natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
As regards the ‘one time, last time’ principle, the Cypriot authorities in various submissions have reiterated their arguments as regards the impact of the financial crisis on Greece and Cyprus, the Turkey overflight ban on Cypriot aircraft, the operation of an ‘illegal’ airport in the occupied northern part of Cyprus, the unstable political situation in the Middle East and the fact that the granting of rescue and/or restructuring aid should not be a sufficient ground to prohibit further such aid to the same beneficiary.
Ukrep zato ni bil v skladu z načelom vlagatelja v tržnem gospodarstvu.
The Cypriot authorities argued that the expansion of Cyprus Airways’ domestic flights in Greece between 2011-2013 was a proof of the fact that the impact of the crisis was difficult to predict and that some Middle East routes, representing a ‘not negligible’ part of the Company’s revenues, had a significant drop in passenger numbers, such as a 94 % drop of passengers from Egypt.
Komisija se ne strinja s stališčem ciprskih organov, da je država ravnala kot vlagatelj v tržnem gospodarstvu, da bi zaščitila vrednost svoje naložbe, saj povečanje kapitala v višini 31,33 milijona EUR nazadnje ni zadostovalo za preživetje družbe.
Relevant warnings of the adverse effect of the economic situation in Europe and unrest in the Middle East on Cyprus Airways, already found in the Company’s annual reports of 2007, 2008 and 2009 and mentioned by the Commission in the decision of 6 March 2013, were deemed ‘generic statements’.
To je bilo dokazano z dejstvom, da je družba le nekaj mesecev pozneje prejela dodatna finančna sredstva za reševanje kot del ukrepa 2 (pomoč za reševanje).
The Cypriot authorities also pointed out that the total number of passengers in the Cypriot market remained relatively stable during the recent years, but that most passengers now originated from Israel and Russia.
Kar zadeva neudeležbo drugih vlagateljev zaradi izjemnih razmer ciprskega gospodarstva v tistem času, Komisija ugotavlja, da bi lahko pričakovali, da bodo tuji vlagatelji izrazili interes, če bi bila takšna naložba privlačna za vlagatelja v tržnem gospodarstvu.
The Turkey overflight ban meant that Cyprus Airways had a disadvantage in operating to the Russian market, due to the additional flight time.
V vsakem primeru se je Komisija seznanila z namero ciprskih organov, da udeležbo države pri povečanju delniškega kapitala leta 2012 vključi v priglašeno pomoč za prestrukturiranje.
Furthermore, they provided evidence that although passenger numbers in the Greek market dropped marginally since 2008, the average fare of Greek flights (including domestic flights) dropped significantly.
Ukrep 1 je torej družbi Cyprus Airways omogočil nadaljevanje delovanja, saj se ji ni bilo treba spopadati s posledicami, ki navadno nastanejo zaradi slabih finančnih rezultatov.
As regards the EUR 10 million short-term loan, the Cypriot authorities explained that they expected to sell the evening LHR slot for a high price and therefore the granting of the loan would not be necessary.
Ker družba Cyprus Airways na liberaliziranem trgu EGP za zračni promet konkurira z drugimi letalskimi prevozniki EGP, bi lahko ukrep 1 izkrivljal konkurenco in vplival na trgovino med državami članicami.
Finally, the Cypriot authorities justified the provision of training aid during 2010-11 by arguing that Cyprus Airways only entered in difficulties in late 2011.
Ukrep 2 je bil priglašen kot posojilo za reševanje v obliki državnega posojila z 1,76-odstotno obrestno mero, ki bi moralo biti povrnjeno do 30. junija 2013.
This was in contradiction with their previous submissions (see recital 68 above).
Komisija ugotavlja, da posojilo ne bo poplačano in da so ga ciprski organi priglasili v okviru pomoči za prestrukturiranje (ukrep 4).
COMMENTS BY INTERESTED PARTIES
Ukrep 4 je bil priglašen kot pomoč za prestrukturiranje.
During the two formal investigation procedures, comments were submitted by Air France Consulting, three competitors (Ryanair, International Airlines Group and a third competitor who did not wish its identity to be disclosed), trade unions of Cyprus Airways and the beneficiary.
Vsi njegovi elementi namreč vključujejo državna sredstva in se lahko pripišejo državi v obliki kapitalske injekcije, pretvorbe dolga v lastniški kapital ali z neposrednim kritjem dela primanjkljaja podpornega sklada.
Air France Consulting, who prepared the turnaround plan, clarified that the plan provided a turnaround in one year and full financial recovery of Cyprus Airways within two years and that the required capital could be provided through financial restructuring, as opposed to cash.
Ukrep 4 družbi Cyprus Airways zagotavlja selektivno prednost, saj vlagatelj v tržnem gospodarstvu ne bi zagotovil finančnih sredstev družbi v takšnem finančnem položaju (z nakopičenimi izgubami v višini 99,7 milijona EUR je preveč zadolžena, kapitalska osnova pa odpravljena).
It also stated its belief in the credibility of the turnaround plan and argued that the plan was based on Cyprus Airways developing operations out of Athens on international European routes.
Poleg tega bi lahko ukrep iz razlogov iz uvodne izjave 106 zgoraj vplival na trgovino med državami članicami in izkrivljal konkurenco.
Further, it stated that decisions taken by Cyprus Airways in 2013 (reducing the fleet to 6 aircraft, making redundant 490 staff) would only make the Company’s financial situation more fragile.
Komisija torej ugotavlja, da ukrep 4 pomeni državno pomoč za družbo Cyprus Airways v smislu člena 107(1) Pogodbe.
The three competitors disagreed with the arguments by the Cypriot authorities as regards the significance of Cyprus Airways for the infrastructure and development of Cyprus and declared themselves ready to expand routes to/from Cyprus.
Komisija v zvezi z datumom dodelitve ugotavlja, da je bil ukrep 4 dodeljen v tranšah.
As regards the existence of aid and compatibility, competitors agreed with the Commission that the participation of the State to the Company’s share capital increase was not what a market economy investor would have done.
Tranša (a) v višini 31,33 milijona EUR (udeležba države pri povečanju delniškega kapitala v letu 2012) je bila dodeljena, kot sledi:
Competitors also questioned the restoration of the viability of the Company, expressing doubts as to the effectiveness of the maintained network and fleet and whether the assumptions of the plan and the envisaged profitability were realistic, especially with regard to the fuel savings and the additional revenue through a fare increase.
Preglednica 6
They also pointed to increased competition risks for profitable routes envisaged to be maintained by Cyprus Airways, in addition to Tel Aviv and Moscow.
Datumi dodelitve ob udeležbi države pri povečanju delniškega kapitala v letu 2012
Competitors also doubted the existence of truly exceptional and unforeseeable circumstances that would justify an exception to the ‘one time, last time’ principle.
Datum dodelitve
In addition, the competitor who did not wish to disclose its identity considered that the profitability of the routes proposed as compensatory measures should be measured on a net profit level, that is to say including allocated fixed costs, and not only on a gross level, that is to say only including variable cost.
12. september 2012
Finally, Ryanair questioned whether the Company could achieve the envisaged reduction in staff due to trade union resistance and suggested that, if the restructuring aid to Cyprus Airways was found compatible, this could be on the condition that the Company abandons routes that remained unprofitable three years after the approval.
20. september 2012
Ryanair also argued that it and other companies have been subject to the same conditions in relation to the unrest in the Middle East and the economic crisis in Greece and Cyprus.
26. september 2012
Despite that, Ryanair claimed that other companies have managed to adapt and grow in the new environment, citing as an example its own growth in the Greek and Cypriot market in recent years.
11. oktober 2012
Further, in its submission of 6 June 2014, Ryanair pointed to a press article of 19 May 2014 indicating that the Cypriot government had pledged EUR 4 million to be provided to Cyprus Airways’ staff that have been made redundant and claimed this constitutes further State aid to Cyprus Airways.
28. december 2012
Cyprus Airways and its trade unions supported the arguments of the Cypriot authorities and reiterated their belief in the viability of the Company and its role for the economy and connectivity of Cyprus.
Skupaj: 31,33
COMMENTS BY CYPRUS ON THE COMMENTS BY INTERESTED PARTIES
Tranša (b) v višini 34,5 milijona EUR (posojilo za reševanje) je bila dodeljena, kot sledi:
The Cypriot authorities considered it unnecessary to comment on the turnaround plan and the comments by Air France Consulting, given the existence of an updated restructuring plan.
Preglednica 7
They repeated the important role of Cyprus Airways for the economy and connectivity of the island and insisted that the unrest in the Middle East was an exceptional and unforeseeable situation having an impact on Cyprus Airways.
Datumi dodelitve državnega posojila za reševanje v letu 2013
They doubted that competitors could fill in any gaps in connectivity resulting from a possible bankruptcy of Cyprus Airways, given the seasonality of the market.
22. januar 2013
As regards the compatibility of the measures with the 2004 Rescue and Restructuring Guidelines, the Cypriot authorities insisted that the 2013 restructuring plan was founded on realistic assumptions and was not underestimating any negative effects stemming from the small fleet or difficulties in realising cost initiatives.
29. januar 2013
Finally, the Cypriot authorities stated in their submission of 9 September 2013 that no ex gratia payments would be granted to employees made redundant.
28. februar 2013
Subsequently, in their submission of 3 August 2014, the Cypriot authorities explained that the Government has, for socioeconomic reasons, decided to compensate directly former Cyprus Airways employees that had already resigned or had been made redundant.
2. maj 2013
The decision was taken and compensations were paid only after the resignations or redundancies had been finalised and thus would not constitute State aid to Cyprus Airways.
26. julij 2013
All legal obligations of Cyprus Airways towards those employees were honoured fully by the Company itself.
Skupaj: 34,5
The Cypriot authorities also did not consider that the approval of the aid should be subject to any conditions.
Komisija nima nobenih informacij, da so bile druge tranše ukrepa 4, tj. (c) unovčenje državnega poroštva in naknadna pretvorba dolga v višini 28,5 milijona EUR v lastniški kapital ter (d) kritje primanjkljaja podpornega sklada v višini 8,6 milijona EUR, že dodeljene.
This Decision will assess whether the measures under scrutiny constitute State aid to Cyprus Airways within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the Treaty and whether such aid may be compatible with the internal market.
Komisija se je seznanila s pojasnilom ciprskih organov iz septembra 2013, da odpuščenemu osebju niso bila dodeljena nobena prostovoljna nadomestila.
The Commission notes that the aid provided by measure 4 notified together with the 2013 restructuring plan in October 2013 already includes the aid provided by measure 1 (disbursed as advanced payments between September and December 2012), as well as measure 2 (rescue aid notified in December 2012 and partially disbursed between January and July 2013).
Skoraj leto pozneje so ciprski organi v dopisu iz avgusta 2014 navedli, da se je vlada zaradi socialno-ekonomskih razlogov maja/junija 2014 odločila, da bo nekdanjim zaposlenim v družbi Cyprus Airways, ki so že dali odpoved ali bili odpuščeni, neposredno izplačala nadomestila.
Both these measures were implemented with a view to ensure short-term survival of the Company before a comprehensive restructuring plan could be prepared.
Odločitev je bila sprejeta, nadomestila pa izplačana po tem, ko so zaposleni že dali odpoved ali bili odpuščeni.
Since the turnaround plan of 2012 was not implemented, the Commission considers both these measures as part of the 2013 restructuring plan and it will thus only assess measures 1 and 2, to the extent they constitute State aid, in the context of measure 4, that is to say as one overall restructuring aid measure.
Po navedbah ciprskih organov so bile odpovedi in odpuščanja zaposlenih v družbi Cyprus Airways v okviru načrta prestrukturiranja iz leta 2013 izvedene brez kakršnih koli dodatnih nadomestil, ki jih izplača ciprska vlada.
EXISTENCE OF STATE AID
Nazadnje bi bilo treba sprejeti naknadno odločitev, da bi se zaposlenim v družbi Cyprus Airways nadomestilo izplačalo neposredno.
Article 107(1) of the Treaty provides that any aid granted by a Member State or through State resources in any form whatsoever which distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring certain undertakings or the production of certain goods shall, in so far as it affects trade between Member States, be incompatible with the internal market.
Zdi se torej, da je bila prvotna namera ciprskih organov, da zagotovijo prostovoljna nadomestila odpuščenemu osebju, opuščena, zato po mnenju Komisija ni nujno, da se ukrep 3 šteje za državno pomoč.
The measure involved State resources and was imputable to the State.
Komisija torej ugotavlja, da ukrep 5 pomeni državno pomoč za družbo Cyprus Airways v smislu člena 107(1) Pogodbe.
It provided a selective advantage to Cyprus Airways, because the Commission considered that a private investor would not have provided capital to the Company under such conditions, given the serious difficulties of Cyprus Airways, the absence of viability prospects at the date of granting as well as the alternative of a shareholder loan including appropriate securities.
Ciprski organi tej opredelitvi niso nasprotovali.
In addition, practically no existing private shareholder of Cyprus Airways participated in the capital increase since only EUR 106 thousand were collected from private shareholders (compared to EUR 13,67 million originally expected).
Pomoč za usposabljanje je bila družbi Cyprus Airways dodeljena za 303 projekte usposabljanja v letih 2010 in 2011.
The shareholding of the State in Cyprus Airways thus increased from 69 % to 93,67 %.
Vendar ciprski organi niso predložili razčlenitve datumov dodelitve po posameznem projektu.
The measure was therefore not in line with the market economy investor principle.
Sklep o obstoju državne pomoči
The Commission does not agree with the position of the Cypriot authorities that the State acted as a market economy investor in order to protect the value of its investment, because the capital increase of EUR 31,33 million was anyway not sufficient to allow the survival of the Company.
Glede na zgoraj navedeno Komisija meni, da ni treba oceniti, ali ukrep 3 pomeni državno pomoč.
This was proven by the fact that the Company received additional rescue funding as part of measure 2 (rescue aid) only a few months later.
Komisija meni, da ukrepi 1, 2, 4 in 5 pomenijo državno pomoč v smislu člena 107(1) Pogodbe.
As regards the absence of participation of other investors due to the stressed situation of the Cypriot economy at that time, the Commission notes that if such an investment had been attractive for a market investor, one can expect that foreign investors would have expressed an interest.
Državna pomoč, vključena v ukrep 5, znaša 269 317,94 EUR in je bila dodeljena v obdobju 2010–2011.
At any rate, the Commission takes note of the intention of the Cypriot authorities to include the participation of the State to the 2012 share capital increase in the notified restructuring aid.
NEZAKONITA POMOČ
Measure 1 thus enabled Cyprus Airways to continue operating because the Company did not have to face the consequences normally following from its poor financial results.
Ukrepi 1, 2 in torej tudi 4 pomenijo državno pomoč ter so bili dodeljeni ob kršitvi obveznosti priglasitve in mirovanja iz člena 108(3) Pogodbe.
Since Cyprus Airways competes in the liberalised EEA market for air transport with other EEA airlines, measure 1 had the potential to distort competition and affect trade between Member States.
Enako velja za ukrep 5.
Measure 2 was notified as a rescue aid loan provided in the form of a government loan, which would bear an interest of 1,76 % and should be repaid by 30 June 2013.
Zato vsak od teh ukrepov pomeni nezakonito državno pomoč.
The Commission considered in its decision of 6 March 2013 that no prudent creditor would have provided a loan with such interest rate to a firm in difficulty.
ZDRUŽLJIVOST POMOČI
In addition, the Cypriot authorities have not demonstrated how Cyprus Airways would be able to repay the loan after six months.
Ker nekateri ukrepi pomenijo državno pomoč v smislu člena 107(1) Pogodbe, je treba njihovo združljivost oceniti ob upoštevanju izjem iz odstavkov 2 in 3 navedenega člena.
Since all other criteria under Article 107(1) of the Treaty are fulfilled (as further explained in the decision of 6 March 2013, to which the present decision refers on that point), measure 2 constitutes State aid.
V skladu s sodno prakso Sodišča so države članice tiste, ki morajo uveljavljati morebitne razloge za združljivost in dokazati, da so pogoji za takšno združljivost izpolnjeni.
The Cypriot authorities acknowledge that the loan constitutes rescue aid in their reply to the decision of 6 March 2013.
Ciprski organi so sprva menili, da ukrep 1 ni pomenil državne pomoči, in priglasili ukrep 2 kot pomoč za reševanje.
The Commission notes that the loan will not be repaid and has been notified by the Cypriot authorities in the context of the restructuring aid (measure 4).
Vendar so po prvem formalnem postopku preiskave in glede na dvome, ki jih je v njem izrazila Komisija, ter po predvidenem neodplačilu posojila za reševanje v okviru ukrepa 2 naknadno trdili, da so ukrepi 1, 2 in 4 združljivi kot pomoč za prestrukturiranje v skladu s Smernicami za reševanje in prestrukturiranje iz leta 2004.
Measure 4 was notified as restructuring aid.
Vendar so glavne predpostavke in zamisli iz načrta prestrukturiranja iz leta 2013 od priglasitve 23. oktobra 2013 ostale nespremenjene.
Indeed, all of its components involve State resources and are imputable to the State, either in the form of a capital injection, a conversion of debt into equity or by directly covering part of the Provident Fund’s deficit.
V zvezi z ukrepom 5 so ciprski organi trdili, da je bil združljiv kot pomoč za usposabljanje v skladu z uredbo o splošnih skupinskih izjemah.
Measure 4 provides a selective advantage to Cyprus Airways, since a market economy investor would not have provided such funding to a company in such a financial situation, (with accumulated losses of EUR 99,7 million, highly over-leveraged and its capital base eliminated).
Vendar je Komisija ugotovila, da je bila družba Cyprus Airways od leta 2009 podjetje v težavah, kar se tudi sklada z dopisom ciprskih organov.
Finally, for the reasons set out in recital 106 above, the measure is likely to affect trade between Member States and to distort competition.
V skladu s členom 1(6)(c) uredbe o splošnih skupinskih izjemah so podjetja v težavah izključena iz njenega področja uporabe.
Thus, the Commission concludes that measure 4 constitutes State aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the Treaty in favour of Cyprus Airways.
Zato družba Cyprus Airways od leta 2009 ni bila upravičena do pomoči za usposabljanje.
In accordance with the notification, the aid amounts to EUR 102,9 million.
V skladu s točko 20 Smernic za reševanje in prestrukturiranje iz leta 2004 „se, dokler ni zagotovljena njegova sposobnost preživetja, to podjetje [v težavah] toliko časa ne more šteti k ustreznim instrumentom za pospeševanje drugih ciljev javne politike.
The Commission takes note of the statement by the Cypriot authorities that the possible granting of the short-term loan of EUR 10 million will not be necessary and therefore does not include the loan into the total restructuring aid.
Posledično Komisija meni, da lahko zgolj ob izpolnjevanju pogojev, opredeljenih v teh smernicah, pomoč podjetjem v težavah prispeva k razvoju gospodarskih dejavnosti, ne da bi ob tem škodila trgovini v tolikšni meri, ki je v nasprotju z interesom Skupnosti.“ Komisija lahko torej oceni le ukrep 5 kot pomoč za prestrukturiranje, za katerega velja načrt prestrukturiranja iz leta 2013.
As regards the granting date, the Commission notes that measure 4 has been granted in tranches.
Glede na to, da je za ukrepe 1, 2, 4 in 5 ustrezna le ena podlaga za združljivost, Komisija meni, da je smiselno oceniti vse ukrepe skupaj.
Tranche (a) amounting to EUR 31,33 million (the State participation to the 2012 share capital increase) was granted as follows:
Za to oceno se bo Komisija zlati sklicevala na točke 31–77 Smernic za reševanje in prestrukturiranje iz leta 2004.
Table 6
Upravičenost – podjetje v težavah
Granting dates of the State’s participation to the 2012 share capital increase
Pozneje so ciprski organi priznali, da je bila družba Cyprus Airways od leta 2009 podjetje v težavah.
Granting date
Glede na informacije iz javno dostopnih finančnih poročil so bili ključni finančni podatki družbe Cyprus Airways od leta 2009 naslednji:
12 September 2012
Preglednica 8
20 September 2012
Ključni finančni podatki družbe Cyprus Airways od leta 2008 do prve polovice leta 2012 (v milijonih EUR)
26 September 2012
Prva polovica leta 2012 [22]
11 October 2012
Promet
28 December 2012
Prihodki pred davki (EBT)
Total: 31,33
Delniški kapital
Tranche (b) amounting to EUR 34,5 million (the rescue aid loan) was granted as follows:
Osnovni kapital
Table 7
Točka 10(a) Smernic za reševanje in prestrukturiranje iz leta 2004 določa, da je družba z omejeno odgovornostjo v težavah, če je bila „izgubljena več kot polovica njenega osnovnega kapitala in je bila v preteklih 12 mesecih izgubljena več kot četrtina tega kapitala“.
29 January 2013
Kot je navedeno v preglednici 8 zgoraj, je imela družba Cyprus Airways od leta 2011 negativni lastniški kapital.
28 February 2013
Ta se je zniževal že v letih 2009 in 2010, pri čemer je bil veliko pod ravnjo osnovnega kapitala.
2 May 2013
Komisija glede na navedeno in ob upoštevanju dopisov ciprskih organov (glej uvodno izjavo 68 zgoraj) ugotavlja, da je bila družba Cyprus Airways od leta 2009 podjetje v težavah delno v skladu s točko 10 (zlasti od leta 2011), v vsakem primeru pa v skladu s točko 11 Smernic za reševanje in prestrukturiranje iz leta 2004.
26 July 2013
V skladu s točko 33 Smernic za reševanje in prestrukturiranje iz leta 2004 mora podjetje „izpolnjevati pogoje za podjetje v težavah v smislu teh smernic“.
Total: 34,5
Ta pogoj je torej izpolnjen.
As regards the other tranches of measure 4, that is to say (c) the calling of the State guarantee and the subsequent conversion of the debt of EUR 28,5 million into equity, and (d) the coverage of EUR 8,6 million of the Provident Fund’s deficit, the Commission does not have any indication that they have already been granted.
Trajanje načrta prestrukturiranja iz leta 2013 – ponovna vzpostavitev dolgoročnega uspešnega poslovanja
Measure 3
V točkah 35–37 Smernic za reševanje in prestrukturiranje iz leta 2004 je določeno naslednje: „35.
The Commission takes note of the clarification provided by the Cypriot authorities in September 2013 that no ex gratia compensation had been or would be granted to employees made redundant.
Načrt za prestrukturiranje, katerega trajanje mora biti čim krajše, mora obnoviti dolgoročno sposobnost preživetja podjetja v smiselnem časovnem okviru in na podlagi realističnih predvidevanj prihodnjih pogojev poslovanja.
Almost one year later, in their submission of August 2014, the Cypriot authorities indicated that in May/June 2014 the Cypriot government has, for socioeconomic reasons, decided to compensate directly former Cyprus Airways employees that had already resigned or been made redundant.
Pomoč za prestrukturiranje mora zato biti vezana na trden načrt za prestrukturiranje, h kateremu se zaveže zadevna država članica.