Commission Decision (EU) 2024/2860 of 24 November 2023 on SA.32953 (2014/C) – Sta... (32024D2860)
Commission Decision (EU) 2024/2860 of 24 November 2023 on SA.32953 (2014/C) – State aid measures in favour of Trenitalia SpA – Italy (notified under document C(2023) 8017)
- COMMISSION DECISION (EU) 2024/2860
- of 24 November 2023
- on SA.32953 (2014/C) – State aid measures in favour of Trenitalia SpA – Italy
- (notified under document C(2023) 8017)
- (Only the English version is authentic)
- (Text with EEA relevance)
- 1.
- PROCEDURE
- 2.
- DESCRIPTION OF THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK GOVERNING THE PROVISION OF RAIL FREIGHT TRANSPORT SERVICES
- 2.1.
- The liberalisation of rail freight transport in the Union and in Italy
- 2.1.1.
- In the Union
- 2.1.2.
- In Italy
- 2.2.
- The legal framework governing public service obligations in rail freight transport
- 2.2.1.
- The Union legislation
- 2.2.2.
- The Italian legislation
- 3.
- DESCRIPTION OF THE MEASURES
- 3.1.
- Beneficiary
- 3.1.1.
- Trenitalia
- 3.1.2.
- The 2017 reorganisation of the FS Group’s freight activities
- 3.2.
- The Measures
- 3.2.1.
- The First Contract
- 3.2.1.1.
- Background on the conclusion of the First Contract
- 3.2.1.2.
- Content of the First Contract
- 3.2.2.
- The Second Contract
- 3.2.2.1.
- Background on the conclusion of the Second Contract
- 3.2.2.2.
- Content of the Second Contract
- 3.2.3.
- The Third Contract
- 3.2.3.1.
- Background on the conclusion of the Third Contract
- 3.2.3.1.1. Phasing-out of the PSOs imposed by the Second Contract
- 3.2.3.1.2. The draft of the Third Contract of 4 March 2009
- 3.2.3.1.3. The draft of the Third Contract of 29 October 2010
- 3.2.3.2.
- Content of the Third Contract
- 4.
- GROUNDS FOR INITIATING THE PROCEDURE
- 4.1.1.
- Existence of aid
- 4.1.2.
- Legality of the Measures
- 4.1.3.
- Compatibility
- 5.
- COMMENTS FROM ITALY
- 5.1.
- First Contract
- 5.1.1.
- Distortion of competition and effect on Union trade
- 5.1.2.
- Advantage
- 5.1.2.1.
- Existence of a genuine SGEI (first
- Altmark
- condition)
- 5.1.2.2.
- The parameters on the basis of which the compensation is calculated are established in advance in an objective and transparent manner (second
- Altmark
- condition)
- 5.1.2.3.
- Absence of overcompensation (third
- Altmark
- condition)
- 5.1.2.4.
- The level of compensation (fourth
- Altmark
- condition)
- 5.1.3.
- Legality
- 5.1.4.
- Compatibility
- 5.2.
- Second Contract
- 5.2.1.
- Advantage
- 5.2.1.1.
- Existence of a genuine SGEI (first
- Altmark
- condition)
- 5.2.1.2.
- The parameters on the basis of which the compensation was calculated were established in advance in an objective and transparent manner (second
- Altmark
- condition)
- 5.2.1.3.
- Absence of overcompensation (third
- Altmark
- condition)
- 5.2.1.4.
- The level of compensation (fourth
- Altmark
- condition)
- 5.2.2.
- Distortion of competition and effect on intra-Union trade
- 5.2.3.
- Existing aid
- 5.2.4.
- Legality
- 5.2.5.
- Compatibility
- 5.3.
- Third Contract
- 5.3.1.
- Advantage
- 5.3.1.1.
- Existence of a genuine SGEI (first
- Altmark
- condition)
- 5.3.1.2.
- The parameters on the basis of which the compensation is calculated are established in advance in an objective and transparent manner (second
- Altmark
- condition)
- 5.3.1.3.
- Absence of overcompensation (third
- Altmark
- condition)
- 5.3.1.4.
- The level of compensation (fourth
- Altmark
- condition)
- 5.3.2.
- Distortion of competition and effect on intra-Union trade
- 5.3.3.
- Legality
- 5.3.4.
- Compatibility
- 5.4.
- Economic continuity
- 6.
- COMMENTS FROM INTERESTED PARTIES
- 6.1.
- Community of European Railways and Infrastructure Companies
- 6.2.
- FerCargo
- 6.3.
- The FS Group
- 7.
- COMMENTS FROM ITALY ON FERCARGO’S OBSERVATIONS
- 7.1.
- The Second Contract
- 7.1.1.
- Advantage
- 7.1.2.
- Distortion of competition and effect on intra-Union trade
- 7.2.
- The Third Contract
- 7.2.1.
- Existence of a genuine SGEI
- 7.2.2.
- Entrustment of the service
- 7.2.3.
- Absence of overcompensation
- 8.
- ASSESSMENT OF THE MEASURES
- 8.1.
- Existence of aid
- 8.1.1.
- Distortion of competition and effect on intra-Union trade
- 8.1.2.
- State resources and imputability to the State
- 8.1.3.
- Economic advantage
- 8.1.4.
- Selectivity
- 8.1.5.
- Conclusion on the existence of aid
- 8.2.
- Qualification of the aid as existing aid or new aid
- 8.3.
- Lawfulness of the aid
- 8.3.1.
- Relevant legal framework
- 8.3.2.
- Exemption from the notification obligation under Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 for aid paid to Trenitalia before 3 December 2012
- 8.3.3.
- Exemption from the notification obligation under Article 93 TFEU for aid paid to Trenitalia after 3 December 2012
- 8.3.4.
- Conclusion
- 8.4.
- Compatibility of the aid
- 8.4.1.
- Legal basis of assessment
- 8.4.1.1.
- Compatibility of the aid under Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69
- 8.4.1.2.
- Compatibility of the aid under Article 93 TFEU
- 8.4.2.
- The First and Second Contracts
- 8.4.2.1.
- Entrustment of the public transport service
- 8.4.2.2.
- The object of the PSCs is covered by Article 14(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69
- 8.4.2.3.
- Elements specified in the act of entrustment
- (a) Nature of the service to be provided (Article 14(2)(a) Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69)
- (b) Price of the services covered by the contract (Article 14(2)(b) Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69)
- (c) Rules concerning amendment and modification of the contract (Article 14(2)(c) Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69)
- (d) Period of validity of the contract (Article 14(2)(d) Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69)
- (e) Penalties (Article 14(2)(e) Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69)
- 8.4.2.4.
- Proportionality of the compensation
- 8.4.2.5.
- Conclusion
- 8.4.3.
- The Third Contract
- 8.4.3.1.
- Compatibility of the payments made until 3 December 2012 under Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 and the general principles deriving from the Treaty
- 8.4.3.1.1. Entrustment of the public transport service
- 8.4.3.1.2. Object of the public service contract
- 8.4.3.1.3. Elements specified in the entrustment act
- (a) Nature of the public service to be provided (Article 14(2)(a) Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69)
- (b) Price of the services covered by the contract (Article 14(2)(b) Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69)
- (c) Rules concerning amendment and modification of the contract (Article 14(2)(c) Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69)
- (d) Period of validity of the contract (Article 14(2)(d) Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69)
- (e) Penalties (Article 14(2)(e) Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69)
- 8.4.3.1.4. Proportionality of the compensation
- 8.4.3.2.
- Conclusion
- 8.4.3.3.
- Compatibility of the payments made after 3 December 2012 pursuant to Article 93 TFEU
- 8.4.3.3.1. Existence of a genuine SGEI
- 8.4.3.3.1.1. Existence of a real public service need
- 8.4.3.3.1.2. Existence of a shortage of commercial offer of rail freight services on the market
- 8.4.3.3.1.3. A PSC was the least distortive measure to remedy the market failure
- 8.4.3.3.2. Entrustment of the public transport service
- 8.4.3.3.3. Absence of overcompensation
- 8.4.3.3.4. Avoidance of undue negative effects on competition
- 9.
- CONCLUSIONS
- 10.
- RECOVERY
- Article 1
- Article 2
- Article 3
- Article 4
- Article 5
- Article 6
- Article 7
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