natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Also, it is settled case law that in providing for aid to be kept under constant review and supervised by the Authority the intention of the EEA Agreement ‘[…] is that the finding that an aid may be incompatible with the Common Market is to be determined, subject to review by the Court, by means of an appropriate procedure which it is the Commission's responsibility to set in motion’ [57].
Člen 1(b)(i) dela II Protokola 3 k Sporazumu o nadzornem organu in sodišču določa, da obstoječa pomoč vključuje vso pomoč, ki je v zadevnih državah Efte obstajala pred začetkom veljavnosti Sporazuma EGP, to je sheme pomoči in individualno pomoč, ki so se začele izvajati pred začetkom veljavnosti Sporazuma EGP in se uporabljajo tudi po začetku njegove veljavnosti.
Therefore, in view of the above, the Authority concludes that only under the procedure for existing aid laid down in Articles 17 to 19 in Part II of Protocol 3 SCA, could it assess whether an existing aid measure is compatible with the functioning of the EEA Agreement.
Sodišče je v sodbi v zadevi Namur navedlo:
The sections below will analyse the question of new or existing aid in reference to the ALFA-method and its indexation and of the ATP project.
„[…] nastanka nove pomoči ali spremembe obstoječe pomoči ni mogoče ocenjevati glede na obseg pomoči ali zlasti njen znesek v finančnem smislu v katerem koli obdobju delovanja podjetja, če se pomoč dodeli v skladu s predhodnimi zakonskimi določbami, ki se niso spremenile.
Definition of an aid scheme
Ali se pomoč lahko opredeli kot nova pomoč ali sprememba obstoječe pomoči, je treba določiti s sklicevanjem na določbe, ki jo predpisujejo“ [63].
Article 1(d) in Part II of Protocol 3 SCA provides that an ‘aid scheme’:
(194) Kot je generalni pravobranilec Trabucchi poudaril v svojih sklepnih predlogih v zadevi Van der Hulst, so spremembe bistvene, če so se spremenili glavni elementi sheme, kot so narava prednosti, namen, ki mu ukrep služi, pravna podlaga, upravičenci ali vir financiranja [64].
‘[…] shall mean any act on the basis of which, without further implementing measures being required, individual aid awards may be made to undertakings defined within the act in a general and abstract manner and any act on the basis of which aid which is not linked to a specific project may be awarded to one or several undertakings for an indefinite period of time and/or for an indefinite amount;’
Take spremembe lahko vplivajo na oceno združljivosti sheme in jih je treba posebej priglasiti kot novo pomoč, da se lahko oceni njihova združljivost s Sporazumom EGP [65].
Article 1(e) in Part II of Protocol 3 SCA provides that ‘individual aid’:
Povsem formalne ali upravne spremembe sheme pomoči ne vodijo k spremembi obstoječe pomoči v novo pomoč [66].
‘[…] shall mean aid that is not awarded on the basis of an aid scheme and notifiable awards of aid on the basis of an aid scheme;’
Kot je navedeno zgoraj, je financiranje avtobusnih prevozov v okrožju Aust-Agder temeljilo na shemi pomoči, sestavljeni iz ZKP, UKP, Zakona o izobraževanju in upravne prakse v okrožju Aust-Agder.
This distinction is of particular importance in the context of existing aid, as Protocol 3 SCA provides the Authority with the competence to keep under constant review existing systems of aid [58].
Vprašanje je, ali je uvedbo metode ALFA in njeno poznejšo indeksacijo mogoče obravnavati kot elementa, ki veljavno shemo pomoči spreminjata v novo pomoč.
Likewise, Section V of Part II of Protocol 3 SCA applies only to existing aid schemes [59].
Metoda ALFA, kot je opisana v uvodnih izjavah 46 do 50, je sistem za izračun stroškov, povezanih z avtobusnimi prevozi.
The Authority concluded in the opening decision that an aid scheme has been in place in Aust-Agder since 1994 [61].
Z uvedbo tega sistema se pravna podlaga in cilj dodeljevanja nadomestil nista bistveno spremenila.
The provisions providing for that aid scheme are the CTA, the CTR and the Education Act in connection with the relevant administrative practice in Aust-Agder.
Določbe ZKP, UKP in Zakona o izobraževanju ter upravna praksa so bile tolmačene in uporabljene na enak način.
The Authority has observed that the compensation for carrying out local scheduled bus transport in Aust-Agder has from before the entry into force of the EEA Agreement in Norway on 1 January 1994, been provided on the basis of the CTA and the CTR (and the relevant legislation preceding them).
Določbe in praksa se v zadevnem obdobju, tj. še pred začetkom veljavnosti Sporazuma EGP, niso spremenile.
Furthermore, since before the entry into force of the EEA Agreement, compensation for the provision of school transport services has been awarded on the basis of the Education Act (and the relevant legislation preceding it).
Namen je vedno bil prevoznikom (izvajalcem storitev lokalnega rednega in šolskega prevoza) zagotoviti nadomestilo za izvajanje storitev, ki jih želi okrožje Aust-Agder vzpostaviti ali ohraniti.
In the opening decision, the Authority examined whether the legal framework for the financing of scheduled and school bus transport in Aust-Agder meets the three criteria of Article 1(d) of Part II of Protocol 3 SCA: (i) an act on the basis of which aid can be awarded, (ii) an act that shall not require any further implementing measures, and (iii) an act that shall define the potential aid beneficiaries in a general and abstract manner [62].
Dodeljeno nadomestilo je vedno krilo stroške javne storitve z odbitkom prihodkov od vozovnic pri neto pogodbah in pribitkom razumnega dobička.
Despite the fact that the ATP-project is a collaboration between different municipalities and the counties of Vest-Agder and Aust-Agder, and the fact that the payments have originated from different sources the operations involved are within the scope of the scheme in Aust-Agder.
Z vidika prava državnih pomoči metoda ALFA ni povzročila bistvenih sprememb v zvezi z upravičenci do pomoči, udeleženimi v shemi.
The Authority notes that the bus routes involved in the ATP project, i.e. Kristiansand-Lillesand and Kristiansand-Arendal, as described above in recitals 57 and 58, are already under operation in the current scheme in Aust-Agder.
Veljala je in še vedno velja za vse koncesionarje, ki so pooblaščeni za izvajanje lokalnih rednih in šolskih prevozov v okrožju Aust-Agder.
The increased production through the ATP project on those routes was compensated pursuant to the same legal provisions as the local scheduled and school bus transport.
Najpomembneje je, da sistem ne spreminja upravičenosti do pomoči po shemi.
The calculation of compensation for the increased production of the project was based on exactly the same principles as the local scheduled and school bus transport, i.e. cost of public service, minus ticket revenues for net contracts, plus a reasonable profit.
Zato shema s tega vidika ni bila razširjena.
On the basis of the above, the Authority concludes that the ATP project is part of the scheme, which the Authority has already considered in the opening decision as being in place in Aust-Agder since 1994.
Namen uvedbe metode ALFA in indeksacije je zgolj bil natančneje umeriti stroške prevoznih storitev, na podlagi katerih se je nadomestilo dodelilo.
Definition of existing aid
Znesek dodeljenega nadomestila je v celotnem obdobju temeljil na istih dejavnikih, kot so stroški avtobusnih prevozov, stroški zunanjih izvajalcev, prihodki od vozovnic itd. Zato sta metoda ALFA in indeksacija zagotovili boljši mehanizem za dodeljevanje nadomestila istim upravičencev v okviru sheme in na isti pravni podlagi.
Article 1(b)(i) of Part II of Protocol 3 SCA provides that existing aid encompasses all aid which existed prior to the entry into force of the EEA Agreement in the respective EFTA States, that is to say, aid schemes and individual aid which were put into effect before, and are still applicable after the entry into force of the EEA Agreement.
Zato Nadzorni organ ugotavlja, da metoda ALFA in indeksacija nista bistveno spremenili veljavne sheme pomoči.
Here, the provisions providing for the scheme have been in place since the EEA Agreement entered into force in Norway on 1 January 1994.
Podobno ni mogoče trditi, da je povečan obseg prevozov v okviru projekta ATP na progah Lillesand–Kristiansand in Kristiansand–Arendal bistveno spremenil shemo.
As the market for local bus transport was already exposed to some competition on that date, the Authority is of the view that the financing of local scheduled and school bus transport on the basis of the CTA, the CTR and the Education Act constitutes an existing aid scheme that existed in January 1994 and remained applicable thereafter.
Namen projekta ATP je bil zgolj povečati dejavnosti podjetja Nettbuss Sør AS v okviru istih koncesijskih pogodb.
In its judgment Namur, the Court stated the following:
Obstoječe proge so bile spremenjene brez sprememb sheme pomoči, kot jo določa zakonodaja.
‘[…] the emergence of new aid or the alteration of existing aid cannot be assessed according to the scale of the aid or, in particular, its amounts in financial terms at any moment in the life of the undertaking if the aid is provided under earlier statutory provisions which remain unaltered.
Posledično povečan obseg prevozov v okviru projekta ATP ne pomeni spremembe sheme, ki bi povzročila, da bi pomoč za nove dejavnosti pomenila novo pomoč.
Whether aid may be classified as new aid or as alteration of existing aid must be determined by reference to the provisions providing for it.’ [63].(194) Moreover, as Advocate-General Trabucchi pointed out in his Opinion in Van der Hulst, modifications are substantial if the main elements of the scheme have been changed, such as the nature of the advantage, the purpose pursued with the measure, the legal basis, the beneficiaries or the source of the financing [64].
Nadalje so plačila, izvedena iz naslova projekta ATP, skladna z načelom nadomestila, vzpostavljenim s shemo, saj krijejo stroške javne storitve, z odbitkom prihodkov od vozovnic pri neto pogodbah in pribitkom razumnega dobička.
Such changes may affect the evaluation of the compatibility of that scheme and they need to be notified separately as new aid in order to assess their compatibility with the EEA Agreement [65].
Poleg tega dejstvo, da je bila sestava javnih subjektov, ki so prispevali k nadomestilom ali jih izvedli, kot je navedeno v uvodni izjavi 58, drugačna od tiste v veljavni shemi pomoči, sheme ni bistveno spremenilo.
Purely formal or administrative changes to an aid scheme do not lead to the reclassification of existing aid as new [66].
Storitve, za katere je bilo nadomestilo izplačano, so spadale v področje uporabe sheme, plačila pa so bila izvedena skladno s pravnimi in finančnimi pravili, ki so veljala za shemo, ne glede na izvor plačil.
As shown above, the financing of bus transport services in Aust-Agder has been provided on the basis of an aid scheme consisting of the CTA, the CTR, the Education Act and the administrative practice in Aust-Agder.
Zgoraj navedene spremembe, uvedene s projektom ATP, ne povzročajo dvoma o naravi sheme kot o veljavni shemi pomoči.
In 2004 the ALFA-method was introduced, on the basis of which new contracts were concluded for the period 2004-2008.
Zato Nadzorni organ ugotavlja, da projekt ATP ni bistveno spremenil veljavne sheme pomoči.
This ALFA-method was supplemented by the introduction of a new indexation system, on the basis of which new contracts with the same operators were signed to cover the period 2009-2012 with the possibility of prolongation for up to additional four years (see recital 53).
Sklepna ugotovitev
The question is whether the introduction of the ALFA-method and its later indexation can be considered as features that change the existing aid scheme to new aid.
Nadzorni organ je sklenil, da je v okrožju Aust-Agder vzpostavljena shema pomoči na podlagi ZKP, UKP, Zakona o izobraževanju in upravne prakse.
The ALFA-method, as described in recitals 46 to 50 above, is a system used to calculate the costs connected to bus transportation.
Nadzorni organ meni, da je shema veljavna, saj metoda ALFA, indeksacija ali povečan obseg prevozov na obstoječih avtobusnih progah v okviru projekta ATP ni povzročil bistvenih sprememb sheme.
The system of indexation, as described in recitals 51 to 53 above, supplemented the method by introducing several cost relevant parameters, such as fuel costs or wage costs, on the basis of which the compensation is indexed.
Nadzorni organ je v skladu s Protokolom 3 k Sporazumu o nadzornem organu in sodišču pooblaščen za stalno pregledovanje obstoječih sistemov pomoči [67].
The introduction of this system has not substantially changed the legal basis and the aim of awarding the compensation.
Ko pa je ugotovljeno, da obstoječa pomoč ni združljiva z delovanjem Sporazuma EGP, mora biti taka pomoč predmet ustreznih ukrepov v skladu z določbami iz členov od 17 do 19 dela II Protokola 3 k Sporazumu o nadzornem organu in sodišču, da se shema odpravi ali spremeni.
The provisions of the CTA, the CTR and the Education Act, as well as the administrative practice have been interpreted and applied in an identical manner.
V teh okoliščinah Nadzorni organ ni mnenja, da bi moral zaradi trenutnega stanja obravnavati ustrezne ukrepe za Kraljevino Norveško v zvezi s prihodnjimi spremembami veljavne sheme pomoči.
These provisions and the practice have remained unaltered throughout the period concerned, i.e. even before the entry into force of the EEA Agreement.
V zvezi s tem Nadzorni organ navaja naslednje.
The purpose has always been to compensate transport operators (be it local scheduled and school bus transport) for the provisions of services which the County of Aust-Agder seeks to establish or maintain.
Prvič, Nadzorni organ upošteva dejstvo, da je koncesijska pogodba, sklenjena s podjetjem Nettbuss Sør AS, že prenehala veljati.
The compensation granted has always covered the cost of the public service, minus the ticket revenues for net contracts, plus a reasonable profit.
Zato ocena združljivosti z veljavno shemo pomoči v zvezi s podjetjem Nettbuss Sør AS ni smiselna.
Any compensation outside the remits of the above mentioned legal provisions and the administrative practice is not allowed.
Drugič, Nadzorni organ od drugih prevoznikov, omenjenih v uvodni izjavi 35, ki imajo še vedno veljavne pogodbe z okrožjem Aust-Agder, ni prejel pomislekov glede konkurence v zvezi z uporabo sheme.
From a State aid law point of view, the ALFA-method has not provided for any substantial changes as regards the aid beneficiaries involved in the scheme.
Nadzorni organ meni, da je bila v zvezi s temi prevozniki metoda ALFA ustrezno izvedena in je upoštevala le stroške in prihodke, ki izhajajo iz javnih storitev, v skladu s členom 49 Sporazuma EGP in določbami Uredbe (EGS) št. 1191/69 ali Uredbe (ES) št. 1370/2007.
It applied, and continues to apply, to all concessionaires that have been entrusted with the provision of the local scheduled and school bus services in Aust-Agder.
Tretjič, Nadzorni organ upošteva postopke za ugotavljanje kršitev, ki tečejo zoper Norveške v zvezi z domnevnimi kršitvami pravil javnega naročanja EGP.
Most importantly, the system does not alter the entitlement of the beneficiaries to the aid under the scheme.
Nadzorni organ je 12. oktobra 2011 Norveški izdal uradni opomin, ker ni izpolnjevala načel nediskriminacije in preglednosti iz členov 4 in 48 Sporazuma EGP, ko je dovolila, da je okrožje Aust-Agder dodelilo in podaljšalo koncesije za avtobusne prevoze brez kakršne koli objave.
The scheme therefore was not extended in this respect.
Nadzorni organ je iz istega razloga 22. junija 2012 Norveški izdal obrazloženo mnenje.
The introduction of the ALFA-method and the indexation merely served the purpose of calibrating the costs of the transport services, on the basis of which the compensation is granted, more precisely.
Namen tega predhodnega postopka je zadevni državi Efte dati priložnost, da na eni strani izpolni svoje obveznosti po pravu EGP, na drugi strani pa uresniči svojo pravico in se brani pred ugovori Nadzornega organa.
The amount of the compensation granted was based on the same factors throughout the period, such as costs of bus operations, costs of subcontractors, ticket revenue etc.
Norveški organi so se zavezali, da bodo sprejeli nacionalno zakonodajo za preprečitev prihodnjih kršitev pravil o javnih naročilih na področju koncesij v prometnem sektorju.
Consequently, the ALFA-method and the indexation provided for a better mechanism to grant compensation to the same beneficiaries under the scheme and on the basis of the same legal basis.
Na podlagi tega Nadzorni organ izvaja svojo diskrecijsko pravico nadzora in, kot je navedeno zgoraj, meni, da v tem trenutku ni potrebe po začetku ustreznega postopka v zvezi z ukrepi, določenega v členih 17 do 19 dela II Protokola 3.
Therefore, the Authority concludes that the ALFA-method and the indexation have not substantially altered the existing aid scheme.
Nadzorni organ prav tako ustavlja formalni postopek preiskave glede morebitne nove pomoči v zvezi z veljavno shemo pomoči v okrožju Aust-Agder.
Likewise, the increased production provided by the ATP project on the routes Lillesand-Kristiansand and Kristiansand-Arendal cannot be said to have altered substantially the scheme.
Vendar pa bo Nadzorni organ v skladu s členom 1(1) dela I Protokola 3 k Sporazumu o nadzornem organu in sodišču shemo redno preverjal do njenega izteka ter spremljal njeno uporabo.
The purpose of the ATP project was merely to increase the activities of Nettbuss Sør AS under the same concession contracts.
NOVA POMOČ ZUNAJ VELJAVNE SHEME POMOČI
The changes were made to already existing routes without any amendment of the aid scheme as established by the legislation.
Splošne ugotovitve
As a result, the ATP project's increased production does not constitute an amendment of a scheme leading to aid for new activities being considered as new aid.
V zvezi z obstoječo pomočjo iz sodne prakse [68] izhaja, da je treba čezmerno nadomestilo najprej preveriti v okviru sheme pomoči.
Further, the payments made under the ATP project are in conformity with the compensation principle established under the scheme, in that they cover the cost of the public service, minus the ticket revenues for net contracts, plus a reasonable profit.
Če veljavna shema pomoči, po zasnovi ali kako drugače, omogoča čezmerno nadomestilo, je treba presežek ali zneske čezmernega nadomestila obravnavati kot obstoječo pomoč in začeti ustrezni postopek glede ukrepov iz členov od 17 do 19 dela II Protokola 3 k Sporazumu o nadzornem organu in sodišču.
In addition, the fact that the composition of the public entities that contributed to or made the compensatory payments, as mentioned above in recital 58, was different to that of the existing aid scheme, has not substantially altered the scheme.
Če je čezmerno nadomestilo upravičencu izplačano zunaj veljavne sheme pomoči, je treba presežek ali zneske čezmernega nadomestila obravnavati s postopkom nove pomoči.
The services paid for were within the scope of that scheme and the payments were made in conformity with the legal and financial rules applicable for the scheme, irrespective thus of the origin of the payments.
Samo plačila, izvedena na podlagi veljavne sheme pomoči, se lahko štejejo kot obstoječa pomoč, izplačana po tej shemi.
The above changes introduced by the ATP project do not call into question the nature of the scheme as an existing aid scheme.
Nasprotno pa je treba plačila, ki presegajo dejanske izgube in ki so bila izvedena zunaj sheme pomoči, obravnavati kot novo pomoč [69].
Therefore, the Authority concludes that the ATP-project has not substantially altered the existing aid scheme.
Pomoč, dodeljena zunaj veljavne sheme pomoči v okrožju Aust-Agder
Conclusion
Nadzorni organ je v odločbi o začetku postopka izrazil dvom v zvezi z morebitno novo pomočjo za izvajalce lokalnih rednih in šolskih prevozov v okrožju Aust-Agder, ki ni bila dodeljena na podlagi veljavne sheme pomoči od leta 1994.
The Authority concludes that there is an aid scheme in place in Aust-Agder based on the CTA, the CTR, the Education Act and the administrative practice.
Od leta 2009 in po združitvi podjetja Nettbuss Sør AS s podjetjema Høyvågruta AS in RTB je pet prevoznikov izvajalo prevozne storitve po pogodbah, sklenjenih z okrožjem Aust-Agder.
The Authority is of the view that the scheme is existing in nature as no substantial changes were introduced by the application of the ALFA-method or the indexation, nor by the increased production on existing bus routes provided for by the ATP project.
Njihove koncesijske pogodbe se bodo iztekle 31. decembra 2016.
Protocol 3 SCA empowers the Authority to keep under constant review existing systems of aid [67].
Nadzorni organ ugotavlja, da imajo države Efte veliko svobode pri določanju storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena in pogojev za njeno izvajanje, vključno z oceno stroškov in prihodkov takih storitev ter ustrezno metodologijo za razporeditev stroškov in prihodkov pri izvajalcih, ki izvajajo tudi komercialne dejavnosti.
However, only where an existing aid is found to be incompatible with the functioning of the EEA Agreement, such aid should be subject to appropriate measures pursuant to the provisions laid down in Articles 17 to 19 in Part II of Protocol 3 SCA, with a view to abolish or amend the scheme.
Obseg in nadzor, ki ga Nadzorni organ lahko izvaja v zvezi s tem, sta omejena na očitno napako [70].
In the circumstances, the Authority does not consider that the present situation calls for it to address appropriate measures to the Kingdom of Norway with regard to future changes to the existing aid scheme.
V tem primeru so norveški organi lokalne redne in šolske prevoze v okrožju Aust-Agder opredelili kot storitve splošnega gospodarskega pomena v skladu z določbami ZKP, UKP, Zakona o izobraževanju in upravne prakse.
In this regard, the Authority notes the following.
Nadzorni organ se je strinjal s to opredelitvijo in je tudi sklenil, da je shema pomoči v okrožju Aust-Agder veljavna.
Firstly, the Authority takes account of the fact that the concession contract with Nettbuss Sør AS has already expired.
Predpisi veljavne sheme pomoči omogočajo, da nadomestilo krije stroške lokalnih rednih in šolskih prevozov v okrožju Aust-Agder (z odbitkom prihodkov od vozovnic pri neto pogodbah) s pribitkom razumnega dobička.
As a result, any compatibility assessment of the existing aid scheme in respect of Nettbuss Sør is devoid of purpose.
Zato so lahko samo plačila za izvajanje zadevnih storitev, ki spadajo v področje uporabe sheme, del veljavne sheme pomoči v okrožju Aust-Agder, vključno s plačili, ki presegajo dejanske izgube [71].
Secondly, the Authority has not identified any competition concerns concerning the application of the scheme by the other transport operators mentioned in recital 35, whose contracts with Aust-Agder are still valid.
V okviru tega primera naslednja plačila ne morejo temeljiti na predpisih in upravni praksi sheme:
Thirdly, the Authority takes account of its pending infringement proceedings against Norway concerning alleged breaches of the EEA procurement rules.
neposredna plačila za druge prevozne storitve, ki niso predmet sklenjenih koncesijskih pogodb (npr. določene proge); ter
On the same grounds, on 22 June 2012, the Authority delivered a reasoned opinion to Norway.
Taka plačila, izvedena iz državnih sredstev, kot je opisano zgoraj, prevoznikom dajejo selektivno prednost, ki ne temelji na določbah in upravni praksi veljavne sheme pomoči v okrožju Aust-Agder, saj se nanašajo na storitve, ki jih trg že izvaja, na prevozne storitve, ki niso bile opredeljene kot upravičene do nadomestila za javno storitev, ali pa na okoliščine, ki presegajo omejitve sheme pomoči, kot je bila prvotno zasnovana.
The purpose of that pre-litigation procedure is to give the EFTA State concerned an opportunity, on the one hand, to comply with its obligations under EEA law and, on the other, to avail itself of its right to defend itself against the objections formulated by the Authority.
V zvezi s takimi okoliščinami za nadomestilo za javno storitev, ki ne obstaja več, ne more veljati, da je bilo izplačano na podlagi določb sheme, in sicer zato ne, ker take storitve niso več predmet sheme.