natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
On the subject of bank guarantees, it is the opinion of the Icelandic authorities that the declaration provided to the Icelandic authorities by Glitnir bank on behalf of Hringiðan was not sufficient as it only stated that Glitnir bank was ‘ready to consider providing a guarantee’, while the winning bidder Síminn was able to obtain a valid guarantee from New Kaupþing bank.
To pomeni, da ukrep pomeni državno pomoč v smislu člena 61(1) Sporazuma EGP, če so izpolnjeni vsi naslednji pogoji: ukrep: (i) odobri država ali je odobren z državnimi sredstvi; (ii) upravičencu dodeljuje selektivno gospodarsko prednost; (iii) lahko vpliva na trgovino med pogodbenicami in izkrivlja konkurenco.
The guarantee provided by Síminn stated that New Kaupþing Bank was indeed willing to ‘provide a bank guarantee for the project’.
V naslednjih poglavjih je na podlagi teh meril ocenjeno državno financiranje prej navedenega projekta.
The Icelandic authorities also note that the document provided by Hringiðan was submitted long after an extended deadline had expired.
Prisotnost državnih sredstev
The Icelandic authorities emphasise that the tender bid made by Hringiðan for the original scope of 1119 buildings was substantially higher than the selected tender bid, ISK 1297257098 as opposed to the offer made by Síminn which was ISK 379000000.
V skladu s členom 61(1) Sporazuma EGP mora ukrep odobriti država ali mora biti odobren iz državnih sredstev, da se lahko šteje za državno pomoč.
Furthermore, the Icelandic authorities note that the amount agreed upon in the end between the Icelandic authorities and Síminn after the scope of the project had been increased is still lower than the tender made by Hringiðan.
Za namen člena 61(1) Sporazuma EGP država zajema vse organe državne uprave, od centralne ravni države do mestne ravni ali najnižje upravne ravni, pa tudi javna podjetja in organe [68].
Response to comments received from Nova ehf.
Kot je bilo prej navedeno, je bil Sklad ustanovljen z zakonom in je v državni lasti Islandije, ki Skladu dodeljuje sredstva iz letnega državnega proračuna.
According to the Icelandic authorities, the Agreement clearly states the minimum wholesale percentage discount that Síminn has to offer to other service providers.
Zato je prvo merilo člena 61(1) Sporazuma EGP izpolnjeno.
Síminn is nevertheless free to negotiate higher discount rates.
Podjetje
The Icelandic authorities reiterate that roaming access to the UMTS/3G part of the network is not a part of the project and accordingly wholesale access to the project does not include roaming access.
Da bi ukrep pomenil državno pomoč v smislu člena 61(1) Sporazuma EGP, mora zagotavljati prednost podjetju.
The results of prior negotiations between Síminn and Nova on roaming access therefore fall outside of the scope of the project.
Podjetja so subjekti, ki se ukvarjajo z gospodarsko dejavnostjo, ne glede na njihov pravni status in način, kako se financirajo [69].
Furthermore, the Icelandic authorities strongly disagree with Nova's statement, that the Fund's answers dated 23 July 2009 were inadequate and simply brushed off the underlying issues.
Gospodarske dejavnosti so dejavnosti, ki jih sestavlja ponujanje blaga ali storitev na trgu [70].
According to the Icelandic authorities, the answer from the Fund is quite clear on the issue of 3G mobile roaming, which seems to be the main underlying issue of the complaint and later responses from market operators.
Operater Síminn je največji islandski telekomunikacijski operater, ki na islandskem trgu ponuja storitve, kot so mobilne storitve, stacionarne telefonske storitve, internetne storitve in televizijske storitve.
The answer states: ‘This contract does not cover 3G mobile voice services or mobile broadband services to the identified buildings or surrounding area.
Zato je jasno, da je bila kakršna koli pomoč, vključena v Pogodbo med operaterjem Síminn in Skladom, dodeljena podjetju.
The contracted service is in fact delivered from a router port within walls of homes or workplaces.
Dajanje prednosti posameznim podjetjem ali proizvodnji posameznega blaga
Other services which are or will possibly be offered from the sellers' 3G transmitters are outside the scope of the contract.’.
Ukrep pomoči mora upravičenemu podjetju dodeliti gospodarsko prednost, ki je ne bi pridobil v običajnih tržnih razmerah [71].
ASSESSMENT
Ukrep državne pomoči se lahko dodeli v različnih oblikah in se mora oceniti glede na učinke [72].
THE PRESENCE OF STATE AID
Najpogostejša oblika take prednosti je dodelitev subvencije, tj. plačilo v gotovini ali v naravi, izvedeno v podporo podjetju, ki ni plačilo kupca ali stranke za blago, ki jih podjetje proizvaja, ali storitve, ki jih ponuja [73].
Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement reads as follows:
V tem primeru je financiranje projekta s strani javnih organov zagotovilo gospodarsko prednost izbranemu ponudniku omrežja, ki bi jo običajno kril s svojim proračunom, in izbranemu operaterju omogočilo, da zagotovi širokopasovno omrežje pod pogoji, ki niso na voljo na trgu.
‘Save as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any aid granted by EC Member States, EFTA States or through State resources in any form whatsoever which distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring certain undertakings or the production of certain goods shall, in so far as it affects trade between Contracting Parties, be incompatible with the functioning of this Agreement.’
Poleg tega ni mogoče izključiti, da je finančna podpora operaterju Síminn kot uspešnemu ponudniku omogočila izvajanje poslovnih dejavnosti v zvezi z omrežjem pod pogoji, ki ne bi obstajali, če se ukrep ne bi zagotovil [74].
This implies that a measure constitutes State aid within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement if the following conditions are cumulatively fulfilled: the measure: (i) is granted by the State or through state resources; (ii) confers a selective economic advantage on the beneficiary; (iii) is liable to have an impact on trade between Contracting Parties and to distort competition.
Čeprav se s konkurenčnim postopkom oddaje javnega naročila običajno zmanjša znesek potrebne finančne podpore in preprečijo prekomerni dobički, bo pomoč operaterju omogočila, da ponuja svoje storitve med koncema prima facie po nižjih cenah, kot bi jih ponujal, če bi moral sam kriti vse stroške, in da tako privabi več strank, kot bi jih v običajnih tržnih razmerah.
In the following chapters the state funding of the abovementioned project will be assessed with respect to these criteria.
Izbrani operater bo z državnimi sredstvi pridobil tudi lastništvo nad omrežjem ter druga opredmetena in neopredmetena osnovna sredstva (npr. opremo, odnose s strankami), ki jih bo obdržal tudi po koncu življenjske dobe projektov.
Presence of state resources
Ob upoštevanju navedenega je jasno, da je bila izbranemu operaterju podeljena gospodarska prednost [75].
According to Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement, a measure must be granted by the State or through State resources in order to constitute State aid.
Poleg tega Nadzorni organ navaja, da je cilj ukrepa izboljšati zagotavljanje obstoječih širokopasovnih storitev uporabnikom s prebivališčem in poslovnim uporabnikom na zadevnih območjih.
The State, for the purpose of Article 61(1), covers all bodies of the state administration, from the central government to the city level or the lowest administrative level as well as public undertakings and bodies [68].
Čeprav za uporabnike s prebivališčem ne veljajo pravila o državni pomoči, bodo podjetjem na ciljnih območjih bolj koristile izboljšane širokopasovne storitve in pokritost, kot če bi se zagotavljale le na poslovni osnovi.
The Fund is, as described above, established by law and owned by the Icelandic State which allocates resources to the Fund through the annual State budget.
Ukrep pomoči mora biti selektiven, tako da daje prednost „posameznim podjetjem ali proizvodnji posameznega blaga“.
Therefore, the first criterion of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement is fulfilled.
Javno financiranje širokopasovnega omrežja na podeželskih območjih Islandije je bilo dodeljeno operaterju Síminn kot uspešnemu ponudniku.
Undertaking
Ker je operater Síminn edini prejemnik državnih sredstev, je Nadzorni organ sklenil, da je ukrep selektiven.
In order to constitute State aid within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement, the measure must confer an advantage upon an undertaking.
Izkrivljanje konkurence in vpliv na trgovino med pogodbenicami
Undertakings are entities engaged in an economic activity, regardless of their legal status and the way in which they are financed [69].
Da se ukrep lahko šteje za državno pomoč v smislu člena 61(1) Sporazuma EGP, mora izkrivljati konkurenco in vplivati na trgovino med pogodbenicami Sporazuma EGP.
Economic activities are activities consisting of offering goods or services on a market [70].
Glede na ustaljeno sodno prakso ni treba ugotavljati stvarnega vpliva pomoči na trgovino med pogodbenicami Sporazuma EGP niti dejanskega izkrivljanja konkurence, ampak je treba le proučiti, ali ta pomoč lahko vpliva na to trgovino in izkrivi konkurenco [76].
Síminn is Iceland's biggest telecoms operator, offering services such as mobile, fixed telephone, internet and TV services on the Icelandic market.
Poleg tega ni potrebno, da upravičenec do pomoči sam sodeluje v trgovini znotraj EGP.
It is thus clear that any aid involved in the Agreement between Síminn and the Fund has been conferred upon an undertaking.
Tudi javna subvencija, dodeljena podjetju, ki zagotavlja le lokalne ali regionalne storitve in ne zagotavlja storitev zunaj države porekla, lahko kljub temu vpliva na trgovino, če se taka notranja dejavnost zaradi pomoči lahko poveča ali ohrani, če se zato zmanjšajo priložnosti za podjetja s sedežem v drugih pogodbenicah [77].
Favouring certain undertakings or the production of certain goods
Javno sodelovanje pri uvedbi infrastrukture za zagotavljanje storitev elektronskih komunikacij spreminja obstoječe tržne razmere, saj krepi položaj izbranega ponudnika omrežja glede na njegove konkurente.
Firstly, the aid measure must confer on the beneficiary undertaking an economic advantage, which it would not have obtained under normal market conditions [71].
Upravičenec do ukrepa bo dejavno vzpostavil širokopasovno omrežno infrastrukturo na trgu, na katerega se lahko vstopi neposredno ali s finančnim sodelovanjem udeležencev iz drugih držav EGP.
A State aid measure can take different forms, and must be assessed in relation to its effects [72].
Običajno so trgi za storitve elektronskih komunikacij (vključno z veleprodajnim in maloprodajnim trgom širokopasovnih storitev) odprti za trgovino in konkurenco med operaterji in ponudniki storitev v EGP.
The most common form of such an advantage is the granting of a subsidy, i.e. a payment in cash or in kind made in support of an undertaking other than the payment by the purchaser or consumer for the goods or services, which it produces [73].
Zato je Nadzorni organ sklenil, da ukrep lahko izkrivlja konkurenco in vpliva na trgovino v EGP.
In the present case, the financing of the project by public authorities has provided an economic advantage to the selected supplier of the network that would normally be covered by its budget, and has allowed the selected operator to provide a broadband network on conditions not otherwise available on the market.
Financiranje javne storitve in preskus Altmark
In addition, it cannot be ruled out that the financial support has enabled Síminn, as the successful bidder, to conduct its commercial activities in respect of the network under conditions which would not otherwise have existed in the absence of the measure [74].
Islandski organi in operater Síminn menijo, da se prispevek lahko opredeli kot financiranje javne storitve, da so izpolnjena štiri kumulativna merila „preskusa Altmark“ in da ukrep zato ni državna pomoč.
Although a competitive tender procedure tends to reduce the amount of financial support required and avoid excessive profits, the aid will allow the operator to offer end-to-end services prima facie at lower prices than if it had had to bear all the costs itself and thus attract more customers than under normal market conditions.
Sodba Sodišča v zadevi Altmark je vsebovala pojasnilo glede pogojev, pod katerimi nadomestilo za javno storitev ni državna pomoč zaradi odsotnosti kakršne koli prednosti [78].
The selected operator will also acquire ownership of the network, as well as other tangible and intangible assets with State funds (e.g. equipment, customer relations), even after the lifetime of the projects.
Vendar morajo biti izpolnjeni štirje glavni pogoji, ki so običajno imenovani merila iz sodbe Altmark, da se tako nadomestilo v posameznem primeru ne šteje kot državna pomoč [79].
In view of the above, it is clear that an economic advantage was granted to the selected operator [75].
Štiri kumulativna merila preskusa Altmark so: (i) upravičenec do mehanizma državnega financiranja za SSGP mora biti uradno pooblaščen za opravljanje SSGP, te obveznosti pa morajo biti jasno opredeljene; (ii) merila za izračun nadomestila morajo biti določena vnaprej ter objektivno in pregledno, da bi se preprečila ekonomska ugodnost, ki bi prejemniku dajala prednost v primerjavi s konkurenčnimi podjetji; (iii) nadomestilo ne sme presegati tistega, kar je potrebno za kritje vseh ali dela stroškov, ki so nastali z izpolnjevanjem obveznosti SSGP, ob upoštevanju realiziranih prejemkov in razumnega dobička zaradi izpolnjevanja teh obveznosti; in (iv) če upravičenec ni izbran s postopkom oddaje javnega naročila, se mora raven potrebnega nadomestila določiti na podlagi analize stroškov, ki bi jih povprečno, dobro vodeno podjetje imelo pri izpolnjevanju teh obveznosti ob upoštevanju realiziranih prejemkov in razumnega dobička.
Moreover, the Authority notes that measure aims at improving the provision of existing broadband services to residential users as well as business users in the areas concerned.
Države Efte, ki so del EGP, imajo na splošno široko diskrecijsko pravico glede opredeljevanja storitve kot SSGP, pri čemer morajo spoštovati sodno prakso, ki določa splošna načela, ki jih je treba upoštevati [80].
Whereas residential users are not subject to State aid rules, businesses in the targeted areas will ultimately benefit from the improved broadband services and coverage in comparison with what would be provided on a purely commercial basis.
Zagotavljanje ustrezne širokopasovne pokritosti vsem državljanom na območjih, kjer drugi operaterji ne zagotavljajo takih storitev ali jih ne bodo zagotavljali v bližnji prihodnosti, bi se lahko opredelilo kot SSGP [81].
Secondly, the aid measure must be selective, in that it must favour ‘certain undertakings or the production of certain goods’.
Načeloma se lahko nadomestilo za javno storitev tako dodeli podjetju, ki sta mu bila zaupana izgradnja in delovanje širokopasovnega omrežja.
Public funding of the broadband network in rural areas of Iceland was granted to Síminn, as the successful tenderer.
Glede na odstavek 16 smernic za širokopasovna omrežja to lahko velja, če se lahko dokaže, da zasebni vlagatelji v bližnji prihodnosti (v naslednjih treh letih) morda ne bodo mogli zagotoviti ustrezne širokopasovne pokritosti vsem državljanom ali uporabnikom, kar bi pomenilo, da bi znaten del prebivalstva ostal brez povezave.
Since Síminn is the only recipient of the state funds, the Authority concludes that the measure is selective.
Zato se lahko omrežje, financirano iz javnih sredstev in vzpostavljeno na belih lisah za vse morebitne uporabnike, tako poslovne kot zasebne, financira z nadomestilom za javno storitev.
Distortion of competition and effect on trade between Contracting Parties
Vendar morajo biti izpolnjeni številni pogoji, zlasti pogoji, ki so določeni v odstavkih od 17 do 23 smernic za širokopasovna omrežja.
The measure must be liable to distort competition and affect trade between the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement to be considered State aid within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement.
Islandski organi so opisali razloge, zakaj mora razvoj širokopasovnega omrežja na podeželskih območjih brez zasebne naložbe financirati država, kar je v splošnem gospodarskem interesu.
According to settled case-law, it is not necessary to establish that the aid has a real effect on trade between the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement and that competition is actually being distorted, but only to examine whether the aid is liable to affect such trade and distort competition [76].
Po posvetovanju z deležniki je bilo na podlagi kartiranja in analize pokritosti ugotovljeno, da se v naslednjih treh letih zadevnim objektom ne bi zagotovila hitra internetna infrastruktura pod tržnimi pogoji.
Furthermore, it is not necessary that the aid beneficiary itself is involved in intra-EEA trade.
Islandski organi so poudarili, zakaj menijo, da se je treba izogniti „digitalni ločnici“ med mestnimi in podeželskimi območji.
Even a public subsidy granted to an undertaking, which provides only local or regional services and does not provide any services outside its state of origin, may nonetheless have an effect on trade if such internal activity can be increased or maintained as a result of the aid, with the consequence that the opportunities for undertakings established in other Contracting Parties are reduced [77].
Ekonomije zagotavljanja širokopasovnega dostopa so take, da naložbe vanj ne bodo vedno donosne za trg na vseh območjih.
Public involvement in deploying infrastructure to provide electronic communications services alters existing market conditions by strengthening the position of the selected supplier of the network in relation to its competitors.
Zaradi ekonomij gostote je razvoj širokopasovnih omrežij običajno donosnejši, kjer je morebitno povpraševanje večje in koncentrirano, tj. na gosto poseljenih območjih.
The beneficiary of the measure will be active in deploying a broadband network infrastructure in a market which can be entered directly or through financial involvement by participants from other EEA States.
Zaradi visokih stalnih stroškov naložbe se z zmanjševanjem gostote prebivalca stroški na enoto močno povečujejo.
In general, the markets for electronic communications services (including the wholesale and the retail broadband markets) are open to trade and competition between operators and service providers across the EEA.
Zato so širokopasovna omrežja običajno donosna le pri delu prebivalstva.
Therefore, the Authority concludes that the measure is liable to distort competition and affect trade within the EEA.
Oddaljenost, kot so velike razdalje od obstoječe telekomunikacijske infrastrukture, bi lahko tudi znatno povečala stroške naložb, potrebne za razvoj ustreznih širokopasovnih omrežij [82].
Funding of a public service and the Altmark test
Te regije z manjšo pokritostjo so običajno podeželska območja z majhno gostoto prebivalstva, na katerih komercialni ponudniki nimajo gospodarskih spodbud za naložbe v omrežja elektronskih komunikacij, da bi se zagotovile ustrezne širokopasovne storitve.
The Icelandic authorities and Síminn take the view that the contribution can be characterised as funding of a public service; that the four cumulative criteria of the ‘Altmark test’ are fulfilled, and that the measure, for that reason, does not constitute State aid.
To lahko povzroči „digitalno ločnico“ med območji z dostopom do ustreznih širokopasovnih storitev in območji brez takega dostopa.
The Court of Justice's judgment in Altmark provided clarification regarding the conditions under which public service compensation does not constitute State aid, owing to the absence of any advantage [78].
Zato je v navedenem splošnem gospodarskem interesu, da države EGP lahko uporabijo javna sredstva za omogočanje povezljivosti na območjih, ki drugače ne bi imela hitrega interneta, in sicer bodisi v sedanjosti bodisi v prihodnosti [83].
However, for such compensation to escape qualification as State aid in a particular case, four main conditions, commonly referred to as the Altmark criteria, must be satisfied [79].
Islandski organi so navedli, da je bila njihova intervencija nujna.
The four cumulative criteria of the Altmark test are: (i) 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; (ii) 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; (iii) 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; 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 typical well-run undertaking would have incurred in discharging those obligations, taking into account the relevant receipts and a reasonable profit.
Kot je opisano v poglavju 2.1.2 dela I, so organi potrdili, da na zadevnih območjih obstaja resno pomanjkanje hitre širokopasovne pokritosti.
The EEA EFTA 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 [80].
Poleg tega na podlagi kartiranja in analize pokritosti niso bili ugotovljeni naložbeni načrti za povezovanje objektov v bližnji prihodnosti, saj za zasebne operaterje niso poslovno privlačni, ker so na redko poseljenih območjih.
The provision of adequate broadband coverage to all citizens in areas where no other operators are providing, or will provide, such services in the near future, could well be characterised as an SGEI [81].
Poleg tega se zdi, da je bila operaterju Síminn s Pogodbo dodeljena jasna naloga, ki se lahko v skladu s Smernicami Nadzornega organa o uporabi pravil o državni pomoči za nadomestila, dodeljena za opravljanje storitev splošnega gospodarskega pomena (smernice o SSGP Nadzornega organa), obravnava kot zahtevano pooblastilo [84].
In principle, public service compensation may therefore be granted to an undertaking entrusted with the construction and operation of a broadband network.
V skladu z obveznostjo operaterja Síminn bi morala vzpostavljena širokopasovna infrastruktura zagotavljati univerzalno povezljivost vsem uporabnikom na zadevnem območju.
According to paragraph 16 of the Broadband Guidelines, this may be the case where it can be demonstrated that private investors may not be in a position in the near future (a period of three years) to provide adequate broadband coverage to all citizens or users thus leaving a significant part of the population unconnected.
Poleg tega je treba v skladu z odstavkoma 19 in 20 smernic za širokopasovna omrežja omrežje, ki se financira z javnimi sredstvi, vzpostaviti tako, da omogoča veleprodajni dostop drugim ponudnikom internetnih storitev.
Consequently, a publicly-funded network set up in white areas for all potential users, business or private, may be financed by way of public service compensation.
Dostop naj bi se dodelil na priročen način, vsem ponudnikom internetnih storitev pa bi se morala dodeliti enaka storitev in enak dostop do omrežja, ne glede na njihovo povezanost s prodajalcem.
However, a number of conditions have to be fulfilled, in particular those set out in paragraphs 17 to 23 of the Broadband Guidelines.
Operater Síminn zato ne more zavrniti dostopa do infrastrukture na diskrecijski in/ali diskriminatorni osnovi.
The Icelandic authorities have described the reasons why the roll-out of a broadband network in rural areas not served by private investment needs to be financed by the State in the general economic interest.
Poleg tega pooblastilo in pomoč zajemata le vzpostavitev omrežja in zagotavljanje ustreznih veleprodajnih storitev dostopa, v to pa niso vključene maloprodajne komunikacijske storitve.