natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Germany provided an internal evaluation of the value of these two plots of land, according to which the combined market value would amount to approximately […].
2006 års hyreskontrakt inbegrep statligt stöd till FSBG, som utgör förenligt driftstöd enligt 2014 års riktlinjer för luftfartssektorn.
The third plot of land was sold for a price of […].
Inget statligt stöd beviljades till flygbolag genom 2007 års lista över avgifter och marknadsföringsavtalet med Air Berlin.
Germany has provided an evaluation of the plots of land that were transferred in 2002.
Igångsättningsstödet till Cirrus Airlines omfattas inte av detta beslut.
According to this evaluation, the transferred plots outside the original fence had a value of […]; the plots of land on the premises of the airport had a value of […].
Slutligen noterar kommissionen att Tyskland den 17 juni 2014 underrättade kommissionen om att man undantagsvis godtar att detta beslut antas på engelska.
It claims that this evaluation can be used to also determine the value of the plot sold in 2004.
HÄRIGENOM FÖRESKRIVS FÖLJANDE.
On that basis, Germany estimated that the value of the plot sold in 2004 amounted to […] at the time of the transaction, which equals the sales price that FSBesitzG paid.
Artikel 1
In this regard, the Commission first notes that the evaluation referred to by Germany has not been done by an independent expert, but in house, by the unit in the Saarland’s Ministry of finance responsible for sale of land.
Det statliga stöd som Tyskland har genomfört till förmån för Saarbrückens flygplats är förenligt med den inre marknaden enligt artikel 107.3 c i fördraget om Europeiska unionens funktionssätt.
Moreover, Germany has not provided any explanation on how it arrived at its conclusion.
De åtgärder som Tyskland har genomfört till förmån för flygbolag (2007 års lista över avgifter, marknadsföringsavtal med Air Berlin) utgör inte statligt stöd i den mening som avses i artikel 107.1 i fördraget om Europeiska unionens funktionssätt.
In particular, it remained unclear which plots of land were located on the premises and which ones outside the premises of the airport.
Artikel 2
The Commission can therefore not exclude that the price paid was below market value and thus conferred an advantage to FSBesitzG.
Detta beslut riktar sig till Förbundsrepubliken Tyskland.
As only FSBesitzG benefited from the three transfers, it must also be considered that they were selective in nature.
Utfärdat i Bryssel den 1 oktober 2014.
Finally, by the same token as in recitals 218 to 225, the transfers are liable to distort competition and have an effect on trade.
På kommissionens vägnar
Accordingly, the transfer of three plots of land amounted to State aid.
Vice ordförande
The Commission furthermore considers that since the aid related to the free transfer of fixed capital assets, the aid must be qualified as investment aid.
Med verkan från och med den 1 december 2009 har artiklarna 87 och 88 i EG-fördraget ersatts av artikel 107 respektive 108 i fördraget om Europeiska unionens funktionssätt.
The investment aid was used to allow for the extension of runway end safety areas (RESA).
Innehållet i bestämmelserna är dock i sak oförändrat.
As set out in Section 5.1.5.3, this investment was done with a view to keeping the airport fully operational, thereby enhancing regional development.
I detta beslut bör hänvisningar till artiklarna 107 och 108 i EUF-fördraget i förekommande fall förstås som hänvisningar till artiklarna 87 och 88 i EG-fördraget.
The Commission considers that the investment aid in the form of a transfer of land also fulfils all the other conditions for establishing compatibility pursuant to point 61 of the 2005 Aviation Guidelines, since the reasons set out in Section 5.1.5.3 equally apply.
Genom EUF-fördraget införs också vissa förändringar i terminologin, t.ex. ersätts gemenskapen med unionen och den gemensamma marknaden med den inre marknaden.
It is therefore concluded that the investment aid in the form of the transfer of land is compatible with the internal market pursuant to Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty.
I detta beslut används EUF-fördragets terminologi genomgående.
The Commission notes that the Land Saarland guaranteed loans to FSBesitzG on three occasions without receiving any remuneration.
EUT C 213, 19.7.2012, s. 1.
However, it also notes that the guarantees were all granted before the year 2000.
E-3778/08 av den 8 juli 2008.
As FSBesitzG could only be considered to constitute an undertaking for the purposes of Article 107(1) of the Treaty from the year 2000 onwards, the Commission finds that the guarantees did not grant an advantage to an undertaking and therefore do not amount to State aid.
Se fotnot 2.
As regards the comfort letters provided to vh Saar, the Commission recalls its previous conclusion in recital 203 that vh Saar uses the funding it received to fulfil its financing obligations toward Saarbrücken Airport.
Meddelande från kommissionen – Riktlinjer för statligt stöd till flygplatser och flygbolag (EUT C 99, 4.4.2014, s. 3).
The loans taken out by vh Saar following the comfort letters were also passed on to Saarbrücken Airport.
Se fotnot 5.
It can therefore be concluded that the advantage contained in these letters did not benefit vh Saar, but that the advantage therein, if any, was passed on to the Airport.
EUT C 113, 15.4.2014, s. 30.
As to the advantage to the airport, the loans secured by the comfort letters were passed on to finance investments in infrastructure.
Se fotnot 7.
It therefore only needs to be assessed whether the lease contracts granted an advantage to FSBG, whether such an advantage was granted from State resources, and whether it distorted competition and affected trade between Member States.
Affärshemlighet.
Distinction between existing and new aid
Källa: Snabbaste vägen enligt Google Maps.
The Commission first observes that a distinction needs to be drawn between the lease contract that was concluded on 7 July 1997 and effective until 1 July 2006 (‘the 1997 contract’), and the contract that was effective as from 1 July 2006 onwards (‘the 2006 contract’).
EBITDA inklusive offentlig finansiering och ersättning för verksamhet som ingår i den offentliga sektorns ansvarsområde eller betraktas som tjänster av allmänt ekonomiskt intresse – se Tysklands inlaga av den 5 maj 2012, bilaga II.
As was stressed above, the construction and operation of an airport was not considered to constitute an economic activity until the year 2000, with the consequence that any aid scheme put into place before that date would, if considered to amount to State aid, constitute existing aid after that date (see Section 5.1.2).
Eftersom olika företag stod för ägande och drift dessa år (FSBesitzG respektive FSBG) anges EBITDA som summan av EBITDA för båda företagen.
Hence, it is not necessary to investigate further whether the 1997 contract (which foresaw fixed annual lease payments) did in fact amount to aid, given it would in any event have to be qualified as existing aid.
Tyskland uppger att det redovisningssystem som används gör att kapitalkostnaderna inte kan fördelas individuellt på säkerhet eller övrig infrastruktur.
On the other hand, the conclusion of a new lease contract by FSBG in 2006 with changed conditions for determining the annual lease to be paid (in particular, the introduction of a new price element, namely the transfer of a certain percentage of the annual profit of FSBG) cannot be considered as merely a ‘modification of a purely formal or administrative nature which cannot affect the evaluation of the compatibility of the aid measure with the common market’.
Tysklands inlagor av den 17 januari 2011, bilaga 6, och den 16 april 2012, s. 9.
The 2006 contract can therefore not, if amounting to State aid, be considered as existing aid, but would rather constitute new aid.
Tysklands inlaga av den 16 april 2012, s. 9.
The 2006 contract was concluded between FSBesitzG and FSBG.
Kommissionens beslut 2005/842/EG av den 28 november 2005 om tillämpningen av artikel 86.2 i EG-fördraget på statligt stöd i form av ersättning för offentliga tjänster som beviljas vissa företag som fått i uppdrag att tillhandahålla tjänster av allmänt ekonomiskt intresse (EUT L 312, 29.11.2005, s. 67).
FSBesitzG was (indirectly) 100 % owned by the State, which was hence in a position to exercise control over the company.
Meddelande från kommissionen: gemenskapens riktlinjer för statligt stöd till undsättning och omstrukturering av företag i svårigheter (2004) (EUT C 244, 1.10.2004, s. 2).
As to the imputability, the Commission notes that according to the statute of FSBesitzG the members of the supervisory board of FSBesitzG are appointed by the government of Saarland and that the president is appointed by the Ministry responsible for aviation.
Tysklands inlaga av den 5 maj 2012, bilaga II.
The conclusion of the 2006 contract needed the consent of the supervisory board, which represents the government of the Saarland.
Mål C-222/04, Ministero dell’Economia e delle Finanze mot Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze SpA m.fl., punkt 111.
The Commission can therefore conclude that the measure is imputable to the State.
2005 års riktlinjer för luftfartssektorn, punkt 34.
Economic Advantage
2005 års riktlinjer för luftfartssektorn, punkt 39.2.
It is therefore necessary to analyse whether a prudent MEO, interested in making a reasonable profit, would have concluded the 2006 contract.
De förenade målen T-443/08 och T-455/08, Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG och Flughafen Leipzig Halle GmbH mot kommissionen, REU 2011, s. II-1311, särskilt punkterna 93 och 94, bekräftad genom mål C-288/11 P, Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG och Flughafen Leipzig-Halle GmbH mot kommissionen, REU 2012, ännu ej offentliggjord.
The Commission observes that FSBesitzG consistently incurred losses at least since the year 2000 (see Table 3).
Målen C-159/91 och C-160/91, Poucet mot AGV och Pistre mot Cancave, REG 1993, s. I-637.
Considering that the lease contract with FSBG was virtually its only source of income (apart from the yearly loss cover received from vh Saar), it would appear that a reasonable MEO being in the place of FSBesitzG would have attempted to cover its own costs from the income generated from this lease contract.
Mål C-222/04, Ministero dell’Economia e delle Finanze mot Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze SpA m.fl., REG 2006, s.
The costs incurred by FSBesitzG were higher than the income it generated by leasing the airport to FSBG.
I-289, punkt 111.
It also does not appear that FSBesitzG was, in concluding the 2006 contract, pursuing a specific long–term profitability strategy.
Mål C-364/92, SAT Fluggesellschaft mot Eurocontrol, REG 1994, s.
In light of these considerations, the conclusion of the 2006 contract cannot be considered as being in line with the MEO principle and it therefore conferred an advantage to FSBG.
I-43.
As the 2006 contract only benefitted FSBG, it can be considered selective within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the Treaty.
Kommissionens beslut N 309/02 av den 19 mars 2003, Luftfartsskydd – Ersättning för kostnader till följd av attentaten av den 11 september 2001.
Finally, the measure was liable to distort competition and have an effect on trade for the reasons explained in Section 5.1.1.
Mål C-343/95, Cali & Figli mot Servizi ecologici porto di Genova, REG 1997, s. I-1547; kommissionens beslut N 309/02 av den 19 mars 2003; kommissionens beslut N 438/02 av den 16 oktober 2002, Stöd till hamnförvaltningen för utförande av myndighetsuppgifter.
The Commission therefore considers that the 2006 contract involved State aid for FSBG.
Kommissionens beslut N 309/02 av den 19 mars 2003.
It must be assessed as operating aid.
Se särskilt mål C-364/92, SAT/Eurocontrol, REG 1994, s.
As described in Section 5.1.5.4, operating aid granted before the date of application of the 2014 Aviation Guidelines may be declared compatible with the full extent of uncovered operating costs provided that the following conditions are met:
I-43, punkt 30, och mål C-113/07 P, Selex Sistemi Integrati mot kommissionen, REG 2009, s.
contribution to a well–defined objective of common interest,
I-2207, punkt 71.
need for State intervention,
Se bl.a. mål C-172/03, Wolfgang Heiser mot Finanzamt Innsbruck, REG 2005, s. I-01627, punkt 36, och ovannämnd rättspraxis.
existence of incentive effect,
Åtgärder enligt § 8 i Luftsicherheitsgesetz inbegriper bl.a. uppförande av flygplatsinfrastruktur som möjliggör tillräckliga säkerhetskontroller, vissa åtgärder avseende bagage och frakt, säkring av behörighetsområden, kontroll av personal och varor som ges tillträde till behörighetsområden, utbildning av säkerhetspersonal, avlägsnande och tömning av flygplan som utgör säkerhetshot.
proportionality of the aid amount (aid limited to the minimum necessary),
Kommissionens beslut av den 20 februari 2014 om statligt stöd SA.35847 (2012/N) – Tjeckien – Ostravas flygplats, ännu ej offentliggjort i EUT, skäl 16.
The operating aid under assessment, which concerned the leasing of airport infrastructure below market price, had the objective of maintaining the appropriate level of operation at Saarbrücken Airport.
§ 27.d.1 Luftverkehrsgesetz: ”Flugsicherungsdienste und die dazu erforderlichen flugsicherungstechnischen Einrichtungen werden an den Flugplätzen vorgehalten, bei denen das Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Bau und Stadtentwicklung einen Bedarf aus Gründen der Sicherheit und aus verkehrspolitischen Interessen anerkennt.”
According to point 113 of the 2014 Aviation Guidelines, operating aid to airports will be considered to contribute to the achievement of an objective of common interest if it increases the mobility of Union citizens and the connectivity of the regions, combats air traffic congestion at major Union hub airports or facilitates regional development.
Mål C-482/99, Frankrike mot kommissionen (Stardust Marine), REG 2002, s. I-4397.
As explained in recital 254, operating aid to Saarbrücken Airport contributed to the connectivity and development of the region.
Dom av den 12 maj 2011 i de förenade målen T-267/08 och T-279/08, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, ännu ej offentliggjord, punkt 108.
For the reasons set out in recital 284, the duplication argument applies rather to the State aid granted to Zweibrücken Airport.
vh Saar och FSBesitzG/FSG kan betraktas som förbundna företag i den mening som avses i § 290 i HGB.
Therefore, the Commission considers that the operating aid granted to FSBG contributed to the achievement of the objective of common interest of improving the connectivity and regional development of the Saarland region through the operation of transport infrastructure to meet the transport needs of the region.
Avtal genom vilket ett företag överlåter ledningen av företaget till ett annat företag.
According to point 118 of the 2014 Aviation Guidelines, airports with an annual passenger traffic below 700 000 passengers per annum may not be able to cover their operating costs to a substantial extent.
Mål 173/73, Italienska Republiken mot Europeiska gemenskapernas kommission, REG 1974, s. 709, punkt 13.
Traffic at Saarbrücken Airport was constantly below 700 000 passengers.
Mål C-482/99, Frankrike mot kommissionen (Stardust Marine), REG 2002, s.
Therefore, the Commission considers that the aid was necessary as it allowed an improvement in the connectivity of the region that the market would not deliver by itself.
I-4397, punkt 69.
As pointed out above, Saarbrücken Airport received investment aid which enabled the airport to satisfy the connectivity and transport needs of the Saarland region (see recital 285).
Mål C-305/89, Italien mot kommissionen (Alfa Romeo), REG 1991, s. I-1603; mål T-296/97, Alitalia mot kommissionen, REG 2000, s. II-3871.
Despite rather stable passenger numbers, the airport is not able to cover its operating costs.
Mål C-40/85, Belgien mot kommissionen, REG 1986, s. I-2321.
The losses were incurred despite the fact that the lease paid by FSBG in those years was lower than the lease paid under the 1997 contract (see Table 7).
I-04397.
It can hence be assumed that the aid involved in the 2006 contract had an incentive effect and did not exceed the amount required to cover operating losses and thus was limited to the minimum necessary for the aided activity to take place.
Mål C-124/10 P, Europeiska kommissionen mot Électricité de France (EDF), 2012, ännu ej offentliggjord i REG, punkt 85.
On this basis, the Commission concludes that the compatibility conditions laid down in the 2014 Aviation Guidelines are met.
Mål C-280/00, Altmark Trans GmbH och Regierungspräsidium Magdeburg mot Nahverkehrsgesellschaft Altmark GmbH, REG 2003, s. I-7747, punkterna 87–93.
DISCOUNTS FOR AIRLINES/MARKETING AGREEMENTS
Se EUT L 219, 24.8.2007, s. 9, skälen 111 och följande.
By providing air transportation services, airlines are performing an economic activity and therefore constitute undertakings within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the Treaty.
Mål T-214/95, Het Vlaamse Gewest mot kommissionen, REG 1998, s.
It must be analysed whether the arrangements between the airlines and the airport in question granted the former an economic advantage.
II-717.
Where an airport has public resources at its disposal, aid to an airline can, in principle, be excluded where the relationship between the airport and the airline satisfies the MEO test.
Se kommissionens beslut av den 1 oktober 2014 om statligt stöd SA.27339 – Tyskland – Zweibrückens flygplats, ännu ej offentliggjort i EUT.
The existence of an advantage can normally be excluded if: (a) the price charged for the services corresponds to the market price; or (b) it can be demonstrated through an ex ante analysis that the airport/airline arrangement will lead to a positive incremental profit contribution for the airport and is part of an overall strategy leading to profitability in the long term.
Fraport AG ägde 51 % av FSBG till och med den 30 juni 2007.
In order to assess whether an arrangement concluded by an airport with an airline satisfies the MEO test, expected non–aeronautical revenues stemming from the airline’s activity should be taken into consideration together with airport charges, net of any rebates, marketing support or incentive schemes.
Vorlage für den Ministerrat, Gemeinsame Kabinettssitzung der Regierung des Saarlandes und der Landesregierung von Rheinland-Pfalz am 27.
Similarly, all expected costs incrementally incurred by the airport in relation to the airline’s activity at the airport must be taken into account.
Mai 2003, Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Verkehr, Landwirtschaft und Weinbau, 15 maj 2003.
For instance, if the airport needs to expand or build a new terminal or other facilities mainly to accommodate the needs of a specific airline, such costs should be taken into consideration when calculating the incremental costs.
Rådets förordning (EG) nr 659/199 av den 22 mars 1999 om tillämpningsföreskrifter för artikel 108 i fördraget om Europeiska unionens funktionssätt (EGT L 83, 27.3.1999, s. 1).
In contrast, costs which the airport would have to incur anyway independently from the arrangement with the airline should not be taken into account in the MEO test.
Mål T 109/01, Fleuren Compost mot kommissionen, REG 2004, s. II-127.
In addition, the airport infrastructure must be open to all airlines and not dedicated to a specific airline in order to exclude that the advantage resulting from compatible aid to the airport operator is not passed on to a specific airline.
EGT C 119, 22.5.2002, s. 22.
Against this background, the Commission will asses the overall scheme of airport charges applicable at Saarbrücken Airport as well as the individual contracts between airlines and Saarbrücken Airport which deviate from or are outside the scope of the scheme of airport charges.
Punkt 173 i 2014 års riktlinjer för luftfartssektorn.
On 1 April 2007, a new schedule of charges was introduced at Saarbrücken Airport (2007 schedule of charges).
Punkt 25.22 i 2014 års riktlinjer för luftfartssektorn.
This schedule envisaged discounts for airlines fulfilling certain conditions.
Före räntor, skatt, av- och nedskrivningar (EBITDA).
The 2007 schedule of charges in particular offered discounts for new airlines, new destinations and increased passenger numbers.
Inga exakta siffror över kostnader 2000–2012 för uppgifter som ingår i den offentliga sektorns ansvarsområde finns dock tillgängliga.
Until then, no discounts had been foreseen in the schedule of charges.
Kommissionen noterar att inga exakta siffror över kostnader för uppgifter som ingår i den offentliga sektorns ansvarsområde är tillgängliga.
Saarbrücken Airport adopted a new schedule of charges which entered into force on 1 September 2013, replacing the 2007 schedule of charges.
Kommissionen kan därför inte fastställa det exakta beloppet för det investeringsstöd som beviljats FSBesitzG/FSG.
The 2013 schedule of charges is not subject to the present decision.
Se fotnot 46.
When applying the MEO test to the measure at stake, the Commission first has to determine whether the price charged corresponds to a market price.
Aktualisierte Stellungnahme zur Nachfrageprognose für den Flughafen Kassel-Calden, Intraplan Consult GmbH, den 12 mars 2012, s. 8.
For this, the Commission has doubts that at the present time, an appropriate benchmark can be identified to establish a true market price for services provided by airports.
Tysklands inlaga av den 16 april 2012, s. 65.
In the absence of an identifiable market benchmark, the Commission has to assess the ex ante incremental profitability of the 2007 schedule of charges.
Tysklands inlaga av den 16 april 2012, s. 9 och bilaga 2.
The 2007 schedule of charge was introduced to enhance the competitiveness of Saarbrücken Airport.
Tysklands inlaga av den 16 april 2012, s. 66.
When drawing up the 2007 schedule of charges, the operator of Saarbrücken Airport analysed passenger numbers, airport movements as well as the financial results of the years 1997–2006.
Tysklands inlaga av den 16 april 2012, s. 33.
According to Germany, a market analysis undertaken at that time showed that Saarbrücken was one of the most expensive airports in Germany.
Enligt punkt 137 i 2014 års riktlinjer för luftfartssektorn är inte alla villkor som anges i avsnitt 5.1 i riktlinjerna tillämpliga på tidigare driftstöd.
The Commission observes that TUIFly left Saarbrücken as from late 2006.
Punkterna 113 och 137 i 2014 års riktlinjer för luftfartssektorn.
In addition, Saarbrücken Airport faced new competition from Zweibrücken after 2006.
Punkterna 116 och 137 i 2014 års riktlinjer för luftfartssektorn.
All these factors together led Saarbrücken Airport to reconsider its pricing policy and to introduce a revised schedule of charges offering incentives in form of discounts in order to ensure its future viability and profitability.
Punkterna 124 och 137 i 2014 års riktlinjer för luftfartssektorn.
While, according to the available information, no ex ante profitability studies have been prepared for the 2007 schedule of charges, Germany has submitted that Saarbrücken Airport expected that virtually no additional investments would be required to provide additional airport services to airlines and that no additional operating costs would arise.
Punkterna 125 och 137 i 2014 års riktlinjer för luftfartssektorn.
Therefore, in Germany’s view no ex ante profitability study was necessary.
Punkterna 131 och 137 i 2014 års riktlinjer för luftfartssektorn.
Hence, the incremental costs were limited to the incentives offered.
Artikel 4.1 i kommissionens förordning (EG) nr 794/2004 av den 21 april 2004 om genomförande av rådets förordning (EG) nr 659/1999 om tillämpningsföreskrifter för artikel 93 i EG-fördraget (EUT L 140, 30.4.2004, s. 1).
In this context, the Commission observes that the 2007 schedule of charges indeed offered discounts only for new airlines, new connections, or increased passenger numbers with the consequence that it did not impact negatively on the status quo at the airport.
Se § 10 led i i FSBesitzG:s stadgar, enligt vilken eventuella ändringar av hyreskontraktet mellan FSBesitzG och FSBG måste godkännas av FSBesitzG:s tillsynsstyrelse.