natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
The Authority notes that around 60 % of the share of estimated capacity costs is covered by the public service compensation, whereas only approximately 30 % of the share of estimated passenger costs has been allocated to PSO passengers (based on expected utilisation of the ships by PSO and cruise passengers respectively), pointing thus to a potential cross-subsidisation of the commercial activities, stemming from the defined minimum capacity reserve.
Nadzorni organ bo zdaj ocenil, ali je izpolnjen četrti pogoj iz sodbe Altmark.
Nevertheless, the Authority acknowledges that the capacity utilisation can, by the nature of the service in question, have substantial regional and seasonal variations, as PSO passengers often sail shorter stretches than the commercial passengers.
Četrti pogoj iz sodbe Altmark
Furthermore, during peak periods, in particular the commercial capacity utilisation rate is high compared to off-peak utilisation rates.
Nadzorni organ je v odločbi o začetku postopka podvomil, ali je mogoče razpisni postopek, v katerem je oddana samo ena ponudba, šteti za zadosten za zagotovitev „najnižjih stroškov za skupnost“.
Therefore, ensuring the necessary capacity in peak periods and on all stretches has the inevitable result that the vessels in off-peak periods have significant spare capacity within the minimum requirements set in the HA.
Kot je bilo navedeno, je podjetje Hurtigruten že leta opravljalo to določeno storitev kombiniranega pomorskega prevoza oseb in blaga vzdolž norveške obale od Bergna do Kirkenesa.
This is illustrated by the fact that the maximum number of PSO passengers during off-peak periods taking all legs into account is on average around 142, whereas the average number is around 55, as several legs have only few PSO passengers.
Kot obstoječi prevoznik je torej imelo znatno konkurenčno prednost, ki je okrepila njegov položaj v razpisnem postopku, saj je že imelo plovila, prilagojena zahtevam iz razpisnih pogojev.
In addition, the Authority acknowledges that a service as the one performed pursuant to the HA cannot be provided commercially, considering that most of the operating costs, such as ship cost, payroll and fuel, are largely fixed for the whole duration of the HA and cannot be reduced or eliminated during off-peak periods.
Glede na informacije, ki so jih norveški organi predložili med preiskavo, Nadzorni organ vztraja pri stališču, da postopek oddaje javnega naročila, v katerem je bilo izbrano podjetje Hurtigruten, ni omogočal odprte in resnične konkurence.
In this regard, the Authority agrees with the argument of the Norwegian authorities that redeploying some vessels during the year (i.e. using smaller vessels during off-peak period and larger vessels during peak periods) would not significantly reduce the operating costs.
To velja kljub dejstvu, da so norveški organi sprejeli več ukrepov, da bi privabili morebitne ponudnike, in sicer:
On the other hand, it would create an additional economic burden for Hurtigruten as it would need to find other markets to redeploy the non-used vessels.
v razpisu so zagotovili alternativne modele plovbe;
Moreover, as regards the minimum necessary size of the vessels to operate the coastal route, the Authority takes note of the fact that the regularity of the service, as well as safety considerations would justify a certain size of the vessels.
zahtevo glede minimalne zmogljivosti so zmanjšali s 400 na 320 potnikov in s 150 na 120 ležišč ter
As mentioned earlier, the EFTA States have discretion in defining an SGEI, taking also into account specific PSOs pursuant to Article 4(2) of the Maritime Cabotage Regulation and other characteristics (e.g. technical specificities), as defined in the tender specifications in this case, to the extent that a manifest error is not committed.
ponudnikom so omogočili dovolj časa od roka za oddajo ponudb (30. september 2010) do datuma začetka opravljanja storitve (1. januar 2013), da bi kupili ali zgradili plovila za opravljanje storitve, in sicer tudi ob upoštevanju podaljšanja roka do 8. novembra 2010.
In view of the above, taking in particular account of the fact that, as shown above in paragraph (69), there is a fair amount of PSO passengers on all legs along the coast throughout the whole year, the Authority considers that the Norwegian authorities' definition of the minimum capacity reserve, even though it exceeds the average expected demand for PSO services, is not manifestly erroneous.
V zvezi s tem je treba poudariti, da podjetje Hurtigruten že zelo dolgo opravlja prevoze na tej določeni obalni povezavi na podlagi pogodbe o izvajanju javne službe (opravljalo jo je celo pred sklenitvijo Sporazuma EGP leta 1994).
The Authority further notes that the complainants in their submissions support the definition provided of the HA as an SGEI, which could not be provided by the market alone considering the sparse population, lack of infrastructure and remoteness of the northern Norwegian regions.
Za nekatera pogodbena obdobja (npr. 1991–2001 in 2002–2004) je bila pogodba neposredno dodeljena podjetju Hurtigruten, medtem ko je bilo za obdobji 2005–2012 in 2012–2019 opravljanje storitve predmet razpisnega postopka, v katerem je bilo podjetje Hurtigruten edini in torej tudi izbrani ponudnik.
As regards the doubts expressed in the opening decision related to the cargo service not being price regulated, the Authority agrees with the Norwegian authorities that Article 4(2) of the Maritime Cabotage Regulation does not require States to impose all the obligations indicated therein on the service operators.
Dejstvo, da konkurence v zadevnem sektorju nikoli ni bilo, celo z uvedbo razpisnega postopka od leta 2005, razkriva nezmožnost trga, da zagotovi zadostno število izvajalcev s potrebno finančno sposobnostjo za izpolnitev tehničnih zahtev (v smislu zmogljivosti in zahtev glede plovila) pogodbe.
Indeed, public authorities have considerable discretion as regards the way in which they choose to manage, organise and finance their SGEIs.
Kar zadeva alternativne modele plovbe v vseh 34 pristanišč, so se ti v skladu z razpisnimi pogoji oglaševali tako:
Taking therefore into account the lack of private initiative with regard to servicing the Bergen – Kirkenes coastal route, the economic, technical and geographical considerations mentioned above, as well as the capacity utilisation considerations presented in the first BDO report 2016, the Authority cannot conclude that the setting of the minimum capacity reserve at 320 PSO passengers, berths for 120 passengers and freight capacity for 150 euro pallets went beyond what was necessary and proportionate to the real public service need.
alternativa 1: vsakodnevna plovba skozi vse leto;
In light of the above, the Authority considers that the PSO for the reserve capacity requirement of section 4-2 of the HA was sufficiently clearly defined and the first Altmark condition hence met.
alternativa 2: plovba sedem dni na teden poleti (osem mesecev) in pet dni na teden pozimi (štirje meseci) ter
The Authority will now assess whether the fourth Altmark condition is met.
alternativa 3: plovba pet dni na teden skozi vse leto.
The fourth Altmark condition
V točki 2.14 razpisnih pogojev je poudarjeno: „Izbira se opravi na podlagi ocene višine cene različnih alternativ v primerjavi z razlikami v pogostosti, ki jih predstavljajo različne alternative.
In the opening decision, the Authority doubted whether a tender procedure where only one bid is submitted could be deemed sufficient to ensure ‘the least cost to the community’.
Ko je alternativa izbrana, naročnik izbere ponudbo, ki ponuja najnižjo ceno za celotno pogodbeno obdobje (po cenah iz leta 2011).“ V razpisnih pogojih so nadalje podrobno opredeljeni nekateri standardi kakovosti, ki jih morajo izpolnjevati vsi gospodarski subjekti, ne glede na izbrano alternativo.
As mentioned, Hurtigruten had already been running this particular maritime service consisting of the combined transport of persons and goods along the Norwegian coast from Bergen to Kirkenes for years.
Trditi bi bilo mogoče, da z uporabo meril, ki niso povezana s stroški, morebitnim ponudnikom ni bila onemogočena izbira katere koli od navedenih alternativ in da je naročnik vsekakor odprto pozval ponudnike, naj izberejo katero koli alternativo, pri čemer naj se zavedajo, da bo izbrana ponudba z najnižjo ceno za celotno pogodbeno obdobje.
As the incumbent operator, Hurtigruten thus had a significant competitive advantage that reinforced its position in the tender procedure, given that it had already in its possession vessels adapted to the requirements of the tender specifications.
Vendar glede na zgodovino zadevne storitve in široke pogoje naročila, ki so glede na okoliščine kazali na prvi alternativni model plovbe (ki je bil nazadnje izbran) in izbiro podjetja Hurtigruten, so bili lahko drugi morebitni ponudniki odvrnjeni od sodelovanja tudi z izbiro druge alternative (čeprav razlike med različnimi alternativami niso bile bistvene), čeprav naročnik ni neposredno pokazal, da daje prednost prvi alternativi.
In view of the information submitted by the Norwegian authorities during the course of the investigation, the Authority maintains the view that the public procurement procedure, which resulted in the selection of Hurtigruten, has not allowed for an open and genuine competition.
Nadzorni organ torej ugotavlja, da postopek oddaje javnega naročila, kot je bil zasnovan (tudi za prejšnja obdobja naročila), ni bil čim bolj odprt za resnično konkurenco, čeprav ni neupravičeno in neposredno izključeval morebitnih ponudnikov.
This is despite the fact that several measures were taken by the Norwegian authorities in order to invite potential tenderers:
Za to so lahko potrebni ukrepi, kot so bolj omejena pooblastitev, kar zadeva trajanje ali obseg, ali ločene pooblastitve, na primer razdelitev poti na različne odseke ali dnevne vozne rede, v povezavi s podaljšanjem obdobja od roka za oddajo ponudb do datuma začetka opravljanja storitve.
providing in the call for tenders for alternative models of sailing;
Posledično za izid postopka, v katerem je bila oddana samo ena ponudba, ni mogoče šteti, da ustrezno izraža konkurenčne tržne razmere.
reducing the requirement for minimum capacity from 400 to 320 passengers and from 150 to 120 berths; and
Nadzorni organ zato ugotavlja, da se postopek oddaje javnega naročila, v katerem je bila oddana samo ponudba podjetja Hurtigruten, ne šteje za zadostnega za zagotovitev „najnižjih stroškov za skupnost“.
allowing tenderers sufficient time from the deadline for submitting bids (30 September 2010) until the service start-up date (1 January 2013) to purchase or construct vessels for the service, taking also into account the deadline extension until 8 November 2010.
Kar zadeva drugi del četrtega pogoja iz sodbe Altmark, norveški organi niso predložili informacij, s katerimi bi dokazali, da je bilo dodeljeno nadomestilo določeno na podlagi analize stroškov običajnega podjetja.
It must be stressed, in this regard, that the specific coastal route has been traditionally served by Hurtigruten under a public service contract for a very long time (even before the conclusion of the EEA Agreement in 1994).
Nadzorni organ zato glede na navedeno ugotavlja, da četrti pogoj iz sodbe Altmark ni izpolnjen.
For certain contract periods (e.g. 1991-2001 and 2002-2004), the contract had been directly awarded to Hurtigruten, whereas for the periods 2005-2012 and 2012-2019, the operation of the service was the subject of a tender procedure with Hurtigruten being the only bidder, and thus winner, of the tender.
Ker je treba štiri pogoje iz sodbe Altmark presojati kumulativno, drugega in tretjega pogoja ni treba preučiti.
The constant lack of competition in the relevant sector, even with the launch of a tender procedure since 2005, reveals the failure of the market to provide a sufficient number of operators with the necessary financial capacity to fulfil the technical requirements (in terms of capacity and vessel requirements) of the contract.
Sklepna ugotovitev o pogojih iz sodbe Altmark
In reference to the alternative models of sailing to all 34 ports, according to the tender specifications these were advertised as follows:
Nadzorni organ ugotavlja, da nadomestilo, dodeljeno na podlagi sporazuma Hurtigruten, ne izpolnjuje vseh štirih pogojev iz sodbe Altmark.
alternative 1: Daily sailing throughout the year;
Zato ugotavlja, da je bila podjetju Hurtigruten za opravljanje zadevne storitve podeljena prednost v smislu člena 61(1) Sporazuma EGP.
alternative 2: Sailings 7 days a week in summer (8 months), 5 days a week in winter (4 months); and
SKLEPNA UGOTOVITEV O PRISOTNOSTI POMOČI
alternative 3: Sailings 5 days a week throughout the year.
Nadzorni organ ugotavlja, da nadomestilo, dodeljeno na podlagi sporazuma Hurtigruten, vključuje državno pomoč v smislu člena 61(1) Sporazuma EGP.
The tender specifications stress in 2.14: ‘[t]he choice will be made on the basis of an assessment of the price level of the different alternatives compared with the differences in frequency the different alternatives represent.
POSTOPKOVNE ZAHTEVE
Once an alternative has been selected, the contracting authority will choose the tender that offers the lowest price for the entire contract term (at 2011 prices)’.
V skladu s členom 1(3) dela I Protokola 3: „Nadzorni organ Efte mora biti obveščen o vseh načrtih za dodelitev ali spremembo pomoči dovolj zgodaj, da lahko predloži pripombe. […] Zadevna država ne sme izvajati svojih predlaganih ukrepov, dokler v tem postopku ni sprejeta dokončna odločitev.“
The tender specifications further specify in detail certain qualitative standards to be met by all economic operators, irrespective of the alternative selected.
Norveški organi sporazuma Hurtigruten niso priglasili Nadzornemu organu.
It could be argued that potential bidders were not excluded from choosing any of the mentioned alternatives with the use of non-cost criteria and that the contracting authority had in any case invited openly bidders to select any alternative in knowledge of the fact that the chosen tender would be the one offering the lowest price for the entire contract term.
Nadzorni organ zato ugotavlja, da norveški organi niso upoštevali obveznosti, ki so jim naložene s členom 1(3) dela I Protokola 3, brez vpliva na uporabo sklepa o SSGP.
However, given the history of the service concerned and the broad terms of the contract, which, given the circumstances, pointed towards the first alternative model of sailing (the one finally chosen) and the selection of Hurtigruten, other potential bidders might have been discouraged from participating even with the choice of another alternative (although the variations amongst the different alternatives were not material), even though the contracting authority showed no direct preference for the first alternative.
UPORABA SKLEPA O SSGP
The Authority therefore notes that the public procurement process as designed (including also for the previous contract periods), although it did not unjustifiably and directly exclude any potential bidders, did not attain the widest possible opening-up to genuine competition.
V sklepu o SSGP so določeni pogoji, na podlagi katerih se nekatere vrste nadomestila za opravljanje javne službe štejejo za združljive z delovanjem Sporazuma EGP v skladu s členom 59(2) Sporazuma in izvzete iz zahteve glede predhodnega obvestila na podlagi člena 1(3) dela I Protokola 3 k Sporazumu o nadzornem organu in sodišču.
This may take measures such as a more limited entrustment in terms of duration or scope, or separate entrustments, for example by unbundling the route into different stretches or day schedules, and in combination with the extension of the time-limit from the deadline for submitting bids until the service start-up date.
Člen 2 sklepa o SSGP vsebuje eno izjemo glede obveznosti priglasitve, ki bi lahko bila upoštevna v tej zadevi:
As a result, the outcome produced with only one bid being submitted cannot be considered adequate to reflect competitive market conditions.
nadomestilo za opravljanje storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena v zvezi z zračno ali pomorsko povezavo z otoki, pri katerih povprečni letni promet v dveh poslovnih letih pred letom, v katerem je bila storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena dodeljena, ne presega 300000 potnikov“.
The Authority thus concludes that the public procurement process, where only Hurtigruten's bid was submitted, is not deemed sufficient to ensure ‘the least cost to the community’.
Glede na predložene informacije je bil prag 300000 potnikov presežen.
Concerning the second limb of the fourth Altmark condition, the Norwegian authorities did not submit any information to demonstrate that the compensation granted was established on the basis of an analysis of the cost of a typical undertaking.
Zato sklepa o SSGP ni mogoče uporabiti.
As a result, in view of the above, the Authority observes that the fourth Altmark condition is not fulfilled.
ZDRUŽLJIVOST POMOČI
Since the four Altmark conditions are to be assessed cumulatively, it is consequently not necessary to examine the second and third conditions.
PRAVNI OKVIR
Conclusion on the Altmark conditions
Združljivost nadomestila za opravljanje javne službe v pomorskem prometu se presoja na podlagi člena 59(2) Sporazuma EGP v povezavi z okvirom Nadzornega organa.
The Authority concludes that the compensation awarded under the HA does not comply with all the four conditions in the Altmark judgment.
Načela iz navedenega okvira se za nadomestilo za opravljanje javne službe uporabljajo samo, če pomeni državno pomoč, ki ni zajeta s sklepom o SSGP.
The Authority thus concludes that an advantage within the meaning of Article 61(1) EEA has been granted to Hurtigruten for performing the service concerned.
V skladu s sodno prakso Sodišča so države članice tiste, ki morajo uveljavljati morebitne razloge za združljivost in dokazati, da so pogoji za takšno združljivost izpolnjeni.
CONCLUSION ON THE PRESENCE OF AID
UPORABA OKVIRA NADZORNEGA ORGANA
The Authority finds that the compensation awarded under the HA entails State aid within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement.
Za oceno združljivosti sporazuma Hurtigruten se uporabijo naslednji pogoji, kot so določeni v okviru Nadzornega organa:
PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS
resnična SSGP;
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 the procedure has resulted in a final decision’.
akt o pooblastitvi in obdobje pooblastitve;
The Norwegian authorities did not notify the HA to the Authority.
znesek nadomestila in neobstoj prekomernega nadomestila;
The Authority therefore concludes that the Norwegian authorities have not respected their obligations pursuant to Article 1(3) of Part I of Protocol 3, without prejudice to the application of the SGEI Decision.
neobstoj vpliva na razvoj trgovine, ki bi bil v nasprotju z interesi EGP.
APPLICABILITY OF THE SGEI DECISION
Okvir Nadzornega organa nadalje vsebuje nekatere druge pogoje, kot so skladnost z javnim posvetovanjem EGP, da se upoštevajo potrebe po javnih storitvah (odstavek 14), pravila o javnih naročilih (odstavek 19), nediskriminatorna obravnava (odstavek 20), uporaba metodologije NAC (net avoided cost) (odstavek 24), spodbude za učinkovitost (odstavek 39) in preglednost (odstavek 60), ki morajo biti izpolnjeni, da je lahko ukrep nadomestila združljiv s členom 59(2) Sporazuma EGP.
The SGEI Decision lays down the conditions under which certain types of public service compensation are to be regarded as compatible with the functioning of the EEA Agreement pursuant to its Article 59(2) and exempt from the requirement of prior notification under Article 1(3) of Part I of Protocol 3 to the Surveillance and Court Agreement.
Kot je navedeno v odstavku 69 okvira Nadzornega organa, bo „Nadzorni organ […] načela iz tega okvira uporabljal za nezakonito pomoč, v zvezi s katero bo sprejel odločitev po 31. januarju 2012, tudi če je bila pomoč dodeljena pred tem datumom.
There is one exception from the notification requirement of Article 2 of the SGEI Decision, which might be relevant in the present case:
Vendar se v primeru, da je bila pomoč dodeljena pred 31. januarjem 2012, načela iz odstavkov 14, 19, 20, 24, 39 in 60 ne uporabljajo.“
compensation for the provision of services of general economic interest as regards air or maritime links to islands on which the average annual traffic during the 2 financial years preceding that in which the service of general economic interest was assigned does not exceed 300000 passengers’;
Ker je sporazum Hurtigruten začel veljati 13. aprila 2011 in je bil celotni znesek nadomestila za pogodbeno obdobje določen vnaprej, ob upoštevanju zgolj letne indeksacije, se zgoraj navedeni pogoji iz odstavka 131 ne uporabljajo, ker je bila pomoč dodeljena pred 31. januarjem 2012.
According to the information submitted, the threshold of 300000 passengers has been exceeded.
Resnična SSGP
Consequently, the SGEI Decision cannot be applied.
Kot je navedeno v odstavkih od (84) do (102), sporazum Hurtigruten, s katerim se zahteva minimalna rezervirana zmogljivost, pomeni resnično SSGP.
COMPATIBILITY OF THE AID
Vendar je treba preučiti, ali so pri sporazumu Hurtigruten izpolnjeni drugi pogoji iz okvira Nadzornega organa.
THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Akt o pooblastitvi
The compatibility of public service compensation for maritime transport is assessed on the basis of Article 59(2) of the EEA Agreement in conjunction with the Authority's Framework.
V sporazumu Hurtigruten so podrobno opredeljeni obveznosti javne službe, podjetje, ki opravlja storitev, in zadevno ozemlje.
The principles set out in the Framework apply to public service compensation only in so far as it constitutes State aid not covered by the SGEI Decision.
Poleg tega je eden od pogojev za združljivost, ki mora biti izpolnjen, kot je navedeno v odstavku 16 okvira Nadzornega organa, ta, da akt o pooblastitvi vključuje „[…] (d) opis mehanizma nadomestila ter parametrov za izračun, spremljanje in pregled nadomestila“.
According to the case-law of the Court of Justice, it is up to the Member State to invoke possible grounds for compatibility and to demonstrate that the conditions of compatibility are met.
Nadomestilo se izračuna na podlagi parametrov iz Priloge D k razpisnim pogojem skupaj z veljavnimi ključi razporeditve za razlikovanje med SSGP in komercialnimi dejavnostmi.
APPLICABILITY OF THE FRAMEWORK
V Prilogi D je navedeno:
The compatibility of the HA shall be assessed against the following conditions as provided for by the Framework:
Preglednica 2
genuine SGEI;
Parametri v načrtu proračuna za javno službo
entrustment act and period of entrustment;
A : Skupni prihodki od potnikov na velike razdalje
amount of compensation and absence of overcompensation;
B : Stroški v zvezi s potniki na velike razdalje
no affectation of trade development to an extent contrary to the interests of the EEA.
C : Neto prihodki od potnikov (A + B)
The Framework further comprises certain other conditions, such as compliance with EEA public consultation to take account of the public service needs (paragraph 14), public procurement rules (paragraph 19), absence of discrimination (paragraph 20), the use of net avoided cost methodology (paragraph 24), efficiency incentives (paragraph 39) and transparency (paragraph 60) that need to be fulfilled for a compensatory measure to be compatible with Article 59(2) of the EEA Agreement.
D : Prihodki od prodaje na krovu
As mentioned in paragraph 69 of the Framework, ‘[t]he Authority will apply the principles set out in this Framework to unlawful aid on which it takes a decision after 31 January 2012 even if the aid was granted before this date.
E : Neto prihodki od blaga in avtomobilov
However, where the aid was granted before 31 January 2012, the principles set out in paragraphs 14, 19, 20, 24, 39 and 60 do not apply’.
F : Drugi prihodki