natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
In the context of the recovery procedure, the Belgian authorities may, on the basis of an opinion of an independent and authorised expert to be approved by the Commission, provide proof that corrections to this amount are necessary in order to take into account the specific features of the assets in question.
Ker je torej ukrep 3 nezdružljiva pomoč za reševanje, dodeljena leta 2008 pred prevzemom družbe CVSL, je treba ugotoviti, ali obstaja gospodarska kontinuiteta med družbo CVSL v stečaju in dejavnostmi, prenesenimi na kupce, ki so sestavljali družbo VSL, da bi določili, ali je VSL imela ugodnosti, povezane z odobritvijo navedenega ukrepa.
Effect on competition and trade between Member States
Določitev obstoja gospodarske kontinuitete med družbama CVSL in VSL
With regard to conditions relating to the effect on competition and trade between Member States, the Commission observes that the European Union has numerous producers of crystal and crystal items, and that these items are used as functional accessories or, more usually, as decorative or luxury objects.
Komisija se je v sklepu o začetku postopka spraševala, ali je mogoče ugotoviti gospodarsko kontinuiteto med družbama CVSL in VSL, z drugimi besedami, ali so bile ugodnosti, izhajajoče iz odobritve poroštva v višini 150000 EUR septembra 2008, prenesene na kupce družbe CVSL, ki so ustanovili družbo VSL.
According to the information provided by Belgium, the following companies, for example, have a range of products that is at least in part similar to that of VSL: Baccarat (France), Saint-Louis (France), Lalique (France), Daum (France), Arc International (France), Montbronn (France) and the Bohemian Glassworks (Czech Republic).
Od ugotovitev na podlagi te analize sta odvisna ugotovitev subjekta, ki bo moral vrniti morebitne nezdružljive nezakonite pomoči, in analiza združljivosti ukrepa 1, zlasti kar zadeva načelo enkratne pomoči.
The Commission notes that the goods produced by these companies and other market players are traded between Member States.
V zvezi s tem belgijski organi menijo, da je navedeni ukrep koristil družbi CVSL in ne družbi VSL ter da je bila gospodarska kontinuiteta med družbo CVSL in kupci prekinjena.
In relation more specifically to Measure 3 (guarantee of EUR 150000) and Measure 5 (loan of EUR 1,5 million), even though the amount of aid cannot be calculated precisely due to the absence of certain information, it is below the threshold for de minimis aid.
V skladu s sodno prakso je mogoče obveznost vračila razširiti na novo podjetje, na katero je zadevno podjetje preneslo svoja sredstva, če ta prenos kaže na gospodarsko kontinuiteto med podjetjema [23].
However, the Commission considers that this measure cannot be classified as de minimis aid and that it does affect competition and trade between Member States.
Ni namreč mogoče izključiti, da se obveznost vračila razširi na drug subjekt, če bi se ugotovilo, da ima ta dejansko korist od zadevnih pomoči zaradi gospodarske kontinuitete med subjektoma.
The measures granted in 2008 and 2009 cannot be classified as de minimis aid because, under the previous Regulation in force until 31 December 2013 [20], this type of aid could not be granted to firms in difficulty.
V skladu s sodbo Sodišča z dne 8. maja 2003 v združenih zadevah Italija proti Komisiji, C-328/99 in C-399/00 [24], se pregled gospodarske kontinuitete med nekdanjim podjetjem in novimi strukturami opravi na podlagi tega sklopa indicev: zlasti predmeta prodaje (sredstva in obveznosti, kontinuiteta delovne sile, sredstva v paketu), cene prenosa, identitete delničarjev ali lastnikov novega podjetja, časa prenosa (po začetku pregleda, začetku formalnega postopka preiskave ali končni odločitvi) pa tudi ekonomske logike transakcije.
CVSL was in bankruptcy proceedings at the time the guarantee was granted.
Presoja merila predmeta prodaje (sredstva in obveznosti, kontinuiteta delovne sile, sredstva v paketu)
Moreover, the new Regulation that came into effect on 1 January 2014 [21], like the previous Regulation applies only to aid measures which are transparent.
Belgijski organi so najprej navedli, da so bila sredstva, povezana z družbo CVSL, razdeljena med različne subjekte (matično družbo VSLI, družbo SARL VSLI v Franciji in družbo CVSL).
The guarantee in question cannot, however, be considered as such.
Stečajni upravitelji so zaradi lažje izvedbe prevzema 23. oktobra 2008 sklenili pogodbo o prenosu, katere namen je z družbe v stečaju prenesti sredstva, razdeljena med navedene različne družbe.
As already stated above, CVSL was in bankruptcy proceedings at the time the guarantee was granted.
Prenesen je tudi del nekdanjih sredstev družbe VSLI, to so znamke in modeli ter druge vrste intelektualne lastnine (elementi, navedeni v pogodbi, sklenjeni 5. oktobra 2005, pa tudi načrti, modeli, skice …), zazidane in nezazidane nepremičnine, ki jih je imela družba VSLI v Seraingu (showroom), ter zaloge na prodajnih mestih v Seraingu in Bruslju (Sablon).
With regard to the loan, Article 4(3)(a) and (b) states that ‘Aid comprised in loans shall be considered as transparent de minimis aid if the beneficiary is not subject to collective insolvency proceedings … and if the loan is secured by collateral covering at least 50 % of the loan and the loan amounts to either EUR 1000000 … over five years or EUR 500000 … over 10 years’.
Na družbo VSL je v celoti preneseno tudi lastništvo proizvodnih orodij (rezalni stroj, peč in sprednji del peči), najetih v obliki lizinga.
The latter condition was not met by the loan in this case.
Nazadnje je družba VSL prevzela tudi sredstva v višini 280000 EUR, s tem ko je družba CFV prenesla intelektualne pravice družbe CVSL.
Moreover, the Commission considers that the notion of State aid does not require the distortion of competition or the effect on trade to be significant or actual.
Dogovorjeni znesek 280000 EUR ni bil poravnan.
The fact that the amount of aid is low or that the beneficiary company is of modest size does not, in itself, rule out a distortion of competition or a threat of distortion of competition provided, however, that the probability of such distortion is not purely hypothetical.
Prevzem sredstev družbe CVSL je sodno potrdilo Tribunal de commerce de Liège 20. oktobra 2009.
In this case, given the nature of the market described in recital 124 above, this probability is not hypothetical.
Komisija glede na navedena dejstva v zvezi s predmetom prodaje ugotavlja naslednje: prevzem se nanaša na skoraj vsa sredstva družbe CVSL (vključno z naročili, ki so v postopku izvedbe), na vse pogodbe o delu in zaposlitvi, ki jih je sklenilo podjetje v stečaju in so veljale 30. septembra 2008, ter na uporabo znamk in intelektualnih pravic.
According to the Belgian authorities, there are some 40 active crystal works in and outside Europe.
Komisija zato poudarja, da je bil obseg prevzetih dejavnosti enak obsegu dejavnosti družbe CVSL in da navedeni obseg prevzema celo presega obseg njene dejavnosti ter vključuje sredstva družbe VSLI, potrebna za nadaljevanje dejavnosti tovarne kristala.
Val Saint-Lambert is active on the crystal market in the area of tableware or decoration.
Presoja cene prenosa
From the moment a consumer has a choice between several similar products, a VSL decanter or a decanter from another factory for example, of different brands, any aid received by one of the producers present in this segment leads to a distortion of competition among the others.
Za ugotovitev, ali po prodaji sredstev družbe CVSL obstaja gospodarska kontinuiteta, je treba še preučiti, ali je bila ta prodaja izvedena po tržni ceni.
The Commission concludes that all the measures under investigation, with the exception of Measure 7, constitute aid that is likely to affect competition and trade between Member States.
Ta pogoj se brez razlike uporablja za opredmetena in neopredmetena sredstva.
Conclusion with regard to the presence of aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the TFEU
Belgijski organi so navedli, da je v belgijskem stečajnem pravu odločilno merilo za unovčenje sredstev interes upnikov.
The Commission concludes that all the measures under investigation, with the exception of Measure 7 and the sale of VSL's buildings to SPAQuE (part of Measure 8), constitute aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the TFEU.
V skladu s členom 75(3) zakona o stečaju lahko upniki ali stečajniki nasprotujejo nekaterim unovčenjem sredstev, če menijo, da bi lahko nameravano unovčenje posegalo v njihov položaj.
Compatibility of the aid with the internal market
Belgijski organi so navedli, da je odobritev državnega poroštva v višini 150000 EUR izhajala prav iz želje po ohranitvi neprekinjenega poslovanja in uspešni izvedbi prenosa sredstev.
The prohibition on State aid laid down in Article 107(1) TFEU is neither absolute nor unconditional.
Komisija ugotavlja, da so bila sredstva družbe CVSL prodana po odprtem postopku, ki ga je vodil stečajni upravitelj navedene družbe v likvidaciji.
In particular, paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 107 of the TFEU constitute legal bases enabling some aid measures to be considered compatible with the internal market.
Stečajnim upraviteljem je bilo predloženih 36 ponudb, pri čemer so jih na koncu prve faze sprejeli 12.
In this case, the measures under investigation must be analysed to establish whether they could be considered compatible on the basis of Article 107(3) TFEU, in application of the criteria indicated in the Rescue and Restructuring Guidelines.
Vzpostavljena je bila podatkovna soba, v kateri so bile zbrane informacije o družbi CVSL.
To this end, the periods during which CVSL and VSL can be considered undertakings in difficulty should first be determined.
Na videz se je objava nanašala na vsa sredstva, ne da bi bile pred tem opredeljene skupine sredstev.
Moreover, for Measure 3, granted in September 2008, it is also necessary to establish whether there was economic continuity between the bankrupt CVSL and the activities sold to the buyers, who established VSL, in order to ascertain whether VSL benefited from advantages related to the granting of this measure.
Komisija ugotavlja, da je navedeni postopek a priori omogočal zvišanje prodajne cene vseh sredstev družbe CVSL.
The conclusions of this analysis have consequences for the analysis of the compatibility of Measures 3 and 1.
Vendar dve okoliščini navajata Komisijo k mnenju, da navedeni postopek sam po sebi ne zadostuje za zagotovitev, da cena sredstev, ki so jo ponudili kupci, ustreza tržni ceni.
Eligibility of VSL and CVSL under the Guidelines
Prodaja sredstev družbe CVSL je bila pogojena s prevzemom vseh delovnih pogodb.
The periods during which CVSL and VSL could be considered undertakings in difficulty must be determined.
Iz tega je razvidno, da navedena prodaja ni bila brezpogojna in da se je lahko zaradi navedene obveznosti prodajna cena znižala.
In their comments, the Belgian authorities do not contest that CVSL was an undertaking in difficulty when the guarantee was granted in September 2008 (Measure 3) but, according to them, this intervention benefited CVSL and not VSL.
Nazadnje tudi za izključno licenco v zvezi z uporabo znamk veljajo pogoji, ki jih zasebni tržni udeleženec ne bi zahteval.
Moreover, they consider that VSL can be classified as an undertaking in difficulty only after 8 February 2012, the date on which the request for judicial reorganisation was filed.
Regija Valonija je od družbe VSL v zameno zahtevala plačilo, navedeno v pogodbi o prenovitvi z dne 29. januarja 2009 med regijo Valonija (ki jo zastopa družba CFV) in družbo VSL: „Regija Valonija lahko to licenco za uporabo kadar koli samodejno in brez predhodnega opozorila prekliče, če se družba VSL (ali njeni pravni nasledniki) ne bi izkazala z industrijsko proizvodnjo kristalnih izdelkov z visoko dodano vrednostjo na območju Val Saint-Lambert v Seraingu, in ob tem ohranila najmanj 60-odstotno zaposlenost v ekvivalentu polnega delovnega časa ob izvzetju odpusta iz ekonomskih razlogov na datum stečaja družbe CVSL […]“.
Prior to this, VSL could not be classified as an undertaking in difficulty, according to them, because it was a newly created company and was benefiting from the unconditional support of its majority shareholder, namely CFC, in accordance with points 10 and 11 of the Rescue and Restructuring Guidelines and the Commission's decision-making practice.
Komisija ugotavlja, da regija Valonija družbi VSL v zameno za podelitev izključne licence nalaga obveznost ohranjanja proizvodnje na območju Serainga in obveznost ohranjanja a priori določene ravni zaposlenosti.
With regard to Measures 5, 6 and 8, the Belgian authorities refer to the Saab decision [22] to justify that VSL was not in difficulty.
Komisija glede na vsa navedena dejstva meni, da merilo cene prenosa ni izpolnjeno.
Since 25 May 2009, in addition to the capital transferred at the time of the takeover, CFC has injected more than EUR 8 million into the company, demonstrating that VSL could not be considered — in the initial period following the liquidation of CVSL's assets — an undertaking in difficulty on the basis of points 12 and 13 of the Rescue and Restructuring Guidelines.
Cilj merila ekonomske logike transakcije je preveriti, ali kupec sredstev prenesena sredstva uporablja na enak način kot prenosnik, da bi nadaljeval enako gospodarsko dejavnost.
In fact, during this period, VSL's majority shareholder was able to support it through regular contributions, thus demonstrating that VSL's difficulties could be covered by its majority shareholder.
Belgijski organi menijo, da je logika družbe VSL bistveno drugačna od logike njenih predhodnic, zlasti ker je ob oživitvi dejavnosti tovarne kristala podprla nepremičninski projekt Cristal Park.
Consequently, from January 2009 to February 2012, the Commission considers that VSL did not meet the criteria of an undertaking in difficulty within the meaning of the Guidelines.
Komisija v obravnavanem primeru ugotavlja, da belgijski organi niso dokazali, da bi bila od oktobra 2008 prevzem družbe CVSL in projekt Cristal Park neposredno povezana.
However, VSL had been undergoing a further judicial reorganisation since February 2012.
Najstarejši dokumenti v zvezi s projektom Cristal Park, ki so jih predložili belgijski organi, segajo v december 2011.
Moreover, the Belgian authorities demonstrated that CFC was no longer able to support its subsidiary as it had done until that point.
Komisija vsekakor ugotavlja, da so kupci kupili blagovno znamko, da bi še naprej uporabljali vsa finančna in proizvodna sredstva.
The opening decision noted that CFC's liquidity was EUR 1,26 million and, consequently, granting VSL an equivalent amount (the minimum necessary for its rescue) would have taken up nearly all of its funds.
Predmet poslovanja, naveden v ustanovitvenem aktu družbe VSL z dne 20. novembra 2008, je namreč zelo podoben predmetu poslovanja družbe CVSL.
Consequently, VSL must be considered an undertaking in difficulty within the meaning of point 10(c) of the Rescue and Restructuring Guidelines from the time that the rescue aid (Measure 1) was granted in April 2012.
Cilj družbe VSL je dejansko nadaljevati dejavnost izdelave kristalnih izdelkov družbe CVSL z istimi človeškimi viri in proizvodnjo.
To sum up, the Commission considers that CVSL was in difficulty from 11 August 2008 (when it was declared bankrupt) until the end of November 2008 (when VSL was set up).
Poleg tega je, da bi se ohranilo neprekinjeno poslovanje, odobreno celo poroštvo.
VSL had to be considered an undertaking in difficulty from 9 February 2012 (date of the judicial reorganisation procedure) until the judgment on 14 October 2013 (date bankruptcy was declared).
Zato Komisija iz zgoraj navedenih razlogov ugotavlja, da je med družbama CVSL in VSL gospodarska kontinuiteta.
Consequently, CSL and VSL were enterprises in difficulty when Measures 1 and 3 were granted.
Prevzem vseh proizvodnih sredstev (po pogojeni ceni, ki ne ustreza dejanski tržni vrednosti), delovnih pogodb ter izključne in neomejene uporabe znamk, da bi se nadaljevala proizvodnja kristalnih izdelkov, je odločilen indic za ugotovitev gospodarske kontinuitete.
An analysis of their compatibility must therefore be conducted on the basis of the Guidelines.
Ugodnost, izhajajoča iz odobritve poroštva družbi CVSL, ki je bila tedaj v stečaju, se je po prevzemu ohranila in družba VSL jo lahko še naprej izkorišča.
Compatibility of the aid (Measures 1 and 3)
Združljivost ukrepov 4 (prenos in uporaba znamk), 5 (posojilo v višini 1,5 milijona EUR), 6 (povečanje kapitala za 1,5 milijona EUR) in 8 (dajanje na voljo nekaterih nepremičnin družbi VSL s strani družbe SPAQUE)
Measure 1: rescue aid on 3 April 2012
Belgija v svojih pripombah ni navedla nobenega razloga v zvezi z združljivostjo navedenih ukrepov in Komisija nima elementov, na podlagi katerih bi lahko sklepala, da bi bilo mogoče uporabiti katero od izjem iz člena 107(2) in (3).
Belgium considers that this aid is compatible on the basis of the Rescue and Restructuring Guidelines.
Komisija zato meni, da navedene pomoči niso združljive s skupnim trgom.
The Commission considers, however, that the ‘one time, last time’ principle laid down in points 72 et seq. of the Guidelines has not been complied with.
Izterjava
VSL received incompatible rescue aid in September 2008 (cf. recital 141).
Komisija opozarja, da mora v skladu s členom 14(1) Uredbe Sveta (ES) št. 659/1999 [26] upravičenec vrniti vso nezakonito pomoč, ki ni združljiva z notranjim trgom.
It could not, therefore, receive further rescue aid before 2018.
V obravnavanem primeru iz predhodnih ugotovitev izhaja, da naslednji ukrepi vsebujejo elemente pomoči, da te pomoči niso zakonite niti združljive ter da je treba vrniti tisti njihov del, ki je bil dan na voljo družbi VSL.
Moreover, the Belgian authorities confirmed that the EUR 1 million loan was covered by a statement of claim to the insolvency administrators on 5 November 2013, to the benefit of Sogepa.
Ukrep 1: ugodno posojilo v višini 1 milijona EUR, ki ga je družbi VSL 3. aprila 2012 odobrila regija Valonija, ki jo zastopa družba Wallonne de Gestion et de Participations (v nadaljnjem besedilu: SOGEPA).
This claim was recorded in VSL's liabilities and has not been repaid to date.
Celoten znesek posojila predstavlja pomoč.
Consequently, the loan was not repaid within 6 months of its being granted, in accordance with point 25(a) of the Guidelines.
400000 EUR je bilo dodeljenih isti dan, kot je bila sklenjena pogodba.
The Commission therefore considers that the rescue aid dated 3 April 2012, which corresponds to the amount of the loan, i.e. EUR 1 million, is incompatible with the common market.
Preostalih 600000 EUR je bilo dodeljenih kasneje, datuma pa belgijski organi niso sporočili.
Measure 3: the guarantee of EUR 150000
Ukrep 2: pomoč za prestrukturiranje, ki zajema podaljšanje posojila v višini 1 milijona EUR.
The Commission considered in section 5.2.1 that CVSL was an undertaking in difficulty at the time the guarantee was granted.
Ta ukrep ni bil izveden, zato ni treba naložiti njegovega vračila.
The element of aid resulting from the free granting of the guarantee could thus be declared compatible only if it meets the conditions set out in the Rescue and Restructuring Guidelines.
Ukrep 3 Poroštvo v višini 150000 EUR, ki ga je družba SOGEPA 24. septembra 2008 odobrila stečajnemu upravitelju družbe CVSL.
And yet, as has been seen, the guarantee was granted without remuneration.
To poroštvo vsebuje element pomoči, ker ni bilo plačano po tržni ceni.
Point 25(a) of the Guidelines states that liquidity support in the form of loan guarantees must be granted at ‘an interest rate at least comparable to those observed for loans to healthy firms …’.
Element pomoči je treba izračunati po metodi, navedeni v tem sklepu.
Moreover, the Belgian authorities, despite a specific request for information on this point, have not provided details on whether the obligation to end the guarantee after 6 months (point 25(a) of the Guidelines) was met.
Ukrep 4 Prenos in uporaba znamk družbe Val Saint-Lambert, dogovorjen med družbama CFV in VSL 29. januarja 2009.
In the light of the above, the Commission considers that the aid resulting from the free granting of the guarantee cannot be considered rescue aid compatible with the common market, nor can it be declared compatible on other bases.
Ukrep v zvezi s prenosom znamk ni bil izveden, zato ni treba naložiti njegovega vračila.
Consequently, Measure 3 is incompatible rescue aid granted in 2008 prior to CVSL's takeover and it is therefore necessary to establish whether there was economic continuity between the bankrupt CVSL and the activities transferred to the buyers who established VSL, in order to determine whether VSL benefited from advantages relating to the granting of this measure.
To posojilo vsebuje element pomoči v korist družbe VSL in ustreza razliki med tržno obrestno mero in obrestno mero, po kateri je bila odobrena cena, to je 1,07 %, (5,77 % – 4,7 %), kar je 16050 EUR letno.
Assessment of the presence of economic continuity between CVSL and VSL
Navedena pomoč je bila izvedena nezakonito in jo je zato treba vrniti.
In the opening decision, the Commission queried whether or not economic continuity had been established between CVSL and VSL, in other words, whether the advantages resulting from the granting of the guarantee of EUR 150000 in September 2008 had been passed on to the buyers of CVSL who established VSL.
Ukrep 6 Povečanje kapitala za 1,5 milijona EUR s strani regije Valonija v družbi VSL, o katerem je bilo odločeno 17. marca 2011.
The conclusions of this analysis depend both on identifying the company which would have to repay any incompatible unlawful aid, and on an analysis of the compatibility of Measure 1, in particular with regard to the ‘one time, last time’ principle.
Navedeno skupno povečanje kapitala je pomoč, ker ga ni mogoče izenačiti z ravnanjem zasebnega vlagatelja.
In this regard, the Belgian authorities consider that this measure benefited CVSL and not VSL and that there was a break in economic continuity between CVSL and the buyers.
Ukrep 8 Del v zvezi z brezplačnim dajanjem na voljo dela območja „Cristalleries du Val Saint-Lambert“
According to case law, the recovery obligation may be extended to a new company to which the beneficiary company has transferred its assets where that transfer permits the conclusion that there is an economic continuity between the two companies [23].
Družba VSL ima na podlagi pogodbe o preklicnem dajanju na voljo dela območja „Cristalleries du Val Saint-Lambert“, ki jo je 11. decembra 2012 sklenila z družbo SPAQUE, ugodnost, in sicer znesek najemnin, ki se mu je družba SPAQUE prostovoljno odrekla.
Extension of the repayment obligation to another entity cannot be ruled out, provided it is established that this entity is effectively benefiting from the aid in question, due to an economic continuity between the two.
Natančen znesek te pomoči bo izračunan, kot je bilo navedeno v uvodni izjavi 123.
According to the judgment of the Court of Justice of 8 May 2003 in Joined Cases C-328/99 and C-399/00 Italy v Commission [24], the economic continuity between the original company and new structures is assessed by means of a number of factors: in particular the purpose of the sale (assets and liabilities, continuity of the workforce, bundled assets), the transfer price, the identity of the shareholders or owners of the new company, the moment at which the transfer was carried out (after the start of the investigation, the initiation of the formal investigation procedure or the final decision) and, lastly, the economic logic of the transaction.
Belgijski organi morajo za namen tega vračila znesku pomoči prišteti še obresti vračila, ki tečejo od dneva, ko so bile zadevne pomoči dane na voljo podjetju, in sicer v skladu s poglavjem V Uredbe Komisije (ES) št. 794/2004 [27], do njihovega dejanskega vračila.
Assessment of the criterion of the purpose of the sale (assets and liabilities, continuity of the workforce, bundled assets)
SKLEPNE UGOTOVITVE