Council Regulation (EC) No 1407/2002



{0>Council Regulation (EC) No 1407/2002II Ir-Regolament tal-Kunsill (KE) Nru 1407/2002of 23 July 2002tat-23 ta’ Lulju 2002on State aid to the coal industrydwar għajnuna mill-Istat lill-industrija tal-faħam THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,IL-KUNSILL TA' L-UNJONI EWROPEA,Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, in particular Article 87(3)(e) and Article 89 thereof,Wara li kkunsidra t-Trattat li jistabbilixxi l-Komunità Ewropea b’mod partikolari l-Artikolu 87(3)(e) u l-Artikolu 89 tiegħu.,Having regard to the proposal from the Commission(1),Wara li kkunsidra l-proposta mill-Kummissjoni (1), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament(2),Wara li kkunsidra l-opinjoni tal-Parlament Ewropew (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Consultative Committee set up in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community(3),Wara li kkunsidra l-opinjoni tal-Kumitat Konsultattiv stabbilit skond it-Trattat li jistabbilixxi l-Komunità Ewropea tal-Faħam u l-Azzar(3),Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee(4),Wara li kkunsidra l-opinjoni tal-Kumitat Ekonomiku u Soċjali (4),Whereas:Billi:(1) The ECSC Treaty and the rules adopted for its application, in particular Commission Decision No 3632/93/ECSC of 28 December 1993 establishing Community rules for State aid to the coal industry(5), expire on 23 July 2002.(1) It-Trattat tal-KEFA u r-regoli adottati għall-applikazzjoni tiegħu, b’mod partikolari d-Deciżjoni tal-Kummissjoni Nru 3632/93/KEFA tat-28 ta’ Diċembru 1993 li jistabbilixxi r-regoli tal-Komunità dwar għajnuna mill-Istat lill-industrija tal-faħam(5), jiskadu fit-23 ta’ Lulju 2002.(2) The competitive imbalance between Community coal and imported coal has forced the coal industry to embark on substantial restructuring measures involving major cutbacks in activity over the past few decades.(2) L-iskwilibrju fil-kompetizzjoni bejn faħam tal-Komunità u faħam importat ġiegħel lill-industrija tal-faħam biex f’dawn l-aħħar għexieren ta’ snin tieħu miżuri sostanzjali ta’ ristrutturar li jinvolvu tnaqqis qawwi fl-attività. (3) The Community has become increasingly dependent on external supplies of primary energy sources.(3)Il-Komunità saret dejjem aktar dipendenti minn provvisti esterni ta’ egħjun ta’enerġija primarja..As stated in the Green Paper on a European strategy for the security of energy supply adopted by the Commission on 29 November 2000, the diversification of energy sources, both by geographical area and in products, will make it possible to create the conditions for greater security of supply. Kif iddikjarat mill-Green Paper dwar l-istrateġija Ewropea għas-sigurtà tal-provvista tal-enerġija kif adottata mill-Kummissjoni fid-29 ta’Novembru 2000, id-diversifikazzjoni tal-egħjun tal-enerġija, kemm skond l-erja ġeografika, kif ukoll fi prodotti se tagħmilha possibbli li jinħolqu kondizzjonijiet għal aktar sigurtàtal-provvista..Such a strategy includes the development of indigenous sources of primary energy, more especially sources of energy used in the production of electricity. Din l-istrateġija tinkludi l-iżvilupp ta’ egħjun indiġeni ta’enerġija primarja, b’mod speċjali egħjun ta’ enerġija użati fil-produzzjoni tal-elettriku..(4) In addition, the world political situation brings an entirely new dimension to the assessment of geopolitical risks and security risks in the energy sector and gives a wider meaning to the concept of security of supplies.(4) Barra minn dan, is-sitwazzjoni politika dinjija toħloq dimensjoni kompletament ġdida fl-istima ta’riskji ġeopolitici u ta’ sigurtàfis-settur ta' l-enerġija u tagħti tifsira ġdida lill-kunċett tas-sigurtà tal-provvista..In this connection a regular assessment must be made of the risks linked to the Union's energy supply structure.F’dan ir-rigward, trid issir stima regolari tar-riskji marbuta mal-istruttura tal-provvista tal-enerġija tal-Unjoni.(5) As indicated in the Green Paper on a European strategy for the security of energy supply, it is therefore necessary, on the basis of the current energy situation, to take measures which will make it possible to guarantee access to coal reserves and hence a potential availability of Community coal.(5) Kif indikat fil-Green Paper dwar l-istrateġija Ewropea għas-sigurtà tal-provvista tal-enerġija, għalhekk huwa neċessarju, fuq il-bażi tas-sitwazzjoni kurrenti fl-enerġija, li jittieħdu miżuri li jagħmluha possibli li jiggarantixxu aċċess għar-riżervi tal-faħam u għaldaqstant il-faħam tal-Komunità ikun potenzalment disponibbli.(6) In this connection, the European Parliament adopted a Resolution on 16 October 2001 on the Commission Green Paper on a European strategy for the security of energy supply which acknowledges the importance of coal as an indigenous source of energy.(6) Dwar dan, fis-16 t’Ottubru 2001 il-Parlament Ewropew adotta Risoluzzjoni dwar il-Green Paper tal-Kummisjoni dwar l-istrateġija Ewropea għas-sigurtà tal-provvista tal-enerġija li jirrikonixxi l-importanza tal-faħam bħala għajn indiġenu tal-enerġija.The European Parliament said that provision should be made for financial support for coal production, whilst recognising the need for more efficiency in this sector and for cutting back subsidies.Il-Parlament Ewropew qal li għandu jkun hemm disposizzjonijiet għas-sosteniment finanzjarju tal-produzzjoni tal-faħam, fil-waqt li jirrikonixxi il-bżonn għal aktar effiċjenza f’dan is-settur u għat-tnaqqis tas-sussidji..(7) Strengthening the Union's energy security, which underpins the general precautionary principle, therefore justifies the maintenance of coal-producing capability supported by State aid.(7) It-tisħieħ tas-sigurtà tal-enerġija ta’ l-Unjoni, li jsaħħaħ il-prinċipju prekawzjonarju ġenerali, għalhekk jiġġustifika l-manteniment tal-kapaċitajiet li jipproduċu l-faħam sostnuti mill-għajnuna tal-Istat. However implementing this objective does not put into question the need to continue the restructuring process of the coal industry given that, in the future, the bulk of Community coal production is likely to remain uncompetitive vis-à-vis imported coal.Madankollu l-implementar ta’ dan il-għan ma jpoġġix taħt kwestjoni l-bżonn li jitkompla l-proċess ta’ristrutturar tal-industrija tal-faħam meta tqis li fil-futur, il-biċċa l-kbira tal-produzzjoni tal-faħam tal-Komunità x’aktarx jibqa’ mhux kompetittiv meta mqabbel ma’ l-faħam importat..(8) A minimum level of coal production, together with other measures, in particular to promote renewable energy sources, will help to maintain a proportion of indigenous primary energy sources, which will significantly boost the Union's energy security.(8) Livell minimu ta’ produzzjoni ta’ faħam, flimkien ma’ miżuri oħra, b’mod partikolari li jippromovu egħjun ta’enerġija rinovabbli, għandu jgħin biex imantni proporzjon ta’egħjun indiġeni ta’ enerġija primarja, li jżid sostanzjalment is-sigurtà tal-enerġija tal-Unjoni..Furthermore, a proportion of indigenous primary energy sources will also serve to promote environmental objectives within the framework of sustainable development. Barra minn hekk, proporzjon ta’ egħjun indiġeni ta’ enerġija primarja se jservu wkoll biex jippromovu għanijiet ambjentali fil-qafas ta’ żvilupp sostenibbli.(9) The strategic context of energy security is of an evolving nature which justifies at medium term an evaluation of this Regulation, taking into account the contributions of all indigenous primary energy sources.(9) Il-kuntest strategiku tas-sigurtà ta’ l-enerġija jevolvi minn natura tiegħu, li f’nofs iż-żmien jiġġustifika evalwazzjoni ta’ dan ir-Regolament, meta tqis il-kontribut tal-egħjun indiġeni ta’enerġija primarja kollha..(10) This Regulation does not affect the Member States' freedom to choose what energy sources will make up their supply.(10) Dan ir-Regolament ma’ jaffetwax il-libertà ta’ l-Istati Membri li jgħażlu liema egħjun ta’eneġija primaja jridu ghall-provvista tagħhom..Aid, and the amount of it, will be granted in accordance with the rules applying to each category of energy source and on the merits of each of the sources.L-għajnuna, kif ukoll l-ammont ta’għajnuna, se tingħata skond ir-regoli ta’ kull kategorija ta’egħjun ta’enerġija u skond il-merti ta’ kull għajn..(11) In accordance with the principle of proportionality, the production of subsidised coal must be limited to what is strictly necessary to make an effective contribution to the objective of energy security.(11)Skond il-prinċipju tal-proporzjonalità, il-produzzjoni ta’ faħam issussidjat għandha tkun limitata għal dak li huwa strettament neċessarju biex tkun ta’ kontribut effettiv lejn l-għan tas-sigurtà tal-enerġija..(13) Given risks related to geological uncertainties, aid to cover initial investment cost allow production units which are viable, or close to economic viability, to implement the technical investments necessary to maintain their competitive capacity.(13) Meta tqis ir-riskji relatati ma’ tibdil ġeografiku, l-għajnuna li tkopri l-ispiża inizzjali tal-investiment jippermettu unitajiet ta’ produzzjoni li huma ekonomikament viabbli, jew qrib il-viabbilita ekonomika. Dawn ikunu jistgħu jimplimentaw l-investimenti tekniċi neċessarji biex imantnu l-kapaċità kompetittiva tagħhom.

{0>(14) The restructuring of the coal industry has major social and regional repercussions as a result of the reduction in activity.(14) L-irristrutturar tal-industrija tal-faħam għandu riperkussjonijiet soċjali u reġjonali kbar minħabba t-tnaqqis fl-attività.Production units which are not eligible for aid as part of the objective of maintaining access to coal reserves must therefore be able to benefit, temporarily, from aid to alleviate the social and regional consequences of their closure. L-unitajiet tal-produzzjoni li mhumiex eliġibbli għall-għajnuna bħala parti mill-għan għall-manteniment tal-aċċess għar-riservi tal-faħam għandhom għalhekk ikunu jistgħu jibbenefikaw temporanjament, minn għajnuna li ttaffi l-konsekwenzi soċjali u reġjonali tal-għeluq tagħhom.This aid will in particular enable the Member States to implement adequate measures for the social and economic development of the areas affected by the restructuring. Permezz ta’ din l-għajnuna l-Istati Membri, b’mod partikolari, se jkunu jistgħu jimplimentaw miżuri adekwati għall-iżvilupp soċjali u ekonomiku tal-inħawi affetwati mill-irristrutturar.(15) Undertakings will also be eligible for aid to cover costs which, in accordance with normal accounting practice, do not affect the cost of production.(15) L-impriżi se jkunu eliġibbli wkoll għal għajnuna biex ikopru spejjez li, skond il-prattiċi normali tal-kontijiet, ma jaffetwawx l-ispejjez tal-produzzjoni. This aid is intended to cover exceptional costs, inherited liabilities in particular.Din l-għajnuna hi ntiża li tkopri spejjeż eċċezzjonali, b’mod partikolari djun li jkunu ntirtu.(16) The degression of aid to the coal industry will enable the Member States, in accordance with their budgetary constraints, to reallocate the aid granted to the energy sector on the basis of the principle of a gradual transfer of aid normally given to conventional forms of energy, in particular the coal sector, to renewable energy sources.(16) Permezz tad-digressjoni tal-għajnuna lill-industrija tal-faħam l-Istati Membri se jkunu jistgħu, skond il-limitazzjonijiet tal-bàġit tagħhom, jirriallokaw l-għajnuna mogħtija lis-settur tal-enerġija fuq il-bażi tal-prinċipju ta’ trasferiment gradwali tal-għajnuna normalment mogħtija lil forom konvenzjonali tal-enerġija, b’mod partikolari is-settur tal-faħam, lil egħjun ta’ enerġija rinovabbli. (6).(17) In accomplishing its task, the Community must ensure that normal conditions of competition are established, maintained and complied with.(17) Meta tlesti l-kompitu tagħha, il-Komunità trid tassigura li kondizzjonijiet ta’ kompetizzjoni normali ikunu stabbiliti, mantnuti u mħarsa..With regard more especially to the electricity market, aid to the coal industry must not be such as to affect electricity producers' choice of sources of primary energy supply. ................
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