natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
The undertakings benefiting from such grants receive an economic advantage, i.e. the grant, which they would not have received in their normal course of business.
Podjetja, ki prejmejo take subvencije, prejmejo gospodarsko ugodnost, tj. subvencijo, ki je ne bi prejela pri svojem običajnem poteku poslovanja.
The advantage must be granted by the State or through State resources.
Ugodnost mora dodeliti država ali mora biti dodeljena iz državnih sredstev.
The grants awarded under the Wood Scheme are financed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and come directly from the State budget.
Subvencije, dodeljene v okviru Lesne sheme, financira Ministrstvo za kmetijstvo in prehrano in se poravnajo neposredno iz državnega proračuna.
The measure must favour certain undertakings or the production of certain goods.
Ukrep mora dajati prednost posameznim podjetjem ali proizvodnji posameznega blaga.
It appears from various legislative preparatory works (such as the White Paper, the Recommendation and the Working Group Report) leading up to the establishment of the Wood Scheme, that the scheme is aimed at improving (i) value in the wood processing business, and (ii) the relations on different levels of trade between the forest and the market (which includes the supply of raw material to the wood processing industry), along with a general aim of increasing the actual use of woodwork.
Iz različnih zakonodajnih pripravljalnih dokumentov (kot so na primer Bela knjiga, Priporočilo in Poročilo delovne skupine), ki so podlaga za ustanovitev Lesne sheme, izhaja, da je shema namenjena (i) povečanju vrednosti lesnopredelovalne dejavnosti in (ii) izboljšanju odnosov na različnih ravneh trgovanja med gozdarstvom in trgom (kar vključuje dobavo surovin za lesnopredelovalno industrijo), skupaj s splošnim ciljem povečanja sedanje uporabe lesa.
Thus grants under the Wood Scheme are awarded only where it is considered that they may benefit the wood processing sector and related wood industries as well as the supply of raw material to such industries.
Subvencije v okviru Lesne sheme se torej dodeljujejo samo, kadar se meni, da lahko koristijo lesnopredelovalnemu sektorju in povezanim lesnim industrijam ter dobavi surovin za take industrije.
The Wood Scheme therefore favours undertakings within the wood industry sector to the exclusion of other sectors and is hence selective in nature.
Lesna shema torej daje prednost podjetjem v sektorju lesne industrije ob izključitvi drugih sektorjev, zato je po svoji naravi selektivna.
In this respect the EFTA Court has held that a measure may be selective even if it covers (undertakings in) an entire sector [46].It should be noted that although grants under the Wood Scheme may also be awarded to undertakings in other industries (for example where industries explore the use of wood in combination with other materials), this option is open only for industries which can contribute to the overall aim of the Wood Scheme of generally improving value in the wood processing business.
V zvezi s tem je Sodišče Efte razsodilo, da je ukrep lahko selektiven, četudi zajema celoten sektor (podjetja v celotnem sektorju) [46].Čeprav se lahko subvencije v okviru Lesne sheme dodelijo tudi podjetjem v drugih industrijah (na primer v industrijah, ki raziskujejo uporabo lesa v kombinaciji z drugimi materiali), je treba opozoriti, da je ta možnost na voljo samo za take industrije, ki lahko prispevajo k splošnemu cilju Lesne sheme, tj. splošnemu izboljšanju vrednosti v lesnopredelovalni dejavnosti.
The Authority therefore considers that even this option is ultimately aimed at favouring undertakings in the wood processing industries and related wood industries.
Nadzorni organ torej meni, da je tudi ta možnost nazadnje namenjena dajanju prednosti podjetjem v lesnopredelovalni industriji in povezanih lesnih industrijah.
The measures must distort competition and affect trade between the Contracting Parties.
Ukrepi morajo izkrivljati konkurenco in vplivati na trgovino med pogodbenicami.
Under the Wood Scheme the Norwegian authorities award grants to undertakings in the wood processing (and related) industries.
Norveški organi v okviru Lesne sheme dodeljujejo subvencije podjetjem v lesnopredelovalni industriji (in povezanih industrijah).
Norwegian industry exports a large share of its wholesale timber and refined wood products (up to 90 %) to other EEA countries where wood products are extensively traded.
Poleg tega norveška industrija izvozi velik del svojega gradbenega lesa in obdelanih lesnih izdelkov za veleprodajo (do 90 %) v druge države EGP, kjer se veliko trguje z lesnimi izdelki.
In addition, Norway also imports timber, processed wood and wood products from the EU.
Norveška pa tudi uvaža gradbeni les, predelan les in lesne izdelke iz EU.
In such circumstances, the grant of support to undertakings under the Wood Scheme will strengthen the position of recipients compared to other undertakings which are located in Norway or in other EEA countries and competing in the wood processing (and related) businesses.
V takih okoliščinah bo dodelitev podpore podjetjem v okviru Lesne sheme okrepila položaj prejemnikov v primerjavi z drugimi podjetji na Norveškem ali v drugih državah EGP, ki konkurirajo v lesnopredelovalni dejavnosti (in povezanih dejavnostih).
Moreover, since wood is merely one of the raw materials used in the construction business, grants received by construction companies under the Wood Scheme will strengthen their position compared to other undertakings competing in the construction business [47].On this basis, the Authority considers that the grant of financial support to undertakings under the Wood Scheme will distort competition and affect trade.
In ker je les samo ena od surovin, ki se uporabljajo v gradbeni dejavnosti, bodo subvencije, ki jih prejmejo gradbena podjetja v okviru Lesne sheme, tudi okrepile in utrdile njihov položaj v primerjavi z drugimi podjetji, ki konkurirajo v gradbeni dejavnosti [47].Na podlagi tega Nadzorni organ meni, da bo dodelitev finančne podpore podjetjem v okviru Lesne sheme izkrivila konkurenco in vplivala na trgovino.
Conclusion and existence of an aid scheme
Sklep in obstoj sheme pomoči
In the light of the above, the conclusion of the Authority is that the Wood Scheme satisfies the test in Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement and hence constitutes State aid.
Glede na zgoraj navedeno Nadzorni organ sklepa, da Lesna shema izpolnjuje preskus člena 61(1) Sporazuma EGP in torej pomeni državno pomoč.
However, the Norwegian authorities have argued that certain of the individual grants awarded under the Wood Scheme do not fall within the scope of the EEA Agreement or do not qualify as State aid.
Vendar so norveški organi trdili, da nekatere od subvencij, dane v okviru Lesne sheme, ne spadajo v okvir Sporazuma EGP ali se ne uvrščajo med državno pomoč.
The Authority has taken the view (which is not disputed by the Norwegian authorities) that the Wood Scheme is an 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.
Nadzorni organ je sprejel stališče (ki mu norveški organi niso oporekali), da je Lesna shema ukrep, na podlagi katerega se lahko brez nadaljnjih izvedbenih ukrepov dodelijo posamezne pomoči podjetjem, opredeljenim v ukrepu na splošni in abstraktni način.
The Scheme therefore qualifies as an aid scheme within the meaning of Article 1(d) of Part II of Protocol 3 to the Surveillance and Court Agreement.
Shema torej pomeni shemo pomoči v smislu člena 1(d) dela II Protokola 3 k Sporazumu o nadzornem organu in sodišču.
The arguments of the Norwegian authorities cannot affect that assessment but will only come into play if and when recovery is discussed.
Utemeljitve norveških organov ne morejo vplivati na to oceno, ampak se upoštevajo šele če in ko se razpravlja o izterjavi.
The conclusion as to the compatibility or not of the scheme with the functioning of the EEA Agreement does not prejudge the question of recovery in individual instances of aid having been granted.
Sklepanje o združljivosti sheme z delovanjem Sporazuma EGP ne prejudicira vprašanja o izterjavi v posameznih primerih dodeljene pomoči.
As noted in the judgment quoted above, that is a second step and recovery will only be ordered in those instances in which the substantive provisions on State aid have in fact been breached.The Authority observes that the Norwegian authorities have not disputed that the Wood Scheme enables the grant of funding to recipients in respect of products covered by the EEA Agreement, such as wood.
Kot piše v zgoraj navedeni sodbi, je to drugi korak in izterjava se bo odredila samo v tistih primerih, v katerih so bile vsebinske določbe o državni pomoči dejansko kršene.Nadzorni organ ugotavlja, da norveški organi niso ugovarjali temu, da Lesna shema omogoča subvencioniranje prejemnikov za izdelke, zajete v Sporazumu EGP, kot je na primer les.
Nor have the Norwegian authorities disputed that the Wood Scheme includes the possibility to fund entities which qualify as undertakings within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement.
Norveški organi tudi niso ugovarjali temu, da Lesna shema vsebuje možnost financiranja subjektov, ki se uvrščajo med podjetja v smislu člena 61(1) Sporazuma EGP.
Finally, it is undisputed that the Wood Scheme did not exclusively fund beneficiaries which provided a service in return.
Navsezadnje je tudi nesporno, da se iz sheme niso financirali samo upravičenci, ki so v zameno ponudili storitev.
In other words, the scheme itself envisaged the granting of State aid.
Z drugimi besedami je shema sama predvidela dajanje državne pomoči.
The possibility that certain recipients under the Wood Scheme may not come within the scope of the EEA Agreement (by reference to the fact that their products are not covered by the Agreement, or that they themselves are not undertakings within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement) does not change the qualification of the Wood Scheme as an aid scheme within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement.
Možnost, da nekateri prejemniki v okviru Lesne sheme ne morejo biti predmet Sporazuma EGP (s sklicevanjem na dejstvo, da njihovi izdelki niso zajeti v Sporazumu, ali da oni sami niso podjetja v smislu člena 61(1) Sporazuma EGP), ne vpliva na obravnavo Lesne sheme kot sheme pomoči v smislu člena 61(1) Sporazuma EGP.
Pursuant to Article 1(3) of Part I of Protocol 3 to the Surveillance and Court Agreement, ‘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 (…). The State concerned shall not put its proposed measures into effect until the procedure has resulted in a final decision’.
V skladu s členom 1(3) dela I Protokola 3 k Sporazumu o nadzornem organu in sodišču se „Nadzorni organ Efte pravočasno obvesti, kar mu omogoča, da lahko predloži pripombe na kakršne koli načrte izvedbe ali spremembe pomoči (…). Zadevna država ne sme izvajati svojih predlaganih ukrepov, dokler v tem postopku ni sprejeta dokončna odločitev“.
The Authority first observes that in view of the fact that Chapter 44 of the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (on wood and articles of wood) is covered by the EEA Agreement, the Wood Scheme must be assessed on the basis of the Agreement.
Nadzorni organ najprej ugotavlja, da je treba glede na dejstvo, da je poglavje 44 Harmoniziranega sistema poimenovanja in šifrskih oznak blaga (za les in lesne izdelke) zajeto v Sporazumu EGP, Lesno shemo oceniti na podlagi Sporazuma.
The Norwegian authorities did not notify the Wood Scheme prior to its implementation and have therefore not respected their obligation pursuant to Article 1(3) of Part I of Protocol 3 to the Surveillance and Court Agreement.
Norveški organi Lesne sheme niso priglasili pred njenim izvajanjem, zato niso spoštovali svojih obveznosti iz člena 1(3) dela I Protokola 3 k Sporazumu o nadzornem organu in sodišču.
State aid granted under the Wood Scheme therefore constitutes ‘unlawful aid’ within the meaning of Article 1(f) of Part II of Protocol 3 to the Surveillance and Court Agreement.
Državna pomoč iz Lesne sheme torej pomeni „nezakonito pomoč“ v smislu člena 1(f) dela II Protokola 3 k Sporazumu o nadzornem organu in sodišču.
As a preliminary point, the Authority notes that while the Wood Scheme contained details on, for example, objectives and eligible costs, it did not appear to contain any conditions according to which aid was to be granted.
Nadzorni organ v izhodišču ugotavlja, da medtem ko je Lesna shema vsebovala na primer podrobnosti o ciljih in upravičenih stroških, pa kaže, da ni vsebovala pogojev, na podlagi katerih naj bi bila pomoč dodeljena.
A scheme without any specific limitations on the granting of aid (e.g. as regards aid intensity) is not something that could be authorised by the Authority as compatible with the functioning of the EEA Agreement.
Shema brez specifičnih omejitev pri dajanju pomoči (npr. kar zadeva intenzivnost) ni nekaj, kar bi Nadzorni organ lahko potrdil kot združljivo z delovanjem Sporazuma EGP.
The fact that, in practice, the Authority’s State Aid Guidelines may have been respected in individual instances does not alter this position but, as noted above at point I-1.5, merely has an effect on whether recovery is necessary.
Dejstvo, da so bile Smernice Nadzornega organa o državni pomoči v praksi v nekaterih posameznih primerih upoštevane, tega stališča ne spremeni, ampak, kakor je navedeno v točki I-1.5, vpliva samo na to, ali je izterjava potrebna ali ne.
However, the Authority observes, in this context, that the Norwegian authorities have stated that the reference in the Working Group Report to implementing the scheme on the basis of ‘principles and practices’ within the limits of EEA law is an implicit reference to the Internal EEA Guidelines.
Vendar Nadzorni organ v tem kontekstu ugotavlja, da so norveški organi izjavili, da je sklicevanje v Poročilu delovne skupine na izvajanje sheme na podlagi „načel in prakse“ v okviru prava EGP implicitno sklicevanje na interne smernice EGP.
The Authority understands the argument to be that those Guidelines, which set out, for example, maximum aid intensities allowed under EEA law in various situations, were to be regarded as the rules of the Scheme and the conditions on which aid under the Wood Scheme would be granted.
Nadzorni organ razume argument, da je te smernice, ki so na primer opredelile največjo intenzivnost pomoči, dovoljeno po pravu EGP v različnih situacijah, treba upoštevati kot pravila sheme in pogoje, pod katerimi se lahko daje pomoč v okviru Lesne sheme.
In other words, the Scheme did contain an identifiable set of rules limiting the granting of aid thereunder.
Z drugimi besedami, shema je dejansko vsebovala razpoznaven sklop pravil, ki omejujejo dajanje pomoči iz naslova te sheme.
To the extent that the Norwegian authorities note that ‘the guidelines are continuously revised’ it is recalled that the compatibility of unlawful State aid with the functioning of the EEA Agreement shall be assessed in accordance with the substantive criteria set out in the instrument in force at the time when the aid was granted or, in the case of a scheme, when the scheme was established.
Glede na to, da norveški organi ugotavljajo, da se „smernice nenehno preverjajo“, je treba spomniti, da se združljivost nezakonite državne pomoči z delovanjem Sporazuma EGP ocenjuje v skladu z vsebinskimi merili, določenimi v dokumentu, ki je veljal ob dodelitvi pomoči ali – v primeru sheme – takrat, ko je bila shema ustanovljena.
In addition, each revisal of the rules of a scheme must be assessed in order to determine whether it constitutes an alteration to the scheme within the meaning of Decision 195/04/COL [49].
Poleg tega je treba oceniti vsako revizijo pravil sheme, zato da se ugotovi, ali pomeni spremembo sheme v smislu Odločbe št. 195/04/COL [49].
The assessment below therefore analyses whether the Internal EEA Guidelines of Innovasjon Norge, including subsequent changes thereto, could, as the rules of the Wood Scheme, have been considered compatible with the functioning of the EEA Agreement and in particular with the Authority’s State Aid Guidelines and the block exemption Regulations as they were applicable at each of those points in time.3.1. Compatibility with Article 61(2) of the EEA Agreement
Spodaj navedena ocena torej analizira, ali interne smernice EGP v Innovasjon Norge skupaj z naknadnimi spremembami kot pravila Lesne sheme lahko štejejo za združljive z delovanjem Sporazuma EGP in zlasti s Smernicami Nadzornega organa o državni pomoči in uredbami o skupinskih izjemah, kot so se uporabljale ob vsakokratnem dajanju pomoči.3.1 Združljivost s členom 61(2) Sporazuma EGP
None of the exceptions in Article 61(2) of the EEA Agreement apply in this case as the Wood Scheme is not aimed at the objectives listed in those provisions.
V tem primeru se ne uporablja nobena od izjem iz člena 61(2) Sporazuma EGP, saj Lesna shema ni namenjena ciljem, navedenim v teh določbah.
Compatibility with Article 61(3) of the EEA Agreement
Združljivost s členom 61(3)Sporazuma EGP
A State aid measure is considered to be compatible with the functioning of the EEA Agreement pursuant to Article 61(3)(a) of the EEA Agreement when it is designed to promote the economic development of areas where the standard of living is abnormally low or where there is serious underemployment.
Ukrep državne pomoči velja za združljivega z delovanjem Sporazuma EGP na podlagi člena 61(3)(a) Sporazuma EGP, kadar je namenjen pospeševanju gospodarskega razvoja območij, kjer je življenjska raven izjemno nizka ali kjer je podzaposlenost velika.
However, as there are no such areas defined by the Norwegian regional aid map, this provision is not relevant [50].Moreover, the exception in Article 61(3)(b) of the EEA Agreement does not apply since the State aid granted under the Wood Scheme is not intended to promote the execution of an important project of common European interest or to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of Norway.
Ker pa norveški zemljevid regionalne pomoči ne opredeljuje nobenih takih območij, se ta določba ne uporablja [50].Poleg tega se izjema iz člena 61(3)(b) Sporazuma EGP ne uporablja, ker državna pomoč, dodeljena v okviru Lesne sheme, ni namenjena pospeševanju izvedbe pomembnega projekta skupnega evropskega interesa ali za odpravljanje resne motnje v gospodarstvu Norveške.
However, the exception laid down in Article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement which provides that State aid may be considered compatible with the common market where it facilitates the development of certain economic activities or of certain economic areas and does not adversely affect trading conditions to an extent contrary to the common interest, may be applicable.
Vendar pa bi se lahko uporabljala izjema iz člena 61(3)(c) Sporazuma EGP, ki določa, da se državna pomoč lahko šteje za združljivo z delovanjem skupnega trga, kjer pospešuje razvoj nekaterih gospodarskih dejavnosti ali nekaterih gospodarskih območij, kadar takšna pomoč ne škoduje trgovinskim pogojem v obsegu, ki bi bil v nasprotju s skupnimi interesi.
This is so if the measure complies with the State Aid Guidelines or any applicable block exemption Regulations.
Tako je, če je ukrep skladen s Smernicami o državni pomoči ali veljavnimi uredbami o skupinskih izjemah.
Undertakings become eligible for regional aid when they are established in certain regions defined by reference to the Norwegian regional aid map, mentioned above, and when the conditions set out in the State Aid Guidelines on regional aid are met [51].The Norwegian authorities have argued that aid under the Wood Scheme has not been granted in the form of regional aid.
Podjetja postanejo upravičena do regionalne pomoči, če imajo sedež v določenih regijah, ki jih opredeljuje zgoraj navedeni norveški zemljevid regionalne pomoči, in če so izpolnjeni pogoji iz Smernic o državni pomoči za regionalno pomoč [51].Norveški organi so trdili, da pomoč v okviru Lesne sheme ni bila dana v obliki regionalne pomoči.
However, the Authority observes that the Wood Scheme has been implemented on the basis of the Internal EEA Guidelines which provide for the possibility to grant regional (investment) aid [52].
Kljub temu pa Nadzorni organ ugotavlja, da se je Lesna shema izvajala na podlagi internih smernic EGP, ki omogočajo dajanje regionalne pomoči (za naložbe) [52].
Moreover, the authorities have referred to cases in which research and development aid has been topped up with a 5 % regional aid bonus (Trysil Skog AS being one example).
Poleg tega so organi navedli primere, v katerih je bil pomoči za raziskave in razvoj navržen 5-odstotni bonus regionalne pomoči (en tak primer je podjetje Trysil Skog AS).
The Authority observes that the conditions set out in the State Aid Guidelines on the grant of regional aid must be fulfilled also in cases where the regional aid bonus is granted.
Nadzorni organ opaža, da morajo biti pogoji, določeni v Smernicah o državni pomoči za dajanje regionalne pomoči, izpolnjeni tudi pri dajanju bonusa regionalne pomoči.
However, neither the Working Group Report nor the Internal EEA Guidelines refer to the conditions which must be met for regional aid to be granted, such as the identification of regional benefits (in the form of productive investment or job creation), nor do they include a reference to the regional aid map of Norway.
Vendar niti Poročilo delovne skupine niti interne smernice EGP ne navajajo pogojev, ki jih je treba izpolniti za pridobitev regionalne pomoči, kot je na primer ugotavljanje regionalnih ugodnosti (v obliki naložb v proizvodnjo ali odpiranja delovnih mest), niti se ne sklicujejo na zemljevid regionalne pomoči na Norveškem.
In such circumstances the Authority cannot reassure itself that the provisions on regional aid under the Wood Scheme are in accordance with the State Aid Guidelines on regional aid.
Nadzorni organ v teh okoliščinah ne more biti prepričan, ali so določbe o regionalni pomoči v okviru Lesne sheme skladne s Smernicami o državni pomoči za regionalno pomoč.
Aid for research and development
Pomoč za raziskave in razvoj
State aid for research and development may be regarded as compatible with the functioning of the EEA Agreement when the relevant conditions in the State Aid Guidelines are met [53].
Državna pomoč za raziskave in razvoj lahko velja za združljivo z delovanjem Sporazuma EGP, če so izpolnjeni ustrezni pogoji v Smernicah o državni pomoči [53].
The State Aid Guidelines set out the definitions of different types of research and development, namely ‘fundamental research’, ‘industrial research’ and ‘pre-competitive development activity’ and the respective aid intensities which apply to each of these categories.
Smernice o državni pomoči opredeljujejo različne vrste raziskav in razvoja, kot so „temeljne raziskave“, „industrijske raziskave“ in „predkonkurenčna razvojna dejavnost“, ter intenzivnosti pomoči, ki se uporabljajo za vsako od teh kategorij.
The Authority observes that the eligible research, eligible costs and aid intensities set out in the Internal EEA Guidelines correspond to those set out in the State Aid Guidelines on research and development except with respect to technical preparatory studies.
Nadzorni organ ugotavlja, da upravičene raziskave, upravičeni stroški in intenzivnost pomoči v internih smernicah EGP ustrezajo tistim, ki so določeni v Smernicah o državni pomoči za raziskave in razvoj, razen kar zadeva tehnične pripravljalne študije.