natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
The Commission notes in this respect that the measure was introduced only for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Zadevni ukrep tega pogoja ne izpolnjuje, saj potniki, na podlagi katerih nastane pravica do povračila iz člena 2(1) kraljeve uredbe z dne 7. januarja 2014, niso nujno potniki, ki uporabljajo nove rute ali rute, ki so predmet novih frekvenc, ki vodijo v povečanje števila potnikov.
It is therefore a hypothetical question as to whether it will be extended for a longer period.
Nadalje, medtem ko točka 15 smernic iz leta 2005 razlikuje med štirimi kategorijami letališč, in sicer A, B, C in D, točka 79(b) navedenih smernic določa, da se zagonska pomoč izplača za rute, ki regionalno letališče kategorije C ali D povezuje z drugim letališčem Unije, pri čemer je mogoče pomoč za rute med nacionalnimi letališči (kategorija B) predvideti samo izjemoma.
In the light of the above, the restriction of the number of beneficiaries on the basis of traffic data for 2012 is not justified by the nature or the economy of the system of which the measure concerned is a part.
Točka 79(b) ne določa, da bi bila lahko zagonska pomoč odobrena za rute med letališčem kategorije A in letališčem kategorije A ali B ali letališčem zunaj Unije.
The measure provides an advantage to three specific users of Brussels National Airport over others, and this advantage is not justified by the nature and the economy of the system of which the measure concerned is a part.
Letališče Bruxelles-National ima več kot deset milijonov potnikov letno in torej spada v kategorijo A. Ker ukrep ni povezan z nobenim pogojem glede namembnega letališča na rutah, ki jih uporabljajo potniki, na podlagi katerih nastane pravica do povračila pristojbine za varovanje v skladu s členom 2(1) kraljeve uredbe z dne 7. januarja 2014, pogoj iz točke 79(b) navedenih smernic ni izpolnjen.
This conclusion confirms the selective nature of the measure.
Pomoč torej ne izpolnjuje meril za združljivost, ki jih smernice iz leta 2005 določajo za zagonsko pomoč.
Moreover, it follows from all the above that all the other users of Brussels airport are excluded from the scheme, and therefore receive no subsidy, although their exclusion is not justified by the nature or the economy of the system of which the measure concerned is a part.
Glede na zgoraj navedeno pomoč ni združljiva z notranjim trgom.
Therefore, the entire subsidy received by the beneficiaries of the scheme constitutes a selective economic advantage.
VRAČILO
Effect on trade between Member States and on competition
Komisija je v skladu z določbami PDEU in ustaljeno sodno prakso Sodišča pristojna za odločanje, ali mora zadevna država članica odpraviti ali spremeniti pomoč, za katero je ugotovila, da ni združljiva z notranjim trgom.
Public support to undertakings only constitutes State aid under Article 107(1) of the TFEU if it ‘distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring certain undertakings or the production of certain goods’ and only insofar as it ‘affects trade between Member States’.
Sodišče prav tako dosledno meni, da je namen obveznosti države članice, da ukine pomoč, za katero Komisija meni, da ni združljiva z notranjim trgom, ponovna vzpostavitev prejšnjih razmer.
When aid granted by a Member State strengthens the position of an undertaking compared with other undertakings competing in intra-Union trade, the latter is regarded as affected by that aid.
Sodišče je v okviru tega menilo, da je ta cilj dosežen, če je upravičenec vrnil zneske nezakonito odobrene pomoči.
According to the case law in order for a measure to be recognised as potentially distorting competition, it is sufficient for the recipient of the aid to be in direct competition with other undertakings in markets open to competition.
S tem vračilom upravičenec izgubi prednost, ki jo je imel pred konkurenti na trgu, in se ponovno vzpostavijo razmere pred plačilom pomoči.
Regarding the effect on trade, there is no need to establish that the aid has an actual effect on trade between Member States but only whether the aid is liable to affect such trade.
V skladu z navedeno sodno prakso je v členu 16(1) Uredbe (EU) 2015/1589 določeno, da „[č]e se v primerih nezakonite pomoči sprejmejo negativni sklepi, Komisija odloči, da mora zadevna država članica sprejeti vse potrebne ukrepe, da upravičenec vrne pomoč […]“.
In particular, the Union Courts have ruled that where State financial aid strengthens the position of an undertaking as compared with other undertakings competing in intra-Union trade, the latter must be regarded as affected by the aid.
Ker so bili zadevni ukrepi izvedeni v nasprotju s členom 108(3) PDEU in niso združljivi z notranjim trgom, je torej treba zadevno pomoč vrniti, da se ponovno vzpostavi stanje na trgu, kot je bilo pred njeno dodelitvijo.
The measure in question allows the beneficiary airlines to pursue a more aggressive pricing policy, as well as to maintain or artificially increase their offering of services provided in relation to normal market conditions, and thereby to distort competition with other airlines that do not benefit from the measure.
Vračilo mora vključevati obdobje od takrat, ko je bila ugodnost odobrena upravičencem, tj. od takrat, ko je bila pomoč dana na voljo upravičencem, do njenega dejanskega vračila.
The measure is therefore likely to strengthen the position of the beneficiary undertakings in relation to other airlines operating on the passenger air transport market within the Union.
Zneskom, ki jih je treba vrniti, je treba torej prišteti obresti do datuma njihovega dejanskega vračila.
However, this market has been fully liberalised and open to all Union airlines as a result of Union legislation.
Poleg tega je Belgija z dopisom z dne 16. maja 2017 predložila vsa potrebna dokazila o tem, da so letalski prevozniki Brussels Airlines, TUI Airlines Belgium in Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium v skladu s kraljevo uredbo z dne 15. marca 2017 vrnili prejete zneske pomoči in obresti, obračunane od 22. septembra 2014 na podlagi obrestnoobrestnega računa v skladu s poglavjem V Uredbe (ES) št. 794/2004 in Uredbo Komisije (ES) št. 271/2008 o spremembi Uredbe (ES) št. 794/2004, in sicer 16779819 EUR pomoči in 543546,30 EUR obresti, 2143621 EUR pomoči in 69438,01 EUR obresti oziroma 76560 EUR in 2480 EUR obresti.
It follows that, by distorting competition between airlines operating within the internal market, this measure may also distort trade between Member States.
Glede na te elemente in ob upoštevanju vračila zneskov prejete pomoči in pripadajočih obresti Komisija meni, da so upravičenci izgubili prednost, ki so jo imeli pred konkurenti na trgu, in da so bile ponovno vzpostavljene konkurenčne razmere, kot so obstajale pred plačilom pomoči.
Conclusion on the existence of aid for the airlines
Glede na zgoraj navedeno Belgiji ni treba naložiti, naj odpravi ukrep in od upravičencev izterja nezdružljivo pomoč, saj je te ukrepe izvedla že sama.
The measure at issue constitutes State aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU for the benefit of the airlines satisfying the conditions laid down in Article 2(1) of the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014.
SKLEPNA UGOTOVITEV
Legality of the aid
Komisija ugotavlja, da je Belgija nezakonito izvedla državno pomoč v korist letalskih prevoznikov, ki izpolnjujejo pogoje iz člena 2(1) kraljeve uredbe z dne 7. januarja 2014, in s tem kršila člen 108(3) PDEU.
In the present case, the measure in question has already been implemented, as the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014 entered into force without the measure being notified to the Commission.
Ker pa je Belgija odpravila kraljevo uredbo z dne 7. januarja 2014 ter izterjala pomoč in pripadajoče obresti, je bil položaj, ki je prevladoval pred odobritvijo te nezakonite in nezdružljive državne pomoči, ponovno vzpostavljen.
The subsequent suspension of the Royal Decree has no impact on the illegality of the aid.
Zato ni treba odrediti odprave ukrepa in vračila zadevne pomoči –
The Commission has not identified a legal basis exempting Belgium from the obligation to notify this aid.
SPREJELA NASLEDNJI SKLEP:
The subsidy granted is not covered by Regulation (EC) No 800/2008, nor by Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014, Article 58(1) of which provides that ‘This Regulation shall apply to individual aid granted before its entry into force, if the aid fulfils all the conditions laid down in this Regulation, with the exception of Article 9’.
Člen 1
Moreover, it is excluded from the scope of Commission Decision 2012/21/EU, if only because the level of traffic at Brussels airport exceeds the threshold of 200000 passengers a year, established by Article 2(1)(e) of that Decision.
Subvencija, odobrena s kraljevo uredbo z dne 7. januarja 2014, v korist nekaterih letalskih prevoznikov je državna pomoč v smislu člena 107(1) Pogodbe o delovanju Evropske unije.
The measure at issue therefore constitutes unlawful aid.
Pomoč iz odstavka 1, ki jo je Kraljevina Belgija izvedla nezakonito in v nasprotju s členom 108(3) Pogodbe o delovanju Evropske unije, je nezdružljiva z notranjim trgom.
Since the subsidy referred to constitutes State aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU, its compatibility with the internal market must be examined.
Člen 2
Since in its view the measure did not constitute State aid, Belgium has not referred to a legal basis or reasoning on the basis of which the measure could be declared compatible with the internal market if it were to be classed as State aid.
Ta sklep je naslovljen na Kraljevino Belgijo.
Brussels Airlines argued that if the Commission were nevertheless to conclude that State aid existed, that aid should be regarded as compatible until at least 4 April 2014, the date of entry into force of the new aviation guidelines.
V Bruslju, 18. julija 2017
Brussels Airlines refers in this respect to the Charleroi decision, in which the Commission considered that several aid measures granted by the Walloon Region were compatible with the internal market until 4 April 2014.
Za Komisijo
However, the measures examined in the Charleroi decision, to which Brussels Airlines refers, were aid measures in favour of the Charleroi airport manager, declared partially compatible with the internal market on the basis of section 5.1.2 of the aviation guidelines, on operating aid for airports.
Članica Komisije
In so far as the measure at issue is aid to airlines, and not to airport managers, Brussels Airlines' argument is irrelevant.
UL C 24, 23.1.2015, str. 10.
Despite Belgium failing to put forward any arguments to justify the compatibility of the aid with the internal market, the Commission has examined the compatibility of the aid with the aid of Article 107(3)(c) of the TFEU under which ‘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 compatible with the internal market.
Glej opombo 1.
It does not appear that the aid can be declared compatible on any other legal basis.
Številke v oklepajih prikazujejo spremembo števila potnikov ali premikov glede na prejšnje leto.
In particular, the measure cannot be regarded as compensation which would be granted to the airlines for the operation of services of general economic interest.
Kraljeva uredba z dne 27. maja 2004 o preoblikovanju družbe Brussels International Airport Company v delniško družbo zasebnega prava ter letaliških objektih in napravah (Moniteur belge z dne 24. junija 2004, str. 51750).
The aviation guidelines provide a general framework for assessing the compatibility of aid provided to airlines under Article 107(3)(c) TFEU.
Posebni zakon z dne 8. avgusta 1980 o institucionalnih reformah (Moniteur belge z dne 15. avgusta 1980, str. 9434).
With the exception of aid of a social nature, benefiting the final consumer for a given route, which clearly does not apply to the measure in question, start-up aid is the only aid to airlines which may be authorised on the basis of the aviation guidelines.
Kraljeva uredba z dne 21. junija 2004 o podelitvi licence za upravljanje letališča Bruxelles-National delniški družbi B.I.A.C.
Pursuant to point 174 of the Aviation Guidelines, the Commission will apply to unlawful start-up aid to airlines the rules in force at the time when the aid was granted.
(Moniteur belge z dne 15. julija 2004, str. 55640).
The Royal Decree was adopted on 7 January 2014, i.e. before 4 April 2014.
Člen 1(12) in člen 30(7) kraljeve uredbe z dne 27. maja 2004.
On that date, start-up aid to airlines was governed by the Community guidelines on financing of airports and start-up aid to airlines departing from regional airports (hereinafter ‘the 2005 Guidelines’).
Člen 35(1) kraljeve uredbe z dne 27. maja 2004.
According to point 79(c) of the 2005 Guidelines, start-up aid should apply only to the opening of new routes or new schedules, which will lead to an increase in the net volume of passengers.
Odgovor z dne 12. marca 2015 na zahtevo po informacijah z dne 10. februarja 2015 (odgovor na vprašanje 5b).
The measure in question does not satisfy this condition since the passengers who are entitled to the refund provided for in Article 2(1) of the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014 are not necessarily passengers using new routes or routes with new schedules which will lead to an increase in the number of passengers.
Kraljeva uredba z dne 7. januarja 2014 o dodelitvi subvencije družbi Brussels Airport Company, imetnici licence za upravljanje letališča Bruxelles National, za podporo infrastrukturi, povezani z varovanjem (Moniteur belge z dne 23. aprila 2014, str. 34506).
Moreover, whereas point 15 of the 2005 Guidelines distinguishes four categories of airport, A, B, C and D, point 79(b) of the Guidelines requires that start-up aid be paid for routes linking a regional airport in category C or D to another EU airport, while aid for routes between national airports (category B) can be considered only in duly substantiated exceptional cases.
Izraz „uporabniki letališča Bruxelles-National“ v tem okviru pomeni letalske prevoznike, ki letijo s tega letališča.
Paragraph 79(b) does not provide for start-up aid to be granted for flights between a Category A airport and a Category A or B airport or an airport outside the Union.
Odgovor z dne 12. marca 2015 na zahtevo po informacijah z dne 10. februarja 2015.
However, Brussels airport handles more than 10 million passengers a year and therefore belongs to Category A. As the measure does not include any conditions as to the airport of destination of the routes used by passengers entitling it to a reimbursement of the security charge pursuant to Article 2(1) of the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014, the condition set out in point 79(b) of those guidelines is not satisfied.
Kraljeva uredba z dne 15. marca 2017 o odpravi kraljeve uredbe z dne 7. januarja 2014 o dodelitvi subvencije družbi Brussels Airport Company, imetnici licence za upravljanje letališča Bruxelles National, za podporo infrastrukturi, povezani z varovanjem (Moniteur belge z dne 24. marca 2017).
The aid does not satisfy the compatibility criteria for start-up aid under the 2005 guidelines.
Uredba Komisije (ES) št. 794/2004 z dne 21. aprila 2004 o izvajanju Uredbe Sveta (EU) 2015/1589 o določitvi podrobnih pravil za uporabo člena 108 Pogodbe o delovanju Evropske unije (UL L 140, 30.4.2004, str. 1).
In the light of the above, the aid is incompatible with the internal market.
Obvestilo Komisije o veljavnih obrestnih merah za vračilo državne pomoči in o referenčnih obrestnih merah/diskontnih stopnjah za 28 držav članic, ki veljajo od 1. januarja 2014 (Objavljeno v skladu s členom 10 Uredbe Komisije (ES) št. 794/2004 z dne 21. aprila 2004 (UL L 140, 30.4.2004, str. 1)) (UL C 2, 7.1.2014, str. 7).
RECOVERY
Uredba Komisije (ES) št. 800/2008 z dne 6. avgusta 2008 o razglasitvi nekaterih vrst pomoči za združljive s skupnim trgom z uporabo členov 87 in 88 Pogodbe (Uredba o splošnih skupinskih izjemah) (UL L 214, 9.8.2008, str. 3).
According to the provisions of the TFEU and the Court's established case-law, the Commission is competent to decide that the Member State concerned must abolish or alter aid when it has found that it is incompatible with the internal market.
Sporočilo Komisije – Smernice o državni pomoči letališčem in letalskim prevoznikom (UL C 99, 4.4.2014, str. 3).
Similarly, the Court has consistently ruled that the obligation of a Member State to withdraw aid considered by the Commission to be incompatible with the internal market is intended to restore the previous situation.
Točka 145 letaliških smernic.
In this context, the Court has established that that objective is attained once the recipient has repaid the amounts granted by way of unlawful aid, thus forfeiting the advantage which it had enjoyed over its competitors on the market, and the situation prior to the payment of the aid is restored.
Sklep Komisije (EU) 2016/2069 z dne 1. oktobra 2014 o ukrepih SA.14093 (C 76/2002), ki jih je Belgija izvedla v korist družb Brussels South Charleroi Airport in Ryanair (UL L 325, 30.11.2016, str. 63).
In line with the case-law, Article 16(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/1589 stated that ‘where negative decisions are taken in cases of unlawful aid, the Commission shall decide that the Member State concerned shall take all necessary measures to recover the aid from the beneficiary (…)’.
Uredba Sveta (ES) št. 659/1999 z dne 22. marca 1999 o določitvi podrobnih pravil za uporabo člena 108 pogodbe o delovanju Evropske unije (UL L 83, 27.3.1999, str. 1).
Therefore, since the measures in question were implemented in breach of Article 108(3) TFEU and are incompatible with the internal market, the aid must be recovered in order to restore the existing market situation before they were granted.
Uredba Sveta (EU) 2015/1589 z dne 13. julija 2015 o določitvi podrobnih pravil za uporabo člena 108 Pogodbe o delovanju Evropske unije (UL L 248, 24.9.2015, str. 9).
The recovery must cover the period from the moment the advantage was granted to the beneficiaries, i.e. from the moment the aid was made available to the beneficiaries until it was actually recovered.
UL L 325, 30.11.2016, str. 63.
The sums to be recovered must therefore attract interest until the moment they are actually recovered.
Moniteur belge z dne 31. decembra 2001.
By letter of 20 March 2017, Belgium informed the Commission of the withdrawal of the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014 by Royal Decree of 15 March 2017.
Zlasti njegov člen 158, odstavki 1, 2 in 4.
Furthermore, by letter of 16 May 2017, Belgium provided all the necessary evidence that Brussels Airlines, TUI Airlines Belgium and Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium had repaid, pursuant to the Royal Decree of 15 March 2017, the amounts of aid received and interest calculated from 22 September 2014, on a compound basis in accordance with Chapter V of Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 271/2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 794/2004, i.e. respectively EUR 16779819 of aid and EUR 543546,30 of interest, EUR 2143621 of aid and EUR 69438,01 of interest, and EUR 76560 and EUR 2480 of interest.
15, št. 102, člen 15.
In this light, taking account of the reimbursement of the amounts of aid received and the corresponding interest, the Commission considers that the beneficiaries have lost the advantage they had enjoyed in the market in relation to their competitors, and that the competitive situation prior to the payment of the aid has been reinstated.
Direktiva 2009/12/ES Evropskega parlamenta in Sveta z dne 11. marca 2009 o letaliških pristojbinah (UL L 70, 14.3.2009, str. 11).
In the light of the above, there is no reason to require Belgium to abolish the measure or recover the incompatible aid from the beneficiaries since it has already taken that action.
Glej na primer sodbo Sodišča z dne 10. januarja 2006, Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze/Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze, C-222/04, ECLI:EU:C:2006:8, točka 129.
CONCLUSION
Glej sodbe Sodišča z dne 18. junija 1998, Komisija/Italija, C-35/96, ECLI:EU:C:1998:303, točka 36; z dne 23. aprila 1991, Höfner in Elser, C-41/90, ECLI:CU:C:1991:161, točka 21; z dne 16. novembra 1995, Fédération Française des Sociétés d'Assurances/Ministère de l'Agriculture et de la Pêche, C-244/94, ECLI:EU:C:1995:392, točka 14, in z dne 11. decembra 1997, Job Centre, C-55/96, ECLI:EU:C:1997:603, točka 21.
The Commission finds that Belgium has unlawfully implemented State aid for airlines satisfying the conditions set out in Article 2(1) of the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014, in breach of Article 108(3) TFEU.
Sodbi Sodišča z dne 16. junija 1987, Komisija/Italija, C-118/85, ECLI:EU:C:1987:283, točka 7, in z dne 18. junija 1998, Komisija/Italija, C-35/96, ECLI:EU:C:1998:303, točka 36.
Since no grounds of compatibility can be identified for the scheme in question, it is found to be incompatible with the internal market.
Glej na primer sodbo Sodišča z dne 17. julija 2008, Essent Netwerk Noord, C-206/06, ECLI:EU:C:2008:413, točke od 58 do 74.
However, since Belgium has withdrawn the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014 and recovered the aid and corresponding interest, the situation prevailing before the granting of the unlawful and incompatible State aid has been re-established.
Glej med drugim sodbo Sodišča z dne 14. februarja 1990, Francija/Komisija, C-301/87, ECLI:EU:C:1990:67, točka 41.
There is therefore no need to order the repeal of the measure or the recovery of the aid in question.
Sodba Sodišča z dne 2. julija 1974, Italija/Komisija, 173/73, ECLI:EU:C:1974:71, točka 27.
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Izraz „posredovanje države“ se ne nanaša le na pozitivne ukrepe države, ampak vključuje tudi dejstvo, da organi v določenih okoliščinah ne sprejmejo ukrepov, na primer za izterjavo dolgov.
Article 1
Glej na primer sodbo Sodišča z dne 12. oktobra 2000, Magefesa, C-480/98, ECLI:EU:C:2000:559, točki 19 in 20.
The subsidy granted by the Royal Decree of 7 January 2014 to certain airlines constitutes State aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Sodba Sodišča z dne 2. julija 1974, Italija/Komisija, 173/73, ECLI:EU:C:1974:71, točka 13.
This State aid granted unlawfully by the Kingdom of Belgium, in breach of Article 108(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, is incompatible with the internal market.
Sklep Komisije 2004/339/ES z dne 15. oktobra 2003 o ukrepih, ki jih izvaja Italija za RAI SpA (UL L 119, 23.4.2004, str. 1), uvodna izjava 69; sklepni predlogi generalnega pravobranilca N. Fennellyja z dne 26. novembra 1998 v zadevi Francija/Komisija, C-251/97, ECLI:EU:T:1998:572, točka 26.
Article 2
Sodba Sodišča z dne 24. julija 2003, Trans GmbH in Regierungspräsidium Magdeburg/ Nahverkehrsgesellschaft Altmark GmbH, C-280/00, ECLI:EU:C:2003:415, točke od 87 do 93.
This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Belgium.
Sodba Sodišča z dne 21. decembra 2016, Komisija/Hansestadt Lübeck, C-524/14 P, ECLI:EU:C:2016:971.
Done at Brussels, 18 July 2017.
Sodba Sodišča z dne 21. decembra 2016, Komisija/Hansestadt Lübeck, C-524/14 P, ECLI:EU:C:2016:971, točka 62.
For the Commission
Trditve, ki jih je predložila Belgija v zvezi s tem, so bile v bistvu predložene v njenem odgovoru z dne 2. aprila 2014 na zahtevo po informacijah z dne 11. februarja 2014, v njenih pripombah k sklepu o začetku postopka in v njenem odgovoru z dne 12. marca 2015 na zahtevo po informacijah z dne 10. februarja 2015.
Member of the Commission
Pripombe Belgije k sklepu o začetku postopka (dopis z dne 15. januarja 2015).
OJ C 24, 23.1.2015, p. 10.
Priloga 2 k odgovoru z dne 2. aprila 2014 na zahtevo po informacijah z dne 11. februarja 2014.
See footnote 1.
Odgovor z dne 2. aprila 2014 na vprašanje 14 iz zahteve po informacijah z dne 11. februarja 2014.
The figures in brackets represent the change in the number of passengers or movements compared with the previous year.
Glej tretjo uvodno izjavo kraljeve uredbe z dne 7. januarja 2014, v kateri je naveden ta cilj.
The Royal Decree of 27 May 2004 on the transformation of Brussels International Airport Company into a private limited-liability company and on airport facilities (Belgian Official Gazette of 24 June 2004, p. 51750).
Odgovor Belgije z dne 12. marca 2015 na vprašanje 2 iz zahteve Komisije po informacijah z dne 10. februarja 2015.