COMMISSION DECISION (EU) 2022/1328
of 30 September 2021
on the measures SA.32014, SA.32015, SA.32016 (2011/C) (ex 2011/NN) implemented by Italy and the Region of Lazio for Laziomar and its acquirer CLN
(notified under document C(2021) 6989)
(Only the Italian text is authentic)
(Text with EEA relevance)
1.
PROCEDURE
2.
BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION OF THE MEASURES SUBJECT TO INVESTIGATION
2.1.
General framework
2.1.1.
The initial Conventions
2.1.2.
The prolongation of the initial Conventions
Company |
Maximum annual compensation (EUR) |
Tirrenia |
72 685 642 |
Siremar |
55 694 895 |
Saremar |
13 686 441 |
Toremar |
13 005 441 |
Caremar |
29 869 832 (19) |
2.1.3.
The privatisation of Laziomar and the conclusion of the new service contract
2.2.
Measures in scope of the 2011 and 2012 Decisions
2.3.
Detailed description of the measures subject to this Decision
2.3.1.
The prolongation of the initial Convention between Laziomar and Italy
2.3.1.1.
The public service obligations
2.3.1.2.
Budget and duration
Year |
Compensation paid (EUR) |
2011 |
8 601 187 |
2012 |
13 780 506 |
2013 |
12 696 006 |
— Compensation granted in 2011–2013
2.3.2.
Laziomar’s privatisation
2.3.2.1.
The sale procedure and final award
2.3.2.2.
The sale contract
2.3.2.3.
Proceedings at national level
2.3.3.
The new service contract between the Region of Lazio and Laziomar
2.3.3.1.
The beneficiary
2.3.3.2.
The routes
Formia – Ponza (ferry – mixed service) – Line T1 |
Formia – Ventotene (ferry – mixed service) – Line T2 |
Terracina – Ponza (ferry – mixed and freight(30) services) – Line T3 |
Terracina – Ventotene (ferry – freight service)- Line T4 |
Anzio – Ponza (hydrofoil – passenger service) – Line A1 |
Formia – Ponza (hydrofoil – passenger service ) – Line A2 |
Formia – Ventotene (hydrofoil – passenger service) – Line A3 |
2.3.3.3.
Duration
2.3.3.4.
The public service obligations
2.3.3.5.
The compensation provisions and final award
Year |
Compensation fixed (EUR) |
Compensation paid (EUR) |
2014 |
12 752 074 |
13 374 589 |
2015 |
12 752 074 |
13 376 167 |
2016 |
12 752 074 |
13 330 304 |
2017 |
12 752 074 |
13 370 070 |
2018 |
12 752 074 |
13 356 282 |
2019 |
12 752 074 |
13 366 510 |
2.3.4.
The berthing priority
2.3.5.
The measures laid down by the 2010 Law
2.4.
Infringement procedure No 2007/4609
3.
GROUNDS FOR INITIATING AND EXTENDING THE PROCEDURE
3.1.
The prolongation of the initial Convention between Laziomar and Italy
(40)
3.1.1.
Observance of Altmark and existence of aid
3.1.2.
Compatibility
3.2.
Laziomar’s privatisation
3.3.
The new service contract between the Region of Lazio and Laziomar
3.3.1.
Observance of Altmark, existence of aid and compatibility
3.3.2.
Compatibility
3.4.
The berthing priority
3.5.
The measures laid down by the 2010 Law
4.
COMMENTS FROM ITALY
4.1.
On the public service obligations and the competitive environment
4.2.
On the privatisation of Laziomar
4.2.1.
On the sale price of Laziomar
4.2.2.
On the transparent and non-discriminatory character of the procedure
4.3.
On the compliance of the prolongation of the initial Convention and of the new public service contract with the
Altmark
conditions
4.4.
On the berthing priority
4.5.
On the measures laid down by the 2010 Law
4.6.
On the rules for calculating the compensation for the period 2011–2019 and on the 6,5 % risk premium laid down in the CIPE Directive as of 2010
(EUR ‘000) |
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2011 |
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2018 |
2019 |
Tangible and intangible fixed assets |
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Inventories |
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Customer and commercial credits |
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Payables to suppliers |
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Net invested capital |
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Return on capital (6,5 %) |
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4.7.
On the compliance of the new public service contract with the 2011 SGEI Decision
4.8.
On the compliance of the new public service contract with the 2011 SGEI Framework
5.
ASSESSMENT
5.1.
Existence of aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU
5.1.1.
The prolongation of the initial Convention between the Laziomar and Italy
5.1.1.1.
State resources
5.1.1.2.
Selectivity
5.1.1.3.
Economic advantage
5.1.1.4.
Effect on competition and trade
5.1.1.5.
Conclusion
5.1.1.6.
New or existing aid
5.1.2.
The award of the new public service contract bundled with Laziomar’s business
5.1.2.1.
Altmark 1
(1)
User demand
Year |
Line T1 |
Line T2 |
Line T3 |
Line T4 |
Line A1 |
Line A2 |
Line A3 |
Total No of passengers |
2014 |
125 720 |
63 376 |
30 812 |
1 509 |
36 474 |
58 680 |
40 000 |
356 571 |
2015 |
131 453 |
65 822 |
40 211 |
165 |
37 442 |
69 327 |
46 847 |
391 267 |
2016 |
141 720 |
81 572 |
45 006 |
308 |
42 209 |
60 263 |
37 981 |
409 959 |
2017 |
154 948 |
86 832 |
57 165 |
360 |
48 985 |
68 573 |
39 482 |
456 345 |
2018 |
160 304 |
85 310 |
59 642 |
168 |
58 013 |
68 405 |
37 226 |
447 581 |
2019 |
170 636 |
88 728 |
55 047 |
177 |
52 569 |
48 198 |
32 226 |
442 409 |
Year |
Line T1 |
Line T2 |
Line T3 |
Line T4 |
Line A1 |
Line A2 |
Line A3 |
Total No of vehicles (68) |
2014 |
12 822 |
2 587 |
3 482 |
35 |
|
|
|
18 926 |
2015 |
12 874 |
2 819 |
3 212 |
390 |
|
|
|
19 295 |
2016 |
12 942 |
3 245 |
3 590 |
784 |
|
|
|
20 561 |
2017 |
13 796 |
3 331 |
3 772 |
324 |
|
|
|
21 223 |
2018 |
14 165 |
3 171 |
3 846 |
152 |
|
|
|
21 334 |
2019 |
14 011 |
3 242 |
3 316 |
172 |
|
|
|
20 741 |
Year |
Line T3 |
Line T4 |
Total No of linear metres |
2014 |
206 514 |
16 367 |
222 881 |
2015 |
259 112 |
22 659 |
281 771 |
2016 |
281 229 |
23 230 |
304 459 |
2017 |
294 442 |
27 623 |
322 065 |
2018 |
310 736 |
14 256 |
324 992 |
2019 |
302 631 |
15 228 |
317 859 |
(2)
Existence of market failure
Route |
Laziomar (all year round sailings) |
Competitors |
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Formia – Ponza (Line T1) |
Mixed service (passengers, vehicles and goods) |
None |
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Formia – Ventotene (Line T2) |
Mixed service (passengers, vehicles and goods) |
None |
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Terracina – Ponza (Line T3) – new route |
Freight and mixed service with an average of:
|
Navigazione Libera del Golfo (‘NLG’), passenger-only service with an average of:
|
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Terracina – Ventotene (Line T4) – new route |
Freight service with an average of:
|
NLG passenger-only service (as an extension to Line T3) with only one sailing per week from July to August |
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Anzio – Ponza (Line A1) |
Passenger service (hydrofoil) between June and September with one sailing per day and two on Fridays, weekends and bank holidays |
Vetor, passenger service with an average of:
|
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Formia – Ponza (Line A2) |
Passenger service (hydrofoil) |
None |
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Formia – Ventotene (Line A3) |
Passenger service (hydrofoil) |
None |
(3)
Least harmful approach
5.1.2.2.
Altmark 2
5.1.2.3.
Altmark 3
(EUR) |
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Laziomar public service remit |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
Grand total |
Total revenues |
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- Total costs |
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- Amortisations |
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= Net cost of public service |
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+ Return on capital (6,5 %) |
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= Eligible for compensation |
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+ Actual compensation |
13 375 000 |
13 376 000 |
13 330 000 |
13 370 070 |
13 356 282 |
13 366 510 |
80 173 862 |
= Over/under compensation |
[…] |
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-2 151 138 |
5.1.2.4.
Altmark 4
5.1.2.5.
Conclusion
5.1.3.
The measures laid down by the 2010 Law
5.1.3.1.
Possible use of funds to upgrade ships for liquidity purposes
5.1.3.2.
Fiscal exemptions related to the privatisation process
5.1.3.3.
Possibility of using FAS resources to meet liquidity needs
5.1.4.
Conclusion on the existence of aid
5.2.
Lawfulness of aid
5.3.
Compatibility of the aid
5.3.1.
Applicable rules
5.3.2.
Genuine service of general economic interest as referred to in Article 106 TFEU
Year |
Line T1 |
Line T2 |
Line A1 |
Line A2 |
Line A3 |
Total No of passengers |
2011 |
57 374 |
53 461 |
15 374 |
106 588 |
37 660 |
270 457 |
2012 |
36 446 |
61 978 |
16 372 |
96 125 |
29 509 |
240 430 |
2013 |
26 492 |
61 678 |
19 655 |
117 085 |
29 257 |
254 167 |
Year |
Line T1 |
Line T2 |
Line A1 |
Line A2 |
Line A3 |
Total No of vehicles(89) |
2011 |
13 203 |
2 880 |
1 634 (90) |
|
|
17 717 |
2012 |
10 614 |
2 614 |
|
|
|
13 228 |
2013 |
14 177 |
2 750 |
|
|
|
16 927 |
5.3.3.
Need for an entrustment act specifying the public service obligations and the methods of calculating compensation
5.3.4.
Duration of the period of entrustment
5.3.5.
Compliance with Commission Directive 2006/111/EC
(91)
5.3.6.
Amount of compensation
(EUR) |
||||
Toremar public service remit |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
Grand total |
Total revenues |
2 845 238 |
3 441 567 |
3 569 149 |
9 855 942 |
- Total costs |
11 182 105 |
17 140 076 |
15 799 712 |
44 121 893 |
- Amortisations |
114 836 |
274 044 |
352 229 |
741 109 |
= Net cost of public service |
-8 451 703 |
-13 972 553 |
-12 582 792 |
-35 007 048 |
+ Return on capital (6,5 %) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
= Eligible for compensation |
-8 451 703 |
-13 972 553 |
-12 582 792 |
-35 007 048 |
+ Actual compensation |
8 601 187 |
13 780 506 |
12 696 005 |
35 077 698 |
= Over/under compensation |
149 484 |
- 192 047 |
113 213 |
70 650 |