natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
The Icelandic authorities submit that the Authority took the view in the Aluminium Smelters Cases [38] that the aid in question could be characterised as an investment aid if it could be linked to the carrying-out of specific projects, based on an amount invested in the region, capable of being quantified and a ceiling expressed as a percentage of the amount invested in the region.
Islandski organi trdijo, da je Nadzorni organ v zadevi Aluminium Smelters [38] zavzel stališče, da bi zadevno pomoč lahko označili kot pomoč za naložbe, če bi jo lahko povezali z izvajanjem posebnih projektov, na podlagi zneska, vloženega v regijo, ki ga je mogoče količinsko opredeliti, in zgornje meje, izražene kot odstotek zneska, vloženega v regijo.
Furthermore, the Icelandic authorities note that the Authority has referred to the fact that the transparency requirements set forth in paragraphs 4(3) and 4(4) of the Authority’s Business Taxation Guidelines [39] were satisfied; in other words, the benefit conferred can be quantified and is proportional to the limitations that it was designed to offset.
Islandski organi nadalje navajajo, da se je Nadzorni organ skliceval na dejstvo, da so bile izpolnjene zahteve po preglednosti iz točk 4(3) in 4(4) Smernic Nadzornega organa o obdavčenju podjetij [39], z drugimi besedami, da je dodeljeno ugodnost mogoče količinsko opredeliti in je sorazmerna z omejitvami, ki naj bi jih izravnala.
In addition, the Icelandic authorities submitted that should the total investment cost initially planned eventually be lower than the initially anticipated USD 726 million both the total aid ceiling and the amount of total state aid will be proportionately lower.
Poleg tega so islandski organi trdili, da se bosta prag skupne vrednosti pomoči in celotni znesek državne pomoči sorazmerno znižala, če bi bila skupna cena naložbe iz prvotnih načrtov na koncu nižja od prvotno pričakovanih 726 milijonov USD.
The mechanism put in place is, according to the Icelandic authorities, designed to guarantee whether and how the applicable aid intensities would be ensured in the event that the investment cost might be lower than estimated.
Po navedbah islandskih organov je bil vzpostavljeni mehanizem zasnovan tako, da bi določil, ali in kako bi se zajamčila veljavna intenzivnost pomoči, če bi bil strošek naložbe morda nižji od ocenjenega.
The standstill provision
Klavzula o odlogu
The Icelandic authorities submitted in their comments to the opening decision that the only benefit which has already taken effect is the waiving of municipal taxes by the Municipality, under the terms of the Agreement on Licences and Charges.
Islandski organi so v pripombah k odločbi o začetku postopka pojasnili, da je edina ugodnost, ki je že začela veljati, ta, da je občina Reykjanesbær po pogodbi o izdaji licenc in pristojbinah oprostila družbo plačila davkov na občinski ravni.
In this regard, Verne has, according to the Icelandic authorities, committed itself to reimburse the outstanding amounts to the Municipality.
V tem smislu se je po navedbah islandskih organov družba Verne obvezala, da bo neporavnane zneske vrnila tej občini.
The Icelandic authorities commit themselves to monitor that this will be done and report to the Authority in due course that the amounts involved (including interest) have been repaid in full.
Islandski organi se zavezujejo, da bodo spremljali izvedbo tega vračila in da bodo Nadzornemu organu pravočasno poročali, da so bili zadevni zneski (vključno z obrestmi) v celoti vrnjeni.
However, the Icelandic authorities propose that the reimbursement envisaged will be postponed until the Authority has adopted its final decision in this matter.
Vendar predlagajo, naj se predvideno povračilo odloži, dokler Nadzorni organ ne bo dokončno odločil o tej zadevi.
Necessity of the initially envisaged aid and its incentive effect, as argued by the Icelandic authorities before the withdrawal of the notification
Potrebnost prvotno predvidene pomoči in njen spodbujevalni učinek, kot so trdili islandski organi pred umikom priglasitve
Background to Verne’s initial investment decision
Ozadje prvotne odločitve o naložbi družbe Verne
The Icelandic authorities submit that a concerted government policy began in 2007, designed to attract foreign investors into the data centre business in Iceland.
Islandski organi trdijo, da se je leta 2007 začela izvajati usklajena vladna politika z namenom pritegniti tuje vlagatelje v dejavnost podatkovnega centra na Islandiji.
Key reasons for establishing business in Iceland focussed on its location between Europe and North America, its tax structure, which was limited to 15% on net income, its vast renewable green resources and cool climate.
Bistveni razlogi za vzpostavitev dejavnosti na Islandiji so bili: njena lega med Evropo in Severno Ameriko, davčna struktura, ki je omejena na 15 % od čistega dobička, obsežni zeleni obnovljivi viri in hladno podnebje.
The Icelandic authorities submit that the former military base, vacated in September 2006, was heavily promoted in terms of its potential impact on regional development.
Islandski organi trdijo, da se je nekdanje vojaško oporišče, iz katerega se je vojska umaknila septembra 2006, zelo promoviralo v smislu potencialnega učinka na regionalni razvoj.
In its discussions with Verne, the Icelandic authorities encouraged the use of the site for the data centre project.
Islandski organi so se v pogovorih z družbo Verne zavzemali za uporabo te lokacije za projekt podatkovnega centra.
In this regard, it was hoped that any natural impediments to the development of the site would be overcome by the fact that there were already some buildings on the site that could be refurbished and the close proximity to the international airport.
Pri tem so upali, da bo kakršno koli naravno oviro za razvoj lokacije premostilo dejstvo, da na lokaciji že stoji nekaj stavb, ki bi se lahko obnovile, in da je v bližini mednarodnega letališča.
The Icelandic authorities submit that the initially planned Data Centre would have had a very positive effect on employment in the Reykjanes area.
Islandski organi trdijo, da bi imel prvotno načrtovani podatkovni center zelo pozitiven vpliv na zaposlovanje na območju Reykjanes.
The anticipated level of employment, according to Verne’s initial plan, was between 180-220 persons by the time it would be fully operational, in an area with a labour force of 12613 as of 30 October 2009 and an unemployment rate of just below 13%.
Glede na prvotni načrt družbe Verne naj bi po pričakovanjih do takrat, ko bi začel center v celoti delovati, zaposlili med 180 in 220 oseb; na tem območju je bilo na dan 30. oktobra 2009 delovno aktivnih 12613 prebivalcev, stopnja brezposelnosti pa je bila malo nižja od 13 %.
It was further submitted that a significant percentage of new hiring would be for skilled workers.
Trdili so tudi, da bi znaten delež novo zaposlenih predstavljali kvalificirani delavci.
In addition, the Icelandic authorities submitted, that the initially planned project would add significantly to the industrial diversification of the area and Iceland overall, by attracting IT industries to Iceland.
Poleg tega so še navedli, da bi prvotno načrtovani projekt bistveno povečal industrijsko diverzifikacijo tega območja in Islandije na splošno, s tem da bi na Islandijo pritegnil industrijo IT.
The Icelandic authorities further submit that when Verne made its initial decision to invest in Iceland in 2007, aside from the obvious interest in Iceland’s renewable energy resources, the general perception was that Icelandwas a stable business and political environment.
Islandski organi nadalje trdijo, da ko je družba Verne leta 2007 sprejela prvotno odločitev o naložbi na Islandiji, ne glede na očitno zanimanje za islandske obnovljive vire energije, je imela Islandija po splošnem prepričanju stabilno poslovno in politično okolje.
Stability is, according to the Icelandic authorities, a pre-requisite for investors and customers alike which were anticipated to the sorts of long-term commitments required to be made in the wholesale data centre industry.
Stabilnost je po mnenju islandskih organov prvi pogoj za vlagatelje in tudi za stranke, ki naj bi po pričakovanjih prevzeli take dolgoročne obveznosti, ki jih je treba prevzeti v industriji veleprodajnih storitev podatkovnih centrov.
It is submitted that customers of wholesale data centres typically sign 10-20 year leases and data centre investors will look at 15-year investment horizons, at least, in which to realise their business plans.
Po navedbah stranke veleprodajnih storitev podatkovnih centrov običajno podpišejo deset- do dvajsetletne pogodbe o zakupu, vlagatelji v podatkovne centre pa svoje naložbene načrte praviloma uresničujejo v obdobju 15 let ali več.
Following the economic crash of 2008, the business environment in Icelandbecame unstable.
Po gospodarskem zlomu leta 2008 je poslovno okolje na Islandiji postalo nestabilno.
Inevitable pressure on government fiscal policy
Neizogiben pritisk na fiskalno politiko vlade
The Icelandic authorities submit that the economic balance was rudely shattered in late 2008 when the economic crash hit Iceland.
Islandski organi menijo, da je bilo gospodarsko ravnovesje ob koncu leta 2008, ko je Islandija doživela gospodarski zlom, grobo porušeno.
In those circumstances, the raising of a broad range of taxes was a necessity for the government.
V navedenih razmerah je morala vlada nujno dvigniti širok nabor davkov.
As an example, the corporate income tax rates were raised from 15% to 18% in January 2010.
Na primer stopnja davka od dohodkov pravnih oseb se je januarja 2010 dvignila s 15 % na 18 % [40].
The Icelandic authorities further submitted that the ultimate recovery from the recession which struck Icelandwill be patchy and the scale and timeframe for that recovery is unclear.
Islandski organi so tudi pojasnili, da bo dokončno okrevanje po recesiji, ki je prizadela Islandijo, neenakomerno, obseg in časovni okvir tega okrevanja pa nista jasna.
It is therefore impossible to predict with certainty that further changes in taxation would not be implemented.
Zato je nemogoče z gotovostjo napovedati, da pri obdavčenju ne bodo izvedene dodatne spremembe.
The Icelandic authorities further submitted that in light of the unstable business environment following the economic crisis it would not have been realistic to have expected Verne to continue its proposed investment on the understanding that the situation was “business as usual”.
Islandski organi so nadalje trdili, da glede na nestabilno poslovno okolje po gospodarski krizi ne bi bilo realno pričakovati, da bo družba Verne nadaljevala predlagano naložbo ob predpostavki „poslovanja brez sprememb“.
It would therefore be unreasonable, given that the growth of capacity for a data centre over the course of its lifetime occurs in relation to the upgrading of existing data centre facilities, to anticipate that Verne would continue with its existing investment in Iceland, which it entered into in vastly different economic circumstances.
Ob upoštevanju dejstva, da se zmogljivost podatkovnega centra med obdobjem koristnosti poveča glede na nadgraditev obstoječih zmogljivosti podatkovnega centra, bi bilo zato nerazumno pričakovati, da bo družba Verne nadaljevala svojo naložbo na Islandiji, ki jo je začela v precej drugačnih gospodarskih razmerah.
Effects on investor confidence
Vpliv na zaupanje vlagateljev
The Icelandic authorities submitted that the events of the financial crisis in Iceland constituted a situation of force majeure that radically changed the way that investors and customers thought about Iceland.
Islandski organi so trdili, da so bili dogodki med finančno krizo na Islandiji primer višje sile, ki je korenito spremenil pogled vlagateljev in strank na Islandijo.
In short, it rendered Icelanda relatively unattractive place for foreign investment, at least in the short to medium term.
Islandijo je kriza namreč spremenila v razmeroma neprivlačen kraj za tuje naložbe, vsaj v kratko- do srednjeročnem obdobju.
The Icelandic authorities submitted that the gravity of the economic crisis, and its impact on data centre customers and investors, has been severe.
Po mnenju islandskih organov je huda gospodarska kriza močno vplivala na stranke in vlagatelje podatkovnega centra.
As an example they mention that CDS spreads, which had been trading in the range of 200 basis points for most of the year 2008, spiked to well over 1000 basis points as the banking crisis approached.
Kot primer navajajo razmike kreditnih zamenjav, s katerimi se je večino leta 2008 trgovalo po ceni v razponu 200 bazičnih točk, ob približevanju bančne krize pa so skokovito narasli na precej več kot 1000 bazičnih točk.
The Icelandic authorities note that in those circumstances, Verne and its investors felt they had no choice other than to secure a commitment from the Icelandic government in order to demonstrate that an economic environment of some stability could be maintained for its customers and investors alike.
Islandski organi navajajo, da v navedenih razmerah po mnenju družbe Verne in njenih vlagateljev ti niso imeli druge možnosti, kakor da od islandske vlade zahtevajo zavezo, s katero bi ta dokazala, da se lahko ohrani gospodarsko okolje z nekaj stabilnosti za stranke ter vlagatelje.
The Icelandic authorities understand that potential large-scale users such as IBM and Morgan Stanley alerted Verne to the fact that, unless the business environment could be stabilised, they would have no choice other than to postpone their decisions to invest in Iceland.
Islandski organi se zavedajo, da so morebitni veliki uporabniki, kot sta IBM in Morgan Stanley, družbo Verne opozorili na dejstvo, da če poslovnega okolja ne bo mogoče stabilizirati, ne bodo imeli druge izbire, kot da odložijo svoje odločitve o naložbah na Islandiji.
Verne therefore recognised that extraordinary measures were required in order to secure customer commitments and future investment capital.
Zato je družba Verne spoznala, da so potrebni izredni ukrepi, s katerimi si bo zagotovila zavezo strank in prihodnje kapitalske naložbe.
Regarding the incentive effect, the Icelandic authorities submit that expecting a small private equity investment firm such as Verne to compile detailed documentation about a self-evident, immediate and radical change in circumstances does not sit comfortably with the way small investment firms engage in decision-making in practice.
Kar zadeva spodbujevalni učinek, islandski organi menijo, da pričakovanje, da bi malo naložbeno podjetje z zasebnim kapitalom, kot je družba Verne, zbralo podrobno dokumentacijo o očitni, takojšnji in koreniti spremembi okoliščin, ni združljivo z načinom, na katerega se mala naložbena podjetja lotevajo sprejemanja odločitev v praksi.
The Icelandic authorities further note that Verne was and is a small entrepreneurial company with a handful of executives and employees and a group of investors who have personal relationships in data centre projects preceding the Verne investment in Iceland.
Islandski organi nadalje navajajo, da je družba Verne bila in je še mala podjetniška družba s peščico vodstvenih delavcev in zaposlenih ter skupino vlagateljev, ki so osebno povezani s projekti podatkovnega centra, izvedenimi pred naložbo družbe Verne na Islandiji.
Moreover, the lack of board minutes or other formal documentation concerning the decision to seek aid does not indicate that Verne or its investors took the requirement for aid any less seriously or were less convinced that the aid was necessary.
Ker ni zapisnikov sestankov upravnega odbora ali druge uradne dokumentacije glede odločitve o iskanju pomoči, to ne pomeni, da so družba Verne ali njeni vlagatelji zahtevo o pomoči jemali kaj manj resno ali da so bili manj prepričani o nujnosti pomoči.
The Icelandic authorities submit that nothing in the case law on the incentive effect suggests that the norm of substance over form should not prevail.
Islandski organi trdijo, da iz sodne prakse o spodbujevalnem učinku ni razvidno, da ne bi moglo prevladati merilo prednosti vsebine pred obliko.
The Icelandic authorities do not find anything in the Kronoply Case [41] or in the Freistaat Sachsen Case [42], referred to by the Authority in the opening decision, which would suggest the contrary.
Islandski organi ne najdejo ničesar v zadevi Kronoply [41] ali v zadevi Freistaat Sachsen [42], na kateri se Nadzorni organ sklicuje v odločbi o začetku postopka, kar bi nakazovalo nasprotno.
The Icelandic authorities submitted in its comments to the opening decisions that the Authority largely ignores the fact that Verne’s role as an equity investor in a start-up venture is not conducive to the adoption of a formalistic approach to its business planning.
Islandski organi so v pripombah k odločbi o začetku postopka trdili, da je Nadzorni organ v veliki meri prezrl dejstvo, da vloga družbe Verne kot vlagateljice kapitala v zagonsko tvegano naložbo ni primerna za formalističen pristop k poslovnemu načrtovanju.
Furthermore, the Icelandic authorities note that there are currently no direct competitors to Verne in the provision of data centre services to international clients.
Islandski organi tudi navajajo, da družba Verne pri zagotavljanju storitev podatkovnih centrov mednarodnim strankam trenutno nima nobenih neposrednih konkurentov.
Selectivity and competitive distortions
Selektivnost in izkrivljanje konkurence
The Icelandic authorities take the view that the position espoused by the Authority in the opening decision regarding the aid being selective, is at odds with their understanding of the situation.
Islandski organi menijo, da je stališče, ki ga je Nadzorni organ zavzel v odločbi o začetku postopka, glede tega, ali je pomoč selektivna, v nasprotju z njihovim razumevanjem položaja.
Firstly, the Icelandic authorities submit that the element of selectivity is not borne out by the facts, insofar as;
Prvič, islandski organi trdijo, da element selektivnosti ni podprt z dejstvi, če:
the Market Economy Investor Principle has been satisfied for a number of the state aid measures identified by the Authority;
je bilo načelo vlagatelja v tržno gospodarstvo izpolnjeno za več ukrepov državne pomoči, ki jih je opredelil Nadzorni organ,
under the Incentive Legislation [43] any potential market entrant can benefit from the palette of measures extended to Verne;
lahko po zakonodaji o spodbudah [43] vsak potencialni udeleženec na trgu izkoristi paleto ukrepov, podeljenih družbi Verne,
the “exclusivity” conferred upon Verne is very limited in terms of both terms and duration and is wholly consistent with a commercial arm’s length deal in order to preserve the goodwill generated by the purchase of real estate in the Reykjanesbær area.
je „izključnost“, dodeljena družbi Verne, zelo omejena v smislu pogojev in trajanja ter je v celoti skladna s tržnim poslom na povsem poslovni podlagi, da se ohrani poslovna vrednost družbe, ustvarjena z nakupom nepremičnin na območju občine Reykjanesbær.
Secondly, the Icelandic authorities submit that all existing data centre providers in Icelandare almost exclusively addressing the local needs of private business and government bodies (i.e. an altogether different market or market segment to that being targeted by Verne).
Drugič, islandski organi trdijo, da vsi obstoječi ponudniki storitev podatkovnih centrov na Islandiji skoraj izključno zadovoljujejo lokalne potrebe zasebnih podjetij in vladnih organov (tj. povsem drugačen trg ali tržni segment od tistega, v katerega je usmerjena družba Verne).
The Icelandic authorities submit that it is also evident that, aside from Verne, other more experienced international data centre operators have not shown any tangible interest in investing in Iceland, despite the efforts of the Icelandic state to promote itself as an ideal location for data centres.
Islandski organi trdijo, da je tudi jasno, da drugi izkušenejši mednarodni upravljavci podatkovnih centrov, razen družbe Verne, niso pokazali nobenega oprijemljivega zanimanja za vlaganje na Islandiji, kljub prizadevanju te države, da predstavi Islandijo kot idealno lokacijo za podatkovne centre.
Only one other data centre operator focussing on a market segment that goes beyond the purely local, Thor Data Centre, has launched commercial operations in Iceland, and its focus is on smaller retail customers.
Na Islandiji je začel poslovati le še en upravljavec podatkovnega centra – Thor Data Centre, usmerjen na tržni segment, ki presega izključno lokalnega, osredotoča pa se na manjše maloprodajne stranke.
Thor Data Centre required only a small fraction of the up-front investment required by Verne to launch its wholesale data centre business.
Thor Data Centre je potreboval le majhen delež začetne naložbe, ki jo za začetek veleprodajnih storitev podatkovnega centra potrebuje družba Verne.
The Icelandic authorities further submit that the impact of the Data Centre on the relevant market is minimal.
Po navedbah islandskih organov je vpliv podatkovnega centra na upoštevni trg minimalen.
Icelandhas essentially 0% share of the global data centre market today, the Icelandic authorities submit.
Islandija ima danes po trditvah svojih organov pravzaprav 0 % delnic globalnega trga podatkovnih centrov.
It is, in the view of the Icelandic authorities, not realistic to conclude that the aid measures contemplated by the Investment Agreement will distort competition.
Po njihovem mnenju je ugotovitev, da bi ukrepi pomoči, predvideni z investicijsko pogodbo, izkrivljali konkurenco, nerealistična.
FORMAL INVESTIGATION CLOSED AS REGARDS CERTAIN MEASURES
FORMALNI POSTOPEK PREISKAVE ZAKLJUČEN GLEDE NEKATERIH UKREPOV
According to Article 8(1) of Part II of Protocol 3, a notification may be withdrawn in due time before the Authority has taken a decision on the measure.
Priglasitev se lahko v skladu s členom 8(1) dela II Protokola 3 pravočasno umakne, preden Nadzorni organ sprejme odločitev o ukrepu.
On 28 September 2011 the Icelandic authorities informed the Authority that the Investment Agreement had been repealed and withdrew the notification.
Islandski organi so Nadzorni organ 28. septembra 2011 obvestili, da je bila investicijska pogodba razveljavljena in so umaknili priglasitev.
According to Article 8(2) of Part II of Protocol 3, in cases where the Authority has initiated the formal investigation procedure, the Authority shall close that procedure upon withdrawal of the notification.
Kadar Nadzorni organ v skladu s členom 8(2) dela II Protokola 3 že začne formalni postopek preiskave, ga zaključi po umiku priglasitve.
The formal investigation procedure under Article 1(2) of Part I of Protocol 3 as regards the following tax and fee concessions, contained in the Investment Agreement, is therefore closed without further investigation:
Formalni postopek preiskave iz člena 1(2) dela I Protokola 3 glede naslednjih davčnih ugodnosti in oprostitev pristojbin iz investicijske pogodbe je zato zaključen brez nadaljnje preiskave:
Net worth tax guarantee.
jamstvo za neto vrednost davka.
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 an economic advantage to the beneficiary; (iii) is selective; (iv) has an impact on trade between Contracting Parties and is liable to distort competition. [44]
Iz tega sledi, 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 iz državnih sredstev, (ii) daje gospodarsko prednost upravičencu, (iii) je selektiven, (iv) ima vpliv na trgovino med pogodbenicami in bi lahko izkrivljal konkurenco [44].
The Authority will assess the existence of state aid regarding each of the measures subject to this decision separately.
Nadzorni organ bo obstoj državne pomoči glede vsakega ukrepa, ki je predmet te odločbe, ocenil ločeno.
To be qualified as state aid, the advantage must be granted by the State or through State resources.
Prednost se šteje kot državna pomoč, če jo dodeli država ali je dodeljena iz državnih sredstev.