natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Article 43 of the Royal Decree of 21 June 2004 provides that the tariff system, the tariff control formula and annual changes to them are set by BAC, after consultation with airport users, for a five-year regulation period (running from 1 April of year ‘n’ to 31 March of year ‘n + 5’).
Kot je navedeno v uvodni izjavi 23 pod točko 23(e) tega sklepa, so storitve za zagotavljanje varnosti potnikov in varovanja letaliških objektov in naprav del reguliranih dejavnosti.
Pursuant to Article 55(1) of the Royal Decree of 21 June 2004, in the absence of notification of a substantiated disagreement of an airport user with BAC's tariff proposal, there is a tacit agreement between the parties on the tariff system and the rate control formula.
Za financiranje teh storitev družba BAC letalskim prevoznikom naloži plačilo pristojbine za varovanje (security charge) za vsakega potnika, ki odhaja z letališča Bruxelles-National.
If at least two unrelated airlines, each representing at least 1 % of annual movements or 1 % of annual passengers, and representing together at least 25 % of annual movements or 25 % of passengers over the last calendar year preceding the consultation of airport users, refuse the tariff control formula or the tariff system, they may lodge a reasoned appeal with the economic regulatory authority.
Preglednica 4
The economic regulatory authority may then validate the tariff control formula and the tariff system, or require certain adjustments or changes to the tariff control formula and/or tariff system.
Znesek pristojbine za varovanje za obdobje 2013–2017
The tariff control formula and tariff system shall then be presented for a decision by the Minister with responsibility for air navigation before being published in the Belgian Official Gazette.
Obdobje
The security charge referred to in recital 26 shall be determined using the same procedure.
Znesek pristojbine za varovanje (na odhajajočega potnika, v EUR)
As stated in recital 23 under point (e) of this Decision, services to ensure the safety of passengers and the security of airport facilities are among the regulated activities.
1. januar 2013–31. marec 2013
In order to fund these services, BAC levies a security charge from airlines for each passenger departing from Brussels airport.
1. april 2013–31. marec 2014
Table 4
1. april 2014–31. marec 2015
Amount of the security charge for the period 2013-2017
1. april 2015–31. marec 2016
Period
1. april 2016–31. marec 2017
Amount of security charge (per departing passenger, in EUR)
V zadevnem obdobju je bila pristojbina za varovanje, ki jo je uporabljala družba BAC, enoten znesek na odhajajočega potnika, ne glede na vrsto potnika (potnik, ki začenja svojo pot z letalom na letališču Bruxelles-National, transferni potnik ali tranzitni potnik).
1 January 2013 - 31 March 2013
Kraljeva uredba z dne 7. januarja 2014
1 April 2013 - 31 March 2014
Ukrep, ki je predmet tega sklepa, je dodelitev subvencij različnim letalskim prevoznikom na podlagi kraljeve uredbe z dne 7. januarja 2014 (v nadaljnjem besedilu: kraljeva uredba z dne 7. januarja 2014), pri čemer te subvencije izhajajo iz sredstev, ki jih je družba BAC prejela od belgijske zvezne vlade in razdelila v skladu s pravili, ki jih določa navedena kraljeva uredba.
1 April 2014 - 31 March 2015
Na podlagi člena 1 kraljeve uredbe z dne 7. januarja 2014 je družbi BAC dodeljena subvencija v letnem znesku 19000000 EUR za podporo infrastrukturi, povezani z varovanjem oziroma vsemi dejavnostmi za zagotavljanje varovanja potnikov in letaliških objektov in naprav, kot je kontrola potnikov in njihove prtljage ob vhodu na območje omejenega gibanja na letališču za odkrivanje morebitnih razstreliv ali orožja ali drugih nevarnih predmetov.
1 April 2015 - 31 March 2016
Ta subvencija je dodeljena za proračunska leta 2014, 2015 in 2016.
1 April 2016 - 31 March 2017
Letno se izplača na račun družbe BAC najpozneje do 31. marca posameznega leta.
During the period in question, the security charge levied by BAC was a flat rate per departing passenger, with no distinction as to type of passenger (passenger starting their air route from Brussels airport, transfer passenger or transit passenger).
Na podlagi člena 2(1) kraljeve uredbe z dne 7. januarja 2014 družba BAC uporabnikom letališča Bruxelles-National, ki so med 1. januarjem in 31. decembrom 2012 prepeljali več kot 400000 odhajajočih potnikov, pri čemer tranzitni in transferni potniki niso vključeni, razdeli subvencijo iz člena 1 navedene kraljeve uredbe v znesku, ki ustreza delu zneska, ki so ga ti plačali za storitve za zagotovitev varovanja potnikov in varovanja letaliških objektov in naprav v prejšnjem letu.
The Royal Decree of 7 January 2014
V členu 2(2) kraljeve uredbe z dne 7. januarja 2014 je določeno, da se znesek, vrnjen posameznemu uporabniku ob upoštevanju pogojev iz člena 2(1) navedene kraljeve uredbe, „izračuna letno na podlagi števila vključenih odhajajočih, tranzitnih in transfernih potnikov za leta 2013, 2014 in 2015; od 400000. potnika letno je uporabnik za leta 2013, 2014 in 2015 oproščen plačila za storitve za zagotavljanje varovanja potnikov in varovanja letaliških objektov in naprav do največjega letnega zneska devetnajst milijonov eurov (19000000 EUR)“.
The measure covered by this Decision is the grant, pursuant to the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014, (hereinafter ‘the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014’), of subsidies to various airlines, from funds received by BAC from the Belgian Federal Government and redistributed in accordance with the rules laid down in that Royal Decree.
V kraljevi uredbi z dne 7. januarja 2014 je določeno, da učinkuje od 1. januarja 2013.
Pursuant to Article 1 of the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014, an annual subsidy of EUR 19000000 is hereby granted to BAC to support security-related infrastructure, i.e. all activities to ensure the safety of passengers and the security of airport facilities, such as the screening of passengers and their baggage upon entering the airport's restricted area for the purpose of detecting any explosives, weapons or other dangerous items.
Plačila, izvedena na podlagi kraljeve uredbe z dne 7. januarja 2014
It shall be paid annually to BAC's account no later than 31 March of each year.
Po navedbah Belgije je družba BAC v dopisu z dne 8. julija 2014 belgijske organe izrecno prosila, naj zneske izplačajo neposredno na bančne račune upravičenih letalskih prevoznikov za lažje upravno izvajanje kraljeve uredbe z dne 7. januarja 2014.
Pursuant to Article 2(1) of the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014, BAC redistributes to users of Brussels airport having carried more than 400000 departing passengers between 1 January and 31 December 2012, not including transit or transfer passengers, the subsidy referred to in Article 1 of the Royal Decree, in proportion to the amount they paid for services to ensure the safety of passengers and the security of airport facilities during the previous year.
Dne 12. septembra 2014 se je svet ministrov seznanil z željo družbe BAC, kot je bila izražena v njenem dopisu z dne 8. julija 2014, in odobril predlagano poenostavitev postopka, in sicer neposredno izplačilo zadevnih zneskov na bančne račune upravičenih letalskih prevoznikov.
Article 2(2) of the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014 states that the amount paid to each user complying with the conditions referred to in Article 2(1) of the Royal Decree ‘is to be calculated annually on the basis of the number of departing passengers, including transit and transfer passengers, for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015; over and above the 400000th passenger per year, the user is exempted, for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015, from paying for services to ensure the safety of passengers and the security of airport facilities, up to a maximum total annual amount of nineteen million euros (EUR 19000000)’.
Dne 22. septembra 2014 so letalski prevozniki, ki so izpolnjevali merila iz kraljeve uredbe z dne 7. januarja 2014, in sicer družbe Brussels Airlines, TUI Airlines Belgium in Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium, prejeli 16779819 EUR, 2143621 EUR oziroma 76560 EUR za leto 2013.
Article 4 of the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014 stipulates that this budget measure will be assessed in the course of 2015 so that it can be adjusted before the start of the new 2016-2021 tariff period.
Belgija je predložila podrobne podatke o izračunu teh zneskov, s čimer je pojasnila način uporabe kraljeve uredbe z dne 7. januarja 2014.
The tariff period referred to in this provision corresponds to the five-year tariff schedule period for airport charges at Brussels airport, as provided for in Article 43 of the Royal Decree of 21 June 2004.
Belgija je najprej ugotovila, da so do ukrepa upravičeni samo trije letalski prevozniki, in sicer Brussels Airlines, TUI Airlines Belgium in Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium, ker noben drug letalski prevoznik ni prepeljal več kot 400000 potnikov, ki so odšli med 1. januarjem in 31. decembrom 2012, brez upoštevanja tranzitnih in transfernih potnikov.
The Royal Decree of 7 January 2014 states that it is to take effect on 1 January 2013.
Zneski, dolgovani vsakemu od teh treh letalskih prevoznikov leta 2014, so bili izračunani glede na število odhajajočih potnikov, ki jih je prepeljal posamezni prevoznik v posameznem mesecu leta 2013, vključno s transfernimi in tranzitnimi potniki.
Payments made pursuant to the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014
Za vsakega prevoznika sta bila ugotovljena mesec, v katerem je bil presežen prag 400000 odhajajočih potnikov, prepeljanih od 1. januarja 2013, in pristojbina za varovanje, ki je veljala v tem mesecu.
Contrary to Article 2(1) of the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014 (‘… BAC redistributes to users of Brussels airport (…) the subsidy referred to in Article 1(…)’), Belgium made the payments due directly to the airlines, without them passing through BAC.
Da bi se upoštevala zgornja proračunska meja 19000000 EUR letno, je bilo za vsakega od treh tako izračunanih zneskov nato uporabljeno pravilo treh za določitev zneska, ki se dejansko izplača posameznemu letalskemu prevozniku za leto 2013.
According to Belgium, BAC expressly asked the Belgian authorities, in its letter of 8 July 2014, to pay the amounts directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiary airlines in order to facilitate the administrative implementation of the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014.
Upravičenci
On 12 September 2014, the Council of Ministers took note of BAC's wish as expressed in its letter of 8 July 2014 and approved the proposed simplification of the procedure, i.e. direct payment of the sums concerned to the accounts of the beneficiary airlines.
V sklepu o začetku postopka je Komisija opredelila letalske prevoznike, ki so izpolnjevali merila iz člena 2(1) kraljeve uredbe z dne 7. januarja 2014, kot edine potencialne upravičence ukrepa, ki bi lahko pomenil državno pomoč, ki je predmet formalnega postopka preiskave.
Belgium has provided details of the calculations of these amounts, thereby clarifying the application of the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014.
Po informacijah, ki so na voljo Komisiji, je Belgija to zavezo izpolnjevala.
Belgium first determined that only three airlines, Brussels Airlines, TUI Airlines Belgium and Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium were eligible for the scheme, since no other airline had carried more than 400000 departing passengers between 1 January and 31 December 2012, not including transit or transfer passengers.
Kraljeva uredba z dne 15. marca 2017
The amounts due to each of these three airlines in 2014 were calculated based on the number of departing passengers carried by each of them in each month of 2013, including transfer and transit passengers.
Dne 15. marca 2017 je bila sprejeta kraljeva uredba (v nadaljnjem besedilu: kraljeva uredba z dne 15. marca 2017), katere namen je bil odpraviti kraljevo uredbo z dne 7. januarja 2014.
For each airline, the month in which the threshold of 400000 departing passengers since 1 January 2013 was exceeded and the safety charge in force during that month were identified.
Obresti se izračunajo v skladu s poglavjem V Uredbe Komisije (ES) št. 794/2004.
This amount corresponds to the subsidy that would be due to the airline pursuant to the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014 in the absence of a budget ceiling.
RAZLOGI ZA ZAČETEK FORMALNEGA POSTOPKA PREISKAVE
In order to abide by the budget ceiling of EUR 19000000 per year, cross-multiplication is then applied to the three amounts thus calculated, in order to determine the amount actually due to each airline in respect of 2013.
Komisija se je v sklepu o začetku postopka najprej vprašala o obstoju državne pomoči letalskim prevoznikom, ki izpolnjujejo pogoje iz člena 2(1) kraljeve uredbe z dne 7. januarja 2014.
Beneficiaries
Nato je obravnavala vprašanje združljivosti te morebitne pomoči.
Suspension of the application of the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014
V zvezi z obstojem državne pomoči je Komisija naprej analizirala dejavnost upravičencev do zadevnega ukrepa.
Following the opening of the formal investigation procedure, Belgium decided, as a precautionary measure and without prejudice to its position on the preliminary assessment made by the Commission in the opening decision, to suspend from 3 December 2014 the implementation of the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014.
Ker so uporabniki letališča Bruxelles-National, ki jim mora družba BAC razdeliti subvencijo, letalski prevozniki, je Komisija menila, da je njihova dejavnost gospodarske narave v smislu člena 107(1) PDEU.
Belgium undertook not to make any payment pursuant to the Royal Decree until further notice.
Kar zadeva prisotnost državnih sredstev in pripisljivost ukrepa državi, je Komisija poudarila, da je bila subvencija dodeljena na podlagi kraljeve uredbe in financirana iz proračuna Belgije, natančneje proračuna zvezne javne službe za mobilnost in promet.
According to the information available to the Commission, Belgium has complied with that undertaking.
Poleg tega mora družba BAC na podlagi člena 2 kraljeve uredbe z dne 7. januarja 2014 uporabnikom letališča Bruxelles-National, ki so med 1. januarjem in 31. decembrom 2012 prepeljali več kot 400000 odhajajočih potnikov (pri čemer tranzitni in transferni potniki niso vključeni), razdeliti subvencijo iz člena 1 navedene kraljeve uredbe po pravilih, ki so v celoti opredeljena v navedeni kraljevi uredbi.
The Royal Decree of 15 March 2017
Komisija je torej menila, da je mogoče ukrep, ki obsega izvedbo plačil določenim letalskim prevoznikom na podlagi člena 2 kraljeve uredbe, pripisati Belgiji in da se financira iz državnih sredstev.
On 15 March 2017, a royal decree (hereinafter ‘the Royal Decree of 15 March 2017’) repealing the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014 was adopted.
Komisija je v zvezi z obstojem gospodarske prednosti, omogočene letalskim prevoznikom, poudarila, da na podlagi člena 2 kraljeve uredbe z dne 7. januarja 2014 družba BAC ni mogla prosto ohranjati nespremenjenih pristojbin, pobranih od letalskih prevoznikov, ko je prejela subvencijo, dodeljeno z navedeno kraljevo uredbo, temveč je bila obvezana določenim letalskim prevoznikom omogočiti, da so deležni učinkov te subvencije, kar predstavlja gospodarsko prednost v korist navedenim prevoznikom.
Furthermore, pursuant to Article 2 of the Royal Decree of 15 March 2017, the subsidies provided for by the repealed Royal Decree and levied while it was in force by the airlines concerned, namely from 1 January 2013 to 7 January 2014, must be repaid by 31 March 2017 to the Belgian federal authorities.
Komisija je zato predhodno ugotovila, da je ukrep selektiven.
That Article also provides that the amounts to be recovered attract interest from the date on which the subsidies were paid to the beneficiary until they are actually recovered.
Komisija je predhodno ugotovila, da lahko ta selektivna prednost povzroči izkrivljanje konkurence na notranjem trgu in vpliva na trgovino med državami članicami, ker lahko zadevnim letalskim prevoznikom omogoči uporabo agresivnejše cenovne politike ter umetno ohranjanje ali povečanje ponudbe storitev glede na običajne tržne pogoje.
The interest shall be calculated in accordance with Chapter V of Commission Regulation (EC) No 794/2004.
Komisija je zato predhodno ugotovila, da pomeni subvencija, ki so jo prejeli upravičeni letalski prevozniki, državno pomoč v smislu člena 107(1) PDEU.
Belgium has provided the Commission with a document showing that Brussels Airlines, TUI Airlines Belgium and Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium have repaid all the subsidies received, with interest, in accordance with Article 2 of the Royal Decree of 15 March 2017.
Komisija je poleg tega v svojem sklepu o začetku postopka ugotovila, da ni pravne podlage, ki bi Belgijo oproščala priglasitve te pomoči v skladu s členom 108(4) PDEU.
GROUNDS FOR INITIATING THE FORMAL INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE
Zlasti je opozorila, da za zadevne subvencije ne velja uredba o splošnih skupinskih izjemah, ker ne izpolnjujejo pogojev iz poglavja I navedene uredbe.
In its opening decision, the Commission first of all examined whether there was State aid for airlines satisfying the conditions laid down in Article 2(1) of the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014.
Zato je menila, da lahko ta ukrep pomeni nezakonito pomoč, saj je kraljeva uredba z dne 7. januarja 2014 začela veljati, ne da bi bila priglašena Komisiji.
It then considered the compatibility of this possible aid.
Nazadnje, Komisija je izrazila dvom glede združljivosti morebitne pomoči z notranjim trgom, zlasti glede na smernice Komisije o državni pomoči letališčem in letalskim prevoznikom z dne 4. aprila 2014 (v nadaljnjem besedilu: letališke smernice), ki ne določajo, da bi lahko bila državna pomoč odobrena letalskim prevoznikom za njihovo dejavnost odhodov z letališč, ki imajo več kot 5 milijonov potnikov letno in ki se ne nahajajo na oddaljenih območjih, kot je letališče Bruxelles-National.
Regarding the existence of State aid, the Commission first analysed the activity of the beneficiaries of the measure in question.
Belgija je svoje pripombe k sklepu o začetku postopka Komisiji poslala 15. januarja 2015.
Since the users of Brussels airport to which BAC has to redistribute the subsidy are airlines, the Commission considered that their activity was of an economic nature within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU.
Obstoj državne pomoči
Regarding the presence of State resources and the State's accountability for the measure, the Commission found that the subsidy was granted pursuant to a Royal Decree and funded by the Belgian budget, specifically the budget of the Federal Public Service for Mobility and Transport.
Belgija naprej opozarja na kumulativne pogoje za to, da se ukrep označi za državno pomoč, zlasti dejstvo, (1) da je upravičenec ali so upravičenci podjetja v smislu člena 107(1) PDEU, (2) da mora biti zadevni ukrep odobren iz državnih sredstev in pripisljiv državi, (3) da mora ukrep upravičencu ali upravičencem omogočiti prednost, ta pa mora biti selektivna, in (4) da mora biti zadevni ukrep tak, ki izkrivlja ali bi lahko izkrivljal konkurenco ter ki lahko vpliva na trgovino med državami članicami.
In addition, pursuant to Article 2 of the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014, BAC must redistribute to users of Brussels airport that carried more than 400000 departing passengers (passengers in transit and transfer not included) between 1 January and 31 December 2012 the subsidy referred to in Article 1 of the Royal Decree in accordance with rules laid down entirely by the Royal Decree.
Belgija nato navaja, da ne izpodbija tega, da bi bilo mogoče zadevni ukrep pripisati državi in da bi lahko vplival na trgovino med državami članicami.
The Commission therefore considered that the measure for making payments to certain airlines pursuant to Article 2 of the Royal Decree was attributable to Belgium and funded out of State resources.
Vendar Belgija meni, da ne gre za (1) subvencijo, odobreno v korist podjetja, ki opravlja gospodarsko dejavnost, niti za (2) selektivno prednost, kar zadostuje za izključitev, da bi ukrep, vzpostavljen s kraljevo uredbo z dne 7. januarja 2014, kakor koli označili za državno pomoč.
Regarding the presence of an economic advantage for the airlines, the Commission noted that, pursuant to Article 2 of the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014, BAC was not free to maintain the charges collected from the airlines once the subsidy granted by the Royal Decree had been received, but was obliged to pass on the effects of this subsidy to certain airlines, which constitutes an economic advantage for those airlines.
Trditve Belgije v podporo teh dveh ugotovitev so povzete v uvodnih izjavah od 60 do 72.
Moreover, the Commission has reached a preliminary conclusion that the measure is selective.
Pojma podjetje in gospodarska dejavnost
It benefits only the airlines using Brussels airport which satisfy a number of conditions relating to traffic at Brussels airport in 2012.
Belgija navaja, da pojem podjetje v smislu člena 107 PDEU zajema vsak subjekt, ki opravlja gospodarsko dejavnost, neodvisno od pravnega statusa tega subjekta in načina njegovega financiranja.
According to the Commission's preliminary analysis, the eligibility of airlines for the scheme concerned is based on discriminatory criteria unrelated to the purpose and nature of the measure, effectively favouring three airlines while excluding without good reason all other users of Brussels airport.
Zato poudarja, da se dejavnosti, ki se opravljajo v okviru izvajanja pristojnosti javnega organa, ne štejejo za „gospodarske“.
The Commission has found on a preliminary basis that this selective advantage is likely to create distortions of competition in the internal market and affect trade between Member States, as it may allow the airlines concerned to pursue a more aggressive tariff policy and maintain or artificially increase the supply of services provided in relation to normal market conditions.
Na letališkem področju takšne dejavnosti vključujejo zlasti varovanje, kontrolo zračnega prometa in policijo.
The Commission came to a preliminary conclusion that the subsidy received by the beneficiary airlines constituted State aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU.
Po mnenju Belgije iz tega izhaja, da dejavnosti v zvezi z varovanjem na letališčih ne pomenijo gospodarske dejavnosti v smislu konkurenčnega prava in da njihovo financiranje zato ne pomeni državne pomoči.
The Commission also stated in its opening decision that there was no legal basis exempting Belgium from notifying this aid under Article 108(4) TFEU.
V zvezi s tem Belgija meni, da je mogoče, da nek subjekt kombinira izvajanje pristojnosti javnega organa z opravljanjem nekaterih gospodarskih dejavnosti ter da za ta subjekt zato pravila, ki se uporabljajo na področju državne pomoči, veljajo samo za njegove gospodarske dejavnosti.
In particular, the Commission noted that the subsidies in question were not covered by the General Block Exemption Regulation, to the extent that they did not fulfil the conditions laid down in Chapter I of that Regulation.
Belgija meni, da financiranje storitev v zvezi z varovanjem na letališču, kot je določeno v kraljevi uredbi z dne 7. januarja 2014, ne pomeni državne pomoči, ker take dejavnosti spadajo v okvir izvajanja pristojnosti javnega organa.
The Commission therefore considered that the measure was likely to constitute unlawful aid, the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014 having entered into force without having been notified to the Commission.
Obstoj selektivne prednosti
Finally, the Commission expressed doubts as to the compatibility of the possible aid with the internal market, in particular in the light of the Commission's Guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines of 4 April 2014 (hereinafter the ‘aviation guidelines’) which do not allow for State aid to be granted to airlines for their activities departing from airports handling more than five million passengers a year that are not located in remote areas, such as Brussels airport.
Belgija poleg tega meni, da zadevni ukrep upravičencem ne daje prednosti v smislu pravil o državni pomoči.
COMMENTS FROM BELGIUM ON THE OPENING DECISION
Natančneje, sklicuje se na to, da je treba obstoj prednosti ugotavljati s primerjavo med obravnavanim položajem in običajnim položajem.