natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
‘VDM represents the interests of the dairy sector within IDF’, ‘protecting and promoting the interests of the dairy industry’ and ‘representing dairy-industry interests during the legislative process in relation to the ministries’.
Korist od te storitve, če že niso bile njene prejemnice, pa so imele spet mlekarne v zadevnih zveznih deželah (tj. članice združenj, ki so včlanjena v VDM), katerih interese VDM zastopa v razmerju do organizacij za normiranje.
LVN therefore also takes the view that the contested measures were intended solely to promote milk as a product and thus the collective interest of the dairy industry (see recitals 99-100 above).
Tudi posredovanje splošnih informacij (gl. uvodni izjavi 59 in 60) je storitev.
The Commission thus maintains its view that the individual activities pursued by VMD display the characteristics of services.
Za ugotovitev, da se s takim posredovanjem spodbuja gospodarska dejavnost sektorja mleka, ni odločilno, ali gre za splošnejše ali posebne informacije.
The services benefit dairies in the Länder that collect the milk levy.
S predmetnimi storitvami, ki jih opravlja VDM, se selektivno daje prednost določenim podjetjem, in sicer podjetjem gospodarskega sektorja predelave in trženja mleka v zveznih deželah, ki pobirajo dajatev na mleko.
Several of the activities referred to by VDM itself on its website display characteristics of services in the sense that their purpose is to represent the interests of the dairies and milk producers concerned in relation to the German authorities and the legislator and in international bodies [36].
V zvezi s tem se Komisija ne strinja z mnenjem VDM, da to združenje kot krovna organizacija zastopa splošne interese.
The provision of such services benefits the dairies concerned and supports them in the exercise of their core business: the production and sale of milk and dairy products, which are undoubtedly economic activities.
Nasprotno: Komisija meni, da je dejavnost VDM zastopanje sektorskih interesov v korist mlekarn, ki so v zadevnih zveznih deželah njegove članice preko združenj, ki so včlanjena vanj.
VDM carries out its activities under the headings ‘advice to state bodies’, ‘involvement in standardisation and harmonisation’ and ‘provision of general information’ in the interests and on behalf of its members.
Izkrivljanje konkurence in vpliv na trgovino
Those activities, which are directly related to its economic activities, save the dairies from having to implement such initiatives themselves — and from having to provide the necessary funding — in order to create a (market) environment conducive to their sales.
V skladu s sodno prakso Sodišča okrepitev konkurenčnega položaja podjetja po dodelitvi državne pomoči na splošno povzroča izkrivljanje konkurence v škodo drugih konkurenčnih podjetij, ki te pomoči ne prejemajo [37].
Members of VDM include Milchindustrie-Verband e.V.
Vsaka državna pomoč podjetju, ki posluje na trgu, na katerem poteka trgovanje znotraj Unije, lahko prizadene trgovino med državami članicami [38], in sicer celo takrat, kadar podjetja, ki so prejemniki pomoči, sama sploh ne sodelujejo pri trgovini znotraj Skupnosti [39].
(MIV) and Deutsche Bauernverband e.V.
V obdobju 2001–2012 je trgovina s kmetijskimi proizvodi v Uniji dosegla znaten obseg.
(DBV).
Tako je na primer uvoz, ki se uvršča pod tarifno številko 0401 kombinirane nomenklature (mleko in smetana, nekoncentrirana, ki ne vsebujeta dodanega sladkorja ali drugih sladil) [40], znotraj Skupnosti v Nemčijo v letu 2011 znašal 1200 milijonov EUR, izvoz pa 957 milijonov EUR [41].
The membership of MIV is in turn made up of German dairies, including those covered by this Decision, in the Länder that collect the milk levy.
Namen ukrepov, ocenjenih v tem sklepu, je podpora dejavnostim v kmetijskem sektorju.
The ‘advice to state bodies’ and ‘involvement in standardisation and harmonisation’ are activities which represent interests in the political process and are intended to shape opinion through different channels (legislation, technical standardisation, etc.).
Zlasti gre za dejavnost mlekarn.
Ultimately this affects the legal conditions underlying the dairies' production and marketing activities.
V zvezi s proizvodi mlekarn poteka trgovina znotraj Unije, kot je opisano zgoraj.
The ‘provision of general information’ measure also benefits the dairies concerned as it promotes sales by highlighting the benefits of milk as a product.
Komisija zato meni, da bi zadevni ukrepi lahko prizadeli trgovino med državami članicami.
No questions are raised in this respect by VDM's assertion that the content of its activity involved ‘channelling the democratically formulated opinion of its members into the legislative process’.
Glede na obsežno trgovino z mlečnimi izdelki je mogoče zato domnevati, da zadevni podukrepi izkrivljajo konkurenco ali grozi, da jo bodo izkrivljali, in da bi lahko prizadeli trgovino med državami članicami.
The fact is that VDM does not represent general interests but rather the interests of its members, the aim being to channel the dairy industry's views into the legislative and regulatory process and thus to bring its influence to bear in that process
Veljavna pomoč/nova pomoč
With regard to the activity of ‘standardisation and harmonisation’, VDM has explained that, acting on behalf of the entire dairy sector, it is involved in standardisation and harmonisation at national and international level in cooperation with the competent standards organisations such as ISO, IDF, CEN and DIN (see recital 53).
Komisija mora v skladu s členom 108(1) PDEU redno pregledovati veljavne pomoči v sodelovanju z državami članicami.
In this context, the Commission notes that it is the said standardisation bodies that are primarily responsible for bringing about standardisation and harmonisation.
V ta namen lahko od držav članic zahteva vse potrebne podatke za pregled veljavnih shem pomoči in po potrebi predlaga ustrezne ukrepe.
VDM does not act as a neutral party (or independent advisor) in that process but rather it channels the viewpoints of the dairy industry into the standardisation process).
V skladu s členom 1(b)(i) Uredbe (ES) št. 659/1999 pojem „veljavna pomoč“ pomeni vso pomoč, ki je obstajala pred začetkom veljavnosti Pogodbe v zadevnih državah članicah in se tudi po začetku njene veljavnosti še vedno uporablja.
In this regard too, the Commission therefore concludes that VDM offers services as a private association.
V skladu s členom 1(c) Uredbe (ES) št. 659/1999 pa vsaka sprememba veljavne pomoči povzroči, da ta postane „nova pomoč“.
The beneficiaries — if not the recipients — of those services are again the dairies in the Länder in question (i.e. the members of VDM's member associations), whose interests are represented by VDM vis-à-vis the standardisation bodies.
V skladu s členom 4 Uredbe Komisije (ES) št. 794/2004 [42] velja za preoblikovanje veljavne pomoči „katera koli sprememba, razen preoblikovanja povsem formalne ali upravne narave, ki ne more vplivati na ocenjevanje združljivosti ukrepa pomoči s skupnim trgom“.
Similarly, the provision of general information (see recitals 59 and 60) constitutes a service.
V skladu s sodno prakso [43] se prvotna shema pretvori v novo shemo pomoči, samo če se sprememba nanaša na njeno bistvo;
Whether this information is more general or more specific in nature does not alter the fact that its provision promotes the economic activity of the dairy industry.
ne more pa iti za tako vsebinsko spremembo, če je mogoče novi element jasno ločiti od prvotne sheme.
The services in question which VDM provides selectively favour certain undertakings, namely those in the economic sector of the processing and marketing of milk in the Länder that collect the milk levy.
V skladu s členom 108(3) PDEU je treba vse nove pomoči priglasiti pri Komisiji in jih ni dovoljeno izvajati, dokler jih Komisija ne odobri (prepoved izvajanja).
In this context, the Commission does not share VDM's view that it is an umbrella organisation that represents general interests.
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.
Rather, the Commission sees VDM's activities as constituting a sector-specific representation of interests to the benefit of the dairies affiliated to it as members through the associations in the Länder concerned.
Z izjemo MFG (ki je samo okvirni zakon in določba o pristojnosti, ne pa pravna podlaga za zadevne ukrepe) organi Nemčije niso predložili nobenih podatkov, ki bi dokazovali, da obstaja pravna podlaga, sprejeta pred letom 1958, ki bi se v obdobju preiskave uporabljala še s svojo prvotno vsebino.
Distortion of competition and effect on trade
To velja že za uredbe o pobiranju dajatve, s katerimi se ureja podlaga za financiranje predmetnih državnih pomoči (npr. ureditvi, ki se uporabljata v zveznih deželah Baden-Württemberg in Bavarska, izvirata iz leta 2004 (Baden-Württemberg) oziroma 2007 (Bavarska), glej uvodni izjavi 21 in 22), pa tudi za zakone o proračunu zveznih dežel, ki so pravna podlaga za uporabo dajatve in, kar zadeva namen uporabe, zgolj ne smejo prekoračiti okvira iz člena 22(2) MFG.
The Court of Justice has consistently held that 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 [37].
Deželni organi na tej podlagi nato v posameznem proračunskem letu odobrijo uporabo sredstev z odločbo o uporabi.
Aid for an undertaking that operates in a market where there is intra-Union trade is liable to affect trade between Member States [38], even if the undertaking receiving it does not itself participate at all in intra-Community trade [39].
Zadevni ukrepi so torej nove pomoči, ki jih je treba priglasiti v skladu s členom 108(3) PDEU.
There was substantial intra-Union trade in agricultural products in the period 2001-2012.
Ker pa Nemčija zadevne sheme pomoči ni nikoli priglasila, je ta nezakonita (člen 1(f) Uredbe (ES) št. 659/1999).
For example, intra-Community imports to and exports from Germany of products falling within heading 0401 of the Combined Nomenclature (milk and cream, not concentrated nor containing added sugar or other sweetening matter) [40] were worth EUR 1,2 billion and EUR 957 million respectively in 2011 [41].
Ocena združljivosti
The measures being assessed in this Decision are designed to support activities in the agricultural sector, in particular the activities of dairies.
Veljavne določbe
As described above, trade in the products of dairies does exist within the Union.
V skladu s členom 107(3)(c) PDEU se pomoči za pospeševanje razvoja določenih gospodarskih dejavnosti ali določenih gospodarskih območij, kadar ne spreminjajo trgovinskih pogojev v obsegu, ki bi bil v nasprotju s skupnimi interesi, lahko štejejo za združljive z notranjim trgom.
The Commission therefore takes the view that the measures at issue are such as to affect trade between the Member States.
V skladu s sporočilom Komisije o določitvi pravil, ki se uporabljajo za presojo nezakonitih državnih pomoči [44], je treba nezakonite državne pomoči v smislu člena 1(f) Uredbe (ES) št. 659/1999 preučiti v skladu s pravili in smernicami, ki veljajo ob dodelitvi pomoči.
In view of the substantial level of trade in dairy products, it can therefore be assumed that the sub-measures in question distort or threaten to distort competition and affect trade between Member States.
Od od 1. januarja 2000 se za kmetijski sektor uporabljajo posebne smernice.
Existing aid/new aid
Državne pomoči, ki so bile odobrene v obdobju od 28. novembra 2001 do 31. decembra 2006 (v nadaljnjem besedilu: obdobje 2001–2006), se ocenjujejo glede na smernice Skupnosti 2000–2006.
According to Article 108(1) TFEU, the Commission must, in cooperation with Member States, keep under constant review all existing systems of aid.
Državne pomoči, ki so bile dodeljene od 1. januarja 2007 (v nadaljnjem besedilu: obdobje od leta 2007), se preverjajo v skladu s smernicami 2007–2013.
To that end, the Commission can obtain from Member States all information necessary for the review of existing aid schemes and, if necessary, propose appropriate measures.
Prvi podukrep (obdobje 2001–2006):
However, according to Article 1(c) of Regulation (EC) No 659/1999, any alteration to existing aid makes it ‘new aid’.
Glede morebitne združljivosti državnih pomoči za spodbujanje dejavnosti svetovanja državnim organom z notranjim trgom (gl. uvodni izjavi 51 in 52) ter dejavnosti VDM v okviru normiranja in standardizacije (gl. uvodne izjave 53–58) se je VDM sklicevalo na določbe o zagotavljanju tehnične pomoči (uvodni izjavi 67 in 68).
Article 4 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 [42] defines an alteration to existing aid as ‘any change, other than modifications of a purely formal or administrative nature which cannot affect the evaluation of the compatibility of the aid measure with the common market’.
Mlekarne so podjetja sektorja predelave in trženja kmetijskih proizvodov.
According to case-law [43], the original scheme is transformed into a new aid scheme only if the change affects the essence of the provision;
Državne pomoči v korist temu sektorju spadajo med drugim na področje uporabe Smernic Skupnosti 2000–2006 (točka 2.1 smernic Skupnosti 2000–2006).
there can be no question of such a substantive alteration where the new element is clearly severable from the initial scheme.
Smisel in namen ureditve iz tretje alinee točke 14.1 je, da se za združljivo z notranjim trgom šteje tista podpora, katere neposredni cilj je izboljšati predelavo kmetijskih proizvodov s posredovanjem potrebnega znanja.
According to Article 108(3) TFEU, all new aid has to be notified to the European Commission and it cannot be put into effect before it has been approved by the Commission (standstill obligation).
Svetovalne storitve, ki jih je opravilo VDM, pa so bile namenjene državnim organom.
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.
Člani VDM, med katerimi so mlekarne v zveznih deželah, ki pobirajo dajatev na mleko, so imeli od njih zgolj posredno korist, torej so imeli posredno prednost zaradi državne pomoči.
With the exception of the MFG itself (which is only a framework law and an enabling act, but is not the legal basis for the measures at issue), the German authorities have not presented any information demonstrating that a legal basis issued before 1958 was still applicable in its original version during the period of investigation.
Komisija ugotavlja, da predmetnih državnih pomoči ni mogoče šteti za združljive z notranjim trgom v skladu z oddelkom 14 smernic Skupnosti 2000–2006.
This applies both to the levy regulations which form the basis for funding the aid in question (those applicable in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, for example, date from 2004 and 2007 respectively (see recitals 21-22)) and to the Land budgetary ordinances which form the legal basis for use of the levy and whose intended use is bound merely by Section 22(2) MFG.
Podobno je namen dejavnosti VDM v okviru normiranja in standardizacije svetovanje državnim (oz. s strani države priznanim) organom, katerih cilj je zgolj zastopanje interesov članov VDM.
On this basis, the Land authorities authorise the use of resources in the financial year in question by means of an appropriation notice.
Normiranje in standardizacija pa pravzaprav spadata med naloge državnih organov, ki norme in standarde, oblikovane zlasti na mednarodni ravni, izvajajo preko zakonodaje in uprave.
The measures in question therefore constitute new aid that should have been notified pursuant to Article 108(3) TFEU.
Združenje, kakršno je VDM, lahko (pogajanja v mednarodnih organih, zakonodaja) zgolj kot svetovalec vpliva na ustrezne postopke.
Because Germany has not at any time notified the aid scheme at issue, it is unlawful (Article 1(f) of Regulation (EC) No 659/1999).
Iz teh razlogov združljivost z notranjim trgom v skladu z oddelkom 14 Smernic Skupnosti 2000–2006 ni možna.
Compatibility assessment
Poleg določb, ki so jih navedle zainteresirane strani, združljivost z notranjim trgom ni možna niti v skladu z drugimi določbami (pa tudi Nemčija se ni sklicevala na druge predpise o združljivosti).
Applicable rules
Zato Komisija ugotavlja, da državne pomoči, dodeljene podjetjem iz sektorja predelave in trženja v obdobju 2001–2006, niso združljive z notranjim trgom.
Under Article 107(3)(c) TFEU, aid to facilitate the development of certain economic activities or of certain economic areas may be considered compatible with the internal market, where such aid does not adversely affect trading conditions to an extent contrary to the Union interest.
Prvi podukrep (obdobje od leta 2007):
Specific guidelines have applied for the agriculture sector since 1 January 2000.
Mlekarne so podjetja sektorja predelave in trženja kmetijskih proizvodov (gl. tudi uvodno izjavo 175).
Aid granted during the period between 28 November 2001 and 31 December 2006 (hereinafter: ‘the period 2001-2006’) is to be assessed in the light of the 2000-2006 Guidelines.
Glede državnih pomoči, od katerih so imela korist podjetja za predelavo in trženje, bi kot določba, ki bi pomenila podlago za združljivost z notranjim trgom, veljala točka 105 smernic 2007–2013 v povezavi s členom 5 Uredbe Komisije (ES) št. 70/2001 [45].
Aid granted since 1 January 2007 (hereinafter: ‘the period from 2007’) will be assessed in the light of the 2007-2013 Guidelines.
Za obdobje od začetka veljavnosti Uredbe Komisije (ES) št. 800/2008 [46] se točka 105 šteje za sklic na njena člena 26 in 27.
First sub-measure (period 2001-2006):
Tako člen 5 Uredbe (ES) št. 70/2001 kot tudi člena 26 in 27 Uredbe (ES) št. 800/2008 se nanašajo na storitve v obliki svetovanja.
‘Role of advisor to state bodies’ and ‘standardisation and harmonisation activities’
V obravnavanem primeru pa z vidika mlekarn ne gre za svetovanje, temveč, kot je bilo obširno navedeno že v uvodnih izjavah 175–177, za zastopanje interesov.
For the purposes of examining whether aid promoting the provision of advice to state bodies (see recitals 51 and 52) and VDM's standardisation and harmonisation activities (see recitals 53 to 58) is compatible with the internal market, VDM referred to the provisions concerning technical support (recitals 67 and 68).
Združljivost z notranjim trgom poleg tega ni možna niti v skladu z drugimi določbami poleg tistih, ki so jih navedle zainteresirane strani (pa tudi Nemčija se ni sklicevala na druge predpise o združljivosti).
Dairies are undertakings for the processing and marketing of agricultural products.
Splošno informiranje
Aid to that sector falls, inter alia, within the scope of the 2000-2006 Guidelines (point 2.1 of the Guidelines).
Združljivost državnih pomoči, dodeljenih za splošno informiranje (uvodni izjavi 59 in 60), z notranjim trgom bi morda lahko izhajala iz določb o zagotavljanju tehnične pomoči.
The purpose of the provision of the third indent of point 14.1 is to declare that support whose direct purpose is to improve the processing of agricultural products by disseminating the requisite knowledge is compatible with the internal market.
Kot je bilo navedeno že v uvodni izjavi 175, je zagotavljanje tehnične pomoči urejeno v oddelku 14 smernic Skupnosti 2000–2006.
VDM's advisory services were, however, aimed at state bodies.
Oddelek 14 se uporablja med drugim za državne pomoči v zvezi z dejavnostmi za predelavo in trženje kmetijskih izdelkov (gl. uvodno izjavo 175).
VDM's members, which include the dairies in the Länder that collect the milk levy, were, by contrast, beneficiaries only indirectly.
Komisija domneva, da je ukrep dolgoročno prispeval h gospodarski sposobnosti preživetja sektorja, medtem ko je bil njegov vpliv na konkurenčne pogoje najbrž zelo majhen (drugi stavek točke 14.1 smernic Skupnosti 2000–2006).
The Commission finds that the aid in question cannot be declared compatible with the internal market under Section 14 of the 2000-2006 Guidelines.
Državna pomoč se je dodeljevala za kritje stroškov za razširjanje splošnih informacij.
Similarly, VDM's standardisation and harmonisation activities relate to advice provided to state (or state-recognised) bodies serving ultimately to represent the interests of VDM's members.
Pri besedilu pete alinee je glede pojma „razširjanje novih metod“ možna široka razlaga.
An association such as the VDM can bring its influence to bear on the relevant procedures (negotiations in international bodies, legislation) only in an advisory capacity.
V tem delu je mogoče šteti, da je posredovanje splošnih informacij, predvsem objav znanstvenih dognanj ter splošnih objektivnih informacij o mleku v splošno razumljivi obliki, primerljivo z razširjanjem novih metod.
Compatibility with the internal market under Section 14 of the 2000-2006 Guidelines is therefore excluded.
Dejansko je bil namen pravila glede združljivosti iz točke 14.1 dovoliti spodbujanje ukrepov, ki kot ukrepi, obravnavani tukaj, prejemnike seznanjajo z novimi tehnikami na različnih področjih, pomembnih za kmetijstvo, kot npr. dobra kmetijska praksa ali varstvo živali v mlečni živinoreji (gl. uvodno izjavo 59).
Compatibility with the internal market also cannot be achieved under provisions other than those referred to by the parties (nor has Germany invoked any other compatibility rules).
Komisija domneva, da so bile te državne pomoči načeloma na razpolago vsem fizičnim in pravnim osebam, ki so „upravičene do podpore“, na zadevnem območju na podlagi objektivno opredeljenih meril (prvi stavek točke 14.2 smernic Skupnosti 2000–2006), tj. da so lahko imele navedene osebe korist od informiranja brez omejitev.
The Commission therefore concludes that the aid granted to businesses operating in the processing and marketing sector in the 2001-2006 period is incompatible with the internal market.
Nemčija je zatrdila, da skupni znesek državne pomoči, dodeljene v obdobju 2001–2006, ni presegel 100000 EUR na prejemnika v obdobju treh let.
First sub-measure (period from 2007):
Kadar je bil podjetjem, za katera se uporablja opredelitev malih in srednjih podjetij, kot jo je določila Komisija [47], dodeljen znesek nad 100000 EUR, pa najvišja dovoljena stopnja pomoči ni presegla 50 % upravičenih stroškov.
For the period from 2007, the provisions on the compatibility of technical support with the internal market were amended.
Pri izračunu zneska pomoči so se za prejemnike štele osebe, ki so take storitve uporabljale, tj. mlekarne v zveznih deželah, ki pobirajo dajatev na mleko.
The provision of technical support is regulated by Section IV.K of the 2007-2013 Guidelines.
Komisija ugotavlja, da so državne pomoči, ocenjene v tem oddelku, izpolnjevale zadevne pogoje smernic Skupnosti 2000–2006 in da so bile zato v obdobju 2001–2006 združljive z notranjim trgom.
The aid benefited dairies in the Länder that collect the milk levy.
Drugi podukrep (obdobje od leta 2007):
Dairies are undertakings for the processing and marketing of agricultural products (see also recital 175).
Enako kot pri prejšnjem obdobju se za državne pomoči za dejavnosti splošnega informiranja upoštevajo določbe o zagotavljanju tehnične pomoči.
With regard to the aid granted to marketing and processing businesses, paragraph 105 of the 2007-2013 Guidelines in conjunction with Article 5 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 [45] could be considered to constitute a provision establishing compatibility with the internal market.
V smernicah 2007–2013 je najprej določeno, da Komisija v nobenem primeru ne dovoljuje državnih pomoči velikim podjetjem (točka 106 smernic 2007–2013) in da zato za velika podjetja ni možno dati izjave o združljivosti.
For the period from the date of entry into force of Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2008 [46], paragraph 105 must be read as referring to Articles 26 and 27 of that Regulation.
Preučiti je treba še, ali so z notranjim trgom združljive državne pomoči, ki so bile dodeljene malim in srednjim podjetjem.