natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
As the disbursement of funds from the relevant sources is applied in a uniform manner, these clarifications have not proven to be essential for the Authority's assessment of the notified measure.
Njegova nepovratna sredstva financira Norveška.
ASSESSMENT
Priglašeni ukrep se torej financira iz državnih sredstev in se lahko prenese na podjetje Finnfjord pod nadzorom javnega subjekta, ki ga nadzira država.
Presence of State aid
Nadzorni organ zato meni, da ukrep vključuje državna sredstva.
Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement reads as follows:
Da bi priglašeni ukrep pomenil državno pomoč, mora podjetju Finnfjord nuditi ugodnost oprostitve dajatev, ki običajno bremenijo njegov proračun.
‘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 mora biti ukrep selektiven, pri čemer daje prednost „posameznim podjetjem ali proizvodnji posameznega blaga“.
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 to the beneficiary; and (iii) is liable to impact on trade between Contracting Parties and to distort competition.
Neposredna nepovratna sredstva v višini 16 milijonov NOK predstavljajo prenos gotovine, ki je podjetje Finnfjord v okviru običajnega poslovanja ne bi prejelo.
The aid measure must be granted by the state or through state resources.
Predlagana nepovratna sredstva so namenjena izključno podjetju Finnfjord.
In that context, it is recalled that IN is a public entity.
Zato je Nadzorni organ sklenil, da ta neposredna nepovratna sredstva zagotavljajo podjetju Finnfjord selektivno gospodarsko prednost.
Its grants are funded by the Norwegian State.
Ukrep se šteje za državno pomoč v smislu člena 61(1) Sporazuma EGP, če lahko izkrivlja konkurenco in vpliva na trgovino med pogodbenicami navedenega sporazuma.
The notified measure is therefore financed by state resources and transferrable to Finnfjord under the control of a public entity controlled by the state.
V skladu z ustaljeno sodno prakso zgolj dejstvo, da ukrep okrepi položaj enega podjetja v razmerju do drugih konkurenčnih podjetij v trgovini znotraj EGP, zadostuje za sprejetje sklepa, da lahko ukrep vpliva na trgovino med pogodbenicami in izkrivlja konkurenco med podjetji, ustanovljenimi v drugih državah EGP [33].
Thus, the Authority considers that state resources are involved.
Podjetje Finnfjord proizvaja ferosilicij in mikrosiliko, ki ju prodaja na evropskem trgu [34].
In order to constitute State aid, the notified measure must confer on Finnfjord advantages that relieves it of charges that are normally borne from its budget.
Nadzorni organ je zato sklenil, da pomoč vpliva na trgovino med pogodbenicami Sporazuma EGP in izkrivlja konkurenco v EGP, ker je upravičenec dejaven v sektorju, v katerem trgujejo pogodbenice.
The measure must furthermore be selective in that it favours ‘certain undertakings or the production of certain goods’.
Nadzorni organ je na podlagi navedenih ugotovitev sklenil, da priglašeni ukrep v obliki neposrednih nepovratnih sredstev v višini 16 milijonov NOK, ki jih je podjetje IN dodelilo podjetju Finnfjord, predstavlja državno pomoč v smislu člena 61(1) Sporazuma EGP.
The NOK 16 million direct grant is a transfer of cash that Finnfjord would not have received in its normal course of business.
Postopkovne zahteve
The proposed grant is intended exclusively for Finnfjord.
V skladu s členom 1(3) dela I Protokola 3 je „treba Nadzorni organ Efte o kakršnih koli načrtih za dodelitev ali spremembo pomoči obvestiti dovolj zgodaj, da lahko predloži svoje pripombe /…/.
Therefore, the Authority concludes that this direct grant provides a selective economic advantage to Finnfjord.
Zadevna država ne sme izvajati svojih predlaganih ukrepov, dokler v tem postopku ni sprejeta dokončna odločitev.“
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 its Article 61(1).
Norveški organi so z dopisom z dne 26. junija 2013 priglasili ukrep pomoči v višini 16 milijonov NOK.
According to settled case-law, the mere fact that a measure strengthens the position of an undertaking compared with other undertakings competing in intra-EEA trade, is considered to be sufficient in order to conclude that the measure is liable to affect trade between Contracting Parties and distort competition between undertakings established in other EEA States [33].
Pomoč je bila dodeljena pod pogojem, da jo odobri Nadzorni organ, zato ni bila izplačana.
Finnfjord produces ferrosilicon and microsilica, which it sells on the European market [34].
Glede na predložene informacije se zdi, da je bila pomoč dodeljena na podlagi sheme pomoči, ki ni bila priglašena Nadzornemu organu, ker so jo norveški organi obravnavali, kot da jo ureja takrat veljavna uredba o splošnih skupinskih izjemah [35].
Thus, the Authority concludes that the aid affects trade between the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement and distorts competition in the EEA as the beneficiary is active in a sector where trade between Contracting Parties takes place.
Nepovratna sredstva podjetij Enova in IN predstavljajo pomoč za naložbe, namenjeno istemu podjetju za isti naložbeni projekt.
Based on the above findings, the Authority concludes that the notified measure in the form of a direct grant of NOK 16 million from IN to Finnfjord constitutes State aid within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement.
Norveški organi so zato sklenili, da bi bilo treba pomoč podjetju Finnfjord posamično priglasiti, ker je skupaj s pomočjo podjetja Enova presegla prag, nad katerim za posamezne dodelitve pomoči velja obveznost priglasitve [36].
Procedural requirements
Nadzorni organ je na podlagi navedenega sklenil, da so norveški organi izpolnili svoje obveznosti iz člena 1(3) dela I Protokola 3.
Pursuant to Article 1(3) of Part I of Protocol 3, ‘the EFTA Surveillance Authority shall be informed, in sufficient time to enable it to submit its comments, of any plans to grant or alter aid (…).
Združljivost – pravna podlaga
The State concerned shall not put its proposed measures into effect until the procedure has resulted in a final decision’.
Podjetje IN trdi, da je pomoč podjetju Finnfjord združljiva s členom 61(3)(c) Sporazuma EGP kot pomoč za varstvo okolja.
By letter dated 26 June 2013, the Norwegian authorities notified the aid measure of NOK 16 million.
Poudarja, da zadevna pomoč ne predstavlja oblike pomoči za reševanje.
The aid has been granted conditionally subject to the Authority's approval and has consequently not been disbursed.
Na podlagi člena 61(3)(c) Sporazuma EGP se „pomoč za pospeševanje razvoja nekaterih gospodarskih dejavnosti ali nekaterih gospodarskih območij“ lahko šteje za združljivo z delovanjem Sporazuma EGP, kadar takšna pomoč ne škoduje trgovinskim pogojem in konkurenci v EGP v obsegu, ki bi bil v nasprotju s skupnimi interesi.
With reference to the information provided, it appears that the aid has been granted on the basis of an aid scheme that had not been notified to the Authority as the Norwegian authorities considered it to be covered by the then applicable General Block Exemption Regulation (the ‘GBER’) [35].
Nadzorni organ je z Odločbo št. 39/11/COL odobril začetno pomoč, ki se je iz sheme energetskega sklada namenila projektu energijske predelave podjetja Finnfjord, potem ko je izvedel podrobno oceno te pomoči v skladu s poglavjem 5 smernic EAG.
The grants from Enova and IN represent investment aid to the same undertaking for the same investment project.
Nadzorni organ je sklenil, da je priglašena pomoč podjetja Enova prispevala k varstvu okolja, tako da je spodbudila podjetje Finnfjord k sprejetju ukrepa za prihranek energije, ki ga brez pomoči ne bi sprejelo.
The Norwegian authorities therefore concluded that the aid to Finnfjord had to be individually notified as it, in cumulation with the aid from Enova, exceeded the threshold for which individual awards of aid are subject to the notification obligation [36].
Po začetku formalnega postopka preiskave je Nadzorni organ 16. julija 2014 sprejel nov sklop smernic o državni pomoči za varstvo okolja in energijo za obdobje 2014–2020 (v nadaljnjem besedilu: smernice EEAG) [37], ki so nadomestile smernice EAG [38].
On the basis of the above, the Authority concludes that the Norwegian authorities have complied with their obligations stemming from Article 1(3) of Part I of Protocol 3.
Nadzorni organ uporablja smernice EEAG od datuma njihovega sprejetja [39] tudi v zvezi z dodelitvami individualne pomoči, priglašene pred sprejetjem smernic EEAG, kadar je pozvan, da se odloči po datumu sprejetja [40].
Compatibility — Legal basis
Nadzorni organ je pomoč podjetja Enova odobril kot ukrep za prihranek energije.
IN argues that the aid to Finnfjord is compatible with Article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement as aid for environmental protection.
Smernice EEAG ne vključujejo poglavja o prihranku energije, ker se je namesto tega vključilo poglavje o energetski učinkovitosti [41].
IN stresses that the aid at hand does not represent a form of rescue aid.
Nadzorni organ ocenjuje združljivost priglašene pomoči na podlagi poglavja o energetski učinkovitosti iz smernic EEAG.
On the basis of Article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement ‘aid to facilitate the development of certain economic activities or of certain economic areas’ may be considered compatible with the functioning of the EEA Agreement, where such aid does not affect trading conditions and competition in the EEA to an extent that is contrary to the common interest.
Nadzorni organ ugotavlja, da se njegova ocena združljivosti priglašenega ukrepa v obravnavanem primeru ne bi bistveno razlikovala, če bi uporabil smernice EAG.
By Decision No 39/11/COL the Authority approved the initial aid from the Energy Fund Scheme to Finnfjord's energy recovery project after having carried out a detailed assessment of that aid in accordance with chapter 5 of the EAG.
V dokaz so v nadaljevanju navedena zadevna načela smernic EEAG in EAG.
The Authority concluded that the notified aid from Enova contributed to the protection of the environment by incentivising Finnfjord to carry out an energy saving measure that it would not have carried out without the aid.
Obseg formalnega postopka preiskave
On 16 July 2014, after having opened the formal investigation, the Authority adopted a new set of Guidelines on State aid for environmental protection and energy 2014-2020 (the ‘EEAG’) [37], replacing the EAG [38].
V sklepu o začetku formalnega postopka preiskave in pri oceni priglašenega ukrepa na podlagi takrat veljavnih smernic EAG je Nadzorni organ poudaril, da glede na to, da je že ocenil združljivost pomoči, ki jo je podjetje Enova dodelilo projektu energijske predelave podjetja Finnfjord, ne dvomi, da je dodatna pomoč zaradi sorazmerno majhnega zneska v primerjavi z začetno pomočjo usmerjena v nedelovanje trga.
The Authority applies the EEAG from the date of their adoption [39], also to awards of individual aid notified prior to the adoption of the EEAG where it is called upon to take a decision after the date of adoption [40].
Ob predpostavki, da bi pomoč imela spodbujevalni učinek in bi bila nujna, je bil Nadzorni organ tudi prepričan, da bi bili izkrivljanje konkurence in učinki na trgovino omejeni, tako da bi bilo skupno ravnotežje pozitivno.
The Authority approved the aid from Enova as an energy saving measure.
Ta vprašanja se zato v nadaljevanju ne bodo obravnavala.
The EEAG do not contain a chapter on energy savings, instead a chapter on energy-efficiency has been introduced [41].
Predmet ocene v nadaljevanju je, ali ima priglašena pomoč spodbujevalni učinek in je nujna.
The Authority assesses the compatibility of the notified aid on the basis of the energy-efficiency chapter of the EEAG.
Ocena združljivosti
The Authority notes that its assessment of the compatibility of the notified measure in the case at hand would not have been materially different had it applied the EAG.
Pomoč nima spodbujevalnega učinka in ni nujna
To demonstrate this, the relevant principles of both the EEAG and the EAG are referred to in the following.
Da bi bila pomoč združljiva z delovanjem sporazuma EGP, mora v skladu s smernicami EEAG [42] imeti spodbujevalni učinek.
Scope of the formal investigation procedure
Ključni element ocene združljivosti je, ali je priglašena pomoč nujna za zagotovitev resnične spodbude za naložbo, ki se sicer ne bi izvedla.
In the decision to open the formal investigation procedure, and assessing the notified measure under the then applicable EAG, the Authority stressed that, given the fact that it has already assessed the compatibility of the aid from Enova to the Finnfjord energy recovery project, it did not doubt that the additional aid, due to its relatively small amount compared to the initial aid, is aimed at a market failure.
Preveriti je treba, ali je pomoč nujna za zagotovitev spodbujevalnega učinka za naložbe, tj. ali pomoč dejansko prispeva k spremembi vedenja prejemnika, tako da se stopnja varstva okolja zviša [43].
Furthermore, on the assumption that the aid would have incentive effect and would be necessary, the Authority had no doubts that the distortions of competition and effect on trade would be limited so that the overall balance would be positive.
Nadzorni organ bo praviloma sklenil, da spodbujevalni učinek ne obstaja, če se je projekt začel izvajati, preden je prejemnik predložil vlogo za pomoč [44].
These issues will therefore not be dealt with in the following.
Ker se obravnavani primer nanaša na dodelitev dodatne pomoči za kritje zvišanih stroškov projekta v teku, Nadzorni organ ne more domnevati, da imajo vloge za pomoč, predložene pred začetkom del, spodbujevalni učinek.
The subject matter of the following assessment is whether the notified aid has incentive effect and is necessary.
Podjetje Finnfjord je februarja 2011 začelo z izvajanjem projekta v vrednosti 700 milijonov NOK na podlagi dodeljene pomoči v višini 175 milijonov NOK.
Compatibility assessment
Vendar Nadzorni organ ne izključuje spodbujevalnega učinka pomoči za projekt, če je dodelitev pomoči nedvomno zagotovila dokončanje projektov, ki se sicer ne bi uspešno zaključili, ali dodatno varstvo okolja, ki se sicer ne bi doseglo [45].
The aid does not have incentive effect nor is it necessary
Pri oceni spodbujevalnega učinka pomoči s tega vidika je treba pozorno proučiti obratne hipotetične razmere, tj. ukrepanje podjetja brez pomoči.
According to the EEAG [42], in order to be compatible with the functioning of the EEA Agreement, aid needs to provide an incentive effect.
Podjetje je oktobra 2012 dokončalo projekt brez izplačila pomoči.
Whether the notified aid is necessary to produce a real incentive to undertake investment which would not otherwise be made is a crucial element in the compatibility assessment.
V zapisniku seje upravnega odbora z dne 25. septembra 2012 je navedeno, da je podjetje Finnfjord nameravalo zaprositi banko SNN za dodatno financiranje posojil, podjetji Enova in IN pa za dodatno pomoč, ter da bi podjetje Finnfjord vsakršno morebitno pomoč uporabilo neposredno za zmanjšanje posojila, za katerega bi zaprosilo banko SNN.
It has to be verified whether the aid is necessary to provide an incentive effect for the investment, i.e. whether the aid actually contributes to changing the behaviour of the recipient so that the level of environmental protection is increased [43].
To ugotovitev naj bi podjetje podprlo v svojih pripombah k sklepu Nadzornega organa o začetku formalnega postopka preiskave.
As a general rule, the Authority will consider that no incentive effect exists when the project has started before the submission by the recipient of an application requesting the aid [44].
Čeprav se podjetje sklicuje na svojo potrebo po dodatnem financiranju v višini [80–95] milijonov NOK in domnevno navaja, da sam položaj, v katerem se je znašlo, kaže, da je podjetje razmišljalo o opustitvi projekta, temu nasprotujejo druge izjave podjetja, v katerih se sklicuje na odsotnost „svobodne volje“ (glej uvodno izjavo 42 zgoraj) in zlasti dejstvo, da je podjetje Finnfjord dokončalo projekt brez izplačila pomoči.
In February 2011, Finnfjord initiated the NOK 700 million project on the basis of NOK 175 million granted in aid.
Z drugimi besedami, podjetje Finnfjord bi v obratnem scenariju tudi brez pomoči dokončalo projekt brez zamud in brez zmanjšanja obsega.
However, the Authority does not exclude the incentive effect of aid to a project that has started when the grant of aid unequivocally ensures the completion of projects that would otherwise not have been completed or adding environmental protection that would otherwise not come to fruition [45].
Nadzorni organ ni prepričala utemeljitev, da je pomoč spodbudila zagotovitev paketa financiranja v višini [80–95] milijonov NOK in je bila nujna zlasti za zagotovitev posojila banke SNN v višini [45–60] milijonov NOK.
In assessing the incentive effect of the aid in this light, the counterfactual situation, i.e. what the company would do without the aid, needs to be closely examined.
Tudi če bi banka SNN kot pogoj za posojilo določila, da mora podjetje IN dodeliti pomoč v višini 16 milijonov NOK, so bila sredstva (banke SNN in podjetja IN) izplačana brez predhodne odobritve dodatne pomoči s strani Nadzornega organa.
The company completed the project in October 2012 without the aid having been disbursed.
To dokazuje neodvisnost posojil od dodelitve pomoči.
On the basis of the information and evidence provided, the Authority does not consider that Finnfjord realistically considered stopping, reducing the scope of or halting the project after February 2011 until its completion in October 2012.
Upnik, ki bi dejansko izplačilo pomoči določil kot pogoj za nadaljnje financiranje, bi pred izplačilom dodatnega dolžniškega kapitala počakal na dovoljenje Nadzornega organa, če je od tega odvisen obstoj paketa financiranja.
More specifically and with reference to the conclusions drawn in the board meeting of 25 September 2012, it appears that the company, due to the prohibitive cost involved, did not seriously consider stopping nor postponing the project, as a whole or in part, nor reducing its scope.
Poleg tega iz informacij, predloženih Nadzornemu organu, ni razvidno, da bi moralo podjetje Finnfjord takoj odplačati posojila, če Nadzorni organ ne bi odobril pomoči.
The board meeting protocol from 25 September 2012 states that Finnfjord intended to seek additional loan financing from SNN and additional aid from Enova and IN, and that any potential aid would be used directly to reduce the loan Finnfjord would seek to obtain from SNN.
Pomoč mora biti nujna, da je združljiva z delovanjem Sporazuma EGP.
This finding has arguably been supported by the company in its comments to the Authority's decision to open the formal investigation procedure.
S pomočjo se ne smejo subvencionirati stroški za dejavnost, ki bi jo podjetje v vsakem primeru izvajalo, in ne sme se uravnovesiti običajno poslovno tveganje gospodarske dejavnosti [46].
Although the company refers to its need for an additional NOK [80-95] million in funding and appears to state that the very situation in which it found itself indicates that the company considered abandoning the project, this is contradicted by other statements made by the company where reference is made to the absence of ‘free will’ (see recital 42 above) and, most of all, by the fact that Finnfjord completed the project without the aid having been disbursed.
Vendar bi se lahko pomoč za dodatne stroške, ki so nastali zaradi nepredvidenih zunanjih dejavnikov, ki jih ni mogoče obravnavati kot del običajnega poslovnega tveganja zadevne gospodarske dejavnosti, štela za združljivo z delovanjem Sporazuma EGP [47].
If the company did not consider itself to have any option other than continuing the project, the aid would not provide the company with any incentive because the company would — with or without the aid — have completed the project.
Nadzorni organ ugotavlja, da se je podjetje Finnfjord februarja 2011 ob soočenju z zvišanjem stroškov s 511,66 milijona NOK na 700 milijonov NOK odločilo, da bo s projektom nadaljevalo, ne da bi zaprosilo za dodatno pomoč.
In other words, the counterfactual scenario is that Finnfjord would finalise the project without delays and without reducing its scope also without the aid.
Zato je za to preiskavo pomembno zvišanje stroškov za [80–95] milijonov NOK, tj. s 700 milijonov NOK na [približno 800] milijonov NOK.
The Authority is unconvinced by the argument that the aid was the trigger for the NOK [80-95] million financing package and necessary for, in particular, the NOK [45-60] million loan from SNN.
To predstavlja približno […]-odstotno zvišanje.
Even if the SNN loan provides as a condition that the NOK 16 million aid be granted by IN, the funds (both from SNN and IN) were disbursed without the Authority's prior approval of the additional aid.
Glede na predložene informacije je bilo zvišanje stroškov, kot je opisano v uvodni izjavi 22 zgoraj, povezano z: adaptacijami obstoječih strojev, adaptacijami treh obstoječih peči, adaptacijami kanalov za dim, napravami v stavbi turbine in drugih stavbah, daljšimi izpadi proizvodnje od pričakovanih ter dokončanjem dela in naprav.
This demonstrates the severability of the loans from the aid grant.
Pričakuje se, da bo podjetje tovrstna zvišanja stroškov upoštevalo pri načrtovanju te vrste projekta, saj predstavljajo običajno poslovno tveganje zadevne gospodarske dejavnosti.
A creditor setting the actual disbursement of aid as a condition for further financing would have awaited for the Authority's clearance prior to disbursing further loan capital if this determines the existence of the financing package.
Ne morejo se obravnavati kot posledica zunanjih dejavnikov in ne zdijo se nepredvidljiva.
Additionally, the information provided to the Authority does not indicate that Finnfjord would have to immediately repay the loans in the event that the Authority would not approve the aid.
Obravnavani primer se torej razlikuje od primera Helguvík Aluminium Smelter [48], na katerega se sklicuje podjetje Finnfjord.
In order to be compatible with the functioning of the EEA Agreement, aid must be necessary.
V navedenem primeru je imel upravičenec do pomoči težave pri pridobitvi financiranja v času izredne finančne krize na Islandiji leta 2008, pri čemer se lahko te razmere utemeljeno obravnavajo kot nepredviden zunanji dejavnik.
The aid must not subsidise the costs of an activity that an undertaking would anyhow incur and must not compensate for the normal business risk of an economic activity [46].
Nadzorni organ glede na navedeno meni, da želijo norveški organi s priglašenim ukrepom pomoči zagotoviti podjetju Finnfjord nadomestilo za običajno poslovno tveganje projekta, ki ga je podjetje izvedlo.
However, aid for additional costs incurred due to unforeseeable external factors, which cannot be seen as part of the normal business risk of the economic activity at issue, could be held to be compatible with the functioning of the EEA Agreement [47].
Nadzorni organ priznava, da bi rezultat njegove ocene lahko bil drugačen, če bi norveški organi, namesto da so predlagali izplačilo dveh fiksnih zneskov pomoči (s strani podjetja Enova in pozneje podjetja IN), dodelili pomoč za kritje določenega odstotka upravičenih stroškov projekta.
The Authority notes that Finnfjord in February 2011, when faced with the cost increase from NOK 511,66 million to NOK 700 million, decided to move forward with the project without applying for any further aid.
To velja zlasti, če je obseg nepredvidenih dodatnih stroškov precejšen in povezan z dejstvom, da je projekt inovativen in da je zato težko vnaprej oceniti njegove stroške.