natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Also, the resources were not constantly subject to public monitoring and were not available to the State authorities.
Ob upoštevanju, da so bili zakon o družbi AMA in njegove izvedbene določbe večkrat spremenjeni, da so bili izvedeni številni postopkovni koraki in da je pomoč sestavljena iz številnih ukrepov z različnim časom trajanja, je treba določiti natančen datum začetka in zaključka izvajanja ukrepov ter s tem časovni obseg sklepa.
As opposed to the Doux Élevage case, in the present case the objectives pursued by AMA are not set by a private organisation deciding on the use of these resources, but in the legislative act governing the public body (i.e. the AMA Act, see recital 54).
Glede na informacije avstrijskih organov so bili ukrepi trženja vzpostavljeni pred letom 1994, kar pomeni pred 1. januarjem 1995, tj. datumom, ko se je Avstrija priključila Evropski uniji.
Therefore, the conditions of the Doux Élevage case for assuming the existence of private resources are not met.
Kljub temu pa avstrijski organi Komisije niso obvestili o ukrepih organa AMA v skladu s členom 143 ali 144 Akta o pristopu Republike Avstrije (glej uvodno izjavo 34), zaradi česar se ne morejo obravnavati kot obstoječa pomoč.
For the above reasons, the Commission considers that the funding of the measures in question carried out by AMA is attributable to the State and that the funds thus constitute State resources.
Zato je treba te ukrepe obravnavati kot novo pomoč, ki ni bila priglašena od datuma pristopa, tj. 1. januarja 1995, ki ga je treba tako šteti za datum začetka dodelitve pomoči.
SELECTIVE ADVANTAGE
Nadalje, kot je opisano v uvodni izjavi 36, avstrijski organi trdijo, da so z dopisom z dne 23. junija 1997 poslali dopolnjen obrazec za priglasitev ukrepov trženja organa AMA, na katerega se Komisija v dveh predpisanih mesecih ni odzvala [65].
According to settled case-law of the Court of Justice, measures which, whatever their form, directly or indirectly favour certain undertakings or are to be regarded as an economic advantage which the recipient undertaking would not have obtained under normal market conditions are regarded as aid [58].
Po njihovem mnenju je bila ta priglasitev veljavna in po dvomesečnem roku bi bilo treba pomoč obravnavati kot odobreno, zaradi česar bi se torej opredelila kot obstoječa pomoč.
In addition, measures which, in various forms, mitigate the charges which are normally included in the budget of an undertaking and which, without therefore being subsidies in the strict meaning of the word, are similar in character and have the same effect, are considered to constitute aid [59].
Na iste trditve se sklicuje pravno mnenje, priloženo priglasitvi informacij z dne 25. februarja 2015.
The Court of Justice also pointed out that a measure adopted by the public authority and favouring certain undertakings or products does not lose the character of a gratuitous advantage by the fact that it is wholly or partially financed by contributions imposed by the public authority and levied on the undertakings concerned [60].
Komisija se s to utemeljitvijo ne strinja.
The measure benefits companies active in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products, including the food industry (see recital 46) by the means of advertising, support for quality products and technical support.
Ker so se ukrepi izvajali že pred letom 1997, se navedeni dopis ne more šteti za veljavno priglasitev ukrepov, ki bi bila skladna s členom 108(3) PDEU, zaradi česar pomoči ni mogoče opredeliti kot obstoječe pomoči.
In this respect, the Austrian authorities were invited to provide more information about the scope of beneficiaries as well as about the number of beneficiaries for each marketing measure.
V skladu s sodno prakso Lorenz se bi pomoč za obstoječo pomoč štela le, če se ob priglasitvi ukrepa Komisiji še ni izvajala; če pomoč ni predhodno priglašena, se lahko za obstoječo pomoč šteje le, če država članica po dvomesečnem obdobju o tem predhodno uradno obvesti Komisijo.
In their submission of 14 September 2012, the Austrian authorities replied that it is not possible to identify the beneficiaries of each single measure, since not only the producers and the retailers using the logos benefitted from the scheme, but also the producers not directly participating in the scheme and thus the sector as such.
Vendar so avstrijski organi ukrep izvajali pred uradno priglasitvijo, ne da bi Komisiji poslali predhodno uradno obvestilo.
Austria argued that the measures increased the awareness of consumers in general so that even producers not participating in the scheme had to increase the quality of their products.
Zato se ta ukrep z dopisom z dne 23. junija 1997 ne spreminja v obstoječo pomoč v smislu člena 108(1) PDEU.
Furthermore, in the opening decision, the Commission requested Austria to clarify to which extent the food industry benefits from the marketing measures.
Komisija glede na navedene informacije in pomisleke v zvezi s časovnim področjem uporabe sklepa ugotavlja, da je datum začetka vseh ukrepov trženja organa AMA 1. januar 1995 (glej uvodni izjavi 34 in 144).
The Austrian authorities used the same argument as above (recital 135).
Avstrijski organi so glede datuma zaključka izvajanja z dopisom z dne 14. septembra 2012 potrdili, da se ukrepi, priglašeni kot shema pomoči N 239/2004, nanašajo na en del ukrepov organa AMA, ki se raziskujejo pod zadevo številka NN 34/2000 (po znatni spremembi ukrepov zaradi uskladitve z veljavnimi predpisi (glej uvodno izjavo 39).
According to the jurisprudence [61], a measure maintains its selective character even if it applies to an entire sector (but not to other sectors).
Avstrijski organi so v istem dopisu potrdili, da družba AMA Marketing v obdobju po letu 2002 ni izvajala drugih ukrepov pomoči kot tistih, ki so zajeti v državno pomoč NN 34A/2000 in N 239/2004 (in njuna poznejša podaljšanja [66]).
The arguments of the Austrian authorities claiming that the measure is general in nature have to be rejected.
Iz informacij avstrijskih organov izhaja, da se odobrena shema pomoči N 570/1998 ne nanaša na ukrepe trženja organa AMA, ki so predmet tega sklepa.
DISTORTION OF COMPETITION AND EFFECT ON TRADE
Glede znaka bio in znaka kakovosti organa AMA je bil datum zaključka za dodelitev pomoči 31. december 2008, razen za oglaševalske ukrepe za znak bio, ki so prenehali veljati 31. decembra 2006 (glej uvodni izjavi 15 in 19).
According to the case-law of the Court of Justice, strengthening the competitive position of an undertaking through the granting of State aid generally distorts competition with other competing undertakings not having benefited from this aid [62].
Drugi ukrepi trženja organa AMA pa so se uporabljali do 20. oktobra 2004, tj. datuma, ko je bila odobrena odločba o državni pomoči N 239/2004 (glej poglavje 1.4 in uvodno izjavo 39).
Aid for an undertaking that operates in a market open to intra-Union trade is liable to affect trade between Member States [63].
Zato se področje uporabe tega sklepa nanaša na obdobje od 1. januarja 1995 do 31. decembra 2008 za vse ukrepe, razen za oglaševalske ukrepe za znak bio, pri katerih je zadevno obdobje od 1. januarja 1995 do 31. decembra 2006, in druge ukrepe trženja, pri katerih je zadevno obdobje od 1. januarja 1995 do 20. oktobra 2004.
There was a substantial intra-Union trade in agricultural products in the period 1995-2008.
NEZAKONITOST POMOČI
By way of example, in the year 2004 agricultural products in the EU worth some EUR 183 billion (imports) to some EUR 187 billion (exports) were subject to intra-Union trade, accounting for some 57 % of the total agricultural production of EUR 324 billion [64].
Komisijo je treba v skladu s členom 108(3) PDEU obvestiti o vseh načrtih za dodelitev ali spremembo pomoči.
Therefore, with a view to the substantial intra-Union trade in agricultural products in the relevant period, it can be considered that the measures object of the present decision distort or threaten to distort competition and affect trade between Member States.
V skladu s členom 1(f) Uredbe (ES) št. 659/1999 je nova pomoč, ki se izvaja v nasprotju s členom 108(3) PDEU, nezakonita.
This is moreover confirmed by some of AMA's own statements in its annual reports of the relevant period (see recitals 84-90 above), which demonstrate AMA's understanding that the marketing activities were apt to promote domestic production in competition with producers from other Member States.
Obveznost priglasitve državne pomoči je določena v členu 2 navedene uredbe.
In the light of the foregoing, the conditions of Article 107(1) TFEU are fulfilled.
Avstrija Komisije v skladu s členom 108(3) PDEU ni obvestila o določbah, ki uvajajo ukrepe, in prispevkih, s katerimi se ti ukrepi financirajo, preden jih je začela izvajati.
It can therefore be concluded that the measures object of the present decision constitute State aid within the meaning of that Article.
Kot je prikazano v poglavju 6, ukrepi, ki jih izvaja Avstrija, pomenijo državno pomoč.
TEMPORAL SCOPE OF THE DECISION AND EXISTING AID
Kot je navedeno v uvodni izjavi 34, so bili ukrepi trženja vzpostavljeni pred letom 1994, kar pomeni pred 1. januarjem 1995, tj. datumom, ko se je Avstrija priključila Evropski uniji.
The non-notified AMA marketing measures under aid scheme NN 34/2000 and the AMA measures of the annulled Commission decision NN 34A/2000 were the subject of the 2012 opening decision.
Kljub temu pa avstrijski organi Komisije niso nikoli obvestili o ukrepih organa AMA v skladu s členoma 143 ali 144 Akta o pristopu Republike Avstrije.
Taking into consideration that the AMA law and its implementing provisions have been modified several times, that many procedural steps have taken place and that the aid consists of numerous measures with different duration, the exact starting and final date for the implementation of the measures and thus the temporal scope of the decision have to be determined.
Pomoč je torej v času pristopa pomenila novo pomoč in avstrijski organi bi jo morali priglasiti.
According to the information provided by the Austrian authorities, the marketing measures have been in place since 1994, i.e. before 1 January 1995, the date when Austria joined the European Union.
Pomoč je brez ustrezne priglasitve nezakonita v skladu z ustreznimi določbami PDEU (glej v zvezi s tem tudi uvodno izjavo 144).
Nevertheless, the AMA measures were not communicated by the Austrian authorities to the Commission in accordance with Article 143 or 144 of the Act of Accession of the Republic of Austria (see recital 34) and therefore cannot be regarded as existing aid.
Nadalje, kot je opisano v uvodnih izjavah 9, 36 in 148 se niti dopis z dne 23. junija 1997 niti tisti z dne 19. decembra 2002 ne moreta šteti za veljavno priglasitev te nove pomoči.
Therefore, these measures should be considered as new aid not notified as of the date of accession on 1 January 1995, which therefore should be considered as the starting date for the granting of the aid.
PREUČITEV ZDRUŽLJIVOSTI POMOČI
Further, as described in recital 36, the Austrian authorities claim that by letter of 23 June 1997 they provided a completed notification form regarding the AMA marketing measures to which the Commission did not react within the prescribed 2-month period [65].
PRAVILA GLEDE POREKLA PROIZVODOV
In their view, this was a valid notification and, following the 2-month period, the aid should be considered as approved and thus be qualified as existing aid.
Natančneje, točka 1 se je nanašala na cilj „spodbujanja in zagotavljanja prodaje nacionalnih kmetijskih in gozdarskih proizvodov ter proizvodov, ki izhajajo iz njih“ [67].
The same line of argument is used in a legal opinion attached to the submission of information from 25 February 2015.
Točka 2 se je nanašala na „spodbujanje drugih ukrepov trženja (zlasti opravljanje storitev in stroški za osebje, ki je z njimi povezano)“.
The Commission disagrees with this argument.
Splošno sodišče je navedlo, da omejitev na nacionalne proizvode iz člena 21a, točka 1, zakona o organu AMA iz leta 1992 vzbuja dvom glede skladnosti zadevnih pomoči, zaradi česar je Komisija uvedla formalni postopek preiskave [68].
Since the measures were implemented already before 1997, the above letter cannot be considered as a valid notification of the measures complying with Article 108(3) TFEU and thus the aid does not qualify as an existing aid.
Vprašanje nacionalnega porekla proizvodov je torej element, ki ga je treba podrobno analizirati.
According to the Lorenz judgment, aid would only be considered existing aid if it had not yet been implemented when the measure was notified to the Commission; in case of prior non-implementation, aid could only be considered existing aid if the Member State, following a 2-month period, had given prior notice to the Commission.
Pritožniki so trdili, da so bili znaki in subvencionirani ukrepi na voljo le avstrijskim proizvajalcem.
However, the Austrian authorities have implemented the measure before formal notification and have not given the Commission any prior notice.
V zvezi s tem so trdili, da so bili v skladu s členom 21a(1) zakona o organu AMA iz leta 1992 do subvencioniranih oglaševalskih ukrepov upravičeni le avstrijski proizvodi.
Therefore, the above letter of 23 June 1997 does not transform the present measure into an existing aid in the meaning of Article 108(1) TFEU.
Avstrijski organi so v zvezi s tem z dopisom z dne 19. decembra 2002 pojasnili, da sta bila znak kakovosti in znak bio organa AMA na voljo vsem proizvodom, ne glede na njihovo poreklo.
In the light of the above information and considerations, the Commission concludes regarding the temporal scope of the decision that the start date of all AMA marketing measures is 1 January 1995 (see recital 34 and 144).
V dopisu z dne 5. marca 2004 so poslali nove notranje predpise, ki jih je izdala družba AMA Marketing in odobrilo avstrijsko Zvezno ministrstvo za kmetijstvo, gozdarstvo varstvo okolja in hidrološke vire (BMLFUW), ki urejajo dodeljevanje teh znakov.
Regarding the end date of implementation, by letter of 14 September 2012 the Austrian authorities confirmed that the measures notified as aid scheme N 239/2004 relate to one part of the AMA measures investigated under case number NN 34/2000 (after a substantial modification of the measures in order to comply with the applicable rules (see recital 39).
V skladu s temi predpisi se lahko znaki podelijo vsem proizvodom, bodisi avstrijskim, bodisi tistim iz drugih držav članic, ki izpolnjujejo zahteve glede kakovosti.
In the same letter the Austrian authorities confirmed that, in the period after the year 2002, AMA Marketing did not implement aid measures other than those covered by NN 34A/2000 and N 239/2004 (and their subsequent prolongations [66]).
Medtem ko obdobje po 30. juniju 2007 ne povzroča posebnih težav glede porekla proizvodov in upravičencev do teh znakov ali ukrepov, pa je podrobnejša analiza potrebna za obdobje pred navedenim datumom.
From the information provided by the Austrian authorities, it results that the approved aid scheme N 570/1998 does not relate to the AMA marketing measures which are the object of this decision.
Zaradi posebnosti različnih ukrepov, zajetih v to shemo, in različnega pomena sklicevanja na nacionalno poreklo je treba vsak ukrep analizirati ločeno.
The other AMA marketing measures applied until 20 October 2004, the date on which decision N 239/2004 was approved (see Chapter 1.4 and recital 39 above).
Člen 23 izjave o poreklu se jasno nanaša na regijo (npr. Tirolsko ali Bavarsko) ali državo (npr. Avstrija, Francija) kot na poreklo proizvoda, kar nakazuje, da bi lahko bila pri poreklu proizvodov navedena katera koli regija/država.
Therefore the scope of the present decision concerns the period 1 January 1995 to 31 December 2008 for all measures except for the bio label advertising measures where the relevant period is 1 January 1995 to 31 December 2006 and the other marketing measures where the relevant period is 1 January 1995 to 20 October 2004.
Po navedenem datumu je treba zavrniti trditev, da je bil znak kakovosti na voljo le za nacionalne (tj. avstrijske) proizvode.
UNLAWFULNESS OF THE AID
Nadalje vse določbe glede porekla proizvoda vsebujejo naslednjo opredelitev „domačega/nacionalnega“ (heimisch): „V teh smernicah se pojem „domače/nacionalno“ nanaša na regijo, ki je določena kot poreklo proizvoda“ („Wird in diesen Richtlinien der Begriff „heimisch“ verwendet, ist darunter die im Herkunftsanteil des Zeichens angeführte Region zu verstehen“) [70].
According to Article 108(3) TFEU the Commission must be informed of any plans to grant or alter aid.
To pomeni, da se sklic na „nacionalne proizvode“, ki se uporablja v izvedbenih aktih, ne nanaša samo na avstrijske proizvode, temveč na katero koli regijo, ki bi se lahko uporabila kot regija porekla.
According to Article 1(f) of Regulation (EC) No 659/1999, new aid put into effect in contravention of Article 108(3) TFEU is unlawful.
Znak bio kot tak se najprej nanaša na posebne zahteve glede kakovosti proizvoda.
The obligation to notify State aid is set out in Article 2 of that Regulation.
Pri zadevnih znakih v okviru sheme je bil v glavnem sporočilu omenjen sklic BIO, uporabljali pa so se lahko na vseh proizvodih, ne glede na njihovo poreklo.
Austria did not inform the Commission, pursuant to Article 108(3) TFEU, of the provisions introducing the measures and the levy financing it before putting them into effect.
Poreklo je lahko omenjeno le kot stransko sporočilo.
As shown above in Chapter 6, the measures implemented by Austria constitute State aid.
Pomoč za kakovostne proizvode pa je bila dodeljena za razvoj sistemov zagotavljanja kakovosti, nadzor kakovosti in nadzor organskih proizvodov (uvodna izjava 98).
As stated in recital 34 the marketing measures have been in place since 1994, i.e. before 1 January 1995, the date when Austria joined the European Union.
Tudi tovrstni ukrepi kot taki niso omejeni na proizvode določenega nacionalnega porekla.
Therefore the aid constituted new aid at the time of accession and the Austrian authorities should have notified it.
PRAVILA, KI SE UPORABLJAJO
In the absence of a proper notification the aid is unlawful under the respective provisions of the TFEU (see in this respect also recital 144).
V skladu s členom 107(3)(c) PDEU se pomoč za pospeševanje razvoja določenih gospodarskih dejavnosti ali nekaterih gospodarskih območij, kadar taka pomoč ne spreminja trgovinskih pogojev v obsegu, ki bi bil v nasprotju s skupnimi interesi, lahko šteje za združljivo z notranjim trgom.
Furthermore, as described in recitals 9, 36 and 148, neither the letter of 23 June 1997 nor the letter of 19 December 2002 can be considered as a valid notification of this new aid.
V skladu z Obvestilom Komisije o določitvi pravil, ki se uporabljajo pri ocenjevanju nezakonitih državnih pomoči [71], je treba vsako nezakonito pomoč v smislu člena 1(f) Uredbe (ES) št. 659/1999 oceniti v skladu s pravili, ki so se uporabljala ob dodelitvi pomoči.
ASSESSMENT OF THE COMPATIBILITY OF THE AID
V zvezi s tem je treba opozoriti, da so imele države članice v skladu s točko 196 smernic za obdobje 2007–2013 na voljo prehodno obdobje do 31. decembra 2007, da so obstoječe sheme pomoči uskladile z določbami teh smernic.
RULES REGARDING THE ORIGIN OF THE PRODUCTS
Opredelitev veljavne pomoči je določena v členu 1(b) Uredbe (ES) št. 659/1999.
The General Court annulled the Commission decision NN 34A/2000 on the ground that a contradiction existed within the AMA Act of 1992.
V skladu s členom 1(b)(ii), ki se uporablja za zadevni primer, pomeni veljavna pomoč odobreno pomoč, to je sheme pomoči in individualno pomoč, ki sta jo odobrila Komisija ali Svet.
In its paragraph 21a relating to the purpose of the contribution a reference was made to national products.
V sodni praksi [73] je glede legitimnega pričakovanja navedeno: „Ob vložitvi ničnostne tožbe prejemnik o navedenem ne more biti prepričan, in sicer, dokler se sodišče Skupnosti o tem dokončno ne izreče“.
More precisely, point 1 referred to the objective of ‘promoting and guaranteeing the sale of national agricultural and forestry products and their derivative products’ [67].
Zato se v navedeni zadevi ni mogoče sklicevati na legitimno pričakovanje.
Point 2 referred to ‘promoting other marketing measures (in particular the supply of services and staff costs connected therewith)’.
Posledično sheme pomoči NN 34A/2000 ni bilo mogoče opredeliti kot obstoječo pomoč na podlagi Odločbe Komisije z dne 30. junija 2004, zato se prehodno obdobje iz točke 196 smernic za obdobje 2007–2013 ne uporablja.
The General Court stated that the restriction to national products in point 1 of paragraph 21a of the AMA Act of 1992 raised doubts as to the compatibility of the aid in question which should have led the Commission to initiate a formal investigation procedure [68].
Shemo pomoči bi bilo treba s 1. januarjem 2007 uskladiti s smernicami za obdobje 2007–2013.
The issue of the national origin of the product is therefore an element which requires a detailed analysis.
POMOČ ZA OGLAŠEVALSKE UKREPE
The complainants maintained that the labels and the subsidised measures were available only for Austrian producers.
Glede oglaševalskih ukrepov je treba združljivost pomoči, dodeljene v obdobju od 1. januarja 1995 do 31. decembra 2001, oceniti glede na Sporočilo Komisije o udeležbi države v promocijo kmetijskih in ribiških proizvodov [74] (v nadaljnjem besedilu: sporočilo iz leta 1986) ter Okvir o državni pomoči za oglaševanje kmetijskih proizvodov in nekaterih proizvodov, ki niso navedeni v Prilogi II k Pogodbi ES, razen ribiških proizvodov [75] (v nadaljnjem besedilu: okvir o državni pomoči za oglaševanje iz leta 1987).
They claimed in this respect that under paragraph 21a(1) of the AMA Act of 1992 only Austrian products would benefit from the subsidised advertising measures.
Pomoč, dodeljeno s 1. januarjem 2002, je treba oceniti glede na Smernice Skupnosti o državni pomoči za oglaševanje proizvodov iz Priloge I k Pogodbi ES in nekaterih proizvodov, ki niso zajeti v Prilogi I (v nadaljnjem besedilu: smernice o državni pomoči za oglaševanje iz leta 2001) [76].
In this regard, the Austrian authorities have clarified by letter of 19 December 2002 that the AMA quality and AMA bio labels were available for all products regardless of their origin.
Pri ocenjevanju državne pomoči za oglaševanje kmetijskih proizvodov, dodeljene po 1. januarju 2007, pa Komisija uporablja oddelek VI.D smernic za obdobje 2007–2013.
With letter of 5 March 2004 the Austrian authorities forwarded the new internal rules, issued by AMA Marketing and authorised by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environmental Protection and Hydrological resources (BMLFUW), that govern the granting of these labels.
PODROČJE UPORABE OGLAŠEVANJA
Furthermore, the Austrian authorities undertook to adapt the AMA Act of 1992 which was amended by law with effect from July 2007.
S svojega področja uporabe izključuje promocijske dejavnosti v širšem smislu, kot so razširjanje znanstvenih informacij splošni javnosti, organizacija sejmov ali razstav, sodelovanje na takšnih sejmih in razstavah in podobne pobude na področju odnosov z javnostmi, vključno z raziskavami javnega mnenja in raziskavami trga [77].
Since that date, paragraph 21a(1) of the AMA Act no longer contained a reference to ‘national’ products [69].
Področje uporabe smernic o državni pomoči za oglaševanje iz leta 2001 je načeloma enako kot pri okviru o državni pomoči za oglaševanje iz leta 1987, čeprav obstaja nekaj razlik.
Therefore, while the period after 30 June 2007 raises no particular problems regarding the origin of the products and the beneficiaries of these labels or measures, a more detailed analysis is necessary for the period before that date.
Prva bistvena sprememba se nanaša na dejstvo, da so bili kot potencialni naslovniki oglaševanja dodani gospodarski subjekti [78].