natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
By that act, the Commission has stated that the review initiated had not enabled it to establish the existence of State aid within the meaning of Article 87 EC and it has implicitly refused to initiate the formal investigation procedure provided for
Komisija je z navedenim aktom ugotovila, da začeta preiskava ni omogočila ugotovitve o obstoju pomoči v smislu člena 87 ES, in je implicitno zavrnila začetek formalnega postopka preiskave, ki ga predvideva člen 88(2) ES. V takem položaju lahko osebe, ki so upravičene
In that regard, such an act cannot be classified as preliminary or preparatory since it cannot be followed, in the context of the administrative procedure which has been initiated, by any other decision amenable to annulment proceedings.
Zato takega akta ni mogoče opredeliti kot predhodnega ali pripravljalnega, ker mu v okviru začetega upravnega postopka ne sledi noben drug akt, zoper katerega bi bilo mogoče vložiti ničnostno tožbo.
It is not relevant, in that regard, that the interested party may still provide the Commission with additional information which might oblige the Commission to review its position on the State measure at issue, because the lawfulness of a decision taken at the end of the preliminary examination stage is to be examined only on the basis of the information which the Commission had at its disposal at the time when it made the decision, that is to say, in the present case, at the time of the closing of the file for administrative purposes.
V zvezi s tem ni upo�tevno, da bi zainteresirana stranka lahko Komisiji predložila �e dodatne podatke, na podlagi katerih bi morala ta ponovno preučiti svoje stali�če o zadevnem državnem ukrepu, ker se zakonitost odločbe, sprejete na koncu predhodne faze preučitve, presoja le glede na podatke, ki jih je Komisija lahko imela takrat, ko jo je sprejela, torej v obravnavanem primeru ob ustavitvi upravnega postopka v zadevi.
If an interested party provides additional information after the closing of the file, the Commission can be obliged to open, if appropriate, a new administrative procedure.
Če zainteresirana stranka predloži dodatne podatke po ustavitvi postopka v zadevi, mora Komisija začeti, če je potrebno, nov upravni postopek.
By contrast, that information has no effect on the fact that the first preliminary examination pro -cedure is already closed.
Vendar ti podatki ne vplivajo na dejstvo, da je prvi predhodni postopek preučitve že končan.
It follows that, by that act, the Commission has adopted a definite position on the complainant’s request.
Iz tega sledi, da je Komisija s tem aktom sprejela dokončno stali�če o predlogu vlagatelja pritožbe.
ATHINAÏKI TECHNIKI v COMMISSION an act open to challenge for the purposes of Article 230 EC.
ATHINAÏKI TECHNIKI PROTI KOMISIJI pritožbe, in je zato izpodbojni akt v smislu člena 230 ES.
Such an act, which prevents the complainant from submitting its comments in the context of a formal investigation procedure referred to in Article 88(2) EC, produces legal effects which are capable of affecting that com -pany’s interests and, therefore, constitutes
Tak akt s tem, da vlagatelju pritožbe onemogoči, da bi predložil pripombe v okviru formalnega postopka preiskave, ki ga določa člen 88(2) ES, povzroči zavezujoče pravne učinke, ki lahko vplivajo na interese vlagatelja
(see paras 46, 49, 51-58, 61, 62)
(Glej točke 46, 49, od 51 do 58, 61 in 62.)
OPINION OF ADVOCATE GENERALBOT delivered on 3 April 2008 1 in the context of by Athinaïki Techniki AE 3this appeal.
SKLEPNI PREDLOGI GENERALNEGA PRAVOBRANILCAYVESA BOTA, predstavljeni 3. aprila 2008 1 to analizo izpodbija
This case should lead the Court to provide additional information on the rights of complainants in the context of the procedure for monitoring State aid.
V tej zadevi bi moralo Sodi�če podati dodatna pojasnila glede pravic pritožnikov v okviru postopka nadzora državnih pomoči.
In this Opinion, I shall argue that the appeal brought by Athinaïki Techniki is, in my view, well founded and that such a closure of the file on a complaint relating to alleged State aid does constitute an actionable decision.
V teh sklepnih predlogih bom razložil, da je pritožba, ki jo je vložila družba Athinaïki Techniki, po mojem mnenju utemeljena in da je taka ustavitev postopka s pritožbo v zvezi z domnevno državno pomočjo gotovo izpodbojni akt.
It is necessary to establish whether the closure, by the Commission of the European Communities, of the file on a complaint alleging the existence of aid incompatible with the EC Treaty, on the ground that the Commission does not have in its possession sufficient evidence to define its position on the existence of that aid or its compatibility with the common market or to initiate a formal investigation procedure, constitutes a decision against which the complainant may appeal.
Gre za vpra�anje, ali odločitev Komisije Evropskih skupnosti o ustavitvi postopka s pritožbo, v kateri se zatrjuje obstoj pomoči, ki ni združljiva s Pogodbo ES, ker pritožba ne vsebuje zadostnih elementov niti za to, da bi se lahko sprejelo stali�če o obstoju te pomoči ali njeni združljivosti s skupnim trgom, niti za to, da bi se lahko začel formalni postopek preiskave, pomeni odločitev, ki bi bila lahko predmet tožbe pritožnika.
In its order of 26 September 2006 in Athinaïki Techniki v Commission, 2the Court of
Sodi�če prve stopnje Evropskih skupnosti je v sklepu z dne 26. septembra 2006 v zadevi Athinaïki Techniki proti Komisiji 2v skladu s stali�čem Komisije razsodilo, da tak�en ukrep ustavitve postopka ni odločba, in je tožbo zoper ta ukrep zavrglo kot nedopustno.
1 — Original language: French.2 — Case T-94/05; ‘the contested order’.
2 – T-94/05, neobjavljen v ZOdl., v nadaljevanju: izpodbijani sklep.
3 — ‘Athinaïki Techniki’ or ‘the appellant’.
3 – V nadaljevanju: Athinaïki Techniki ali pritožnica.
ATHINAÏKI TECHNIKI v COMMISSION ciple, subject to the exemptions set out in paragraphs 2 and 3 of that article. 5
ATHINAÏKI TECHNIKI PROTI KOMISIJI
I — The legal framework relating to State aid
I – Pravni okvir glede državnih pomoči načeloma prepovedana, razen če ne gre izjeme, na�tete v odstavkih 2 in 3 tega člena 5.
I will present in turn the relevant provisions of the Treaty and those of Regulation (EC) No 659/1999, 4which codified the exercise of the powers conferred on the Commission by the Treaty, and the broad outlines of the caselaw relating, first, to the Commission’s obligations when it receives a complaint alleging that national measures are State aid contrary to the Treaty and, secondly, to the rights of complainants.
ki je kodificirala prakso glede pooblastil, ki jih Pogodba daje Komisiji, in glavne smernice sodne prakse v zvezi z, na eni strani, obveznostmi Komisije, ko prejme pritožbo v zvezi z nacionalnimi ukrepi, ki naj bi bili državne pomoči v nasprotju s Pogodbo, in, na drugi strani, s pravicami pritožnikov.
Accordingly, under Article 88(1) EC, it is for the Commission, in cooperation with Member States, to keep under constant review all systems of aid existing in those States and to propose any appropriate measures required by the progressive development or by the functioning of the common market.
Tako mora Komisija v skladu s členom 88(1) ES v sodelovanju z državami članicami redno preverjati vse sisteme pomoči, ki obstajajo v teh državah, in tem predlagati ustrezne ukrepe, ki so potrebni za postopen razvoj ali delovanje skupnega trga.
A — The Treaty
A – Pogodba
The first subparagraph of Article 88(2) EC also gives the Commission the task of assessing whether aid is compatible with Article 87 EC and of deciding, in cases where
Komisija ima v skladu s členom 88(2), prvi pododstavek, ES prav tako nalogo, da presodi združljivost pomoči s členom 87 ES in v primeru nezdružljivosti pomoči odloči, da
According to Article 87 EC, any aid granted by a Member State or through State resources in any form whatsoever, which distorts or threatens to distort competition within the Community, is prohibited in prin-
Na podlagi člena 87 ES je vsaka pomoč, ki jo dodeli država članica, ali kakr�nakoli vrsta pomoči iz državnih sredstev, ki izkrivlja ali bi lahko izkrivljala konkurenco v Skupnosti,
5 — Article 87(2) EC refers to the aid which is automatically compatible with the common market.
5 – V členu 87(2) ES so navedene pomoči, ki so popolnoma združljive s skupnim trgom.
That is aid having a social character, granted to individual consumers without discrimination related to the origin of the products concerned, aid to make good the damage caused by natural disasters or exceptional occurrences and aid granted to certain areas of the Federal Republic of Germany in order to compensate for the economic disadvantages caused by the division of Germany.
Gre za pomoči socialnega značaja, ki so dodeljene posameznim potro�nikom, pod pogojem, da so dodeljene brez diskriminacije glede na poreklo zadevnih proizvodov, za pomoči za povrnitev �kode, ki so jo povzročile naravne nesreče ali izjemni dogodki, in za pomoči, dodeljene gospodarstvu nekaterih območij Zvezne republike Nemčije, ki jih je prizadela delitev Nemčije.
Article 87(3) EC refers, for its part, to aid which may be declared compatible with the common market.
V členu 87(3) pa so navedene pomoči, ki se lahko �tejejo kot združljive s skupnim trgom.
That is, in particular, aid to promote the economic development of areas in which there is serious underemployment and aid to promote the execution of a project of common European interest.
Gre zlasti za pomoči za pospe�evanje gospodarskega razvoja območij, kjer je življenjska raven izjemno nizka ali kjer je podzaposlenost velika, in za pomoči za pospe�evanje izvedbe pomembnega projekta skupnega evropskega interesa.
B — Regulation No 659/1999
B – Uredba št. 659/1999
Regulation No 659/1999 codified the exercise by the Commission of the powers conferred on it by Article 88 EC.
Uredba �t. 659/1999 je kodificirala prakso izvajanja pooblastil Komisije, ki jih ima ta na podlagi člena 88 ES.
According to recital 2 in the preamble to that regulation, it was drawn up in accordance with the caselaw of the Court.
Iz druge uvodne izjave te uredbe izhaja, da je bila ta pripravljena v skladu s sodno prakso Sodi�ča.
aid is incompatible, that the Member State concerned must bring that aid to an end.
mora zadevna država članica tak�no pomoč odpraviti.
The first subparagraph of Article 88(2) EC actually provides that ‘[i]f, after giving notice to the parties concerned to submit their comments, the Commission finds that aid granted by a State or through State resources is not compatible with the common market having regard to Article 87, or that such aid is being misused, it shall decide that the State concerned shall abolish or alter such aid within a period of time to be determined by the Commission’.
V členu 88(2), prvi pododstavek, ES je namreč določeno, da „[č]e Komisija po tem, ko je pozvala zadevne stranke k predložitvi pripomb, ugotovi, da pomoč, ki jo je dodelila država članica, ali pomoč iz državnih sredstev ni združljiva s skupnim trgom glede na člen 87 ES, ali če se tak�na pomoč zlorablja, odloči, da mora zadevna država članica tak�no pomoč odpraviti ali spremeniti v roku, ki ji ga določi“.
Under that regulation, any plans to grant new aid must, in principle, be notified to the Commission by the Member State concerned, which must provide the Commission with all information necessary for it to be able to take a decision on that plan. 7
V skladu s to uredbo mora zadevna država članica vsak načrt za dodelitev nove pomoči načeloma priglasiti Komisiji in ji mora predložiti vse potrebne podatke, da lahko Komisija odloči o tem načrtu. 7
Finally, Article 88(3) EC requires the Member States to notify their plans to grant or alter aid to the Commission and prohibits them from putting such plans into effect until it has reached a decision under the first subparagraph of Article 88(2) EC.
Nazadnje, člen 88(3) ES državam članicam nalaga, da morajo Komisijo obvestiti o načrtih za dodelitev ali spremembo pomoči, in jim prepoveduje izvajanje takih načrtov, dokler ni sprejeta odločitev v skladu s členom 88(2), prvi pododstavek, ES.
The various types of decision which may be taken by the Commission are set out in Articles 4 and 7 of the regulation.
Različne odločbe, ki jih lahko sprejme Komisija, so na�tete v členih 4 in 7 navedene uredbe.
The review procedure provided for in Article 88 EC has been interpreted as potentially comprising two stages, namely an initial review and, where appropriate, if the Commission entertains doubts as to the compatibility of the planned aid with the common market or considers that that aid is incompatible therewith, a more in-depth examination designed to enable the Commission to be fully informed of all the facts of the case.
Za postopek preiskave iz člena 88 ES se je �telo, da je lahko sestavljen iz dveh faz, in sicer iz začetne preiskave in, odvisno od primera, če Komisija dvomi o združljivosti načrtovane pomoči s skupnim trgom ali celo meni, da je ta pomoč z njim nezdružljiva, iz bolj poglobljene preiskave, ki Komisiji omogoča, da se v celoti seznani z vsemi podatki zadeve.
To that end, under Article 88(2) EC, the Commission must invite interested parties to submit their comments. 6
Zato mora Komisija v skladu s členom 88(2) ES pozvati zadevne stranke, naj predložijo pripombe. 6
Article 4 of Regulation No 659/1999 sets out the decisions which may be adopted after the stage of the ‘preliminary examination’ of the notification.
V členu 4 Uredbe �t. 659/1999 so navedene odločbe, ki so lahko sprejete v fazi „predhodne preučitve“ priglasitve.
The Commission has three options open to it.
Komisija ima tako tri možnosti.
It may (i) decide that the notified measure does not constitute aid, (ii) decide that that measure constitutes aid compatible with the common market (decision not to raise objections), or (iii) decide that doubts are raised as to the compatibility with the common market of the notified
Lahko odloči, da prigla�eni ukrep ni državna pomoč, ali da je pomoč, združljiva s skupnim trgom (odločba o nenasprotovanju), ali pa, da obstajajo dvomi glede združljivosti prigla�enega ukrepa z navedenim trgom, in začne formalni
7 — Article 2.
7 – Člen 2.
ATHINAÏKI TECHNIKI v COMMISSION measure and initiate the formal investigation procedure (decision to initiate the formal investigation procedure).
ATHINAÏKI TECHNIKI PROTI KOMISIJI postopek preiskave (odločba o začetku formalnega postopka preiskave).
regulation, must give a decision finding that the notified measure does not constitute aid, that that measure constitutes aid compatible with the common market, or that it is aid incompatible with the common market.
navedene uredbe sprejeti odločbo, v kateri ugotovi bodisi da prigla�eni ukrep ni pomoč, bodisi da je ta ukrep pomoč, ki je združljiva s skupnim trgom, ali da gre za pomoč, ki z njim ni združljiva.
Those decisions must be taken within a period of two months beginning on the day following notification of the plan where that notification is deemed to be complete.
Te odločbe morajo biti sprejete v dveh mesecih od priglasitve načrta, če se za to priglasitev �teje, da je popolna.
The Commission, if it considers that the notification is incomplete, may request from the Member State concerned all necessary additional information. 8
Če Komisija meni, da priglasitev ni popolna, lahko od zadevne države članice zahteva vse potrebne dodatne podatke. 8
Articles 10 to 15 of Regulation No 659/1999 also lay down the procedure which is to be followed by the Commission in the case of unlawful aid.
Uredba �t. 659/1999 v členih od 10 do 15 prav tako določa postopek, ki ga mora izvesti Komisija v primeru nezakonite pomoči.
Aid is unlawful where it has been put into effect by the Member State concerned without having been previously notified to the Commission, in contravention of the provisions of Article 88(3) EC. 9
Pomoč je nezakonita, če jo zadevna država članica izvaja brez predhodne priglasitve Komisiji ob kr�itvi določb člena 88(3) ES 9.
If the Commission has decided to initiate the formal investigation procedure, Article 6 of Regulation No 659/1999 provides that it is to call upon the Member State concerned and upon other interested parties to submit comments within the period prescribed by the Commission.
Če je Komisija odločila, da bo začela formalni postopek preiskave, člen 6 Uredbe �t. 659/1999 določa, naj povabi zadevne države članice in druge zainteresirane stranke, da predložijo pripombe v roku, ki ga za to določi.
Article 10(1) of that regulation provides:
V členu 10(1) te uredbe je določeno:
Article 1(h) of that regulation defines ‘interested party’ as ‘any Member State and any person, undertaking or association of undertakings whose interests might be affected by the granting of aid, in particular the beneficiary of the aid, competing undertakings and trade associations’.
„Zainteresirane stranke“ so opredeljene v členu 1(h) te uredbe kot „kater[a] koli držav[a] članic[a] ali oseb[a], podjetje ali združenje podjetij, na katerih interese bi lahko dodelitev pomoči vplivala, predvsem upravičen[ec] pomoči, konkurenčna podjetja in poklicna združenja“.
After the formal investigation procedure, the Commission, under Article 7 of that
Komisija mora na podlagi formalnega postopka preiskave v skladu s členom 7
‘Where the Commission has in its possession information from whatever source regarding alleged unlawful aid, it shall examine that information without delay.’
„Če ima Komisija podatke iz katerega koli vira o domnevni nezakoniti pomoči, te podatke brez odla�anja preveri.“
8 — Article 5(1) of Regulation No 659/1999.
8 – Člen 5(1) Uredbe �t. 659/1999.
9 — Article 1(f) of Regulation No 659/1999.
9 – Člen 1(f) Uredbe �t. 659/1999.
Article 13(1) of the regulation provides: of the information supplied, it shall send a copy of that decision to the interested party.’
V členu 13(1) navedene uredbe je določeno:
‘The examination of possible unlawful aid shall result in a decision pursuant to Article 4. … In the case of decisions to initiate the formal investigation procedure, proceedings shall be closed by means of a decision pursuant to Article 7. …’
„Pregled morebitne nezakonite pomoči se zaključi z odločbo na podlagi člena 4 […] V primeru odločbe o začetku formalnega postopka preiskave se postopek zaključi z odločbo na podlagi člena 7. […]“
Article 20(3) of that regulation then provides that any interested party may, at its request, obtain a copy of any decision pursuant to Articles 4 and 7 thereof.
Člen 20(3) navedene uredbe nato določa, da lahko vsaka zainteresirana stranka na svojo zahtevo dobi izvod katerekoli odločbe, sprejete na podlagi členov 4 in 7 Uredbe.
Moreover, according to Article 25 of Regulation No 659/1999, decisions taken pursuant thereto are to be addressed to the Member State concerned.
Poleg tega so v skladu s členom 25 Uredbe �t. 659/1999 odločbe, sprejete na podlagi le-te, naslovljene na zadevno državo članico.
Article 20 of Regulation No 659/1999 relates in particular to the rights of interested parties.
Člen 20 Uredbe �t. 659/1999 se posebej nana�a na pravice zainteresiranih strank.
Article 20(1) states that any interested party may submit comments following a Commission decision to initiate the formal investigation procedure.
V odstavku 1 tega člena je opozorjeno, da lahko vsaka zainteresirana stranka po odločbi Komisije o začetku formalnega postopka preiskave predloži pripombe.
It adds that any interested party which has submitted such comments and any beneficiary of individual aid must be sent a copy of the decision taken by the Commission at the end of that procedure.
Nato je dodano, da vsaka zainteresirana stranka, ki je tak�ne pripombe predložila, in vsak upravičenec individualne pomoči prejmeta izvod odločbe, ki jo ob koncu tega postopka sprejme Komisija.
Article 20(2) of the regulation is, for its part, the focus of the present dispute.
Člen 20(2) te uredbe je v sredi�ču tega spora.
It is worded as follows:
V njem je navedeno:
‘Any interested party may inform the Commission of any alleged unlawful aid and any alleged misuse of aid.
„Vsaka zainteresirana stranka lahko obvesti Komisijo o domnevni nezakoniti pomoči in o domnevni zlorabi pomoči.
Where the Commission considers that on the basis of the information in its possession there are insufficient grounds for taking a view on the case, it shall inform the interested party thereof.
Če Komisija meni, da na podlagi podatkov, ki jih ima, ni zadostnih razlogov, da bi zavzela stali�če o zadevi, o tem obvesti zainteresirano stranko.
Where the Commission takes a decision on a case concerning the subjectmatter
Če Komisija sprejme odločbo o zadevi v zvezi
Prior to adoption of Regulation No 659/1999 or where it was not applicable, the Commission’s obligations when receiving a complaint alleging that a national measure is contrary to the Treaty and the rights of complainants in proceedings for monitoring State aid were inferred from the caselaw concerning Articles 87 EC and 88 EC.
Sodna praksa je takrat, ko Uredba �t. 659/1999 �e ni bila sprejeta oziroma ni veljala, obveznosti Komisije ob prejemu pritožbe glede nacionalnega ukrepa kot državne pomoči, ki je v nasprotju s Pogodbo, in pravice pritožnikov v okviru postopka nadzora državnih pomoči obravnavala na podlagi členov 87 ES in 88 ES.
ATHINAÏKI TECHNIKI v COMMISSION its caselaw, has drawn the following conclusions as regards how the complaint is to be handled from the points of view of substance and time.
ATHINAÏKI TECHNIKI PROTI KOMISIJI navanje pritožbe z vsebinskega in s časovnega vidika, kot je prikazano v nadaljevanju.
In so far as that regulation, which was adopted for the purposes of the application of those articles of the Treaty, cannot restrict their scope 10 and in so far as the regulation reproduces the existing caselaw by codifying it, that caselaw is therefore relevant in interpreting its provisions.
Ta uredba, ki je bila sprejeta za izvedbo teh členov Pogodbe, je torej zato, ker naj ne bi zmanj�evala obsega navedenih členov 10 in ker s kodifikacijo povzema obstoječo sodno prakso, upo�tevna za razlago njenih določb.
From the point of view of substance, it is the Commission’s responsibility, first of all, to conduct a diligent and impartial examination of the complaint.
Komisija mora z vsebinskega vidika najprej opraviti skrben in nepristranski preizkus pritožbe 12. Ta dolžnost skrbnega
However, the Commission is not obliged, at that stage of the procedure, to hear the complainant or the other ‘parties concerned’ within the meaning of Article 88(2) EC.
Po drugi strani pa Komisiji v tej fazi postopka ni treba zasli�ati pritožnika ali drugih „zainteresiranih oseb“ v smislu člena 88(2) ES.
It is only in the context of the formal investigation procedure that it is subject to that obligation. 14
To obveznost ima le v okviru formalnega postopka preiskave. 14
The following two factors serve to justify the Commission’s obligations when it receives a complaint concerning alleged State aid.
Obveznosti Komisije ob prejemu pritožbe glede domnevne državne pomoči so utemeljene z naslednjima elementoma.
Those obligations arise, first, from the fact that the Commission, leaving aside the powers conferred on the Council of the European Union by the third subparagraph of Article 88(2) EC, has exclusive competence in assessing whether aid is compatible with the Treaty.
Te obveznosti izhajajo, na eni strani, iz dejstva, da ima ta institucija, če izvzamemo pooblastila Svetu Evropske unije na podlagi člena 88(2), tretji pododstavek, ES, izključno pristojnost glede presoje združljivosti pomoči s Pogodbo.
They are based, secondly, on the prohibition in principle of State aid.
Na drugi strani pa te temeljijo na načelni prepovedi državnih pomoči.
In accordance with that exclusive competence and that prohibition in principle, the Commission is under an obligation to ensure that no aid contrary to the Treaty is granted or maintained. 11
Komisija mora na podlagi te izključne pristojnosti in te načelne prepovedi skrbeti, da se ne dodeli ali ohrani nobena pomoč, ki je v nasprotju s Pogodbo. 11