natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
The French authorities submit that while the majority of replies received were unfavourable, that does not in any way call into question the substantiated decision of the committee of enquiry.
Čeprav v zvezi s prvim merilom velja, da imajo države članice široko diskrecijsko pravico pri določitvi, katere storitve se lahko štejejo za obveznosti javne službe [31], je Sodišče pred kratkim opozorilo [32], da če obstajajo posebna pravila prava Unije, ki urejajo opredelitev vsebine in obsega storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena, ta pravila zavezujejo države članice pri njihovi presoji v skladu s točko 46 Sporočila Komisije o uporabi pravil Evropske unije o državni pomoči za nadomestilo, dodeljeno za opravljanje storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena.
The French authorities further submit that there was a debate at regional and local level, and that the consultation did not only inform the public but also provided an opportunity that led to the setting up of working groups of associations supporting or opposing the project.
Na splošno je namen teh pravil usklajevanje zakonodaj, da se odpravijo ovire za prosti pretok in svobodo opravljanja storitev.
Purpose of the premium
Dejstvo, da so ta pravila sprejeta na podlagi določb Pogodbe, ki se ne nanašajo na nadzor državnih pomoči, in da je njihov glavni namen uresničevanje notranjega trga, nikakor ne omejuje njihove upoštevnosti z vidika prvega od meril iz sodbe Altmark.
The French authorities consider that the assertion of one interested party to the effect that the invitation to tender was not transparent, in that the purpose of the premium was not clearly defined, is unfounded.
Komisija glede na pripombe zainteresiranih strani in odgovore, ki jih je predložila Francija (oddelek 5), meni, da ukrep ne izpolnjuje prvega merila iz sodbe Altmark, ki se nanaša na opredelitev obveznosti javne službe, natančneje v energetskem sektorju, in sicer iz dveh razlogov.
According to that interested party, the premium was intended solely to cover the additional expenses arising out of the location of the facility, the transport of gas, and the expected commissioning date, but some tenders sought an additional sum to offset the power station's lack of profitability.
Prvič, kot je pojasnila Komisija [33], ni primerno, da se kot obveznost javne službe opredeli dejavnost, ki jo že zagotavlja ali bi jo lahko zadovoljivo zagotavljal trg.
Such a payment was not provided for in the specifications and would distort competition with the existing combined cycle power stations, thus causing them injury.
Pri tej analizi je treba upoštevati tudi možne izboljšave delovanja trga, ki bi jih lahko uvedle države članice.
The French authorities submit that the selected tenderer can be compensated only by the amount of the fixed premium proposed.
Če so take spremembe mogoče, namreč ni primerno, da se dejavnost opredeli kot obveznost javne službe.
The purpose of the premium is clearly described in the specifications, and any tender demanding an additional payment would not be compliant.
V obravnavani zadevi se trg lahko šteje za slabo delujoč, ker ne daje zadostnih cenovnih signalov za spodbuditev naložb na lokalni ravni.
No additional payment can therefore be made, or be considered in the evaluation of the premium criterion.
Tak primer so zlasti kratkoročni trgi, na primer izravnalni trgi, katerih izravnalni mehanizmi na datum projekta še ne dajejo zadostnega lokalnega cenovnega signala.
This point was reiterated by the Energy Regulatory Commission in response to a question asked by a candidate during the tender procedure.
Drugič, zaradi diskriminacije v zvezi s tehnologijami storitve ni mogoče opredeliti kot obveznost javne službe.
According to the French authorities, the candidates who submitted a tender had no difficulties in interpreting this point.
V obravnavani zadevi člen 3(2) direktive o električni energiji [34] določa posebne pogoje glede zmogljivosti držav članic, da obveznosti javne službe uvedejo v liberaliziranem sektorju električne energije.
They were able to incorporate the additional cost of commissioning the facility during an economic downturn into the amount of the proposed premium.
Natančneje, s členom 3(2) so možnosti držav članic za izvajanje obveznosti javne službe v energetskem sektorju omejene s posebnimi cilji [35]: „[…] države članice [lahko] v splošnem gospodarskem interesu naložijo podjetjem, ki delujejo v elektroenergetskem sektorju, obveznosti javnih storitev, ki se lahko nanašajo na zanesljivost, vključno z zanesljivostjo oskrbe, na rednost, kakovost in ceno oskrbe in na varovanje okolja, ki vključuje učinkovito rabo energije, energije iz obnovljivih virov in varstvo podnebja“.Ta člen tudi določa, da morajo biti obveznosti javne službe v elektroenergetskem sektorju „jasno določene, pregledne, nediskriminatorne in preverljive ter elektroenergetskim podjetjem v Skupnosti zagotavljajo enak dostop do nacionalnih potrošnikov“.
ASSESSMENT OF THE MEASURE
Komisija meni, da je treba merilo nediskriminacije, proučeno v okviru obstoja obveznosti javne službe, razlagati ozko.
State aid is defined in Article 107(1) TFEU as ‘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 … in so far as it affects trade between Member States’.
V priglasitvi, ki jo je poslala Francija, je pojasnjeno, da se povabilo k oddaji ponudb nanaša na izgradnjo in obratovanje naprave za proizvodnjo električne energije, ki izkorišča izključno tehnologijo kombiniranega cikla [36].
It results from the preceding recital that for a measure to constitute State aid the following three conditions must all be met: (a) the measure must be imputable to the State and financed through State resources; (b) the measure must confer a selective advantage likely to favour certain undertakings or the production of certain goods; and (c) the measure must distort or threaten to distort trade between Member States.
Povedano drugače, povabilo k oddaji ponudb je bilo omejeno na eno samo tehnologijo (kombinirani cikel na plin), pri čemer so bile med drugim izključene konvencionalne tehnologije odprtega cikla na plin ali plinske turbine, ki bi upravičeni elektrarni prav tako lahko zagotavljale zahtevane storitve.
Aid imputable to a Member State or granted through State resources
Kot je pojasnjeno v uvodnih izjavah 84 in 89, po mnenju francoskih organov dejstvo, da ukrep ni tehnološko nevtralen, ni diskriminacija v smislu člena 3(2) Direktive 2009/72/ES, ker so tehnologija kombiniranega cikla na plin in vse konvencionalne tehnologije dostopne vsem podjetjem.
To be considered State aid, a financial measure must be imputable to the Member State and must be granted, directly or indirectly, through State resources.
Ukrepi pomoči morajo biti zasnovani tako, da se sodelovanje v ukrepu omogoči vsem proizvodnim zmogljivostim, ki lahko učinkovito prispevajo k odpravljanju težav v zvezi z zadostnostjo proizvodnje, zlasti sodelovanje proizvajalcev, ki uporabljajo različne tehnologije.
In this instance, it is proposed that the payment to CEB will be passed on in retail electricity prices via the CSPE (see recital 42).
Zato s trditvijo Francije, da je tehnologija kombiniranega cikla na plin dostopna vsem podjetjem, ni mogoče izključiti diskriminatornosti ukrepa.
As explained in the opening decision, the Commission considers that the CSPE is a State resource, since it is ‘a payment imposed by the State, collected and administered by a body appointed by the State, to manage an aid scheme under rules established by the State.’
Komisija poleg tega navaja, da je bil namen povabila k oddaji ponudb povečati raven proizvodnje električne energije v regiji, da bi se kljub načrtovanemu prenehanju delovanja več proizvodnih obratov ohranila zanesljivost oskrbe, in odpraviti ponavljajoče se težave z napetostjo v Bretanji.
The Court of Justice has held [26] that funds financed through compulsory charges imposed by the legislation of the Member State, managed and apportioned in accordance with the provisions of that legislation, may be regarded as State resources within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU even if they are managed by public or private entities separate from the public authorities [27].
Da bi uresničili ta dvojni cilj, je v razpisnih pogojih navedenih več zahtev, ki jih mora izpolnjevati prihodnja upravičena elektrarna.
Finally, the measurement is imputable to the State, since the invitation to tender was issued by the Energy Minister, who then made the choice of tenderer.
Ta bi morala imeti približno 450 MW delovne moči (+/– 10 %), stati bi morala v zahodnem delu Bretanje in biti razpoložljiva ves čas, da bi jo lahko družba RTE aktivirala prek izravnalnega mehanizma.
Economic benefit
Glede te zadnje zahteve je bilo v razpisnih pogojih podrobno navedeno, da bi morala imeti družba RTE možnost aktivirati elektrarno najpozneje v 15 urah, če je naprava ustavljena, in dveh urah, če je naprava v obratovanju, da za aktiviranje izravnalnih ponudb ne sme biti zgornje časovne omejitve in da mora biti najkrajše trajanje izravnalnih ponudb do tri ure za napravo v obratovanju oziroma osem ur za ustavljeno napravo.
To constitute aid for purposes of Article 107(1) TFEU, the measure must confer an economic benefit on the undertaking that the undertaking would not have obtained under normal market conditions, i.e. in the absence of the State intervention.
Namen teh pogojev je zagotoviti odzivnost in prilagodljivost elektrarne ter tako poskrbeti, da bo družba RTE lahko aktivirala elektrarno, da bi izpolnila enkratno in začasno potrebo ter hkrati zagotovila ohranitev napetosti in lokalno ravnotežje.
The French authorities consider that the measure does not confer an economic benefit, because it meets all the tests set out in the Altmark judgment [28].
Francija v uvodnih izjavah 107 in 108 ne zanika, da bi te pogoje lahko izpolnile vse konvencionalne elektrarne, torej tiste s kombiniranim ciklom na plin, odprtim ciklom na plin in plinsko turbino.
In the opening decision the Commission expressed some doubt about this assessment, with reference to the first test in particular.
Prav tako analiza ustreznosti različnih tehnologij glede na cilje iz povabila k oddaji ponudb pokaže, da bi bilo z vsemi tremi konvencionalnimi tehnologijami (kombiniranim ciklom na plin, odprtim ciklom na plin in plinsko turbino) mogoče izpolniti potrebe, ki so jih opredelili francoski organi, čeprav različno učinkovito.
To determine whether it confers a benefit on CEB the measure must be evaluated with reference to the findings in Altmark [28] Judgment of the Court of Justice of 24 July 2003, Altmark Trans GmbH and Regierungspräsidium Magdeburg v Nahverkehrsgesellschaft GmbH, C-280/00. .
V povabilu k oddaji ponudb pa je predvidena samo elektrarna s kombiniranim ciklom na plin.
In Altmark the Court of Justice ruled that, ‘where a State measure must be regarded as compensation for the services provided by the recipient undertakings in order to discharge public service obligations, so that those undertakings do not enjoy a real financial advantage and the measure thus does not have the effect of putting them in a more favourable competitive position than the undertakings competing with them, such a measure is not caught by Article 92(1) of the Treaty’ [29].
Komisija torej ugotavlja, da je povabilo k oddaji ponudb diskriminatorno.
It will be recalled that the French authorities consider that the measure does not constitute an economic benefit, since it satisfies all the tests set out in the Altmark judgment.
Kot pa je opozorjeno v uvodni izjavi 144, mora biti obveznost javne službe obvezno nediskriminatorna.
This is because the Court of Justice states that [30], in order for compensation for a public service to escape classification as State aid, the following conditions must all be met:
Zaradi diskriminatornosti do nekaterih konvencionalnih tehnologij ukrepa tako ni mogoče opredeliti kot obveznost javne službe.
the recipient undertaking must actually have public service obligations to discharge, and the obligations must be clearly defined;
Trditve Francije, predstavljene v uvodni izjavi 84, da ukrep ni diskriminatoren do drugih vrst konvencionalnih tehnologij, torej niso dopustne.
the parameters used to calculate the compensation must be established in advance in an objective and transparent manner;
Komisija zato ugotavlja, da ukrepa ni mogoče opredeliti kot obveznost javne službe.
the compensation cannot exceed what is necessary to cover all or part of the costs incurred in the discharge of public service obligations, taking into account the relevant receipts and a reasonable profit; and
Prvo merilo iz sodne prakse v zadevi Altmark tako ni upoštevano.
where the undertaking which is to discharge public service obligations, in a specific case, is not chosen pursuant to a competitive procedure which would allow for the selection of the tenderer capable of providing those services at the least cost to the community, the level of compensation needed must be determined on the basis of an analysis of the costs which a typical undertaking, well run and adequately provided with the means necessary to discharge the public service obligations, would have incurred, taking into account the relevant receipts and a reasonable profit for discharging the obligations.
Ukrep pomeni tudi uprednost.
With regard to the first of these tests, while it is accepted that Member States have a wide margin of discretion to determine which services may be considered public service obligations [31], the General Court has recently observed [32] that, where specific Union rules exist regulating the scope and boundaries of an SGEI, the Member States' discretion is bound by those rules, in accordance with paragraph 46 of the Communication from the Commission on the application of the European Union State aid rules to compensation granted for the provision of services of general economic interest.
Prednost v smislu člena 107(1) PDEU je namreč vsaka gospodarska korist, ki je podjetje ne bi moglo pridobiti pod običajnimi tržnimi pogoji, tj. brez posredovanja države.
Such rules generally set out to harmonise of legislation in order to remove barriers to the freedom of movement and the freedom to provide services.
V obravnavani zadevi bo konzorcij prejemal premijo, ki ni dodeljena v običajnih tržnih razmerah, temveč izhaja iz javne subvencije.
The fact that they were adopted on the basis of Treaty provisions other than those regarding State aid control, and have as their main purpose the completion of the internal market, in no way limits their relevance to the first Altmark test.
Posledično je mogoče ukrep opredeliti kot prednost, dodeljeno izbranemu ponudniku v okviru povabila k oddaji ponudb.
In the light of the comments from interested parties and the replies provided by France (section 5), the Commission considers that the measure does not satisfy the first Altmark test for classification as a public service obligation, specifically in the energy sector, for two reasons.
Dalje, v skladu s členom 107(1) PDEU se pomoč šteje za selektivno, kadar daje prednost „posameznim podjetjem ali proizvodnji posameznega blaga“.
First, as the Commission has explained [33], it would not be appropriate to classify as a public service obligation an activity which is already provided or can be provided satisfactorily by the market.
V obravnavani zadevi je ukrep dodeljen izključno izbranemu ponudniku v okviru povabila k oddaji ponudb in se torej šteje za selektiven.
For purposes of this analysis, account has also to be taken of possible improvements to the operation of the market that could be made by the Member States.
Komisija tako meni, da ukrep dodeljuje selektivno prednost glede na člen 107(1) PDEU.
If such changes are possible, it is not appropriate to classify the activity as a public service obligation.
Javna pomoč podjetjem v smislu člena 107(1) ima učinek na konkurenco samo, če „izkrivlja ali bi lahko izkrivljala konkurenco z dajanjem prednosti posameznim podjetjem ali proizvodnji posameznega blaga“, in le „kolikor prizadene trgovino med državami članicami“.
In the present instance the market can be considered dysfunctional, because it does not send proper price signals to trigger investment at local level.
Za ukrep, ki ga dodeli država, se šteje, da izkrivlja ali bi lahko izkrivljal konkurenco, kadar lahko izboljša konkurenčni položaj upravičenca v primerjavi z drugimi konkurenčnimi podjetji [37].
This is the case particularly of the short-term markets such as balancing markets, where at the date of the project the adjustment mechanisms do not yet produce an adequate local price signal.
V praksi se izkrivljanje v smislu člena 107(1) PDEU običajno ugotovi, kadar država dodeli finančno prednost podjetju v sektorju, kjer obstaja konkurenca [38].
Secondly, the service is prevented from being classified as a public service obligation by the existence of discrimination between technologies.
V obravnavani zadevi bi se z ukrepom lahko izboljšal konkurenčni položaj konzorcija CEB v primerjavi z drugimi podjetji, saj bi lahko povečal svojo zmogljivost za proizvodnjo električne energije glede na preostalo konkurenco.
Article 3(2) of the Electricity Directive [34] lays down specific conditions governing Member States' power to impose public service obligations in the liberalised electricity sector.
Javna pomoč podjetjem pomeni državno pomoč v smislu člena 107(1) Pogodbe le, kolikor „prizadene trgovino med državami članicami“.
It confines the scope left to Member States to impose public service obligations in the energy sector to specific objectives [35]: ‘Member States may impose on undertakings operating in the electricity sector, in the general economic interest, public service obligations which may relate to security, including security of supply, regularity, quality and price of supplies and environmental protection, including energy efficiency, energy from renewable sources and climate protection.’
Za javno pomoč se lahko šteje, da bi lahko vplivala na trgovino med državami članicami, tudi če prejemnik ne sodeluje neposredno v čezmejni trgovini.
The same Article 3(2) also states that public service obligations in the energy sector must be ‘clearly defined, transparent, non-discriminatory, verifiable and shall guarantee equality of access for electricity undertakings of the Community to national consumers.’
Poleg tega sorazmerno majhen obseg pomoči ali sorazmerna majhnost podjetja, ki prejme pomoč, a priori ne izključuje možnosti, da bi bila trgovina med državami članicami prizadeta [39].
The Commission considers that the criterion of non-discrimination, evaluated with respect to the existence of a public service obligation, must be interpreted strictly.
V obravnavani zadevi bo prejemnik pomoči dobil prednost, ki je njegovi tuji konkurenti zaradi selektivnosti pomoči ne bodo mogli dobiti.
The notification submitted by France makes it clear that the invitation to tender is for the construction and operation of an electricity generation plant that must use combined cycle gas technology [36].
Poleg tega sta lahko vpliv pomoči na konkurenco in njen učinek na trgovino med državami članicami očitna, če ukrep koristi podjetju, dejavnemu v sektorju, ki je bil liberaliziran na evropski ravni [40].
In other words, the invitation to tender is limited to a single technology (CCG), to the exclusion of conventional technologies such as open cycle gas or combustion turbines, which might also have been able to supply the services required of the recipient power station.
V obravnavani zadevi je bil energetski sektor tako liberaliziran.
As explained in recitals 84 and 89, the French authorities consider that the fact that the measure is not technologically neutral does not constitute discrimination for purposes of Article 3(2) of Directive 2009/72/EC because all undertakings can access CCG technology just as they can access all the conventional technologies.
Zato bo ukrep vplival na konkurenco in trgovino med državami članicami.
But aid measures must be designed so that all types of energy generating capacity that might be able to make an effective contribution to resolving a problem of inadequate generation are in a position to take part in such measures, and this includes the capacities of producers using different technologies.
Sklepna ugotovitev glede obstoja pomoči
Consequently, France's argument that all undertakings can access CCG technology does not show that the measure is not discriminatory.
Komisija iz zgoraj navedenih razlogov še naprej meni, da je ukrep državna pomoč v smislu člena 107(1) PDEU.
The Commission would observe, too, that the invitation to tender was intended to increase electricity generation in the region so that security of supply could be maintained despite the closure of several generation plants, and to resolve a recurrent problem of supply in Brittany.
Zakonitost pomoči
To meet this dual objective, the specifications listed several requirements that must be met by the beneficiary power station.
Ukrep še ni bil izveden.
It must have active power of 450 MW (+/– 10 %), be located in the west of Brittany, and be available at all times for mobilisation by RTE using the adjustment mechanism.
Plačal se bo ob začetku obratovanja elektrarne, od […].
For this last requirement, the specifications indicated that RTE must be able to mobilise the power station within a period not exceeding 15 hours when the unit is at rest and two hours when it is in operation, that there are to be no constraints on the maximum duration for the activation of adjustment offers, and that the minimum duration of adjustment offers must be less than or equal to eight hours for a unit at rest and three hours for a unit in operation.
Ukrep bo tako izveden po sprejetju tega sklepa.
These conditions aim to guarantee the responsiveness and flexibility of the power station, and hence to ensure that RTE will be able to mobilise the power station to meet one-off and short-term needs, ensuring both voltage stability and local balance.
Torej ga ni mogoče šteti za nezakonitega.
In the observations summarised in recitals 107 and 108, France does not dispute that these conditions may be fulfilled by all conventional power stations, i.e. by CCG and by OCG or combustion turbines.
Združljivost z notranjim trgom
Likewise, analysis of the suitability of the various technologies to the objectives of the invitation to tender leads to the conclusion that all three conventional technologies — CCG, OCG and combustion turbines — would have been able to meet the requirements identified by the French authorities, though not all with the same degree of efficiency.
Utemeljitev uporabljenega okvira analize
The invitation to tender is for the construction of a CCG-type power station only.
Kot je pojasnjeno v uvodnih izjavah 144 do 147, storitve ni mogoče opredeliti kot obveznost javne službe.
The Commission concludes that the invitation to tender is discriminatory.
Posledično se v obravnavani zadevi ne uporablja sporočilo Komisije o okviru za storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena.
As pointed out in recital 144, a public service obligation must necessarily be non-discriminatory.
Komisija zato ocenjuje združljivost ukrepa z vidika oddelka 3.9 smernic.
The discrimination observed against certain conventional technologies prevents the measure from being classified as a public service obligation.
V točkah 19 do 34 smernic je zadostnost proizvodnje opredeljena kot (i) raven proizvedene zmogljivosti, ki se šteje kot zadostna za izpolnitev potreb v državi članici v katerem koli obdobju, (ii) določena na podlagi uporabe konvencionalnega statističnega kazalnika, kot ga uporabljajo bistvene organizacije (npr. Evropska mreža operaterjev prenosnih sistemov za električno energijo, v nadaljnjem besedilu: ENTSO-E).
Therefore, the argument submitted by France to the effect that the measure does not constitute discrimination against other conventional technologies, presented in recital 84, is not admissible.
Komisija v zvezi s prvim merilom meni, da se ukrep dejansko nanaša na vzpostavitev zadostne ravni proizvodnje, da ustreza ravnem povpraševanja v Bretanji, s kvantitativnega (glej uvodno izjavo 166) in hkrati kvalitativnega vidika (uvodna izjava 174).