natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
ASSESSMENT OF THE AID
Te dejavnosti dejansko vključujejo storitve, ki se bodo ponujale na trgu.
Article 107(1) of the Treaty states 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’.
Komisija meni, da sta zato zgraditev in izkoriščanje CEATF gospodarski dejavnosti.
The Commission will consider whether the funds granted to ADIF on the basis of the agreement of 27 December 2010 as well as the total financing granted for the project on the basis of the decision of the Council of Ministers of 28 June 2013 qualify as aid.
Državna sredstva
Economic activity
Projekt se financira preko predplačil nepovratnih sredstev in posojil od Ministrstva za gospodarstvo in konkurenčnost.
The Court of Justice has consistently defined undertakings as entities engaged in an economic activity, regardless of their legal status and the way in which they are financed [32].
To so državna sredstva.
The classification of a particular entity as an undertaking thus depends entirely on the nature of its activities.
Selektivna gospodarska prednost
The General Court recognised, in 1999, that ‘the provision of infrastructures by entities responsible for their management’ can constitute an economic activity [33].
V korist družbe ADIF
Thus, it is clear that the construction of infrastructure that is going to be commercially exploited constitutes an economic activity [34].
Ukrep se dodeli samo enemu podjetju, družbi ADIF [35], in je zato selektiven.
In the present case, the construction of the CEATF is directly linked to its exploitation and the Spanish authorities confirmed that the testing activities to be performed on the CEATF are of an economic nature.
S tem, da prispeva k financiranju CEATF preko predplačil nepovratnih sredstev in posojil, ukrep družbi ADIF prinaša prednost.
Those activities indeed involve services that will be offered on the market.
Prvič, predplačila nepovratnih sredstev predstavljajo neposreden prenos državnih sredstev družbi ADIF, kar jasno predstavlja gospodarsko prednost.
The Commission considers that the construction and exploitation of the CEATF are therefore economic activities.
Drugič, kar zadeva posojila, dodeljena družbi ADIF, je potrebno ugotoviti, ali obrestna mera ustreza tržni stopnji.
State resources
Sporočilo o spremembi metode za določanje referenčnih obrestnih mer in diskontnih stopenj [36] (v nadaljevanju: sporočilo iz leta 2008) določa približek za tržne stopnje, ki se uporabljajo za posojila.
The project is funded through advance grants and loans from the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.
V svoji predložitvi novembra 2015 so španski organi navedli, da so to metodologijo uporabili in dodali maržo 100 točk veljavni obrestni meri za Španijo.
Those are State resources.
Potem so ocenili obresti, ki so bile prihranjene zaradi razlike med tržno obrestno mero in obrestno mero programa, ob upoštevanju posebnih pogojev vsakega posojila (amortizacija, trajanje in obdobje odloga).
Selective economic advantage
Prišli so do ugotovitve, da so veljavne tržne mere za tranše v okviru programa Innplanta 2010 višje od veljavnih obrestnih mer v okviru programa, vendar nižje od veljavnih tržnih mer za tranše v okviru programa Innplanta 2011 (3,06 %) [37].
In favour of ADIF
Marže, ki veljajo za mere, izračunane v skladu s sporočilom iz leta 2008, so odvisne od ocene družbe in stopnje ponujenega zavarovanja.
The measure is granted to only one undertaking, ADIF [35], and is therefore selective.
V zvezi s tem Komisija ugotavlja, da je ocena družbe ADIF tesno povezana z oceno španske države [38].
By contributing to the financing of CEATF through advance grants and loans, the measure gives ADIF an advantage.
Poleg tega Komisija ugotavlja, da španski organi niso predložili specifičnih informacij o zavarovanju, ki je bilo ponujeno za posojila, pridobljena v okviru različnih programov.
First, the advance grants constitute a direct transfer of State resources to ADIF that clearly constitutes an economic advantage.
Iz tabele 6 spodaj je razvidno, da se je enkrat v prvi polovici leta 2012 ocena družbe ADIF poslabšala iz „A“ na „B“.
Second, as regards the loans granted to ADIF, it is necessary to determine whether the interest rate corresponds to the market rate.
Španski organi so dodali maržo 100 baznih točk vsem posojilom, dodeljenim družbi ADIF.
The Communication on the revision of the method for setting the reference and discount rates [36] (‘the Communication of 2008’) provides a proxy for the market rates applicable to loans.
Opozoriti je treba, da za družbo z oceno „A“ takšna marža pomeni nizko stopnjo zavarovanja.
In their submission of November 2015, the Spanish authorities indicated that they had followed this methodology and applied a margin of 100 points to the applicable rate for Spain.
Za družbo z oceno „B“ pa marža 100 baznih točk pomeni običajno stopnjo zavarovanja (in ne nizke).
They then made an estimation of the interest saved as a result of the difference between the market rate and the interest rate of the programme, taking into account the specific conditions of each loan (amortisation, duration and grace period).
Med potekom formalnega postopka je Komisija španske organe prosila, da predložijo informacije o posojilih, ki jih je ADIF pridobil na trgu med 20. julijem 2010 in 20. julijem 2015 (z izjemo EIB).
They came to the conclusion that the market rates applicable, for the tranches disbursed under the Innplanta 2010 Programme, are higher than the interest rate applied under the Programme but are lower than market rates applicable for the tranches disbursed under the Innplanta 2011 Programme (3,06 %) [37].
Španski organi so predložili seznam komercialnih posojil, dodeljenih družbi ADIF/ADIF Alta Velocidad v zadnjih petih letih, skupaj z njihovimi povezanimi pogoji [39] (z izjemo EIB) [40].
The margins applied to the rates calculated under the Communication of 2008 depend on the rating of the company and the level of collateral on offer.
Ta posojila, pridobljena na trgu, zagotavljajo zadostne informacije za določitev primerne obrestne mere za vsako leto v obdobju od leta 2011 do 2014.
In this regard, the Commission notes that the rating of ADIF is intrinsically linked to the rating of the Spanish State [38].
Tabela 6
In addition, the Commission notes that the Spanish authorities did not provide specific information as regards the collateral offered for the loans obtained under the different programmes.
Podrobnosti izračuna tržnih obrestnih mer, ki bodo veljale za posojila, izplačana družbi ADIF
It is clear from Table 6 below that at some point in the early half of 2012, ADIF was downgraded from an ‘A’ rating to a ‘B’ rating.
Datum izplačila
The Spanish authorities applied a margin of 100 basis points to all of the loans granted to ADIF.
Obrestne mere posojil, izplačanih družbi ADIF
It should be noted that for a company with an ‘A’ rating, such a margin implies a low level of collateral.
Bonitetna ocena družbe ADIF
For a company, whereas for a company with a ‘B’ rating, however, a margin of 100 basis points implies a normal level of collateral (rather than a low level).
Sporočilo iz leta 2008
In the course of the formal proceedings, the Commission asked the Spanish authorities to provide information on the loans that ADIF obtained on the market between 20 July 2010 and 20 July 2015 (EIB excluded).
Predlog španskih organov za izračun tržnih obrestnih mer
The Spanish authorities provided a list of commercial loans granted to ADIF/ADIF Alta velocidad over the past five years, together with their associated conditions [39] (EIB excluded) [40].
Komercialna posojila, ki jih je pridobil ADIF
These loans, obtained on the market, provide sufficient information to determine, for each of the years from 2011 to 2014, an appropriate market interest rate.
Izračun tržne obrestne mere na podlagi pogojev komercialnih posojil
Table 6
Temeljna obrestna mera
Details of the calculation of market interest rate to be applied to the loans disbursed to ADIF
Bazne točke, ki se dodajo za običajno do nizko zavarovanje
Date of the disbursement
75–100
Interest rates of the loans disbursed to ADIF
za leto 2011: Euribor 6M
ADIF's credit rating
+ 227 bt (povprečje)
Communication of 2008
za leto 2012: Euribor 6M
Spanish authorities' suggestion for calculation of the market interest rates
+ 352 bt (povprečje)
Commercial loans obtained by ADIF
100–220
Calculation of the market interest rate based on the commercial loans' terms
za leto 2013: Euribor 6M
Base rate
+ 425 bt (povprečje)
Basis points to be added for normal to low collaterisation
za leto 2014: Euribor 6M
75-100
+ 215 bt (povprečje)
For 2011: Euribor 6M
Iz tabele 6 je razvidno, da so tržne obrestne mere, ki temeljijo na komercialnih posojilih, ki jih je pridobil ADIF (desni stolpec), dosledno višje od mer, ki jih je predlagala Španija.
+ 227 bp (average)
Ker sporočilo iz leta 2008 zagotavlja samo približek tržnih mer in Španija ni predložila dokazov, ki bi podpirali ugotovitev o stopnji razpoložljivega zavarovanja, ter dosledni dokazi v spisu kažejo, da so bile mere, ki jih je ADIF dejansko plačeval na trgu, bistveno višje, Komisija meni, da slednje zagotavljajo ustrezno merilo za določitev tega, ali posojila v zvezi s projektom dajejo prednost družbi ADIF.
For 2012: Euribor 6M
V korist subjekta s posebnim namenom in prihodnjim uporabnikom CEATF
+ 352 bp (average)
V sklepu o začetku postopka [41] je Komisija razložila, da se lahko sklepa o odsotnosti državne pomoči samo, če razpisni postopek omogoča, da se gospodarsko najugodnejša ponudba ujema z vrednostjo koncesije, in če zadevna država članica z izvedbo analize diskontiranega denarnega toka in primerjavo s pristojbinami, ki se za podobne storitve plačajo drugod, preveri, ali so posledične koncesijske dajatve v skladu s tržnimi cenami [42].
100-220
Komisija je navedla, da četudi je Španija nekatere osnovne elemente strukture pristojbin določila predhodno, to samo po sebi ne odpravi dvomov o odprtem in nediskriminatornem značaju postopka.
+ 425 bp (average)
Ker subjekt s posebnim namenom ni bil izbran zaradi neuspeha prvega razpisa in ni nobenih znakov, da se bo objavil drugi razpis, ni mogoče oblikovati dokončnih ugotovitev glede obstoja prednosti na ravni subjekta s posebnim namenom.
For 2014: Euribor 6M
Podobno ni mogoče oblikovati trdnih ugotovitev glede obstoja pomoči na ravni uporabnikov.
+ 215 bp (average)
Izkrivljanje konkurence in vpliv na trgovino
It can be observed from Table 6 that the market interest rates based on the commercial loans obtained by ADIF (right-hand column) are consistently higher than the rates suggested by Spain.
Če pomoč, ki jo dodeli država članica, krepi položaj podjetja v primerjavi z drugimi podjetji, ki konkurirajo na notranjem trgu Unije, je treba ta podjetja obravnavati kot podjetja, na katera vpliva navedena pomoč [43].
Since the Communication of 2008 provides only a proxy of market rates, no evidence was provided by Spain to support a conclusion on the level of collateral available, and the consistent evidence in the file shows that the rates that ADIF actually paid on the market were significantly higher, the Commission considers that the latter provide the appropriate benchmark for determining whether the loans in relation to the project confer an advantage on ADIF.
Jasno je, da prednosti, dodeljene družbi ADIF, krepijo to podjetje v primerjavi z drugimi podjetji, ki konkurirajo na notranjem trgu Unije.
It can be concluded from Table 6 that the interest rates of the loans granted to ADIF in relation to the project are lower than the relevant market interest rates calculated on the basis of the terms of commercial loans obtained by ADIF, except for the loans granted in 2014.
Kot je navedeno v oddelku 5.1 zgoraj, španski organi priznavajo, da bo CEATF morda konkuriral drugim evropskim objektom za testiranje pri hitrostih pod 210 km/h in obstoječim progam, ki so odprte prometu za testiranje pri hitrostih med 210 in 385 km/h.
Thus, the terms for the various loans granted to ADIF in the period 2011-2013 and amounting to EUR 7469500 confer an advantage on ADIF within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the Treaty.
Zato sedaj menijo, da bi bilo treba kot državno pomoč obravnavati izključno financiranje zgraditve delov CEATF, ki omogočajo testiranje pod 385 km/h, in da bi bilo treba financiranje oceniti v skladu z okvirom R&R&I.
In favour of the SPV and future users of the CEATF
V zvezi s tem prav tako trdijo, da bi bila javna sredstva za slednje dejavnosti omejena na 90,2 milijona EUR.
In the opening decision [41], the Commission explained that the absence of State aid can only be presumed if the tender procedure allows for the most economically advantageous offer to match the market value of the concession and if the Member State concerned checks that the resulting concession fees are in line with market prices by carrying out a discounted cash flow analysis and a comparison with fees paid for similar services elsewhere [42].
CEATF bi konkuriral drugim objektom v Evropski uniji, ki ponujajo storitve železniškega testiranja za visoke hitrosti, saj je povsem sposoben ponujati testiranje pri hitrostih pod 385 km/h.
The Commission indicated that, even if certain basic components of the fee structure have been set by Spain ex ante, this is not in itself sufficient not to question the open and non-discriminatory character of the process.
Ker dokazi kažejo, da obstaja zelo malo ali nič povpraševanja za testiranje pri višjih hitrostih (za podrobnosti glej uvodne izjave 48 do 51), bi testiranje pri hitrostih pod 385 km/h verjetno postalo glavna dejavnost CEATF.
The Commission also considered the possible existence of an indirect advantage at the level of the users of the infrastructure.
Posledično bi se državna sredstva, dodeljena družbi ADIF za zgraditev CEATF, uporabila za subvencioniranje vstopa novega konkurenta na trg.
Since the SPV has not been selected due to the failure of the first tender and there are no indications that a second tender will be launched, it is not possible to draw definitive conclusions as to the existence of an advantage at the level of the SPV.
Glede na razmisleke, navedene v uvodnih izjavah 82 do 85, pomoč, dodeljena družbi ADIF, lahko izkrivlja konkurenco in vpliva na trgovino med državami članicami.
Similarly, no firm conclusions as to the existence of aid at the level of the users can be drawn.
Sklepna ugotovitev glede obstoja pomoči
Distortion of competition and effect on trade
Komisija meni, da javna sredstva, dodeljena družbi ADIF za zgraditev CEATF na podlagi sklepa z dne 28. junija 2013 in sporazuma z dne 27. decembra 2010, ustrezajo opredelitvi državne pomoči v smislu člena 107(1) Pogodbe.
When aid granted by a Member State strengthens the position of an undertaking compared with other undertakings competing in intra-Union trade, the latter must be regarded as affected by that aid [43].
Zakonitost pomoči
It is clear that the advantages granted to ADIF strengthen the position of that undertaking compared with other undertakings competing in intra-Union trade.
Ker je bila pomoč dodeljena, preden jo je Komisija odobrila, jo je treba obravnavati kot nezakonito pomoč v smislu člena 1(f) Uredbe Sveta (EU) 2015/1589 [45].
As indicated in Section 5.1 above, the Spanish authorities recognise that the CEATF may compete with other European facilities for tests below 210 km/h and with existing lines opened to traffic for tests between 210 and 385 km/h.
Ob ugotovitvi, da ukrep vključuje državno pomoč v smislu člena 107(1) Pogodbe, mora Komisija zdaj oceniti, ali je ukrep združljiv z notranjim trgom.
As a consequence, they now consider that only the financing of the construction of CEATF's parts which allow for testing below 385 km/h should be regarded as State aid and should be assessed in accordance with the R & D&I Framework.
Sodišče je presodilo, da „če se Komisija odloči za uvedbo formalnega postopka preiskave, morata država članica in morebitni prejemnik nove pomoči Komisiji predložiti dokaze o združljivosti te pomoči s skupnim trgom“ [46].
In this respect, they also claim that the public funding for the latter activities would be limited to EUR 90,2 million.
Kot je navedeno v nadaljevanju, španski organi in upravičenec ADIF v ta namen niso predložili prepričljivih dokazov niti v priglasitvi in nadaljnjih predložitvah niti v njihovih pripombah k sklepu o začetku postopka in predložitvah med fazo formalne preiskave.
As a result, the State resources granted to ADIF for the construction of the CEATF would be used for subsidising the entry on the market of a new competitor.
Točka 126 okvira R&R&I navaja, da „bo nezakonita pomoč za R&R&I ocenjena v skladu s pravili, ki se uporabljajo na dan, na katerega je bila pomoč dodeljena“.
In light of the considerations set out in recitals 82 to 85 above, the aid granted to ADIF is liable to distort competition and affect trade between Member States.
V času dodelitve pomoči je veljal okvir R&R&I 2006 [48].
Conclusion on the existence of aid
Okvir R&R&I 2006 ne vsebuje posebnih določb v zvezi s pomočjo za raziskovalne infrastrukture.
The Commission considers that the public resources granted to ADIF for the construction of CEATF on the basis of the Decision of 28 June 2013 and the agreement of 27 December 2010 qualify as State aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the Treaty.
Posledično Komisija meni, da bi morala ocena ukrepa pomoči temeljiti neposredno na členu 107(3)(b) Pogodbe.
Legality of the aid
Ta določba navaja, da se lahko „pomoč za pospeševanje razvoja določenih gospodarskih dejavnosti ali določenih gospodarskih območij, kadar takšna pomoč ne spreminja trgovinskih pogojev v obsegu, ki bi bil v nasprotju s skupnimi interesi,“ šteje za združljivo z notranjim trgom.
The Spanish authorities notified the measure on the basis of Article 108(3) of the Treaty on 20 September 2013.
Komisija za ugotavljanje združljivosti ukrepa v skladu s členom 107(3)(c) Pogodbe izvede test tehtanja, pri katerem preuči pozitivne učinke v smislu prispevka k dosegu natančno opredeljenih ciljev skupnega interesa in negativne učinke na trgovino ter konkurenco na skupnem trgu.
They have also indicated that the railway circuit will not be constructed until it is approved by the Commission [44].
V zvezi s tem bo Komisija preučila naslednja načela [49]:
Spain granted the aid on the basis of the agreement of 27 December 2010 and the Decision of the Council of Ministers of 28 June 2013.
prispevek k natančno opredeljenemu cilju skupnega interesa: ukrep državne pomoči mora biti usmerjen v cilj skupnega interesa v skladu s členom 107(3) Pogodbe;
Part of that aid has already been paid out, as described in recital 44 above.
potreba po državnem posredovanju: ukrep državne pomoči mora biti usmerjen v primere, ko taka pomoč lahko zagotovi pomembne izboljšave, ki jih trg sam ne more doseči, na primer z odpravljanjem tržne pomanjkljivosti ali obravnavanjem pomisleka glede enakosti ali kohezije;
Since the aid was granted before being approved by the Commission, it must be considered as unlawful aid within the meaning of Article 1(f) of Council Regulation (EU) 2015/1589 [45].
ustreznost ukrepa pomoči: predlagani ukrep pomoči mora biti ustrezen instrument politike za obravnavo cilja skupnega interesa.
Having established that the measure involves State aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the Treaty, the Commission now has to assess whether it can be found compatible with the internal market.
spodbujevalni učinek: pomoč mora spremeniti ravnanje zadevnih podjetij, in sicer morajo ta podjetja začeti izvajati dodatno dejavnost, ki jo brez pomoči ne bi izvajala, ali pa bi jo izvajala le v omejenem obsegu, na drugačen način ali na drugi lokaciji;
The Court of Justice has held that ‘where the Commission decides to initiate a formal investigation procedure, it is for the Member State and the potential beneficiary of new aid to provide the Commission with evidence capable of showing that the aid is compatible with the common market’ [46].
sorazmernost pomoči: znesek in intenzivnost pomoči morata biti omejena na najnižjo vrednost, ki je potrebna za zagotovitev dodatne naložbe ali dejavnosti zadevnih podjetij;
As set out further below, the Spanish authorities and the beneficiary ADIF did not provide convincing evidence to this effect neither in the notification and following submissions, nor in their comments to the opening decision and in the submissions provided during the formal investigation phase.
izogibanje neupravičenim negativnim učinkom na konkurenco in trgovino med državami članicami: negativni učinki pomoči morajo biti dovolj omejeni, da je skupno ravnovesje ukrepa pozitivno.
The Spanish authorities indicated that the public funding of CEATF, to the extent that such funding constitutes aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the Treaty, should be declared compatible with the internal market in view of its overall R & D&I objective and in light of the rules of the R & D&I Framework applicable to R & D&I infrastructures [47].
preglednost pomoči: države članice, Komisija, gospodarski subjekti in javnost morajo imeti preprost dostop do vseh zadevnih aktov in pomembnih informacij o pomoči, ki se odobri v skladu z njimi.
It follows from the conclusion in Section 6.2 above that the aid is unlawful.
Prispevek k natančno opredeljenemu cilju skupnega interesa
Point 126 of the R & D&I Framework states that ‘unlawful R & D&I aid will be assessed in accordance with the rules applicable at the date on which the aid was awarded’.
Španski organi prav tako trdijo, da bo naložba v CEATF okrepila gospodarski razvoj regije, Andaluzije, ki se sooča z visoko stopnjo brezposelnosti.
At the time of the grant of the aid, the 2006 R & D&I Framework was in force [48].
Prvič, takšne trditve bi bilo treba oceniti glede na povpraševanje za takšne raziskovalne objekte in glede na dejavnosti R&R&I, ki bi se lahko v njih izvajale.
The 2006 R & D&I Framework does not contain specific provisions as regards aid to research infrastructures.
Kot je podrobno navedeno v uvodnih izjavah 60 do 62 sklepa o začetku postopka, je Komisija dvomila o obstoju povpraševanja proizvajalcev železniškega voznega parka in železniške opreme po tej specifični raziskovalni infrastrukturi.
Consequently the Commission considers that the assessment of the aid measure should be based directly on Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty.
Komisija se je zlasti sklicevala na neuspeh prvega razpisa za zgraditev in upravljanje CEATF ter visoke stroške zgraditve in upravljanja železniških omrežij, zasnovanih za zagotavljanje komercialnih prevoznih storitev pri hitrostih nad 350 km/h, ki ne bi bili gospodarsko izvedljivi v sedanjih tržnih pogojih in v predvidljivi prihodnosti [50].
That provision states that ‘aid to facilitate the development of certain economic activities or of certain economic areas, where such aid does not adversely affect trading conditions to an extent contrary to the common interest’ may be considered to be compatible with the internal market.
Pripombe tretjih oseb v odgovor na sklep o začetku postopka potrjujejo stališče Komisije, da raziskovalne infrastrukture, namenjene testiranju vlakov za visoke hitrosti (testiranje pri hitrostih nad 385 km/h za komercialne prevozne storitve, ki se zagotavljajo pri hitrostih nad 350 km/h), trg ne potrebuje.
The Commission, in order to determine the compatibility of a measure under Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty, performs a balancing test, weighing positive effects in terms of a contribution to the achievement of well-defined objectives of common interest and negative effects on trade and competition in the common market.
Nobeni proizvajalci železniškega voznega parka ne predvidevajo, da bodo razvili izdelke, ki bi vozili pri tako zelo visokih hitrostih, zaradi pomanjkanja tržnega povpraševanja po komercialnem delovanju takšnih vlakov.