natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
This situation therefore could have led to cross-subsidisation between the cultural activities and the economic activities within Harpa.
Glede na smernice Nadzornega organa o uporabi pravil o državni pomoči za nadomestilo, dodeljeno za opravljanje storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena [44], je treba nalogo opravljanja javnih storitev dodeliti z aktom, ki ima lahko glede na zakonodajo posamezne države Efte obliko zakonskega ali podzakonskega akta ali pogodbe.
As described in Section I.4, the Icelandic authorities have introduced certain measures in order to separate the accounts of the commercial and the non-commercial activities within Harpa [39].
Lahko se določi tudi v več aktih.
The measures include a new cost- and income allocation methodology and the keeping of separate accounts for Harpa's conference department.
Komisija in Nadzorni organ v takih primerih običajno zahtevata, da mora akt ali vrsta aktov določati vsaj:
Although these new arrangements minimise the advantage of the companies involved in the operation of Harpa to the minimum necessary to ensure operation of the infrastructure, an advantage to the conference department cannot be entirely excluded.
vsebino in trajanje obveznosti javnih storitev;
Additionally, an advantage is conferred on the companies involved in the operation of Harpa in the form of foregone profits when the State and the City do not require a return on their investment in the concert hall and conference centre, in so far as those companies engage in commercial activities, such as the hosting of conferences.
zadevno podjetje in, če je primerno, ozemlje;
Any business owner or investor will normally require a return on its investment in a commercial undertaking.
vrsto vseh izključnih ali posebnih pravic, ki jih podjetju dodeli zadevni organ;
Such a requirement effectively represents an expense for the undertaking.
ureditve za preprečitev kakršnega koli prekomernega nadomestila in njegovo izterjavo.
If a state owned undertaking is not required to generate a normal rate of return for its owner this effectively means that the undertaking benefits from an advantage whenever the owner foregoes that profit [40].
Obveznosti javnih storitev centra Harpa so po navedbah islandskih organov jasno opredeljene v njegovi lastniški politiki.
Advantage assessed in the light of Altmark
Glede na lastniško politiko je namen centra Harpa:
However, for such compensation to escape qualification as State aid in a particular case, four cumulative conditions, commonly referred to as the Altmark criteria, must be satisfied [42].
Vendar pa lastniška politika ne navaja trajanja obveznosti javnih storitev niti ne določa posebnih meril za izračun, nadzor in pregled nadomestila ali opisuje ureditev za preprečitev prekomernega nadomestila in njegove izterjave.
The four conditions are as follows:
Po mnenju Nadzornega organa zato prvo merilo Altmark ni izpolnjeno.
the beneficiary of a state-funding mechanism for an SGEI must be formally entrusted with the provision and discharge of an SGEI, the obligations of which must be clearly defined;
Glede na projektni sporazum bi moral biti prispevek države in mesta stalni letni znesek (595000000 ISK), ki bi moral biti spremenjen na vsak datum plačila, da bi vključeval spremembe indeksa cen življenjskih potrebščin.
the parameters for calculating the compensation must be established beforehand in an objective and transparent manner, to avoid it conferring an economic advantage which may favour the recipient undertaking over competing undertakings;
Vendar pa so lastniki centru Harpa zaradi njegovega finančnega stanja občasno dodelili znatna finančna sredstva ter se dogovorili o pretvorbi posojil [45].
the compensation cannot exceed what is necessary to cover all or part of the costs incurred in the discharge of the SGEI, taking into account the relevant receipts and a reasonable profit for discharging those obligations;
Zato se v nasprotju z mnenjem islandskih organov zdi, da nadomestilo za domnevno obveznost javnih storitev ni bilo objektivno in pregledno določeno vnaprej.
and (iv) where the beneficiary is not chosen pursuant to a public procurement procedure, the level of compensation granted must be determined on the basis of an analysis of the costs which a typically well-run undertaking would have incurred in discharging those obligations, taking into account the relevant receipts and a reasonable profit.
Poleg tega lahko Nadzorni organi zaradi nepregledne narave pomoči (kritje letnega primanjkljaja centra Harpa, morebitno navzkrižno subvencioniranje in praksa, po kateri se ne zahteva primerne donosnosti naložbe) sklene le, da islandski organi niso ustrezno zagotovili, da nadomestilo ne bi preseglo potrebnega.
EEA States have, in general, a wide discretion concerning the identification of a service as an SGEI, while following the relevant case-law which sets out the general principles to be respected.
Nadzorni organ opozarja, da upravljavec centra Harpa ni bil izbran s postopkom oddaje javnega naročila in da islandski organi Nadzornemu organu niso predložili informacij, da bi lahko preveril, ali stroški centra Harpa ustrezajo stroškom povprečnega, dobro vodenega in ustrezno opremljenega podjetja, kakor zahteva četrto merilo Altmark.
It transpires from Article 59(2) of the EEA Agreement that undertakings entrusted with the operation of SGEIs are undertakings entrusted with ‘a particular task’ [43].
Na podlagi navedenega Nadzorni organ ugotavlja, da financiranje centra Harpa ne izpolnjuje vseh meril Altmark in ga zato ni mogoče opredeliti kot financiranje storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena.
It may also be laid down in several acts.
Da bi ukrep pomenil državno pomoč v smislu člena 61 Sporazuma EGP, mora biti selektiven.
Based on the approach taken by the Commission and the Authority in such cases, the act or series of acts must at least specify:
Islandski organi zagotavljajo financiranje družbam, vključenim v upravljanje centra Harpa.
the content and duration of the public service obligations;
Financiranje je namenjeno kritju izgub, ki nastajajo pri različnih dejavnostih centra Harpa, tudi pri gospodarskih dejavnostih, kot je prirejanje konferenc.
the undertaking and, where applicable, the territory concerned;
Ta sistem nadomestila, pri katerem lahko pride do navzkrižnega subvencioniranja, drugim družbam, dejavnim na trgu za prirejanje konferenc na Islandiji ali drugod, ni na voljo.
the nature of any exclusive or special rights assigned to the undertaking by the authority in question;
Glede na navedeno Nadzorni organ meni, da imajo s tem družbe, vključene v upravljanje centra Harpa, selektivno gospodarsko prednost v primerjavi s konkurenti na trgu.
the parameters for calculating, controlling and reviewing the compensation;
Izkrivljanje konkurence in vpliv na trgovino med pogodbenicami
the arrangements for avoiding and recovering any overcompensation.
Da se ukrep lahko šteje za državno pomoč v smislu člena 61(1) Sporazuma EGP, mora biti takšen, da lahko izkrivlja konkurenco in vpliva na trgovino med pogodbenicami Sporazuma EGP.
The public service obligations of Harpa are, according to the Icelandic authorities, clearly defined in its ownership policy.
Glede na ustaljeno sodno prakso samo dejstvo, da ukrep krepi položaj podjetja v primerjavi s podjetji, ki si konkurirajo na trgu EGP, zadostuje za sklep, da bi ukrep lahko vplival na trgovino med pogodbenicami in izkrivljal konkurenco med podjetji iz drugih držav EGP [46].
According to the ownership policy, the purpose of Harpa is to:
Državna sredstva, dodeljena družbam, vključenim v upravljanje centra Harpa, za kritje izgub, pomenijo prednost, ki krepi položaj centra Harpa v primerjavi s položajem konkurenčnih podjetij na istem trgu.
be a forum for music- and cultural life in Iceland, (ii) to strengthen the position of Iceland as venue for conferences, (iii) to fortify the position of the travel industry in Iceland and (iv) to promote life in the city centre of Reykjavik.
Čeprav je večina dejavnosti, ki se izvajajo v centru Harpa, lokalnega značaja, ima center tudi zmogljivosti za velike in srednje velike mednarodne prireditve, zato ni mogoče izključiti vpliva na konkurenco in trgovino med pogodbenicami [47].
Furthermore, the ownership policy stipulates that the operations of Harpa shall be self-sustainable and that there should be no further contributions to Harpa other than those agreed upon in the Project Agreement.
Vendar je po navedbah islandskih organov malo verjetno, da bi bilo veliko prireditev v centru Harpa, če sploh katera, tako zanimivih za prebivalce sosednjih držav, da bi opravili vso pot do Reykjavika za njihov ogled, zato je malo verjetno, da bi center Harpa s svojimi prireditvami konkuriral podobnim dvoranam v bližnjih državah.
However, the ownership policy neither addresses the duration of the public service obligations nor does it outline particular parameters for calculating, controlling and reviewing the compensation or describe arrangements for avoiding and recovering overcompensation.
Ker pa je trg za prirejanje mednarodnih dogodkov odprt za konkurenco med ponudniki prizorišč in organizatorji prireditev, ki običajno izvajajo dejavnosti, ki so predmet trgovine med državami EGP, se lahko predpostavlja, da gre za vpliv na trgovino.
Therefore, in the view of the Authority, the first Altmark criterion is not fulfilled.
V tej zadevi je vpliv na trgovino med nekaterimi sosednjimi državami EGP še verjetnejši zaradi narave poslovnega sektorja konferenčnih dejavnosti.
Furthermore, according to the Project Agreement, the contribution from the State and the City was to be a fixed annual amount (ISK 595000000) which was to be amended on each payment date to reflect changes in the consumer price index.
Poleg tega je Splošno sodišče v svojem sklepu o kompleksu Ahoy na Nizozemskem nedavno odločilo, da ni bilo razloga za omejitev trga na ozemlje navedene države članice [48].
However, due to Harpa's financial situation there have been considerable temporary financial contributions from Harpa's owners as well as loan conversion arrangements [45].
Zato Nadzorni organ tako kot v svoji odločbi o začetku postopka meni, da bi ukrep lahko izkrivljal konkurenco in vplival na trgovino znotraj EGP.
Therefore, contrary to the view of the Icelandic authorities, the compensation for the alleged public service obligation appears not to have been established in advance in an objective and transparent manner.
Zaključek o obstoju državne pomoči
Moreover, the non-transparent nature of the aid (the coverage of the annual deficit of Harpa, the potential cross subsidisation and the practice of not requiring a reasonable return on investment) can only lead the Authority to conclude that the Icelandic authorities did not properly ensure that the compensation did not exceed what was necessary.
S sklicevanjem na zgornje navedbe Nadzorni organ ugotavlja, da ocenjeni ukrep, tj. financiranje centra Harpa, vključuje elemente državne pomoči v smislu člena 61(1) Sporazuma EGP.
Finally, the Authority notes that the operator of Harpa has not been selected in a public procurement procedure and that the Icelandic authorities have not provided the Authority with information enabling a verification of whether the costs incurred by Harpa correspond to the costs of a typical undertaking, well run and adequately equipped as required by the 4thAltmark criterion.
Zato je na podlagi zgoraj navedenih pogojev treba proučiti, ali je ukrep združljiv z delovanjem Sporazuma EGP.
Hence, on the basis of the above, the Authority concludes that the financing of Harpa, does not fulfil all of the Altmark criteria and can therefore not be characterised as the funding of a service of general economic interest.
POSTOPKOVNE ZAHTEVE
Selectivity
V skladu s členom 1(3) dela I Protokola 3 „mora biti Nadzorni organ Efte o vseh načrtih za dodelitev ali spremembo pomoči obveščen dovolj zgodaj, da lahko predloži pripombe. […] Zadevna država ne sme izvajati svojih predlaganih ukrepov, dokler v tem postopku ni sprejeta dokončna odločitev“.
In order to constitute State aid within the meaning of Article 61 of the EEA Agreement the measure must be selective.
Islandski organi ukrepa pomoči niso priglasili Nadzornemu organu.
The Icelandic authorities provide funding to the companies involved in the operation of Harpa.
Poleg tega so z gradnjo in začetkom delovanja centra Harpa navedene ukrepe začeli izvajati še pred sprejetjem dokončne odločitve Nadzornega organa.
The funding is used to cover the losses stemming from the different activities within Harpa, including economic activities such as the hosting of conferences.
Zato Nadzorni organ ugotavlja, da islandski organi niso spoštovali svojih obveznosti iz člena 1(3) dela I Protokola 3.
This system of compensation, under which cross-subsidisation may occur, is not available to other companies that are active on the conference market in Iceland or elsewhere.
Dodelitev kakršne koli pomoči je zato nezakonita.
In light of the above, it is the Authority's view that the companies involved in the operation of Harpa receive a selective economic advantage compared to their competitors on the market.
OCENA ZDRUŽLJIVOSTI
Distortion of competition and effect on trade between Contracting Parties
Podporni ukrepi, zajeti v členu 61(1) Sporazuma EGP, so načeloma nezdružljivi z delovanjem Sporazuma EGP, razen če izpolnjujejo pogoje za odstopanje od člena 61(2) ali (3) ali člena 59(2) Sporazuma EGP in so potrebni, sorazmerni in ne povzročajo nedopustnega izkrivljanja konkurence.
Finally, the measure must be liable to distort competition and affect trade between the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement in order to be considered State aid within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement.
Islandski organi trdijo, da je vsakršna pomoč, dodeljena projektu, združljiva s členom 61(3) Sporazuma EGP.
According to settled case law, the mere fact that a measure strengthens the position of an undertaking compared with other undertakings competing in intra-EEA trade, is considered to be sufficient in order to conclude that the measure is likely to affect trade between Contracting Parties and distort competition between undertakings established in other EEA States [46].
Ta ne vključuje določbe, ki bi ustrezala členu 107(3)(d) Pogodbe o delovanju Evropske unije.
The state resources allocated to the companies involved in the operation of Harpa, in order to cover their losses, constitute an advantage that strengthens Harpa's position compared to that of other undertakings competing in the same market.
Nadzorni organ kljub vsemu priznava, da se ukrepi državne pomoči lahko odobrijo na podlagi člena 61(3)(c) Sporazuma EGP [49].
Even if most of the activities carried out in Harpa are of local character, Harpa has the capacity to host large and mid-size international events as well, and thus an effect on competition and trade between Contracting Parties cannot be excluded [47].
Na podlagi člena 61(3)(c) Sporazuma EGP se pomoč za pospeševanje kulture in ohranjanja kulturne dediščine lahko šteje za združljivo z delovanjem Sporazuma EGP, kadar takšna pomoč ne škoduje trgovinskim pogojem in konkurenci v EGP v obsegu, ki je v nasprotju s skupnim interesom.
Although, according to the Icelandic authorities, it is rather unlikely that more than a few, if any, of the events taken place in Harpa will be of such an interest to persons living in neighbouring countries that they would be willing to travel a long distance to Reykjavík in order to attend the events and thus it would be unlikely that events taken place in Harpa would compete with similar arenas in nearby countries.
Nadzorni organ mora zato oceniti, ali je mogoče dodelitev pomoči različnim dejavnostim centra Harpa utemeljiti kot pomoč za pospeševanje kulture na podlagi člena 61(3)(c) Sporazuma EGP.
However, as the market for organising international events is open to competition between venue providers and event organisers, which generally engage in activities which are subject to trade between EEA States, the effect on trade can be assumed.
Opozoriti je treba, da so bila načela iz člena 61(3)(c) Sporazuma EGP uporabljena za zadeve, precej podobne obravnavani zadevi [50].
In this case, the effect on trade between certain neighbouring EEA States is even more likely due to the nature of the conference industry.
Islandski organi so navedli, da je bil prvotni cilj zadevnega ukrepa pospeševanje kulture z gradnjo koncertne dvorane, v kateri bi lahko domovala tako islandski simfonični orkester kot islandska opera.
Moreover, the General Court has recently, in its Order concerning the Ahoy complex in the Netherlands, held that there was no reason to limit the market to the territory of that Member State [48].
Podobne večnamenske kulturne centre že ima večina evropskih mest.
Therefore, as in the opening decision, the Authority considers that aid to Harpa has the potential to affect competition and trade within the EEA.
Center Harpa naj bi postal islandska nacionalna koncertna dvorana, ki bi zagotavljala potrebno kulturno infrastrukturo, ki je prej na Islandiji ni bilo, in bo pomenila osrednjo točko za razvoj in napredek uprizoritvenih umetnosti na Islandiji.
Conclusion with regard to the presence of State aid
Zato prispeva k razvoju poznavanja kulture ter omogoča dostop javnosti do kulturnih, izobraževalnih in razvedrilnih dejavnosti [51].
With reference to the above considerations the Authority concludes that the measure under assessment, i.e. the financing of Harpa, includes elements of State aid within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement.
Glede na navedeno Nadzorni organ meni, da bi se glede na kulturni namen gradnja in delovanje prostorov za simfonični orkester in opero lahko štela za pomoč za pospeševanje kulture v smislu člena 61(3)(c) Sporazuma EGP.
Under the conditions referred to above, it is thus necessary to consider whether the measure can be found to be compatible with the functioning of the EEA Agreement.
Vendar dvomi, da je mogoče pomoč, dodeljeno za subvencioniranje konferenčnih dejavnosti, utemeljiti kot pomoč na podlagi člena 61(3)(c), zato je treba to zadevo oceniti ločeno.
PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS
V zvezi z nujnostjo ukrepa, njegovo sorazmernostjo in vprašanjem, ali lahko povzroči nedopustno izkrivljanje konkurence, Nadzorni organ ugotavlja:
Pursuant to Article 1(3) of Part I of Protocol 3, ‘[t]he EFTA Surveillance Authority shall be informed, in sufficient time to enable it to submit its comments, of any plans to grant or alter aid. […] The State concerned shall not put its proposed measures into effect until th[e] procedure has resulted in a final decision’.
kot je bilo že navedeno, je bil glavni razlog za gradnjo centra Harpa očitna potreba po ustrezni koncertni dvorani, ki bi gostila islandski simfonični orkester in islandsko opero.
The Icelandic authorities did not notify the aid measures to the Authority.
Glede na velikost projekta je razumljivo, da se bo infrastruktura, kakršna je center Harpa, uporabljala tudi za izvajanje različnih poslovnih dejavnosti, kot na primer restavracij, kavarn, prodajaln, konferenc in koncertov popularne glasbe.
Moreover, the Icelandic authorities have, by constructing and operating Harpa, put those measures into effect before the Authority has adopted a final decision.
Vendar pa morajo biti zaradi preprečevanja izkrivljanja konkurence vzpostavljeni zaščitni ukrepi, da med poslovnimi dejavnostmi in subvencioniranimi kulturnimi dejavnostmi ne bi prihajalo do znatnega navzkrižnega subvencioniranja.
The Authority therefore concludes that the Icelandic authorities have not respected their obligations pursuant to Article 1(3) of Part I of Protocol 3.
V Odločbi št. 128/13/COL je Nadzorni organ navedel tri metode, na podlagi katerih bi islandski organi lahko zagotovili, da med poslovnimi in kulturnimi dejavnostmi centra Harpa ne bi prišlo do navzkrižnega subvencioniranja [52].
The granting of any aid involved is therefore unlawful.
Prvič, Nadzorni organ je navedel, da bi bil ta cilj lahko dosežen z objavo razpisov za prostore, namenjene poslovnim dejavnostim, s čimer bi bilo zagotovljeno, da bo gospodarski subjekt plačal tržno ceno za prostore in ne bo imel koristi od navzkrižnega subvencioniranja.
COMPATIBILITY ASSESSMENT
Drugič, islandski organi bi lahko ustanovili ločen pravni subjekt za poslovne dejavnosti.
Support measures caught by Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement are generally incompatible with the functioning of the EEA Agreement, unless they qualify for a derogation under Article 61(2) or (3) or Article 59(2) of the EEA Agreement and are necessary, proportional and do not cause undue distortion of competition.
Kot tretjo možnost je Nadzorni organ v odločbi o začetku postopka navedel vzpostavitev ustreznega sistema razporeditve stroškov in vodenja ločenih računov, ki bi omogočal primerno donosnost naložb, s čimer bi bila zagotovljena ustrezna ločitev poslovnih in neposlovnih dejavnosti.
The Icelandic authorities argue that any aid involved in the project would be compatible with Article 61(3) of the EEA Agreement.
Islandski organi so poudarili, da je pri delovanju centra Harpa potrebna določena prožnost, saj morajo kulturne in konferenčne dejavnosti soobstajati in v več primerih se lahko ti dve vrsti dejavnosti prepletata, če nista zagotovljena zelo skladen nadzor in načrtovanje.
The EEA Agreement does not include a provision corresponding to Article 107(3)(d) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Torej bi ustanovitev novega upravljavca, bodisi zasebnega bodisi ločenega državnega subjekta, znotraj centra Harpa povečala upravno breme in nastali bi dodatne omejitve ter stroški ob že tako težavnem poslovanju.
The Authority nevertheless acknowledges that State aid measures may be approved on cultural grounds on the basis of Article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement [49].
Zato so islandski organi po posvetovanju z direktorji centra Harpa sklenili, da je tretja možnost, tj. ločitev gospodarskih in neposlovnih dejavnosti centra Harpa ter vzpostavitev ustreznega sistema razporeditve stroškov in vodenja ločenih računov, glede na navedene okoliščine najprimernejša.
On the basis of Article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement, aid to promote culture and heritage conservation may be considered compatible with the functioning of the EEA Agreement, where such aid does not affect trading conditions and competition in the EEA to the extent that is considered to be contrary to the common interest.
Kot je že bilo navedeno, vodenje ločenih računov in nova metodologija razporeditve stroškov in prihodkov, ki so ju uvedli lastniki centra Harpa, upoštevata smernice direktive o preglednosti.
The Authority must therefore assess whether granting aid to the various activities in Harpa can be justified as aid to promote culture on the grounds of Article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement.
Poleg tega so islandski organi zagotovili, da se določen del stalnih in skupnih stroškov centra Harpa razporedi na posamezni del dejavnosti glede na dejansko uporabo in poslovno dejavnost.
It should be noted that the principles laid down in Article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement have been applied to cases somewhat similar to this case [50].
Konferenčnemu oddelku se bo zaračunala tudi tržna najemnina za pisarne in druge prostore [53].
The Icelandic authorities have stated that the primary objective of the measure in question was to promote culture through the construction of a concert hall that could house both the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera.
Ukrepi, ki so jih uvedli islandski organi, učinkovito zagotavljajo, da med poslovnimi in kulturnimi dejavnostmi centra Harpa ne bo prišlo do navzkrižnega subvencioniranja.
Similar multipurpose cultural centres already exist in most other European cities.
Glede na predhodne računovodske izkaze za leto 2013 se pričakuje, da bo konferenčni oddelek ustvaril minimalen dobiček v višini 9574000 ISK.
Harpa is intended to be Iceland's national concert hall, providing the necessary cultural infrastructure that was missing in Iceland and it will act as the focal point for the development and advancement of those performance arts in Iceland.
Po pričakovanjih naj bi bil ta dobiček do leta 2016 višji od 23 milijonov ISK.