natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Indeed, the changes acknowledged by Germany, namely the change in the equalisation mechanism and the introduction of the BesAR, constitute substantial alterations.
Na podlagi zakona EEG iz leta 2012 je organ BAFA, ki na podlagi zakona EEG iz leta 2000 ni imel nobene posebne vloge, pristojen za potrjevanje z upravnimi odločbami, da energetsko intenzivni uporabniki izpolnjujejo pogoje posebnega pravila o nadomestilih.
Change in the equalisation mechanism
Nekatere zainteresirane strani so trdile, da samo dejstvo, da so nekateri odjemalci električne energije upravičeni do omejene dodatne dajatve, ne more vplivati na zasebno naravo finančnih sredstev, ki jih ti odjemalci prispevajo.
As a preliminary remark, the Commission points out that, while it considered in 2002 that the EEG-Act 2000 did not involve the transfer of State resources, this assessment was made shortly after the PreussenElektra judgment.
Vendar Komisija meni, da je obstoj posebnega pravila o nadomestilih dodatni dokaz, da zakon EEG iz leta 2012 ne temelji več na obveznostih nakupa, ki vključujejo zasebna sredstva, ampak na celovitem sistemu dodeljevanja stroškov, ki delno temelji na načelih pravične porazdelitve in ga organizira država, spremljajo pa državni organi.
However, further Court rulings have since clarified and even restricted PreussenElektra: Based on the rulings in Essent, Vent de colère and Elcogás, it would seem that under the initial equalisation mechanism, the TSOs had already been entrusted by the State with the administration of an aid scheme, which was financed by means of a surcharge levied from the electricity suppliers.
Številne razlike med zakonom EEG iz leta 2000 in zakonom EEG iz leta 2012 so povzete v naslednji preglednici.
The decisive point is that the equalisation mechanism has been substantially altered.
Dokazujejo, da je zakon EEG iz leta 2012 vzpostavil popolnoma nov sistem.
It is no longer composed of a chain of obligations for physical electricity purchases (network operators from EEG electricity producers; TSOs from network operators; electricity suppliers from TSOs).
Element
Now, the physical transfer is interrupted at the level of the TSOs, which have to market the EEG electricity.
Zakon EEG iz leta 2000
That marketing has been decoupled from the equalisation mechanism.
Zakon EEG iz leta 2012
The latter is purely about the financial allocation of costs between the different operators.
Prenos dodatne dajatve.
The TSOs have been given responsibility by the State for centralising and computing those costs, and collecting them from the electricity suppliers.
Zaporedne obveznosti operaterjev glede nabave električne energije EEG.
Further, the EEG-Act 2000 was silent as to whether electricity consumers should also be made to participate in the costs for producing EEG electricity.
Prenos stroškov ni povezan s prenosom električne energije EEG.
That decision was left to the competent regulator, which at the time still had the power to regulate electricity prices for final customers.
Mehanizem za izravnavo je na tretji ravni.
The EEG-Act 2012 explicitly allows suppliers to pass on costs to their customers, and de facto they all pass them on.
Izravnava stroškov je povezana z nabavo električne energije EEG.
In addition, the BNetzA, which had no role under the EEG-Act 2000, is given powers to monitor those financial flows and to enforce compliance with the EEG-Act 2012, in particular for purposes of consumer protection.
Izravnava stroškov na podlagi prodaje električne energije EEG na gotovinskem trgu.
The BAFA, which also had no role under the EEG-Act 2000, takes the decision to grant a reduction from the EEG-surcharge to certain undertakings on the basis of the criteria laid down in the EEG-Act 2012.
Končni odjemalci krijejo stroške, vendar so nekateri upravičeni do omejitve.
The Besondere Ausgleichsregelung (BesAR)
Ni določeno.
The logical corollary to the inclusion of electricity consumers in the burden-sharing is the reduction in the surcharge granted to energy-intensive undertakings.
Posebno pravilo o nadomestilih: energetsko intenzivni uporabniki lahko zaprosijo za znižanje dodatne dajatve.
Under the EEG-Act 2012, the BAFA, which had no particular role to play under the EEG-Act 2000, is responsible for certifying, by way of administrative decisions, that the EIUs satisfy the conditions of the BesAR.
Vloga agencije BNetzA.
Some interested parties have argued that the mere fact that some electricity consumers benefit from a capped surcharge cannot affect the private nature of the financial resources contributed by them.
Nima nobene vloge.
However, the Commission considers that the existence of the BesAR constitutes additional evidence for the fact that the EEG-Act 2012 is no longer based on purchase obligations involving private resources, but on a comprehensive system of cost allocation, based to a certain degree on considerations of distributive justice, organised by the State and monitored by State authorities.
Nadzor in izvrševanje določanja dodatne dajatve.
In conclusion, the numerous differences between the EEG-Act 2000 and the EEG-Act 2012 are summarised in the following table.
Vloga organa BAFA.
They demonstrate that the EEG-Act 2012 constituted a new system altogether.
Odobri znižanje dodatne dajatve.
Feature
Stopnja dodatne dajatve.
EEG-Act 2000
0,2 ct/kWh (2000)
EEG-Act 2012
6,24 ct/kWh (2014)
Passing on of the surcharge.
Odkupne cene električne energije EEG.
Successive obligations of the operators to purchase the EEG electricity.
Manj kot 1 milijarda EUR (2000).
The passing on of costs is decoupled from the transfer of the EEG electricity.
Več kot 20 milijard EUR (2013).
Equalisation mechanism on the third level.
Zakon EEG iz leta 2012 velja le za znižanja dodatne dajatve EEG, dodeljena za leti 2013 in 2014, zato le znižanje, dodeljeno v navedenih dveh letih, vključuje državno pomoč [76].
Cost equalisation is coupled with the purchase of EEG electricity.
Združljivost z notranjim trgom
Equalisation of the costs resulting from the spot market sales of the EEG electricity.
Komisija je v sklepu o začetku postopka ugotovila, da bi se lahko državna pomoč za proizvajalce električne energije EEG razglasila za združljivo z notranjim trgom.
Final consumers have to bear the costs, but some benefit from a cap.
Vendar je imela pomisleke, ali bi bilo mogoče dodeljevanje navedene pomoči oceniti neodvisno od njenega mehanizma financiranja, tj. dodatne dajatve EEG.
Not provided for.
Predhodno je ugotovila tudi, da dodatna dajatev EEG krši člen 30 ali člen 110 Pogodbe.
BesAR: EIUs can ask for reductions in their surcharge.
Komisija je v sklepu o začetku postopka izrazila pomisleke tudi glede tega, ali bi se lahko posebno pravilo o nadomestilih razglasilo za združljivo z notranjim trgom na podlagi člena 107(3) Pogodbe.
Role of the BNetzA.
Pravna podlaga in možnost za oceno združljivosti posebnega pravila o nadomestilih
Supervision and enforcement of the determination of the surcharge.
Komisija si pridržuje pravico, da člen 42 zakona EEG iz leta 2012 oceni v ločenem postopku.
Role of the BAFA.
Komisija je združljivost posebnega pravila o nadomestilih z notranjim trgom ocenila na podlagi oddelkov 3.7.2 in 3.7.3 smernic iz leta 2014.
Authorises the reduction of the surcharge.
Komisija smernice iz leta 2014 uporablja od 1. julija 2014.
Level of the surcharge.
Navedene smernice vključujejo pravila materialnega prava za oceno znižanj financiranja podpore za energijo iz obnovljivih virov, vključno z znižanji, dodeljenimi pred 1. julijem 2014 (točka 248).
0,2 ct/kWh (2000).
Državno pomoč, ki se proučuje, je treba torej oceniti na podlagi smernic iz leta 2014.
6,24 ct/kWh (2014).
V skladu s sodno prakso je Komisija na posebnem področju državnih pomoči vezana na okvire in obvestila, ki jih sprejme, če ne odstopajo od pravil Pogodbe in če jih države članice sprejmejo [78].
Feed-in of EEG electricity.
Vendar so zainteresirane strani nasprotovale zakonitosti točke 248.
More than EUR 20 bn (2013).
Vendar se zainteresirane strani motijo, ko menijo, da drugi odstavek točke 248 pomeni retroaktivno uporabo.
Given that the EEG-Act 2012 only applies to reductions in the EEG-surcharge granted for the years 2013 and 2014, only the reduction granted in those two years involve State aid [76].
V skladu s sodno prakso pravo Unije razlikuje med neposredno uporabo novega pravila za bodoče učinke položaja, ki je v teku [80], in retroaktivno uporabo novega pravila za okoliščine, ki so postale dokončne pred njegovim začetkom veljavnosti (t. i. obstoječe okoliščine) [81].
Compatibility with the internal market
Poleg tega je ustaljena sodna praksa sodišč Unije, da gospodarski subjekti ne morejo imeti legitimnih pričakovanj, dokler instituciji nista sprejeli akta, s katerim se zaključi upravni postopek, ki je postal dokončen [82].
In the Opening Decision, the Commission concluded that the State aid for the producers of EEG electricity could be declared compatible with the internal market.
Kot je Sodišče razsodilo, nezakonita državna pomoč pomeni položaj, ki je v teku.
However, it raised doubts as to whether the granting of that aid could be assessed independently from its financing mechanism, that is to say, the EEG-surcharge.
Pravila, ki urejajo uporabo zakona za nazaj, določajo, da takojšnja uporaba novih pravil združljivosti za nezakonito pomoč ne pomeni retroaktivne uporabe navedenih novih pravil [83].
It also reached the preliminary conclusion that the EEG-surcharge violates Article 30 or 110 of the Treaty.
Pripombe Nemčije in tretjih strani
In the Opening Decision, the Commission also raised doubts as to whether the BesAR could be declared compatible with the internal market on the basis of Article 107(3) of the Treaty.
Več zainteresiranih strani je trdilo, da se smernice iz leta 2014 ne bi smele uporabiti za omejene dodatne dajatve EEG, ampak bi morala Komisija izvesti oceno združljivosti na podlagi člena 107(3)(b) ali (c) Pogodbe.
The compatibility assessment only covers new aid granted on the basis of the EEG-Act 2012.
Zainteresirane strani so trdile tudi, da se bi znižanja lahko štela za združljiva z notranjim trgom na podlagi člena 107(3)(c) Pogodbe, saj je njihov cilj spodbujanje razvoja energije iz obnovljivih virov ob preprečevanju selitve virov CO2 in ohranjanje industrijske baze v Uniji.
Reduced payments of the EEG-surcharge that took place in 2012 had their legal basis in the administrative act issued by BAFA at the end of 2011.
Glede tega so zadevne zainteresirane strani trdile, da je posebno pravilo o nadomestilih ustrezen instrument za združitev različnih ciljev navedenega večkratnega cilja.
Therefore, they are covered by Article 1(b)(ii) of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 [77].
Trdijo tudi, da je navedeni instrument sorazmeren, saj upravičenci na podlagi posebnega pravila o nadomestilih še vedno prispevajo k financiranju.
This Decision does not cover reduced payments of the EEG-surcharge by railway undertakings.
Poleg tega trdijo, da je ukrep sorazmeren, saj so davki na električno energijo in dodatna dajatev EEG v bistvu enaki (obe sta dajatvi za porabo električne energije), minimalna stopnja obdavčitve električne energije, ki jo porabijo podjetja in jo je določila Unija, kot je navedeno v preglednici C Priloge I k Direktivi Sveta 2003/96/ES [84], pa je 0,05 ct/kWh, tj. toliko kot minimalna dodatna dajatev EEG.
The Commission reserves the right to assess § 42 EEG-Act 2012 in a separate procedure.
Nazadnje zainteresirane strani trdijo, da zakon EEG iz leta 2012 ne izkrivlja konkurence ali trga, ker ne izravnava popolnoma izkrivljanja, ki ga je prvotno povzročila dodatna dajatev EEG za nemška podjetja, saj je ta v primerjavi z enakovrednimi davki in dajatvami, ki jih plačujejo podjetja v drugih državah članicah, višja.
The Commission has assessed the compatibility of the BesAR with the internal market on the basis of Sections 3.7.2 and 3.7.3 of the 2014 Guidelines.
Podobno je glede uporabe člena 107(3)(b) in (c) trdila Nemčija v svojem odgovoru na sklep Komisije o začetku postopka.
The Commission has applied the 2014 Guidelines from 1 July 2014.
Drugič, zainteresirane strani trdijo, da Komisija znižanj ne more proučiti ločeno na podlagi posebne pravne podlage za združljivost, ampak na podlagi tiste, ki se je uporabila pri proučevanju podpore za električno energijo EEG.
Those Guidelines include the substantive rules for the assessment of reductions in the funding of support for energy from renewable energy sources, including reductions that were granted before 1 July 2014 (point 248).
Namesto tega bi morala Komisija znižanja, ki so del financiranja, v sklepu o začetku postopka oceniti (in odobriti) skupaj s podporo za energijo iz obnovljivih virov.
The State aid under examination must therefore be assessed on the basis of the 2014 Guidelines.
To je pojasnjeno s sklicevanjem na sodno prakso Sodišča, v skladu s katero mora Komisija upoštevati način financiranja pomoči, če je ta sestavni del ukrepa [85].
According to the case-law, in the specific area of State aid, the Commission is bound by the guidelines and notices that it issues, inasmuch as they do not depart from the rules in the Treaty and are accepted by the Member States [78].
Tretjič, tudi če bi se smernice iz leta 2014 lahko uporabile, zainteresirane strani glede točk 248 in 250 smernic iz leta 2014 trdijo, da bi se lahko navedene smernice retroaktivno uporabile le za nezakonito pomoč, ne pa tudi za obstoječo pomoč.
Germany accepted the 2014 Guidelines on 31 July 2014.
Vendar bi bilo treba omejene dodatne dajatve EEG, tudi če bi pomenile državno pomoč (čemur nasprotujejo), šteti za obstoječo pomoč, saj jih je Komisija implicitno odobrila v zadevi NN 27/2000 [86].
None of the parties has argued that the Guidelines depart from the rules in the Treaty.
Četrtič, zainteresirane strani trdijo, da bi bilo treba smernice iz leta 2014, zlasti pravila glede načrtov prilagoditve iz oddelka 3.7.3, razlagati na način, ki bi ščitil legitimna pričakovanja upravičencev: povedano drugače, postopno prilagajanje bi moralo biti v letih 2013 in 2014 dovolj majhno, da bi se izključilo vračilo.
Interested parties have, however, contested the legality of point 248.
Takšna legitimna pričakovanja so po mnenju navedenih strani nastala na podlagi odločbe Komisije v zadevi NN 27/2000.
They consider that the application of the 2014 Guidelines to aid that was granted before 1 July 2014 contravenes several general principles of Union law, namely the principle of legal certainty and the principle of non-retroactivity of detrimental measures [79], as well as the principle that State aid should be assessed on the basis of the rules applicable when the aid scheme is introduced.
Ocena
The interested parties err, however, when they consider that the second paragraph of point 248 constitutes retroactive application.
Te trditve ne morejo spremeniti ocene v tem sklepu glede uporabe smernic iz leta 2014 iz uvodnih izjav 157 do 165.
According to the case-law, Union law differentiates between the immediate application of a new rule to future effects of an ongoing situation [80] and the retroactive application of the new rule to a situation that had become definitive prior to its entry into force (also referred to as an existing situation) [81].
Prvič, glede uporabe člena 107(3)(c) Pogodbe je v točki 10 smernic iz leta 2014 navedeno, da v zadevnih posebnih smernicah „Komisija […] opredeljuje pogoje, pod katerimi se lahko energetska in okoljska pomoč štejeta za združljivi z notranjim trgom na podlagi člena 107(3)(c) Pogodbe“.
In addition, it is settled case-law of the Union Courts that operators cannot acquire legitimate expectations until the institutions have adopted an act closing the administrative procedure, which has become definitive [82].
Po mnenju Sodišča lahko „Komisija […] za izvajanje svoje diskrecijske pravice določi usmeritve, in sicer z akti, kot so okviri, sporočila ali smernice, če ti akti vsebujejo okvirna pravila v zvezi z usmeritvami, ki jim mora slediti ta institucija, in če ne odstopajo od pravil iz Pogodbe“ [87].
As the Court has ruled, unlawful State aid constitutes an ongoing situation.
Smernice iz leta 2014 splošno in pregledno predhodno določajo pogoje združljivosti za izjemo iz člena 107(3)(c), zato mora Komisija navedene smernice uporabljati.
The rules governing the application of law in time dictate that the immediate application of new rules of compatibility to unlawful aid does not constitute a retroactive application of those new rules [83].
Ni možnosti za uporabo pravil o obdavčenju električne energije po analogiji, saj smernice iz leta 2014 vključujejo popoln sklop pravil za oceno znižanj dodatnih dajatev za energijo iz obnovljivih virov.
For those reasons, the Commission is required to assess the BesAR on the basis of the 2014 Guidelines.
Glede odstopanj iz člena 107(3)(b) Pogodbe smernice iz leta 2014 ne vključujejo nobenih meril glede tega, kako bo Komisija uveljavila svojo diskrecijsko pravico pri uporabi člena 107(3)(b).
It has no discretion to deviate from those Guidelines in its assessment.
Drži, da je Komisija sprejela sporočilo „Merila za analizo združljivosti državne pomoči za spodbujanje izvajanja pomembnih projektov skupnega evropskega interesa z notranjim trgom [88]“, ki se uporablja od 1. julija 2014.
As the Opening Decision was published in the Official Journal before 1 July 2014, the Commission has invited Germany and interested parties to submit their observations on the application of the 2014 Guidelines to the case at hand.
Vendar bo v skladu s točko 52 navedenega sporočila „Komisija v primeru nepriglašene pomoči uporabila to sporočilo, če je bila pomoč dodeljena po začetku njegove veljavnosti, v vseh drugih primerih pa pravila, veljavna v času, ko je bila pomoč dodeljena“.
Observations from Germany and from third parties
To pomeni, da meril iz sporočila ni mogoče uporabiti za znižanja dodatne dajatve, proučene v tem sklepu.
Several interested parties have argued that the 2014 Guidelines should not apply to the capped EEG-surcharges, but rather that the Commission should conduct a compatibility assessment on the basis of Article 107(3)(b) or (c) of the Treaty.
Namesto tega mora Komisija uporabiti pravila iz smernic iz leta 2008 [89].
First, those parties have submitted that the reductions in the EEG-surcharge could be found to be compatible with the internal market on the basis of Article 107(3)(b) of the Treaty, given that they promote the execution of an important project of common European interest (the promotion of renewable energy as required by Directive 2009/28/EC) or, failing this, that they are intended to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of Germany (the threat of deindustrialisation as a result of the RES costs).
Poleg tega je bilo nekoliko vprašljivo, ali bi se za tak projekt lahko štelo, da je „splošnega evropskega interesa“, tj. pri katerem bi se zagotovljena prednost prenesla na Unijo kot celoto.
The interested parties also argued that the reductions could be found to be compatible on the basis of Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty, on the grounds that they have the objective of promoting the development of renewable energy while preventing carbon leakage and preserving an industrial basis in the Union.
Bilo je tudi vprašljivo, ali bi zadevna pomoč, tj. znižanja dodatne dajatve EEG, „pomenila spodbudo za izvajanje projekta“ (uvodni izjavi 211 in 212 sklepa o začetku postopka).
In that respect, the interested parties concerned argue that the BesAR is the appropriate instrument for reconciling the different aspects of that multiple objective.
Navedeni pomisleki niso bili odpravljeni.
They also argue that the measure is proportionate on the grounds that electricity taxes and the EEG-surcharge are essentially similar (both being as charges on electricity consumption) and that the minimum rate of taxation on electricity consumed by businesses determined by the Union, as set out in Table C of Annex I to Council Directive 2003/96/EC [84], is 0,05 ct/kWh, that is to say the same as the minimum EEG-surcharge.
Nemčija navaja strategijo Komisije „Evropa 2020“, ki „spodbujanje bolj konkurenčnega in zelenega gospodarstva, ki gospodarneje izkorišča vire“ navaja kot prednostno nalogo [90].
Finally, interested parties argue that the EEG-Act 2012 does not distort competition or trade, since it does not fully counteract the distortion caused in the first place by the higher EEG-surcharge borne by German undertakings, compared to equivalent taxes or levies faced by undertakings in other Member States.
Vendar ne glede na to, kako pomembni so ti cilji politike, razvoja obnovljivih virov energije in spodbujanja konkurenčnosti ni mogoče dobesedno šteti za projekta.
On the application of Article 107(3)(b) and (c), comparable arguments were made by Germany in its reply to the Commission's Opening Decision.
To bi bilo v nasprotju s „potrebo po ozki razlagi odstopanj od splošnega načela, da je državna pomoč nezdružljiva s skupnim trgom“ [91].
Secondly, the interested parties contend that the Commission cannot examine the reductions separately under a distinct legal basis for compatibility than the one that was used for examining the support for EEG electricity.
Kot je Splošno sodišče pojasnilo v zadevi Hotel Cipriani, je pomembneje, da „se lahko za ukrep pomoči uporabi izjema na podlagi člena [107(3)(b) Pogodbe], če ne daje prednosti predvsem gospodarskim subjektom ene države članice, ampak Skupnosti kot celoti“.
Rather the Commission should have assessed (and approved) the reductions, being part of the financing, jointly with the renewable energy support in the Opening Decision.
Navedeno merilo ni izpolnjeno, če je nacionalni program pomoči namenjen zlasti izboljšanju konkurenčnosti zadevnih podjetij [92].
This is explained with reference to the case-law of the Court according to which the Commission must take into account the method of financing of the aid in a case where that method forms an integral part of the measure [85].
Dejansko naj bi posebno pravilo o nadomestilih le olajšalo stroškovno breme energetsko intenzivnih podjetij v Nemčiji in s tem izboljšalo njihovo konkurenčnost.
However, even if the capped EEG-surcharges were to constitute State aid (which is disputed), they would need to be considered existing aid due to their implicit approval by the Commission in case NN 27/2000 [86].
Zato Komisija ni mogla odobriti posebnega pravila o nadomestilih v skladu s členom 107(3)(b) Pogodbe.
Fourthly, the interested parties claim that the 2014 Guidelines, in particular the rules concerning adjustment plans in Section 3.7.3, should be interpreted in a manner that would safeguard the beneficiaries' legitimate expectations: in other words, the progressive adjustment should be sufficiently small in the years 2013 and 2014 as to exclude recovery.
Drugič, glede trditve, povzete v uvodni izjavi 170, se pomoč, dodeljena energetsko intenzivnim podjetjem prek znižanih dodatnih dajatev EEG, očitno razlikuje in loči od podpore za energijo iz obnovljivih virov.
Such legitimate expectations have arisen, according to those parties, from the Commission decision in case NN 27/2000.
Upravičenci do prve in druge pomoči sta dve različni skupini.
Assessment
Poleg tega znižanja niso takoj namenjena financiranju podpore za energijo iz obnovljivih virov, ampak so nasprotno usmerjena proti temu, saj je njihov takojšnji učinek znižanje prihodka, ki je na voljo za financiranje energije iz obnovljivih virov.
These arguments cannot alter the assessment in this Decision the applicability of the 2014 Guidelines presented in recitals 157 to 165.
To dokazuje dejstvo, da je bilo treba dodatno dajatev EEG, da bi se ohranilo financiranje, za vse druge neprivilegirane uporabnike zvišati.