natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
The Commission has consistently considered that port infrastructure projects require considerable capital investments that can only be recovered in the very long term and their economic viability may not always be ensured without public support.
De belopp som ska återkrävas bör innefatta ränta som löper från den dag då stödet ställdes till PCT:s förfogande till den dag det har återbetalats.
However, in this case, PPA, the awarding authority that conducted the tender procedure for the selection of the concessionaire of the Port of Piraeus, had already estimated that the project's economic viability would be ensured, something that is proven by the fact that according to the tender documents the selected beneficiary was meant to undertake the whole investment on its own expenses.
Räntan bör beräknas som sammansatt ränta i enlighet med kapitel V i kommissionens förordning (EG) nr 794/2004 [195] och kommissionens förordning (EG) nr 271/2008 [196] om ändring av förordning (EG) nr 794/2004.
In addition, PCT undertook the extension of Pier II and the construction of Pier III, by assuming on its own all the investment costs that this project would entail.
SLUTSATS
When it submitted its bid that was accepted by PPA, it had estimated that its investment in the Port of Piraeus would be profitable for it without the need of any public support, as otherwise it would not have submitted the bid or it would have submitted it with a reservation as regards the profitability of the project in the absence of a specific fiscal treatment.
Kommissionen konstaterar att Grekland olagligen har genomfört följande stödåtgärder i strid med artikel 108.3 i fördraget om Europeiska unionens funktionssätt:
Moreover, the fact that Cosco aimed at turning the port of Piraeus into the first container terminal in the Mediterranean Sea demonstrates the potential of this port, as well as the profitability of the investment project that was never questioned [191].
Befrielse från inkomstskatt på upplupen ränta fram till och med den dag pir III tas i drift.
Given that the concession contract had to be ratified by law in line with the Greek legislative practice, any bank would have waited for the adoption of the ratification law, without this being specifically related to the grant of the measures under examination.
Val mellan tre metoder för att skriva av finansieringskostnaderna för ombyggnaden av pir II och uppförandet av pir III.
Moreover the protection requested by the European Investment Bank against general or discriminatory change in law, does not prove either the necessity of the aid.
Befrielse från stämpelskatter på låneavtalet och eventuella biavtal om finansiering av projektet.
PCT only started the construction works after the ratification of the concession contract by law.
Befrielse från skatter, stämpelskatter, bidrag och andra statliga rättigheter eller tredjepartsrättigheter vad gäller avtalen mellan borgenärerna i de låneavtal inom vars ram skyldigheterna och de därav resulterande rättigheterna överförs.
But this is also related to the fact that all public contracts of this nature have to be ratified by law.
Befrielse från stämpelskatter på alla utbetalningar av ersättning från PPA till PCT inom ramen för koncessionsavtalet som inte omfattas av tillämpningsområdet för mervärdesskattelagen.
Any company in the position of PCT would have waited for the ratification of the contract in any case.
Skydd enligt den särskilda skyddsordningen för utländska investeringar.
In addition, Cosco had committed to implement the project already at the time it submitted its bid and this took place before the adoption of the granting act, i.e. the ratification law.
De grekiska myndigheterna undantog inte PCT från bestämmelserna om tvångsexpropriering och därför beviljade de inte något stöd till PCT i det avseendet.
Moreover, the beneficiary never invoked the existence of a funding gap that needed to be covered by the measures under examination.
HÄRIGENOM FÖRESKRIVS FÖLJANDE.
The fact that PCT only quantified the amount of the aid after the opening of the formal investigation procedure by the Commission, i.e. almost 5 years after the signature of the concession contract, demonstrates that the amount of aid was not taken into consideration by PCT in its initial business plan, and in particular when Cosco decided to undertake the investment.
Artikel 1
As regards the Commission decisions invoked by the beneficiary, where the Commission approved non-notified aid in cases where the aid had not been quantified in advance, the Commission notes that the cases mentioned are not applicable in the current case, as they do not concern funding of port infrastructure, where a specific funding gap has to be determined even for an ex post analysis of compatibility.
Följande statliga stödåtgärder till förmån för Piraeus Container Terminal SA och dess borgenär, Cosco, som Grekland olagligen har genomfört i strid med artikel 108.3 i fördraget om Europeiska unionens funktionssätt är oförenliga med den inre marknaden:
Consequently, this aid cannot be considered necessary for the implementation of the project, as PCT would in any case undertake it.
Skydd enligt den särskilda skyddsordningen för utländska investeringar.
In any case, as already explained above, the measures under examination consist in uncapped fiscal advantages that constitute operating aid which is normally prohibited.
Artikel 2
Such aid can only be accepted in exceptional specifically determined conditions.
De grekiska myndigheterna beviljade inte statligt stöd genom att undanta Piraeus Container Terminal SA från bestämmelserna om tvångsexpropriering.
In the context of the compatibility analysis of the funding of port infrastructure project on the basis of Article 107(3)(c), this type of aid cannot be considered as compatible.
Artikel 3
The beneficiary argues that the market failure in this case consists in the need to ensure stability, legal certainty and flexibility as regards the fiscal framework of the implementation of the concession contract.
Grekland ska återkräva det oförenliga stöd som avses i artikel 1 från PCT och dess moderbolag Cosco.
In this respect, the Commission notes that in accordance with its constant practice, the need to ensure stability, legal certainty and flexibility cannot be considered as a market failure, or as a valid basis of compatibility of aid measures.
Det stöd som ska återkrävas ska innefatta ränta från och med den dag då stödet ställdes till stödmottagarens förfogande till och med den dag det har återbetalats.
Moreover and most importantly, the absence of such a ‘framework’ did not deter Cosco from undertaking to invest in the Port of Piraeus.
Räntan ska beräknas som sammansatt ränta i enlighet med kapitel V i förordning (EG) nr 794/2004 och förordning (EG) nr 271/2008 om ändring av förordning (EG) nr 794/2004.
Thus the Commission considers that the objective to ensure stability, legal certainty and flexibility cannot prove the necessity or the incentive effect of the aid measures under examination.
Grekland ska upphäva alla bestämmelser som gör det möjligt att fortsätta de åtgärder som avses i artikel 1, med verkan från den dag detta beslut antas.
In view of the above the Commission considers that the aid measures granted to PCT were not necessary, as it has not been proven that Cosco would have abandoned the implementation of the project in their absence.
Grekland ska inställa alla utestående betalningar av det stöd som avses i artikel 1, med verkan från den dag detta beslut antas.
Thus the aid measures constitute operating aid, relieving PCT from costs that it would normally have to bear and cannot be declared compatible.
Artikel 4
In view of this conclusion, the Commission does not consider it necessary to examine further the other conditions of Article 107(3)(c), on proportionality and distortion of competition, in order to conclude that the aid measures are incompatible.
Det beviljade stöd som avses i artikel 1 ska återkrävas omedelbart och effektivt.
RECOVERY OF THE AID
Grekland ska se till att detta beslut genomförs inom fyra månader från dagen för delgivningen av beslutet.
According to established case-law, aid regarded by the Commission as being incompatible with the common market has to be recovered in order to re-establish the previously existing situation [192].
Artikel 5
As the measures above constitute unlawful and incompatible State aid, the Commission should order the recovery of unlawfully granted aid that is incompatible with the internal market, unless the beneficiary can have legitimate expectations or rely on a general principle of EU law [193].Quantification
Inom två månader efter den dag då detta beslut har delgetts ska Grekland lämna följande uppgifter till kommissionen:
The quantification of the aid provided by the Greek authorities and the beneficiary was based on the hypothetical assumptions of PCT's business plan in 2009.
Det totala belopp (kapital och räntor) som ska återkrävas från PCT och dess moderbolag Cosco.
Thus they cannot serve as a basis for the exact quantification of the aid amounts.
En detaljerad beskrivning av de åtgärder som redan har vidtagits eller som planeras för att rätta sig efter detta beslut.
In the absence of appropriate information on behalf of the Greek authorities, the present decision does not establish the exact amount of aid received by PCT for each one of the measures.
Dokument som visar att PCT och dess moderbolag Cosco har anmodats att betala tillbaka stödet.
However, the Commission considers that the following methodology should be followed by the Member State in order to determine the amount of incompatible State aid to be recovered from PCT:
Grekland ska informera kommissionen om hur de nationella åtgärderna för att verkställa detta beslut fortskrider, intill dess det stöd som avses i artikel 1 är helt återbetalt.
Exemption from income tax on interest accrued until the date of the commencement of operation of Pier III
Grekland ska på kommissionens begäran omgående lämna uppgifter om de åtgärder som redan har vidtagits eller som planeras för att rätta sig efter detta beslut.
This measure involves aid to PCT that is equal to the income tax which PCT would normally have to pay on the accrued interests until the commencement of operations of Pier III and from which PCT was exempted based on Article 2(1) of the Law.
Grekland ska också lämna detaljerade uppgifter om de stödbelopp och det räntebelopp som redan har återkrävts från stödmottagaren.
The Greek authorities indicated that PCT did not benefit from this provision in practice, as it included in its taxable income the amount of interest accrued on cash deposits (and thus this income was subject to income tax).
Artikel 6
They should therefore provide evidence that this is indeed the case.
Detta beslut riktar sig till Republiken Grekland.
In case PCT made use of this provision, the Greek authorities should first provide the following dates:
Utfärdat i Bryssel den 23 mars 2015.
the date since when PCT was exempted from income tax on interest accrued,
På kommissionens vägnar
the date when the operation of Pier III started.
Ledamot av kommissionen
The Greek authorities should take as basis the relevant deposits of PCT in the Greek banks each year (following the date of exemption from income tax on interest accrued), the relevant interests that derived each year and apply to them the income tax rate applicable each year.
EGT L 83, 27.3.1999, s. 1.
Right to VAT credit refund irrespective of the date of completion of the construction work or of its parts
Registrerad av kommissionen den 13 maj 2009.
This measure involves aid to PCT that is equal to the full amount of the VAT refund that PCT is allowed to keep (under this provision) if 5 years after the realisation of the related expenditure, the project did not start.
Registrerad av kommissionen samma dag.
The Greek authorities have indicated that PCT has already put in use the investment project within 5 years from the start of the project, so the 5 year exemption period did not result to a specific amount to be recovered.
Kommissionens beslut av den 11 juli 2012 C(2012) 4217 final, i ärende SA.
However, the Greek authorities have not submitted any proof demonstrating that the construction of the project has been completed and that the investment was put in use.
28876 (C (12/C) (f.d.
Therefore, the Greek authorities should provide proof demonstrating the project's completion of construction.
CP 202/09)) – Grekland – Containerterminal i hamnen i Piraeus & Cosco Pacific Limited (EGT C 301, 5.10.2012, s. 55).
In addition, they should also provide the list of invoices related to this construction and the dates when PCT received VAT refunds for these invoices.
Se fotnot 4.
In case the construction of the project is not complete, the fifth anniversary from the date of refund of VAT for each invoice related to this construction would be the date of granting aid.
Se artikel 1.1 i koncessionsavtalet om avtalets räckvidd, och avsnitt 3 om utnyttjande- och exploateringsrätten.
The aid in each case would be the amount of VAT refunded.
Se artikel 3.1 iii i koncessionsavtalet.
Broad definition of investment good => direct right to 90 % VAT credit refund without audit
Offentliggjord i EUT.
This measure involves aid to PCT that is equal to the interests accrued on VAT refunded for all expenses other than for tangible goods (relating to the investment good), from the moment the refund was put at the disposal of PCT up to the moment PCT would have been entitled to such refund, namely 3 years later or up to the moment where PCT would have been able to offset its VAT input (concerning these expenses) against output VAT.
Referens 2008/S 20-026332 av den 30 januari 2008, ändrad med referens 2008/S 54-072476 av den 18 mars 2008, som förlängde fristen för att lämna anbud till den 19 maj 2008.
The Greek authorities should make a distinction between the VAT relevant to tangible assets that fall within the scope of the notion of investment good and the VAT input related to other works and services.
befrielse från bolagsskatt för varor, byggentreprenader och tjänster som tillhandahålls PCT utanför Grekland av företag eller gemensamma företag utanför Grekland, om det finns ett bilateralt dubbelbeskattningsavtal mellan Grekland och de registrerade länderna, ii) återbetalning av överskjutande mervärdesskatt inom 60 dagar från ingivandet av relevant ansökan och tillämplig räntesats för beräkning av ränta om staten inte betalar tillbaka mervärdesskatten inom 60 dagar från ingivandet av den relevanta ansökan.
This VAT input will have then to be calculated.
Artikel 2.1 i lagen.
On the basis of the amount deriving from this calculation the Greek authorities will have to calculate the interest that the State should ask for the advance cash payment before the period of 3 years, up to which PCT could in any case be refunded.
Artikel 2.3 och 2.4 i lagen.
These interests must be calculated for the period from the moment the refund was put at the disposal of PCT up to the moment PCT would have been entitled to such refund, namely 3 years later.
Artikel 2.5 i lagen.
If it can be proven that it could be refunded before the 3-year period, the relevant interest will be calculated up to the moment where PCT would have been able to offset its VAT input (concerning these expenses) against output VAT.
Artikel 2.6 i lagen.
Right to arrear interests without temporal or procedural requirements in case the State does not refund VAT
Artikel 2.8 i lagen.
This measure involves aid to PCT that is equal to the interests which PCT can request (under this provision) from the Greek state once 60 days have passed from the moment it filed the relevant fiscal declaration (to request the VAT refund), while other companies in a similar situation would not be entitled to interests.
Artikel 2.9 i lagen.
However, if this is not the case and such interests have indeed been paid by the State, then the Greek authorities should indicate the exact interests paid together with the dates when these payments took place.
Artikel 3 i lagen.
These dates would be the granting dates and the corresponding interests paid would be the aid amounts granted on these dates.
Dom av den 16 mars 2004 i mål T-157/01, Danske Busvognmaend mot kommissionen (REG 2004, s.
Loss carry-forward without temporal limitation
II-917).
The aid in this case would be the additional corporate tax that PCT would have to pay if no loss carry-forward had taken place beyond the temporal limitation of five years.
Kontraktens långa löptid, ii) behovet av stora initiala investeringar, vilket i praktiken innebär minskade eller inga intäkter den första tiden, iii) behovet av att säkra extern finansiering, iv) osäker ekonomisk avkastning, v) allmänhetens intresse av uppförandet av ny infrastruktur, vi) starkt och allmänt intresse av att projektet slutförs på ett framgångsrikt och lönsamt sätt.
In other words, the aid is equal to the difference between the income tax that PCT actually paid and the income tax that it would have paid in the absence of the possibility to carry forward its losses more than 5 years after these losses occurred.
Europaparlamentets och rådets förordning (EU) nr 670/2012 av den 11 juli 2012 om ändring av både beslut nr 1639/2006/EG om att upprätta ett ramprogram för konkurrenskraft och innovation (2007–2013) och av förordning (EG) nr 680/2007 av den 20 juni 2007 om allmänna regler för gemenskapens finansiella stöd på området transeuropeiska nät på transportområdet och energiområdet (EUT L 204, 31.7.2012, s. 1), och Europaparlamentets och rådets förordning (EG) nr 1370/2007 av den 23 oktober 2007 om kollektivtrafik på järnväg och väg och om upphävande av rådets förordning (EEG) nr 1191/69 och (EEG) nr 1107/70 (EUT L 315, 3.12.2007, s. 1).
The granting date in this case would be the date when the tax would have been due.
De nämner särskilt att det i förordning (EG) nr 1370/2007 om allmän trafikplikt anges att ett avtal om allmän trafik får ha en längre löptid om detta är motiverat av behovet att säkerställa skatteförmånen eller fullständig amortering av kapital i samband med exceptionella investeringar i infrastruktur, rullande materiel eller fordon.
The Greek authorities should submit data demonstrating the fiscal losses PCT had each year and whether they were carried forward for a period of more than 5 years.
Dom av den 15 november 2011 i de förenade målen C-106/09 P och C-107/09 P, kommissionen (C-106/09 P) och Konungariket Spanien (C-107/09 P) mot Government of Gibraltar och Förenade konungariket Storbritannien och Nordirland, [2011] ECLI:EU:C:2011:732, punkterna 90–92.
If this is the case, then they will have to calculate the impact of these losses on its taxable base and consequently the corresponding income tax that PCT did not pay due to this carry-forward.
Skäl 115 i kommissionens beslut att inleda förfarandet.
PCT indicated that it made use of the fixed straight line method.
Domstolens dom av den 6 september 2006 i mål C-88/03, Portugal mot kommissionen (REG 2006, s.
The Greek authorities should provide proof that only the fixed straight line method has been used and not provide any possibility to change to the other depreciation methods.
I-7115), punkt 81.
If any other depreciation method has been used, the aid would be the difference between the corporate tax PCT would have to pay while using the fixed straight line depreciation method and the corporate tax while using any of the other two methods.
Dom av den 8 november 2001 i mål C-143/99, Adria-Wien Pipeline mot Finanzlandesdirektion für Kärnten (REG 2001, s.
The granting date of the aid would be the date when the additional tax would have been due.
I-8384).
Exemption from stamp duties on the loan agreements and any ancillary agreement for the funding of the work
Dom av den 17 november 2009 i mål C-169/08, Presidente del Consiglio del Ministri mot Regione Sardegna (REG 2009, s.
The Greek authorities should indicate whether PCT has contracted other loan agreements than the ones mentioned with Cosco.
I-10821).
As regards these agreements, the aid granted to PCT would be equal to the corresponding stamp duties applicable for these loans.
Dom av den 7 mars 2012 i mål T-210/02 RENV, British Aggregates Association mot kommissionen, offentliggjord i den elektroniska rättsfallssamlingen.
The dates of granting the aid amounts would be the dates when these stamp duties were due.
Se gällande detta exempelvis tribunalens analys i domen av den 7 mars 2012 i mål T-210/02 RENV, British Aggregates Association mot kommissionen, publicerad i den elektroniska rättsfallssamlingen, punkterna 83–91.
Exemption in favour of PCT's creditors from taxes, stamp duties, contributions and any rights in favour of the State or third parties that they would normally have to pay on contracts transferring the obligations and rights resulting from PCT's loan agreements
Dom av den 6 september 2006 i de förenade målen T-304/04 och T-316/04, Italien och Wam mot kommissionen (REG 2006, s.
This measure involves aid to PCT's creditors, in particular Cosco which is equal to the amount of stamp duty that Cosco would normally have to pay, under the generally applicable rules, in case of transfer of a loan contracted with PCT to a third party.
II-64).
According to the Greek authorities, Cosco has given two loans to PCT in 2009 which were paid out in 2011.
Ärendena COMP/M.5398 – Hutchinson/Evergreen, COMP/M.5450 – Kuhne/HGV/TIU/Hapag-Lloyd, COMP/JV.55 – Hutchinson/RCPM/ECT, COMP/JV.56 – Hutchinson/ECT, COMP/M.3863 – TUI/CP Ships, COMP/M.5398 – Hutchinson/Evergreen, COMP/M.3576 – ECT/PONL/Euromax, COMP/M.3973 – CMA CGM/Delmas, COMP/M.3829 – Maerrsk/PONL, COMP/M.1674 – Maersk/ECT, IV/M.831 – P&O/Royal Nedlloyd.
On this basis, the Commission has no reason to believe that such a transfer took place.
Ärende 409/V/2009, beslut av den 23 januari 2009, s. 22.
The Greek authorities should clarify if this provision has been used.
Hamnen i Thessaloniki, hamnen i Constanța i Rumänien, hamnen i Koper i Slovenien och flera hamnar i Italien (se fotnot 173 i beslutet att inleda förfarandet).
If it is the case then they will have to determine the stamp duty that would be due for such legal acts.
Kommissionens beslut av den 18 december 2009 i ärende C 21/09 (f.d.
Exemption from stamp duties for any compensation paid by PPA to PCT under the Concession contract, which is outside the scope of the VAT code
N 105/08, N 168/08 och N 169/08) – Grekland – Offentlig finansiering av infrastruktur och utrustning i Pireaus hamn (EUT C 402, 29.12.2012, s. 25).
This measure provides to PCT an advantage which is equal to the stamp duty that it would have to pay in such circumstances and from which it is relieved.
På grund av avståndet från Pireus till dessa områden, avsaknaden av moderna järnvägsförbindelser och järnvägstjänster, de betydande merkostnader som detta skulle medföra och utformningen av de viktigaste containerlinjerna för djuphavstransporter i centrala Medelhavet via containerhamnterminaler i Malta (t.ex.
The Greek authorities should indicate if this provision has been used.
Maersk), Taranto (t.ex.
If it has been used then they will have to identify the aid amounts granted to PCT and their corresponding granting dates in the same way as described for the measures above.
Evergreen), Venedig (t.ex.
Following PCT's request, preferential regime for foreign investments
MSC) och Gioia Tauro (t.ex.
The Greek authorities have indicated that this regime has not been used.
MSC).
Nevertheless, as mentioned in recital 220, PCT has a right to request and to obtain this preferential regime.
Koper har t.ex. ett vattendjup på ungefär 9 meter jämfört med ett djup på 15–19 meter i Pireus (som i regel kräver en bra bit över 12 meter för de fartyg som hamnen betjänar).
Timing action
Varje vecka anländer 13500 TEU-containerfartyg till Pireus containerhamn som inte hade kunnat betjänas av någon av dessa hamnar.
Within two months following the notification of this Decision to the Republic of Greece, Greece must inform the Commission of the measures planned or taken:
De betydande merkostnader som det skulle innebära att flytta omlastningstrafiken till någon av de andra hamnarna skulle göra dessa hamnar oattraktiva för denna typ av trafik.