natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
France also believes that the journey time between two airports is not the only variable to be considered when determining the catchment area, because account must also be taken of the cost of the journey, which is a very important variable for the low-cost traffic predominating at Nîmes airport (see the table prepared by France in this recital).
Položaj gospodarskih zbornic se torej razlikuje od položaja „običajnih“ javnih podjetij, v zvezi s katerimi je Sodišče v sodbi v zadevi Stardust Marine navedlo: „Čeprav lahko država nadzira neko javno podjetje in ima prevladujoč vpliv na njegovo poslovanje, ni mogoče samodejno sklepati, da se tak nadzor v konkretnem primeru dejansko izvaja.
Distance (in kilometres)
Javno podjetje lahko deluje z večjo ali manjšo neodvisnostjo, glede na stopnjo avtonomije, ki mu jo prepušča država. […] Zato golo dejstvo, da je javno podjetje pod državnim nadzorom, ne zadošča, da bi se ukrepi tega podjetja, kakršni so obravnavani ukrepi finančne podpore, pripisali državi.
Journey time by car
Treba je še preučiti, ali je treba javne organe obravnavati, kot da so tako ali drugače vpleteni v sprejemanje teh ukrepov.“
Cost of return journey
V primeru ukrepa javnega podjetja, ki je bilo ustanovljeno predvsem za opravljanje gospodarske dejavnosti, je namreč treba ugotoviti, ali so javni organi, ki nadzorujejo to podjetje, na primer zaradi kapitalskega deleža, ki ga imajo v tem podjetju, sodelovali pri sprejetju zadevnega ukrepa.
EUR 19
Položaj gospodarske zbornice je drugačen, saj je tak subjekt del javne uprave ali „posredniški državni organ“ in torej javni organ, ustanovljen z zakonom za izpolnitev splošnih interesov.
EUR 38
Da se torej določi, ali je odločitev gospodarske zbornice mogoče pripisati državi (v širokem pomenu na podlagi sodne prakse o državnih pomočeh), zato ni treba ugotoviti, ali je drug javni organ (na primer država v strogem pomenu ali lokalni organ) sodeloval pri sprejetju zadevne odločitve.
EUR 36
V resnici taka odločitev nujno izpolnjuje merilo pripisa odgovornosti.
As regards Marseille airport, France considers that the cost of a return journey to the airport and the journey time (in excess of 60 minutes) are sufficient reasons for Marseille airport to be excluded from the catchment area of Nîmes airport or, at the very least, for the overlap between the activities of these two airports to be very limited, particularly with regard to the low-cost offer at Nîmes.
Komisija je v preteklosti uporabila ta pristop v svoji praksi odločanja.
Furthermore, France asserts that Nîmes airport is a Category D airport according to the 2005 Guidelines and that, in accordance with the Commission’s decision-making practice, it cannot be regarded as a competitor to Marseille airport, given that the latter sees annual traffic of over 7 million passengers.
Komisija je tako v zvezi z gospodarsko zbornico departmaja Var navedla, da „zbornica zaradi svojega položaja javnega organa v skladu s francoskim pravom svojo dejavnost opravlja na določenem geografskem območju, upravljajo jo izvoljeni člani in pobira davke, ki jih plačajo podjetja, vpisana v poslovni register, zato spada v kategorijo ‚javnih oblasti‘ v smislu Direktive Komisije 2000/52/ES.
As regards Avignon airport, France asserts that the return cost of EUR 40 is regarded as a negative factor by low-cost passengers.
Ta analiza velja tudi za zbornico v obravnavani zadevi.
In addition, there is no overlap between the activities of Avignon airport and those of Nîmes airport because the destinations served from Avignon are different.
Upravljavci so v zvezi z možnostjo, da se državi pripišejo pogodbe, na katere se nanaša formalni postopek preiskave in ki jih je sklenila zbornica, trdili, da bi morala Komisija v konkretnem primeru dokazati vpletenost države (v strogem pomenu) v zadevne ukrepe.
France maintains that this argument is supported by a 2011 passenger survey, which allegedly highlighted the low ranking of Avignon airport among the other airports in the region (2,55 % of passengers from other airports in the region).
Poleg tega nadzor, ki ga izvaja država (v strogem pomenu) nad zbornico, po navedbah upravljavcev ni zadosten, da bi ji bilo mogoče pripisati odločitve za sklenitev zadevnih pogodb.
As regards Montpellier airport, France considers that the two airports are not in the same catchment area given that (i) the Ryanair routes from Montpellier airport meet a tourist demand that is situated more to the west than to the east of the airport; and (ii) that Nîmes airport covers a different catchment area from part of Montpellier airport’s catchment area (in particular the Cévennes, Uzège and the northeast of Gard/south of the Ardèche in the Rhône valley).
Ob upoštevanju zgoraj navedenega ta trditev ne vzdrži, saj je sama zbornica javni organ, katerega odločitve je vsekakor mogoče pripisati državi v smislu sodne prakse o državnih pomočeh, ne glede na vlogo, ki jo imajo drugi javni organi pri njenem odločanju, zlasti država v strogem pomenu.
Furthermore, France takes the view that the lack of overlap between the activities is confirmed by two facts, namely (i) the Brussels-Charleroi route operated from both airports allegedly shows that these are not substitutes as far as their users are concerned; and (ii) the traffic at Montpellier airport is clearly higher than that at Nîmes airport.
Pripombe družbe Ryanair v zvezi s tem so vsebinsko podobne pripombam zbornice.
In conclusion, France asserts that Nîmes airport is a Category D airport according to the 2005 Guidelines and that it has a specific catchment area that differs from those of Montpellier, Avignon and Marseille airports.
Družba Ryanair je izpodbijala možnost, da se državi pripišejo različni zadevni ukrepi, pri čemer je trdila, da država (v strogem pomenu) ne vpliva na odločitve gospodarskih zbornic, temveč naj bi imela samo nadzorno vlogo, za ukrepe, kakršne so zadevne pogodbe, pa naj ne bi bila potrebna njena odobritev.
As a result, public financing granted to the Nîmes airport operator is unlikely to affect competition.
Družba Ryanair se je sklicevala tudi na mnenje Conseil d’État, da bi dokazala, da so gospodarske zbornice neodvisne od države v strogem pomenu.
Compatibility with the internal market
Družba Ryanair je poleg tega navedla, da vsa sredstva gospodarskih zbornic ne izvirajo iz davkov, temveč deloma iz prihodkov iz njihovih gospodarskih dejavnosti, kakršna je upravljanje letališč.
In any event, France indicates that the measures were compatible with the internal market as all the financing was granted for infrastructure that was entirely used to provide a service of general economic interest, given the following:
Tudi ta trditev je brezpredmetna.
During the CCI operating period to February 2006: France considers that its national legislation confers general interest tasks on the chambers of commerce, such as economic development and improvement of the region’s attractiveness.
Številni javni organi so namreč v istem položaju, saj opravljajo gospodarske dejavnosti, in sicer neposredno ali prek organov, ki jih nadzirajo (na primer posojilne dejavnosti ali dejavnosti zagotavljanja poštnih ali prevoznih storitev) in za svoje financiranje uporabljajo iz njih izvirajoče prihodke.
The obligation to ensure the continued operation of Nîmes airport stems from this framework.
To, da kateri koli subjekt opravlja gospodarske dejavnosti, torej ne more posegati v njegov status javnega organa.
In addition, France indicates that the criterion according to which compensation must not exceed the costs necessary to perform public service missions was met given that (i) in its view, the compensation was limited to the SGEI costs stipulated in the Circular laying down the financial rules applicable to the CCI’s operation; (ii) the CCI had a separate account for the airport’s operation and (iii) its accounts were regularly checked by the competent authorities.During the CCI operating period from 1 February 2006 to 31 December 2006: in France’s view, the aid was compatible given that (i) the delegation conditions were clearly defined by the delegation agreement of 1 February 2006; (ii) the delegatee was only authorised to receive subsidies corresponding to the level of expenditure incurred in operating the airport; (iii) the accounts were managed separately; and (iv) checks existed as the competent authorities could request a financial audit at any time.
Nasprotno, kot je navedeno v uvodni izjavi 261, to, da se subjekt vsaj delno financira iz obveznih prispevkov, dokazuje, da je treba ta subjekt obravnavati kot javni organ.
During the Veolia operating period: France refers to its previous analysis on the application of the Altmark criteria.
Brezpredmetna je tudi trditev zbornice, da letališče Nîmes upravlja „v skladu z merilom zasebnega vlagatelja v smislu veljavne sodne prakse“, saj je zadevne ukrepe sprejel javni organ, zato so nujno pripisljivi državi.
Compatibility of the infrastructure aid with the criteria of the 2005 Guidelines
Na koncu lahko ugotovimo, da je mogoče različne pogodbe, ki jih je sklenila zbornica in so zajete v tej preučitvi, pripisati državi in da vključujejo uporabo državnih sredstev.
In any event, France considers that the financing of the investments complied with the 2005 Guidelines for the reasons set out above, in particular, (i) the measures met a clearly defined objective of general interest; (ii) the investments made were proportional to ensure optimum use of the infrastructure; (iii) there was a satisfactory prospect of medium-term passenger flows; (iv) the rates agreed with Ryanair could have been applied to any other airline making similar commitments to Ryanair; (v) there was no effect on trade; and (vi) the investments were essential to ensure the airport’s survival.
Obdobje upravljanja družbe VTAN (2007–2011)
Clarifications on the operational financing
Različne pogodbe, zajete v formalnem postopku preiskave in sklenjene od leta 2007, je sklenila družba VTAN.
France makes clear that the granting of repayable advances without interest charges cannot be treated as subsidies for the purpose of analysing their compatibility with the State aid rules.
Ta je s premoženjskega vidika hčerinska družba skupine z zasebnim kapitalom.
In this regard, France states that these advances were initially intended to be repaid and that these sums were actually partly repaid.
To okoliščino so zlasti poudarile nekatere tretje strani, da bi zanikale vključenost državnih sredstev v različne pogodbe ter pripisljivost teh ukrepov državi.
France notes that the amount not repaid on the date of the opening decision has been left pending delivery of the judgment.
To trditev bi bilo morda mogoče sprejeti v običajni koncesijski shemi, v kateri lastnik, ki podeli koncesijo, svoja sredstva za ustrezno plačilo da na voljo koncesionarju, ne da bi kakor koli posegal v poslovno politiko koncesionarja in ne da bi financiral njegovo poslovanje.
France points out that certain advances cannot be analysed by the Commission because, in its view, the investigation is time-barred.
Vendar v obravnavanem primeru ni mogoče uporabiti takega vzorca.
As regards the other advances, it states that these involved compensation for the costs associated with an SGEI and were therefore compatible with the internal market.
Iz nekaterih razlogov, podrobno obrazloženih v naslednjih uvodnih izjavah, je namreč razvidno, da ravnanja družbe VTAN v razmerju do družb Ryanair in AMS ni treba obravnavati ločeno od ravnanja sindikata, to je skupine javnih organov, ki delujejo kot organ, ki podeljuje koncesijo v okviru odobritve in izvajanja prenosa pooblastil za opravljanje javnih storitev.
MEASURE 2: ASSESSMENT OF THE AID POTENTIALLY GRANTED TO RYANAIR
Po eni strani je namreč na poslovno politiko družbe VTAN v razmerju do družb Ryanair in AMS precej vplival okvir, ki ga je določil sindikat in zaradi katerega se je družba VTAN oddaljila od običajnega ravnanja upravljavca letališča, ki svobodno določa svojo poslovno politiko in ga motivirajo obeti za dobiček.
France takes the view that the Commission’s approach of jointly examining the financial flows involved in the airport services agreements and marketing services agreements is fair.
Po drugi strani je financiranje upravljanja letališča – in s tem prednosti, omogočene družbama Ryanair in AMS, katerih obstoj bo dokazan v nadaljevanju – zagotovljeno z državnimi sredstvi, ki jih dodeli sindikat.
France has submitted the CCI’s draft development incentive plan drawn up in 2005 and stresses that this was not ultimately adopted because it was not sufficient to convince airlines to operate from the airport.
V zvezi z vplivom sindikata na poslovno politiko družbe VTAN v razmerju do družb Ryanair in AMS je treba najprej pripomniti, da je družbi VTAN s SPOJS dodeljeno pooblastilo ne le za upravljanje letališča, temveč tudi za „razvoj prometa“.
France also indicates that no regional or local authority agreed to participate in financing the plan.
Navedene določbe ne gre prezreti.
France considers that, although certain subsidies were granted towards the airport’s operation, no aid was granted to help finance the agreements with Ryanair/AMS.
Francija in upravljavci so namreč priznali, da je bila družbi VTAN s SPOJS dodeljena naloga „gospodarskega in turističnega razvoja območja“, ki „za kar sta potrebna (i) povečanje pretoka potnikov, s katerim se ustvarjajo prihodki in zaposlitve za regionalno gospodarstvo, […] in (ii) razvoj območja dejavnosti okoli letališča“.
France also notes that the charges offered to Ryanair were applied to all the airlines operating from the airport.
SPOJS tako omejuje poslovno politiko družbe VTAN v razmerju do letalskih prevoznikov in nanjo vpliva, toliko bolj, ker razvoj prometa sam po sebi ni končni cilj zasebnega upravljavca letališča, ki povsem svobodno določa svojo poslovno politiko.
France believes that, when calculating the profitability of a contractual relationship between an airline and the operator of an airport of the size of Nîmes, given the general interest tasks to be performed, the Commission should include only the variable costs attributable to that airline, thereby excluding the fixed costs and the costs associated with performing public service activities.
Cilj takega upravljavca je namreč čim bolj povečati svoj dobiček.
On the income side, France indicates that the analysis should also include the non-aeronautical revenue generated.
Prizadevanje za čim večji dobiček pa ni v vseh okoliščinah združljivo z razvojem prometa.
France also underlines that the payments made to AMS cannot be recorded as net losses in the income statement attributable to Ryanair because part of this expenditure is closely associated with carrying out the activities covered by the CDSP, in particular the economic and tourism development of the region.
Zahteve letalskih prevoznikov, ki bi lahko uporabljali letališče, so tako v nekaterih okoliščinah takšne, da bi se lahko s sklenitvijo pogodb z njimi zmanjšala donosnost za upravljavca letališča.
France also makes clear that, at the time when the agreement was signed with Ryanair, Veolia was regarded as a new entrant to the market.
V takih okoliščinah bi se zasebni upravljavec, ki povsem svobodno določa svojo poslovno politiko, raje odrekel sklenitvi takih pogodb in z njimi povezanemu prometu, kot pa da bi zmanjšal svoj dobiček.
As a result, Veolia felt obliged to ensure Ryanair’s presence at the airport in order to develop its activities.
Nasprotno pa bi bil upravljavec, ki je zavezan cilju razvoja prometa, pripravljen skleniti take pogodbe, zlasti če bi od lastnika, ki podeli koncesijo, prejel subvencijo, ki bi zagotovila finančno ravnotežje pri upravljanju z razumno stopnjo dobička.
COMMENTS FROM FRANCE ON THE COMMENTS SUBMITTED BY INTERESTED THIRD PARTIES FOLLOWING THE OPENING OF THE FORMAL INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE
Če bi družba VTAN sprejela tako odločitev, bi to bilo v čistem nasprotju s ciljem razvoja prometa, ki mu je zavezana na podlagi SPOJS.
France did not respond to the comments submitted by interested third parties following the opening of the formal investigation procedure.
Sindikat je tako prek SPOJS vplival na ravnanje družbe VTAN v razmerju do družb Ryanair in AMS.
COMMENTS FROM FRANCE ON THE APPLICATION OF THE NEW GUIDELINES TO THIS CASE
V zvezi s tem je treba upoštevati ne samo SPOJS, ampak tudi razpisni postopek, na podlagi katerega je bilo upravljanje letališča dodeljeno družbi Veolia Transport.
France notes that the new Guidelines are more flexible on operating aid than the previous guidelines.
Tako je bilo v obvestilu o objavi razpisa sindikata navedeno, da je bil eden od ciljev prenosa pooblastil „zagotoviti promocijo letališča z razvojem prometa, storitev in območja dejavnosti“.
According to France, their retroactive application to all aid will therefore mean that previous situations at certain airports will be treated less punitively.
Poleg tega je bilo v njem pojasnjeno, da je bilo eno od meril za izbiro ponudb „politika tržnega razvoja“.
France notes, however, that investment aid will be assessed more harshly than before under the new Guidelines as these lay down maximum aid intensities authorised according to the size of the airport.
Zainteresirana podjetja so bila torej jasno pozvana, naj se v svoji ponudbi zavežejo izvajanju dejavne politike razvoja prometa.
ASSESSMENT OF THE MEASURES
Družba Veolia Transport si je torej v različnih dokumentih, ki jih je poslala sindikatu v okviru razpisnega postopka, očitno prizadevala oblikovati ponudbo v skladu s ciljem razvoja prometa, ki ga je določil sindikat.
MEASURES GRANTED TO RYANAIR/AMS
Družba Veolia Transport navaja zlasti, da „podpira prizadevanja lokalnega organa za povečanje pogostosti letov na njegovih mrežah in prometnih vozliščih ter koristi od tega“, in poudarja svoje uspehe s povečanjem pogostosti letov pri drugih prometnih strukturah, ki jih upravlja.
As a reminder, the various measures granted to airlines that are examined in this decision are the agreements referred to in recitals 79 to 102 .
Družba Veolia Transport dodaja, da „deluje kot dejanski akter lokalnega razvoja“ in da v dogovoru z navedenim organom daje prednost več ciljem, ki vključujejo „krepitev pomena dediščine in regije“.
EXISTENCE OF AID WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 107(1) TFEU
Družba Veolia Transport je v navedenih dokumentih poleg tega izrazila željo „po pritegnitvi veliko dodatnih letal in potnikov“ in po tem, da letališče postane „vodilni akter lokalnega in regionalnega gospodarstva“, pri čemer se zaveda, da „dinamika zračnega prometa spodbuja in podpira gospodarsko dejavnost regije, s tem ko ustvarja približno sto neposrednih in posrednih delovnih mest ter lokalnemu gospodarstvu, zlasti v turistični panogi, prispeva približno 70 milijonov EUR letno“.
Under Article 107(1) TFEU, 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 Treaty.
Družba Veolia Transport je tako predložila načrt trženja, da bi „utrdila in okrepila gospodarsko območje letališča z razvojem njegovega prometa, kar je nepogrešljiv pogoj za ohranitev in povečanje števila delovnih mest ter za prispevek h gospodarstvu na območju delovanja navedenega organa, pa tudi z razvojem povezanih dejavnosti, ki so bistvenega pomena za regijo, naj gre za turizem ali za razvoj nepremičninske, industrijske in terciarne dejavnosti“.
For a measure to constitute State aid, the following conditions must be met: (1) the measure in question is financed through state resources and is imputable to the state; (2) the measure confers an economic advantage; (3) the advantage conferred is selective; (4) the measure in question distorts or threatens to distort competition and may affect trade between Member States.
Ta načrt temelji zlasti na teh glavnih usmeritvah: (i) okrepitev dejavnosti družbe Ryanair in njen razvoj z uvedbo pete rute, (ii) pritegnitev drugih prevoznikov s sistematičnim in ciljnim pridobivanjem prevoznikov, ki bi lahko opravljali lete z navedenega letališča, ter privlačno politiko brezplačnega sprejemanja novih prevoznikov.
State resources and imputability
Družba Veolia Transport je v tem okviru številčno navedla cilje v zvezi z rastjo prometa.
CCI operating period (2000-2006)
Družba Veolia Transport poleg tega navaja: „Nazadnje znova potrjujemo svojo željo, da se upravljanje in promocija letališča zagotovita v partnerstvu z mešanim sindikatom, da se tako poveča gospodarski in turistični učinek letališča na regijo“.
The various agreements with Ryanair and AMS that are subject to the formal investigation procedure and that were signed before 31 December 2006 were signed between the airlines, on the one hand, and the CCI, on the other hand.
Jasno je torej, da so na odgovor družbe Veolia Transport na razpis vplivali cilj razvoja prometa, ki ga je določil sindikat, in splošneje cilji lokalnega gospodarskega razvoja, za katere si prizadeva sindikat, ki jih družba Veolia Transport ni mogla prezreti in s katerimi se je ob pripravi svoje ponudbe celo strinjala.
Chambers of commerce and industry are public bodies under French law.
Razvoj prometa, okrepitev dejavnosti družbe Ryanair in njen razvoj, cilji, ki jih je družba Veolia Transport navedla v svoji ponudbi, neposredno izhajajo iz ciljev sindikata.
Under Article L.710-1 of the Commercial Code, ‘Departmental bodies or chambers that are members of the network of chambers of commerce and industry shall each, in their capacity as intermediate state authorities, function as representatives of the interests of industry, commerce and services before public or foreign authorities.
Če bi namreč sindikatu zadostovala izbira upravljavca, ne da bi določil cilj razvoja prometa, se družbi Veolia Transport nikakor ne bi bilo treba zavezati k takemu cilju ali k okrepitvi dejavnosti družbe Ryanair in njenemu razvoju.
They shall act as the interface between the various stakeholders concerned and shall carry out their activities without prejudice to the representation tasks conferred on professional or interprofessional organisations by the laws and regulations in force or to the tasks carried out by local and regional authorities within the context of their administrative freedom.
Zadostovalo bi ji, da bi ponudila najnižji možni znesek pavšalnega prispevka v potrebni višini, ki bi ji zagotovil razumen dobiček, tako da bi dobila koncesijo.
The network and each member departmental body or chamber shall contribute to the economic development, attractiveness and spatial planning of the regions, and shall also support businesses and their associations by fulfilling, under the conditions laid down by decree, any public service mission and any general interest task necessary for the fulfilment of such missions.’
Vendar v razpisnem postopku, kakršen je obravnavani, končno izbranega ponudnika njegova ponudba nujno zavezuje za celotno trajanje koncesije.
Article L.170-1 of the Commercial Code also stipulates: ‘To this end, each departmental body or chamber in the network may undertake, in accordance with the applicable sectoral plans, where appropriate:
To velja s pravnega in drugih vidikov.
general interest tasks conferred on it by laws and regulations;
Podjetje, ki bi v odgovoru na razpis, ki ga je izvedel lokalni organ, opredelilo cilje in zaveze, nato pa bi delovalo v nasprotju s temi cilji in zavezami, bi tvegalo izgubo ugleda pri javnih organih.
support, mentoring, liaison and advisory tasks with those starting up or taking over businesses and with businesses in general, in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations on competition law;
Podjetje, kakršno je družba Veolia Transport, ki se je poskušala leta 2007 uveljaviti na trgu upravljanja letališč, se ne bi spustilo v tako tveganje.