natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
According to Germany, it follows from those provisions of the Directive that Germany is entitled to support domestic RES electricity production only.
Om statligt stöd beviljas ett företag som inte tillhör en sektor som finns förtecknad i bilaga 3 till 2014-års riktlinjer men som hade en elintensitet på minst 20 % under 2012 och under det året tillhörde en sektor med en handelsintensitet på minst 4 % på EU-nivå, är det förenligt med den inre marknaden om företaget betalar minst 15 % av merkostnaderna som elleverantörer ådrar sig till följd av skyldigheten att köpa förnybar energi som sedan förs över på elförbrukarna.
It also follows from those provisions that Germany is not compelled either to grant access to its support scheme to RES electricity producers from other Member States, or to let such producers benefit from the green electricity privilege.
Om statligt stöd beviljas ett företag som är berättigat till förenligt statligt stöd på grundval av andra eller tredje stycket, men EEG-tilläggsavgiften som betalas av företaget inte når upp till den nivå som krävs enligt dessa stycken, är följande delar av stödet förenligt med den inre marknaden:
In addition, Germany claims that if the green electricity privilege was made available to producers located in other Member States, there would be a risk that this would result in overcompensation of such producers, who could begin to cherry-pick between the different national support systems.
För 2013, den delen av stödet som överskrider 125 % av tilläggsavgiften som företaget faktiskt betalat under 2013.
It would also pose a threat to the financing mechanism of the EEG-Act 2012, since more and more non-domestic producers would want to make use of the green electricity privilege, and the amount of electricity on which the EEG-surcharge was actually imposed would continuously decrease, thereby eroding the base of the financing.
För 2014, den delen av stödet som överskrider 150 % av tilläggsavgiften som företaget faktiskt betalat under 2013.
This would in practice run counter to the objectives of Directive 2009/28/EC, which authorises the establishment of national support systems for the purposes of increasing renewable energy production.
Om statligt stöd beviljas ett företag som inte är berättigat till förenligt statligt stöd på grundval av andra eller tredje stycket, och om företaget betalat mindre än 20 % av merkostnaderna för tilläggsavgiften utan nedsättning, är följande delar av stödet förenligt med den inre marknaden:
This interpretation is confirmed, according to Germany, by the recent Ålands Vindkraft ruling [106].
Varje stöd som inte omfattas av punkt 1 är oförenligt med den inre marknaden.
In that case, concerning a national system which provided for the award of tradable certificates to producers of green electricity solely in respect of green electricity produced in the territory of that Member State, the Court of Justice held that such a system constituted a measure having equivalent effects to quantitative restrictions on imports, in principle incompatible with the obligations resulting from Article 34 of the Treaty.
Artikel 4
Rather, it is a mere refund claim which the TSOs have against electricity suppliers, given that the TSOs are considered to perform services for the suppliers.
Artikel 6
Germany refers to the case-law of the Court of Justice, according to which ‘a charge which is imposed on goods by reason of the fact that they cross a frontier may escape classification as a charge having equivalent effect as prohibited by the Treaty, if it relates to a general system of internal dues applied systematically and in accordance with the same criteria to domestic products, and imported or exported products alike, if it represents payment for a specific service actually and individually rendered to the trader of a sum in proportion to that service or, in certain circumstances, if it is levied on account of inspections carried out for the purpose of fulfilling obligations imposed by Community law’ [108].
Tyskland ska återkräva det oförenliga stödet som avses i artikel 3.2 från stödmottagarna enligt metoden som beskrivs i bilaga III.
Germany considers the second and the third of the alternative criteria mentioned in the Court judgment to be fulfilled.
Det stöd som ska återkrävas ska innefatta ränta från och med dagen då stödet ställdes till stödmottagarnas förfogande till och med dagen det har återbetalats.
First, Germany claims that the EEG-surcharge constitutes an adequate payment for a specific service rendered, namely the fact that the TSOs relinquish the renewable quality of the RES electricity transmitted, which is acquired by the electricity suppliers, as explained in recital 144 [109].
Räntan ska beräknas som sammansatt ränta enligt kapitel V i kommissionens förordning (EG) nr 794/2004 [120].
From Germany's point of view, by paying the EEG-surcharge to the TSOs, the electricity suppliers receive something in return, that is the fact that a share of the electricity comes from renewable energy sources.
Tyskland ska upphöra med alla utbetalningar av utestående stöd enligt stödordningen som avses i artikel 3.2 med verkan från dagen då detta beslut antas.
Germany therefore argues that, contrary to the situation in the Essent case [110], where there was no service in return for the payments, the EEG-surcharge does correspond to a service rendered.
Artikel 7
Secondly, the EEG-surcharge is allegedly imposed in order to fulfil obligations imposed by Union law, namely by Directive 2009/28/EC.
Återkravet av det stöd som avses i artikel 3.2 ska genomföras omedelbart och effektivt.
The Commission cannot agree with the reasoning provided by Germany.
Tyskland ska säkerställa att detta beslut genomförs inom fyra månader från dagen för delgivningen av detta beslut genom att återkräva det oförenliga stödet som har beviljats.
First, while it is true that the EEG-surcharge finances the setup of renewable energy installations, it supports the production of the electricity generated in those installations.
Om Tyskland återfår endast de preliminära återkravsbeloppen enligt punkt 4 i bilaga III, ska Tyskland se till att korrigeringsmekanismen som beskrivs i punkt 4 i bilaga III genomförs inom ett år från dagen för delgivningen av detta beslut.
This is evidenced by the fact that the EEG-surcharge is levied per kilowatt-hour of electricity consumed.
Artikel 8
Secondly, the similarity between domestically produced EEG electricity and imported EEG electricity cannot be altered by the mere fact that imported EEG electricity does not count towards the target set by Directive 2009/28/EC.
Inom två månader efter dagen då detta beslut har delgivits ska Tyskland lämna följande uppgifter:
According to the case-law of the Court, similarity has to be assessed ‘on the basis not of the criterion of the strictly identical nature of the products but on that of their similar and comparable use’ [111].
En förteckning över de stödmottagare som har tagit emot stöd enligt artikel 3.1 och 2 samt det totala stödbeloppet som var och en har mottagit enligt stödordningen.
In that respect, the question whether imported RES electricity counts towards the target set by Directive 2009/28/EC is irrelevant.
En detaljerad beskrivning av åtgärderna som redan har vidtagits eller som planeras för att följa detta beslut, inbegripet de åtaganden som anges i bilaga I.
Moreover, the Commission disagrees with Germany's assertion that the EEG-surcharge does not constitute a charge within the meaning of Articles 30 and 110 of the Treaty.
Dokument som visar att stödmottagarna har anmodats att betala tillbaka stödet och att de åtaganden som anges i bilaga I är uppfyllda.
First, as the Court held in Essent, it is irrelevant for the application of Articles 30 and 110 of the Treaty that the charge is not levied by the State directly, but by the TSOs [112].
Tyskland ska också lämna detaljerade uppgifter om de stödbelopp och räntebelopp som redan har återkrävts från stödmottagarna.
Secondly, there appears to be no service or asset for which the EEG-surcharge paid by the electricity suppliers would constitute an adequate payment.
Artikel 9
The renewable quality as such is of no avail to the electricity suppliers, given that it is transmitted separately from the actual EEG electricity.
Tyskland har åtagit sig att investera 50 miljoner euro i sammanlänkningar och i europeiska energiprojekt.
The payments made by the suppliers are also not proportionate to the service rendered, since their payments differ according to how many non-privileged customers they have, whereas the supposed service rendered, namely that the electricity has renewable quality, is indivisible and the same for all.
Tyskland ska hålla kommissionen underrättad om genomförandet av detta åtagande.
Thirdly, the EEG-surcharge is not imposed on account of inspections, and it is also directly not imposed on account of obligations stemming from Union law.
Artikel 10
Directive 2009/28/EC obliges Germany to introduce measures to ensure a steady increase in the share of energy from renewable sources (Article 3(2) of the Directive); the implementation is left to Germany's discretion, both as regards the specific measures (Article 3(3) of the Directive) and the way in which they are financed.
Detta beslut riktar sig till Förbundsrepubliken Tyskland.
As the Commission held in its Opening Decision, Articles 30 and 110 only prohibit the financing of a support scheme for national production by means of a discriminatory charge imposed on imported products.
Utfärdat i Bryssel den 25 november 2014.
They do not oblige the Member State to extend the benefit of the support scheme to imported products.
På kommissionens vägnar
This Decision, like previous decisions on national support schemes for renewable energy [113], does not put into question the fact that support under the EEG-Act 2012 is limited to national production.
Ledamot av kommissionen
However, when drafting their support schemes, Member States may not introduce discriminatory charges within the meaning of Articles 30 and 110 of the Treaty.
EUT C 37, 7.2.2014, s. 73, och EUT C 250, 1.8.2014, s. 15.
The Ålands Vindkraft ruling does not alter the assessment regarding Articles 30 and 110 of the Treaty.
Se fotnot 1.
First, the sole question in that case was whether a national support system for renewable energy producers needed to be accessible for producers located in other Member States (the Court held that this was not the case).
Förordning nr 1 som fastställer de språk som ska användas av Europeiska ekonomiska gemenskapen (EGT I, volym 1952–1958, s. 59).
The judgment was not concerned with the question whether, in addition, such a national support system may be financed through a discriminatory charge imposed also on economic operators located in other Member States.
Gesetz für den Vorrang Erneuerbarer Energien (Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz – EEG), i dess ändrade lydelse enligt Gesetz zur Neuregelung des Rechtsrahmens für die Förderung der Stromerzeugung aus erneuerbaren Energien, Bundesgesetzblatt, del I, s.
Secondly, at the request of the Swedish court, the Court provided an interpretation of Article 34 on quantitative restrictions to the free movement of goods; the reference for a preliminary ruling was not concerned with Articles 30 and 110 on discriminatory duties and taxes, in respect of which, consequently, the Court said nothing.
1634, och enligt Gesetz zur Änderung des Rechtsrahmens für Strom aus solarer Strahlungsenergie und zu weiteren Änderungen im Recht der erneuerbaren Energien vom 17.
Thirdly, the Court found that Sweden's refusal to grant the claimant access to its certificate system, while constituting a measure having equivalent effect to a quantitative restriction, was justified by grounds of environmental policy and proportionate in achieving that environmental policy objective [114].
August 2012, Bundesgesetzblatt, del I, s.
However, while maintaining its position that the EEG-surcharge does not infringe Articles 30 and 110 of the Treaty, Germany has provided a commitment to invest in interconnectors and similar European energy projects (see description in recital 19).
Juli 2014, Bundesgesetzblatt, del I, s.1066.
Those investments would be equivalent to the estimated amount of alleged discrimination.
Statligt stöd SA.38632 (2014/N) – Tyskland: EEG 2014 – reform av lagen om förnybar energi (ännu ej offentliggjort i EUT).
The usual remedy for violations of Articles 30 and 110 of the Treaty is reimbursement of the charges imposed.
Juli 2009, Bundesgesetzblatt, del.
However, the reinvestment of the share of the revenue from a parafiscal levy that was collected from imports into projects and infrastructure that specifically benefits imports has been recognised by the Commission as being a suitable remedy to historical potential discrimination under Articles 30 and 110 of the Treaty [115].
I, s.
To determine the share of past revenue from the EEG-surcharge that needs to be allocated to such investments, the first step is to estimate the imports of eligible EEG electricity into Germany.
2101, i dess ändrade lydelse enligt artikel 2 of Gesetz vom 17.
Germany has indicated that in the period of application of the EEG-Act 2012, between January 2012 and July 2014, the share of guarantees of origin corresponding to RES electricity that could be supported under the EEG-Act 2012 amounted to approximately 1349 GWh: 519 GWh in 2012, 283 GWh in 2013 and 547 GWh in 2014.
Februar 2010, Bundesgesetzblatt, del I, s.
The much larger share of guarantees of origin not included in this amount corresponds to large, old hydropower plants, which would not be eligible under the EEG-Act 2012.
134, i dess ändrade lydelse enligt Zweite Verordnung zur Änderung der Ausgleichsmechanismus-Ausführungsverordnung vom 19.
However, since guarantees of origin can be traded separately, they are in themselves not sufficient to determine the extent to which EEG electricity is actually imported.
Februar 2013, Bundesgesetzblatt, del I, s.
The second step is to evaluate the extent to which imported green electricity was discriminated against.
Taket beviljas också järnvägsföretag.
The discrimination lies in the fact that, although both domestic EEG electricity production and EEG imports contribute to the EEG-surcharge, it is only domestic EEG electricity production that benefits from it (within the limits of eligibility conditions).
Detta tak prövas inte inom ramen för detta beslut.
As such, the discrimination can be measured by the level of the EEG-surcharge faced by imported EEG electricity.
EUT C 200, 28.6.2014, s. 1.
However, it must be noted that any reimbursement would not cover the whole surcharge as such, but would be limited to the hypothetical form of support received (feed-in tariffs, market premiums or green electricity privilege).
Mål T-244/93 och T-486/93, TWD Textilwerke Deggendorf mot kommissionen, ECLI:EU:T:1995;160.
Indeed, given that the domestic EEG electricity producers also pay the surcharge, but receive the EEG-support, a difference in treatment would only arise to the extent that imports have to pay the surcharge without receiving any support.
Enligt punkt 11 i AusglMechV kan BNetzA utfärda föreskrifter i samförstånd med förbundsministeriet för miljö, naturskydd och kärnsäkerhet (numera förbundsministeriet för miljö, naturskydd, byggnadsverksamhet och kärnsäkerhet) och förbundsministeriet för ekonomi och teknik (numera förbundsministeriet för ekonomi och energi).
In essence, discrimination is equivalent to the level of support withheld from imported EEG electricity.
Juli 2005, Bundesgesetzblatt, del I, s.
Concerning the feed-in tariffs and the market premiums, the Commission notes that as these vary from one EEG technology to the other, it would be necessary to establish the different types of EEG electricity that were actually imported, and in what quantities, in order to apply those forms of support to imports.
1970, 3621, i dess ändrade lydelse enligt artikel 3.4 i Gesetz vom 4.
However, as Germany has explained that data on actual EEG imports was not available, it is not possible to measure discrimination by applying the specific feed-in tariff or market premium to the corresponding amount of imports.
Oktober 2013, Bundesgesetzblatt, del I, s.
In contrast, the advantage resulting from the green electricity privilege can be more easily established: Germany has indicated that the advantage resulting from the green electricity privilege was in practice lower than 4 ct/kWh.
3746.
This is because electricity suppliers which apply for the privilege only receive the 2 ct/kWh reduction on their whole portfolio if they succeed in having at least 50 % of the electricity coming from RES.
Europaparlamentets och rådets direktiv 2009/28/EG av den 23 april 2009 om främjande av användningen av energi från förnybara energikällor och om ändring och ett senare upphävande av direktiven 2001/77/EG och 2003/30/EG (EUT L 140, 5.6.2009, s. 16).
In order to avoid or minimise the risk of narrowly missing the 50 % target (in which case the full EEG surcharge would be due on the whole portfolio), electricity suppliers purchase EEG electricity with a safety margin, that is to say, in excess of the 50 % needed, sometimes up to 60 %.
Mål C-379/98, PreussenElektra mot Schleswag, ECLI:EU:C:2001:160.
In that case, in order to calculate the cost advantage that can potentially be passed on to RES electricity producers, the EEG-surcharge reduction obtained for the whole portfolio, that is to say, 2 ct/kWh, needs to be divided by a higher RES share.
EUT C 164, 10.7.2002, s. 5.
On average, the maximum advantage resulting from the green electricity privilege was 3,8 ct/kWh in 2012, 3,2 ct/kWh in 2013 and 3,9 ct/kWh in 2014.
Mål C-280/00, Altmark Trans, ECLI:EU:C:2003:415.
It appears that the green electricity privilege was slightly higher than the EEG-surcharge in 2012, but lower than the surcharges in 2013 and 2014.
Mål C-206/06, Essent Netwerk Noord, ECLI:EU:C:2008:413.
It also appears that the green electricity privilege was lower than the advantage included in some of the feed-in tariffs (after deduction of the market price), for instance for solar power, but higher than the advantage included in other feed-in tariffs, for instance wind power.
Mål C-262/12, Association Vent de colère!, ECLI:EU:C:2013:851.
But even if the privilege may to some extent understate the actual magnitude of discrimination, it must be borne in mind that the amounts of guarantees of origin overstate the magnitude of imports.
Mål C-573/12, Ålands Vindkraft, ECLI:EU:C:2014:2037.
Therefore, the Commission's view is that the method used by Germany (described in recitals 238 et seq.) is appropriate.
Mål C-280/00, Altmark Trans, ECLI:EU:C:2003:415, punkterna 87–93.
The advantage arising from the green electricity privilege, taken in conjunction with the figures on imported guarantees of origin, can be viewed as a reasonable proxy for the extent to which imported EEG electricity was discriminated against under the EEG-Act 2012.
Altmarkkriterierna har fastställts av domstolen för att klargöra under vilka omständigheter en ersättning som tillhandahålls av en offentlig myndighet för att utföra en tjänst av allmänt ekonomiskt intresse kan utgöra statligt stöd enligt artikel 107.1 i fördraget.
Using the values for eligible EEG electricity imports set out in recital 237 and the values for the green electricity privilege set out in recital 241, the amount to be reinvested equals EUR 50 million [116].
Till stöd för detta argument åberopar Tyskland rapporten av den 25 juni 2013 med titeln ”Lägesrapport om förnybar energi och energieffektivitet stödsystem i Europa” från rådet för europeiska tillsynsmyndigheter (CCER) (tabellerna på sidorna 18–20).
Hence, the Commission views Germany's commitment to investing EUR 50 million (see recital 19) in interconnectors and European energy projects as remedying the historical potential discrimination under Articles 30 and 110 of the Treaty.
Mål C-387/92, Banco Exterior de España, ECLI:EU:C:1994:100, punkt 13; Mål C-156/98, Tyskland mot kommissionen, ECLI:EU:C:2000:467, punkt 25; Mål C-6/97, Italien mot kommissionen, ECLI:EU:C:1999:251, punkt 15; Mål C-172/03, Heiser, ECLI:EU:C:2005:130, punkt 36; Mål C-126/01, GEMO SA, ECLI:EU:C:2003:622, punkterna 28–31 om fri insamling och omhändertagande av avfall.
AUTHENTIC LANGUAGE
Mål 173/73, Italien mot kommissionen, ECLI:EU:C:1974:71, punkt 36.
As mentioned under Section 1 of this Decision, Germany has waived its right to have the decision adopted in German.
Se även mål T-55/99, CETM mot kommissionen, ECLI:EU:T:2000:223, punkt 85.
The authentic language will therefore be English.
Mål T-177/10, Alcoa Trasformazioni mot kommissionen, ECLI:EU:T:2014:897, punkterna 82–85.
CONCLUSION AND RECOVERY
Mål T-177/10, Alcoa Trasformazioni mot kommissionen, ECLI:EU:T:2014:897, punkt 82.
Given that the historic violation of Articles 30 and 110 of the Treaty by the EEG surcharge has been remedied, the Commission concludes that the support for EEG electricity producers, which was found to be compatible in recitals 187 and 200 of the Opening Decision, is also compliant with the internal market in so far as its financing mechanism is concerned.
Mål T-177/10, Alcoa Trasformazioni mot kommissionen, ECLI:EU:T:2014:897, punkt 84.
The Commission concludes that Germany has unlawfully implemented the aid for the support of EEG electricity production and for energy-intensive undertakings in breach of Article 108(3) of the Treaty.
Mål T-177/10, Alcoa Trasformazioni mot kommissionen, ECLI:EU:T:2014:897, punkt 85.
The aid should be recovered to the extent that it is incompatible with the internal market.
Mål C-143/99, Adria-Wien Pipeline, ECLI:EU:C:2001:598, punkt 48.
Recovery should only cover the reductions from the EEG-surcharge granted in respect of the years 2013 and 2014 (hereinafter ‘the years concerned’).
Förenade målen C-78/08 till C-80/08, Paint Graphos, ECLI:EU:C:2011:550, punkt 69.
The recoverable amounts should be limited, for each of the years concerned, to the difference between the compatible amount for that year, as determined according to recitals 251, 252 and 253, and the amount of EEG-surcharge that was actually paid by the beneficiary in the year concerned.
Mål C-75/97, Belgien mot kommissionen, ECLI:EU:C:1999:311, punkt 38 och följande; Mål C-172/03, Heiser, ECLI:EU:C:2005:130; Mål C-487/06 P, British Aggregates Association mot kommissionen, ECLI:EU:C:2008:757, punkterna 86–92; Mål C-143/99, Adria-Wien Pipeline, ECLI:EU:C:2001:598, punkterna 43, 52 och följande punkter.
The amount of EEG-surcharge that was actually paid by the beneficiary in the year concerned is in principle obtained by applying the reduced surcharge for that year to the beneficiary's electricity consumption in that same year.
Mål C-280/00, Altmark Trans, ECLI:EU:C:2003:415, punkt 87.
However, in order to speed up the recovery, and as the consumption data for the years concerned is not yet available for all undertakings concerned by recovery, Germany will, as a first step, use the electricity consumption that was submitted in the applications to calculate a preliminary recovery amount, to be recovered immediately.
Mål C-280/00, Altmark Trans, ECLI:EU:C:2003:415, punkterna 89–93.
Germany will, as a second step, apply the actual consumption data of the years concerned in order to determine the final recovery amounts and take the necessary steps to ensure recovery or repayment on the basis of those final amounts (this second step in the recovery process is referred to as the ‘correction mechanism’).
Europaparlamentets och rådets direktiv 2009/72/EG av den 13 juli 2009 om gemensamma regler för den inre marknaden för el och om upphävande av direktiv 2003/54/EG (EUT L 211, 14.8.2009, s. 55).
The first step in determining the compatible amount lies in the application of Section 3.7.2 of the 2014 Guidelines.
Förenade målen 67/85, 68/85 och 70/85, Kwekerij Gebroeders van der Kooy et al., ECLI:EU:C:1988:38; Mål T-157/01, Danske Busvognmænd mot kommissionen, ECLI:EU:T:2004:76; Förenade målen T-254/00, T-270/00 och T-277/00, Hotel Cipriani et al. mot kommissionen, ECLI:EU:T:2008:537.