natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
The study uses an econometric model to estimate the costs of a hypothetical typical well-run undertaking on the basis of information from several European postal USO providers.
Razlogi, na podlagi katerih je ukrep državne pomoči lahko ali mora biti razglašen za združljivega z notranjim trgom, so navedeni v členu 106(2) ter členu 107(2) in 107(3) Pogodbe.
Correos' actual costs are compared to the costs that this hypothetical typical well-run undertaking would have incurred should it have been in a situation (e.g. with regard to the network density) similar to that of Correos.
Glede na to, da so španski organi dosledno trdili, da so nadomestila za obveznost zagotavljanja univerzalne storitve, dodeljena družbi Correos na podlagi zakona o poštnih storitvah iz leta 1998, nadomestila za opravljanje storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena, bo treba združljivost navedenih nadomestil z notranjim trgom oceniti na podlagi člena 106(2) Pogodbe.
The study's results suggest that Correos' costs in the period 2005-2010 were lower than those of the hypothetical typical well-run undertaking as estimated by the econometric model.
Navedeni člen določa:
The Commission expressed doubts in the 2016 Opening Decision that the hypothetical typical well-run undertaking defined in the study would actually be an efficient postal operator.
„Podjetja, pooblaščena za opravljanje storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena, oziroma podjetja, ki imajo značaj dohodkovnega monopola, ravnajo po pravilih iz Pogodb, zlasti po pravilih o konkurenci, kolikor uporaba takšnih pravil pravno ali dejansko ne ovira izvajanja posebnih nalog, ki so jim dodeljene.
Indeed, it has not been demonstrated that the USO providers used to establish this benchmark are themselves efficient operators.
Razvoj trgovine ne sme biti prizadet v takšnem obsegu, ki bi bil v nasprotju z interesi Unije.“
Instead, the study simply mentions that these postal operators are considered ‘well-run and adequately provided, because there is no evidence of any kind that would show them to be inefficient, or that would indicate that they have incentives to operate inefficiently’.
B. Časovna uporaba svežnja o storitvah splošnega gospodarskega pomena iz leta 2012
This argument is however all the more difficult to accept that the set includes USO providers which have received USO compensation, and for which the Commission has already adopted decisions concluding that their costs could not be considered efficient costs.
Komisija je določila pogoje, v skladu s katerimi uporablja člen 106(2) Pogodbe v vrsti instrumentov, nazadnje med drugim v okviru za storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena iz leta 2012 in sklepu o storitvah splošnega gospodarskega pomena iz leta 2012 (v nadaljnjem besedilu skupaj: sveženj o storitvah splošnega gospodarskega pomena iz leta 2012).
The Spanish authorities and/or Correos argue that the Commission has not formally stated in the decisions on the USO compensations granted to Hellenic Post and Poste Italiane that the operator were not efficient (see recitals 62 and 95).
Pred tem je Komisija objavila in uporabljala pogoje za ocenjevanje združljivosti na podlagi člena 106(2) Pogodbe iz okvira za storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena iz leta 2005 in sklepa o storitvah splošnega gospodarskega pomena iz leta 2005.
It can be noted that the Commission has rejected a similar approach in the 2012 Poste Italiane decision based on a comparison with a set of postal operators on the ground that it could not be inferred from available information that these operators were efficient.
Kar zadeva sklep o storitvah splošnega gospodarskega pomena iz leta 2012, je znesek nadomestil za obveznost zagotavljanja univerzalne storitve, ki so bila dodeljena družbi Correos v obdobju 2004–2010, večji od 15 milijonov EUR letno, zato navedena nadomestila ne spadajo na področje uporabe sklepa o storitvah splošnega gospodarskega pomena iz leta 2012, kot je določeno v členu 2 navedenega sklepa.
The Commission maintains its views that it is not possible to simply assume that in average postal operators are cost-efficient in particular in light of the continuous restructuring which is impacting this sector.
Prav tako ne spadajo na področje uporabe sklepa o storitvah splošnega gospodarskega pomena iz leta 2005, kot je določeno v členu 2 navedenega sklepa.
Furthermore, the USO compensation of Correos has been defined on the basis of the Spanish methodology which according to the Spanish authorities is an implementation of the NAC methodology.
Na sedanji stopnji razvoja notranjega trga se lahko državna pomoč, ki ni zajeta v sklepu o storitvah splošnega gospodarskega pomena iz leta 2012, razglasi za združljivo s členom 106(2) Pogodbe, če je potrebna za opravljanje zadevne storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena in ne vpliva na razvoj trgovine v obsegu, ki je v nasprotju z interesi Unije.
Finally, as explained in recitals 167-168, the Commission considers that the 3rd Altmark criterion is not fulfilled because the methodology used by the Spanish authorities appears to have resulted in compensation amounts that exceeded Correos USO net cost (including a reasonable profit).
Ker nadomestila za obveznost zagotavljanja univerzalne storitve v obdobju 2004–2010 pomenijo nezakonito državno pomoč, pa se v skladu z odstavkom 69 okvira za storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena iz leta 2012 za oceno združljivosti na podlagi člena 106(2) Pogodbe, ki jo izvede Komisija, ne uporabljajo pogoji, določeni v naslednjih odstavkih navedenega okvira:
This means that even if it were accepted that Correos' costs are those of a well-run undertaking, it could still not be considered that the compensation granted to Correos were set on the basis of these costs.
odstavek 14: ustrezno upoštevanje potrebe po javnih storitvah, ko se izvajalcu da pooblastilo za določeno storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena,
Consequentely, it cannot be concluded that the level of compensation granted to Correos was determined on the basis of an analysis of the costs, which a typical undertaking, well-run and adequately provided within the same sector would incur, taking into account the receipts and a reasonable profit from discharging the obligations.
odstavek 19: skladnost s pravili EU o javnem naročanju, ko se da pooblastilo za storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena,
Conclusion
odstavek 20: nediskriminatorna obravnava,
The Commission concludes that two of the four cumulative Altmark conditions are not fulfilled in the present case, so that the compensations must be considered as conferring an advantage to Correos.
odstavek 24 (in naslednji): izračun neto stroškov na podlagi metodologije NAC,
Distortion of competition and effect on trade
odstavek 39 (in naslednji): spodbude za učinkovitost;,
Public support to undertakings only amounts to State aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the Treaty if it ‘distorts or threatens to distort competition’ and only insofar as it ‘affects trade between Member States’.
odstavek 60: preglednost.
Concerning the principle of distortion of competition, a measure granted by a State is considered to distort or to threaten to distort competition when it is liable to improve the competitive position of the recipient compared to other undertakings with which it competes.
Zato bo Komisija v naslednjem oddelku ocenila nadomestila za obveznost zagotavljanja univerzalne storitve na podlagi okvira za storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena iz leta 2012, razen na podlagi navedenih odstavkov, in opredelila, ali so navedena nadomestila v skladu s preostalimi pogoji, določenimi v navedenem okviru.
For all practical purposes, a distortion of competition is thus assumed as soon as a State grants a financial advantage to an undertaking in a liberalised sector where there is, or could be, competition.
Združljivost na podlagi okvira za storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena iz leta 2012
Concerning the principle of effect on trade, the case law of the Court of Justice has established that any grant of aid to an undertaking exercising its activities in the internal market can be liable to affect trade between Member States.
A. Resnična storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena, kot je navedena v členu 106 Pogodbe
In the field of State aid rules, an effect on trade is not a priori precluded by the local or regional character of the service provided.
Storitev, za katero je španska država pooblastila družbo Correos, je univerzalna poštna storitev v skladu s členom 3(1) Direktive 2008/6/ES, ki se glasi: „Države članice zagotovijo, da lahko uporabniki koristijo pravico do univerzalne storitve, ki vključuje stalno izvajanje poštnih storitev predpisane kakovosti na vseh točkah dostopa na njihovem ozemlju po dostopnih cenah za vse uporabnike.“ Kot je navedeno v uvodnih izjavah od 4 do 8 Direktive 2008/6/ES o spremembi Direktive 97/67/ES, Unija obveznosti zagotavljanja univerzalne poštne storitve, kot so opredeljene v direktivi o poštnih storitvah, priznava kot resnične storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena v smislu člena 106(2) Pogodbe.
While there is no strict threshold or percentage below which it may be considered that trade between Member States is not affected, the limited scope of the economic activity, as may be evidenced by a very low turnover, renders the presence of an effect on trade less likely.
B. Potreba po aktu o pooblastitvi, v katerem so določene obveznosti javne storitve in metode za izračun nadomestila
As regards the present case, the Commission observes that Correos has been active on the markets for postal items and parcels which are characterized by intense competition with other providers from different Member States (i.e. Deutsche Post, TNT, La Poste, UPS, CTT Correios Portugal and Royal Mail).
Kot je navedeno v oddelku 2.3 okvira za storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena iz leta 2012, pojem storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena v smislu člena 106 Pogodbe pomeni, da je bilo zadevno podjetje pooblaščeno za opravljanje storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena z enim ali več uradnimi akti.
As a consequence, there are no doubts that any measure benefiting Correos is liable to affect competition and trade between Member States.
V navedenih aktih mora biti navedeno zlasti naslednje:
On the basis of the foregoing considerations, the Commission considers that the USO compensations granted to Correos under the 1998 Postal Law fulfil the cumulative criteria of Article 107(1) of the Treaty and hence that the measure constitutes State aid within the meaning of that provision.
konkretna narava obveznosti javne storitve in njeno trajanje;
EXISTING OR NEW AID
zadevno podjetje in ozemlje;
Article 1(b) of Council Regulation (EU) 2015/1589 provides that existing aid means ‘all aid which existed prior to the entry into force of the TFEU in the respective Member States.’
narava izključnih pravic, dodeljenih izvajalcu;
It thus follows that any aid scheme that existed in Spain prior to its accession to the Union on 1 January 1986 should be considered to be existing aid.
opis mehanizma nadomestila in meril za izračun, spremljanje in pregled nadomestila;
According to Article 1(c) of the same regulation: ‘“new aid” shall mean all aid, that is to say, aid schemes and individual aid, which is not existing aid, including alterations to existing aid.’
dogovori za preprečitev kakršnega koli prekomernega nadomestila in njegovo vračilo.
According to the Court of Justice, to establish whether an aid has been altered, it is decisive to examine whether the provisions providing for it have been altered..
V zakonu o poštnih storitvah iz leta 1998 in načrtu Plan de Prestación iz leta 2000, ki sta bila ustrezna akta o pooblastitvi za obdobje 2004–2010, je obveznost zagotavljanja univerzalne storitve jasno opredeljena, družba Correos pa pooblaščena za njeno izvajanje.
In subsequent judgments, the Court of Justice and the General Court have further elaborated on what kind of alteration of the provisions providing for the aid converts existing aid into new aid.
Zadevno ozemlje je celotno nacionalno ozemlje Španije.
According to the General Court, ‘[i]t is only where the alteration affects the actual substance of the original scheme that the latter is transformed into a new aid scheme.
V španskem zakonu o poštnih storitvah iz leta 1998 so v členu 19 nadalje navedene izključne pravice, dodeljene družbi Correos.
There can be no question of such a substantive alteration where the new element is clearly severable from the initial scheme.’
Navedene pravice na primer vključujejo uporabo blagovne znamke „España“, besede „Correos“ in povezanih simbolov.
In this respect, it is worth noting that, before the entry into force of the 1998 Postal Law, Correos' net global losses (regardless of whether these losses were caused by the USO or non-USO activities) were directly compensated from the Spanish State budget.
Načrt Plan de Prestación iz leta 2000 določa mehanizem za izračun neto stroškov obveznosti zagotavljanja univerzalne storitve (špansko metodologijo), ki se uporablja kot podlaga za znesek nadomestila.
After the adoption of the 1998 Postal Law, the State limited the public funding of Correos to the compensation for the provision of the newly defined and circumscribed USO activity and no longer to the global net losses of the company.
Za mehanizem nadomestil in merila za izračun nadomestila se zato lahko šteje, da so opredeljeni.
The Commission thus considers that the nature of the USO compensation was fundamentally altered in two ways.
Glede na to, da je bilo v španski metodologiji predvideno, da bi moral znesek nadomestil za obveznost zagotavljanja univerzalne storitve ustrezati naknadnemu izračunu neto stroškov, se lahko sprejme, da je bil sistem zasnovan tako, da se preprečijo prekomerna nadomestila, kolikor bi se metodologija izračuna štela za zanesljivo.
First, the 1998 Postal Law reduced the scope of the compensation by limiting it to the USO activities, while before all of Correos' activities (i.e. including non-USO) were eligible for compensation.
Komisija nasprotuje uporabi španske metodologije, vendar to ne vpliva na skladnost s pogojem glede predvidevanja mehanizma za preprečitev prekomernega nadomestila.
It is worth noting that such scope reduction is considered to constitute a fundamental alteration and not a mere decrease of the compensation.
Zato se po mnenju Komisije za pooblastitev družbe Correos lahko šteje, da je v skladu z okvirom za storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena iz leta 2012.
Indeed, depending on the respective financial situations of the USO and non-USO services, the alteration could result in an increase or decrease of the compensation.
C. Trajanje obdobja pooblastitve
Second, the method to determine the amount of compensation was also altered by means of the Plan de Prestación of 2000 (see recital 26).
Kot je navedeno v oddelku 2.4 okvira za storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena iz leta 2012, mora biti „[t]rajanje obdobja pooblastitve […] utemeljeno z navedbo objektivnih meril, kot je potreba po amortizaciji neprenosljivih stalnih sredstev.
Indeed, while initially USO compensation was based on the net losses incurred by Correos, the Plan de Prestación required the use of a specific methodology (see recitals 27 and 28) to determine the amount of that compensation.
Trajanje obdobja pooblastitve načeloma ne sme biti daljše od obdobja, potrebnega za amortizacijo najpomembnejših sredstev, ki so potrebna za opravljanje storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena.“
The Commission therefore considers the scheme to have been significantly altered since Spain's accession to the European Union in 1986.
V španskem zakonu o poštnih storitvah iz leta 1998 trajanje pooblastitve družbe Correos za izvajanje obveznosti zagotavljanja univerzalne storitve ni bilo navedeno.
Therefore, the Commission concludes that the USO compensations granted to Correos under the 1998 Postal Law cannot qualify as existing aid for State aid purposes and therefore must be considered as new aid, at least since the entry into force of the 1998 Postal Law in the year 1998.
Vendar se je pooblastilo izteklo leta 2011, ko je začel veljati novi španski zakon o poštnih storitvah iz leta 2010, zato je obdobje pooblastitve dejansko trajalo 12 let.
LAWFULNESS OF THE AID MEASURE
Prvič, Komisija ne meni, da lahko ta zahteva iz okvira za storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena iz leta 2012 vodi v nezdružljivost pomoči, ki je bila dodeljena pred začetkom veljavnosti tega okvira.
The Commission notes that the USO compensations covered by this decision, to the extent that they constitute State aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the Treaty, have not been subject to notification under Article 108(3) of the Treaty.
Dejansko so cilji določbe o omejenem trajanju, vključeni v okvir za storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena iz leta 2012, zagotoviti, da država redno pregleduje stanje na trgu, da bi preverila, ali je ohranjanje javne storitve še vedno upravičeno, in omogočiti konkurenco pri dodelitvi te javne storitve z uporabo pravil o javnem naročanju.
Therefore the USO compensations constitute unlawful aid within the meaning of Article 1(f) of Regulation (EU) 2015/1589.
Za uresničitev takih ciljev si ni mogoče prizadevati pri ukrepu, ki se je zaključil v preteklosti, zato ne morejo voditi v nezdružljivost nadomestil za obveznost zagotavljanja univerzalne storitve, dodeljenih do leta 2010.
COMPATIBILITY WITH THE INTERNAL MARKET
Komisija poleg tega ugotavlja, da se 12-letno obdobje pooblastitve ne zdi predolgo in da je podobno obdobjem pooblastitve, ki veljajo za druge izvajalce obveznosti zagotavljanja univerzalne storitve v EU.
Legal basis
Zato se lahko sprejme, da se z 12-letnim trajanjem ne bi preseglo obdobje za amortizacijo najpomembnejših sredstev, ki jih je družba Correos uporabljala za izvajanje obveznosti zagotavljanja univerzalne storitve, kot se zahteva z okvirom za storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena iz leta 2012.
A. Compatibility under Article 106(2) of the Treaty
D. Skladnost z Direktivo Komisije 2006/111/ES
Insofar as the USO compensations benefiting Correos amount to State aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the Treaty, their compatibility with the internal market needs to be assessed.
V skladu z odstavkom 18 okvira za storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena iz leta 2012 bo „[p]omoč […] veljala za združljivo z notranjim trgom na podlagi člena 106(2) Pogodbe samo, kadar podjetje, če je primerno, spoštuje Direktivo 2006/111/ES“ o preglednosti finančnih odnosov med državami članicami in javnimi podjetji ter o finančni preglednosti znotraj določenih podjetij.
The grounds on which a State aid measure can or must be declared compatible with the internal market are listed in Articles 106(2), 107(2), and 107(3) of the Treaty.
Člen 29 španskega zakona o poštnih storitvah iz leta 1998 določa vodenje ločenih računov v okviru internega računovodskega sistema izvajalca univerzalne storitve.
Considering that the Spanish authorities have consistently asserted that the USO compensations granted to Correos under the 1998 Postal Law constitute compensation for carrying out services of general economic interest (‘SGEI’), the compatibility of those compensations with the internal market will need to be assessed on the basis of Article 106(2) of the Treaty.
Ta obveznost se zlasti izvaja z odredbo FOM/2447/2004 z dne 12. julija o „analitičnem računovodstvu in ločevanju računov“.
That article provides that
Komisija je preverila, ali so načela iz navedenega predpisa pri razporejanju neposrednih in nepravilnih stroškov v skladu z načeli, določenimi v okviru za storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena iz leta 2012.
‘undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest or having the character of a revenue-producing monopoly shall be subject to the rules contained in the Treaties, in particular to the rules on competition, in so far as the application of such rules does not obstruct the performance, in law or in fact, of the particular tasks assigned to them.
Poleg tega so španski organi Komisiji na njeno zahtevo iz sklepa o začetku postopka iz leta 2016 predložili podroben opis analitičnega računovodskega sistema družbe Correos, ki je povzet na sliki.
The development of trade must not be affected to such an extent as would be contrary to the interests of the Union.’
Sistem razporeditve stroškov družbe Correos
B. Temporal application of the 2012 SGEI Package
Pripis stroškov dejavnosti izdelkom
The Commission has laid down the conditions according to which it applies Article 106(2) of the Treaty in a series of instruments, most recently, inter alia, the 2012 SGEI Framework and the 2012 SGEI Decision (hereinafter together: ‘the 2012 SGEI package’).
Pripis stroškov stroškovnim mestom
Previously, the Commission had issued and applied the conditions for assessing compatibility under Article 106(2) of the Treaty laid down in the 2005 SGEI Framework and the 2005 SGEI Decision.
Posredni stroški
As regards the 2012 SGEI Decision, since the amount of the USO compensations granted to Correos over the 2004-2010 period are above EUR 15 million per year, those compensations do not fall within the scope of the 2012 SGEI Decision, as set out in Article 2 thereof.
Ocena strukturnih stroškov
They also do not fall within the scope of the 2005 SGEI Decision, as set out in Article 2 thereof.
Neposreden pripis
At the current stage of development of the internal market, State aid falling outside the scope of the 2012 SGEI Decision may be declared compatible with Article 106(2) of the Treaty if it is necessary for the operation of the service of general economic interest concerned and does not affect the development of trade to such an extent as to be contrary to the interests of the Union.
Stroški na izdelek/storitev
The 2012 SGEI Framework describes the conditions under which such balance is achieved.
Neposredni stroški
However, in accordance with paragraph 69 of the 2012 SGEI Framework, since the USO compensations over the period 2004-2010 constitute illegal State aid, the conditions laid down in the following paragraphs of that framework are inapplicable for the Commission's compatibility assessment under Article 106(2) of the Treaty:
Obseg
Paragraph 14: give proper consideration to public service needs when entrusting the provider with a particular SGEI;
Čas
Paragraph 19: compliance with EU public procurement rules when entrusting an SGEI;
Stroški glede na dejavnost
Paragraph 20: absence of discrimination;
Struktura stroškovnih mest
Paragraph 24 (and onwards): application of the NAC methodology to calculate the net cost;
Kot je ponazorjeno v uvodni izjavi 235, sistem stroškovnega računovodstva družbe Correos temelji na metodologiji stroškovnega računovodstva, ki se imenuje analiza stroškov po dejavnostih.
Paragraph 39 (and onwards): efficiency incentives;
Sistem analize stroškov po dejavnostih je posebna metoda popolne razporeditve stroškov, ki je v skladu z veljavnimi določbami okvira za storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena iz leta 2012, pa tudi sektorskimi zahtevami glede ločenega računovodstva iz člena 14 direktive o poštnih storitvah.
Paragraph 60: transparency.
Analitični model družbe Correos v bistvu vsebuje naslednje faze:
Therefore, in the following section the Commission will assess the USO compensations under the 2012 SGEI Framework, excluding the aforementioned paragraphs, and determine whether those compensations comply with the remaining conditions laid down by that framework.
določitev stroškov, ki jih je treba pripisati iz izkaza poslovnega izida: leta 2005 so pripisljivi stroški znašali približno […] milijard EUR;
Compatibility under the 2012 SGEI Framework
pripis stroškov stroškovnim mestom:
As outlined in recitals 4 to 8 of Directive 2008/6/EC amending Directive 97/67/EC, universal postal service obligations as defined in the Postal Services Directive are recognised by the Union as constituting genuine services of general economic interest within the meaning of Article 106(2) of the Treaty.
Stroškovna mesta (leta 2005 jih je bilo […]) so osnovna enota analitičnega računovodskega sistema.