the internal market.
Kot je razloženo v uvodni izjavi 147, je razvoj trga na območju I španske organe pravzaprav opozoril, da celo regulativna obveznost zagotavljanja sočasnega oddajanja ni bila potrebna za zagotovitev gladke sprostitve digitalne dividende.
B. Well-designed aid
Ob upoštevanju zgornjih navedb Komisija zaključuje, da ukrep ni primeren instrument.
Aid is the appropriate instrument
Spodbujevalni učinek in nujnost
Public authorities have different means to manage the release of the Digital Dividend.
Glede spodbujevalnega učinka in nujnosti ukrepa je treba proučiti, ali bi se zasebni izdajatelji televizijskega programa sami odločili za sočasno oddajanje in ali bi to storili v istem časovnem okviru tudi brez državne pomoči.
In the present case, the Spanish authorities decided to impose a simulcast obligation and compensate DTT broadcasters' additional costs arising from that obligation.
Španski organi so v formalni preiskavi vztrajali pri trditvi, da zasebni izdajatelji televizijskega programa ne bi bili pripravljeni sočasno oddajati: financirali so že drag prehod z analogne na digitalno televizijsko radiodifuzijo in odpravili težave, ki jih je povzročil ta prehod, npr. motnje na digitalnih prizemnih kanalih, ki so jim bili najprej dodeljeni; s premikom v drug frekvenčni pas pa ne bi prejeli nobenih dodatnih koristi.
More specifically, the Spanish authorities planned in Royal Decree 365/2010 the reallocation of frequencies and its timing.
Kljub navedenim trditvam ni bilo ustrezno dokazano, da bi izdajatelji televizijskega programa nasprotovali sočasnemu oddajanju v odsotnosti pomoči.
The Royal Decree imposed on broadcasters the obligation to broadcast simultaneously on both the old and the new frequency bands (i.e. 800 MHz and 700 MHz bands) until they are assigned definitive multiplexes [97] in the lower 700 MHz frequency band, i.e. until the number of the reception infrastructures (broadcasting antennas) suitable for the new multiplexes is the same as for the previous multiplexes (assigned in the switchover phase).
Njihovo vedenje na trgu je dokazalo ravno nasprotno.
Later on, in the Act on Sustainable Economy the Spanish authorities recognised the right of broadcasters to financial compensation of the costs associated with the simulcast obligation.
Po mnenju Komisije obveznost izdajateljev televizijskega programa v skladu z licencami, da zagotavljajo neprekinjene in kakovostne storitve, pomeni samostojno financiranje sočasnega oddajanja v začasnem časovnem obdobju [98].
And yet, the regulatory obligation was in itself sufficient to achieve the desired objective of ensuring simultaneous broadcasting on a number of frequencies during a transitional period.
V sklepu o začetku postopka je Komisija v zvezi s tem menila, da naj bi naložitev obveznosti zagotavljanja sočasnega oddajanja izdajateljem televizijskega programa na njihove lastne stroške prek regulativnega akta zadostovala za zagotovitev gladke sprostitve digitalne dividende.
Indeed, as explained in recital 147, the market development in Area I made the Spanish authorities aware that even the regulatory obligation to provide simulcast was not necessary to ensure a smooth release of the Digital Dividend.
Dejstvo, da je bila celo ta izrecna obveznost pozneje opuščena, kot je pojasnjeno v uvodni izjavi 147, le potrjuje, da zaveza zasebnih izdajateljev televizijskega programa glede neprekinjenega zagotavljanja storitve v skladu z licencami zahteva samofinanciranje sočasnega oddajanja in da imajo ti izdajatelji televizijskega programa v vsakem primeru zadostne lastne spodbude za zagotavljanje zadevne storitve, zato ukrep ni potreben.
In the light of the above considerations the Commission concludes that the Measure is not an appropriate instrument.
Ob upoštevanju zgornjih navedb Komisija zaključuje, da španski organi niso dokazali spodbujevalnega učinka in nujnosti ukrepa.
Incentive effect and necessity
Sorazmernost
In spite of the above assertions, it has not been duly demonstrated that broadcasters would oppose simultaneous broadcasting in the absence of aid.
Španski organi so nameravali povrniti 100 % dodatnih stroškov, povezanih s sočasnim oddajanjem.
In fact, their market behaviour proved the contrary.
Španski organi so navedli, da je 100-odstotno nadomestilo dodatnih stroškov potrebno zaradi finančnega položaja izdajateljev televizijskega programa, ki so digitalni prehod financirali z lastnimi sredstvi.
In the Commission's view, the broadcasters' obligation under the licences to provide the service with continuity and quality implies self-financing of the simulcast broadcasting during a temporary period of time [98].
Poleg tega so navedli, da bi določeni lokalni izdajatelji televizijskega programa v odsotnosti financiranja šli v stečaj.
In the opening decision the Commission considered in this respect that imposing on the broadcasters the obligation to provide simulcast at their own expense via a regulatory act seems sufficient to ensure a smooth release of the Digital Dividend.
Vendar španski organi niso predložili dovolj prepričljivih dokazov, ki bi utemeljevali podporo v takem obsegu.
The fact that even this explicit obligation was later abolished, as explained in recital 147, only proves that the private broadcasters' commitment to ensure the continuity of service under the licences requires self-financing of the simulcast broadcasting and that in any event these broadcasters have sufficient incentives on their own to provide the service in question and hence and that the Measure is not necessary.
V sklepu o začetku postopka je Komisija menila, da tudi ni mogoče izključiti možnosti, da morebitno nedelovanje trga ne bi bilo odpravljeno z manj pomoči, bodisi namenjeno zgolj podjetjem, ki lahko dokažejo potrebo po podpori, ali s skrajšanjem obdobja sočasnega oddajanja.
In the light of the above considerations the Commission concludes that the Spanish authorities have failed to demonstrate the incentive effect and necessity of the Measure.
Vendar španski organi tega pristopa že na samem začetku niso obravnavali.
Proportionality
Španski organi tudi niso predložili prepričljivih dokazov, zlasti študije o stroških, ki bi dokazovali, da je izbira prerazporeditve multipleksov 800 MHz v drug prizemni frekvenčni pas najcenejša in najučinkovitejša rešitev za sprostitev digitalne dividende.
In the context of a balancing exercise, it is important to assess whether the measure adopted by the authorities is proportional to the need to overcome a market failure and foster competition on the market.
Ob upoštevanju zgornjih navedb Komisija zaključuje, da španski organi niso dokazali, da bi bil ukrep sorazmeren in omejen na potrebni minimum.
As regards proportionality, in its DVB-T Brandenburg decision [99], the Commission found it necessary to compare the adopted measure with possible alternatives: ‘Regulation should neither impose nor discriminate in favour of the use of a particular digital platform such as cable, satellite, terrestrial or DSL TV thus adhering to the principle of “technological neutrality”.
Tehnološka nevtralnost
As stated in the Framework Directive, this does not preclude a Member State from taking proportionate steps to promote certain specific services where this is justified, for example digital television as a means for increasing spectrum efficiency.
Komisija je večkrat poudarila pomembnost tehnološke nevtralnosti pri prehodu na digitalno radiodifuzijo.
This means that each platform should in principle compete on its own strengths, but that intervention targeting in correcting market failures that are specific to one platform can be envisaged.
V svojem Sporočilu o prehodu z analogne na digitalno radiodifuzijo je Komisija izrazila namen, da bo ravnala v skladu z „duhom“ novega regulativnega okvira za elektronske komunikacije„, ki temelji na pobudi trga in tehnološki nevtralnosti“ [100].
In the end, the platforms should prevail which offer the greatest benefit to consumers’.
Zato bi se moral vsak poseg držav članic izogniti neupravičenemu izkrivljanju konkurence med platformami, da bi omogočil tekmovanje posamezne platforme „po svojih močeh“ v „enakih regulativnih konkurenčnih pogojih“.
The Commission concluded in that case that the aid was neither necessary nor proportionate.
V istem smislu člen 9(3) Direktive (ES) 2002/21/ES Evropskega parlamenta in Sveta [101] države članice zavezuje, da zagotovijo, da se vse vrste tehnologij, ki se uporabljajo za elektronske komunikacijske storitve, lahko uporabljajo v radiofrekvenčnih pasovih, ki so opredeljeni kot razpoložljivi za elektronske komunikacijske storitve v njihovih nacionalnih načrtih za razporeditev frekvenc v skladu s pravnim redom Unije.
In the case at hand the Commission takes note that the Measure is limited to the extraordinary expenses that the private broadcasters will have to incur due to the simulcast obligation within the scope of their 96 % coverage obligation in Area I. The amount of compensation is established to cover exclusively the costs associated with the simulcast obligation.
Res je, da ista določba državam članicam omogoča, da zagotovijo sorazmerne in nediskriminatorne omejitve za vrste tehnologij radijskega omrežja ali tehnologij za brezžični dostop, ki se uporabljajo za storitve elektronske komunikacije, če je to med drugim potrebno zaradi: (c) zagotovitve tehnične kakovosti storitve ali (f) uresničitve cilja splošnega interesa, kot je preprečitev neučinkovite uporabe radijskih frekvenc ali varovanje življenja.
The Spanish Government intended to compensate 100 % of the additional costs related to simulcast broadcasting.
Vendar v obravnavani zadevi španski organi niso niti navedli niti dokazali, da bi ukrep upravičeval izjemo iz načela tehnološke nevtralnosti na tej podlagi.
The Spanish authorities have argued that compensation of 100 % of the additional costs was necessary due to the financial situation of the broadcasters who have financed the digital switchover from own means.
Ravno nasprotno, španski organi so trdili, da je ukrep tehnološko nevtralen v smislu, da lahko zasebni izdajatelji televizijskega programa po želji izberejo katero koli razpoložljivo tehnološko platformo za zagotavljanje sočasnega oddajanja.
Moreover, they have stated that without the financing through the Measure certain local broadcasters would have gone bankrupt.
Ta argument je Komisija preverila v formalni preiskavi in ugotovila, da omenjeni scenarij preprečujejo veljavne licence, ki zasebnim izdajateljem televizijskega programa nalagajo uporabo tehnologije DTT za zagotavljanje 96-odstotnega pokritja v območju I.
However, the Spanish authorities have not submitted sufficiently convincing evidence to justify the support to such an extent.
Sklepi Komisije na področju državne pomoči za digitalni prehod potrjujejo ta pristop.