Commissie akkoord met Duitse steun aan kolenmijnen (en)

The Commission decided today not to raise any objections to the €2.7 billion aid package which Germany is proposing to grant to its coal industry for the year 2005. The aid is in accordance with the overall restructuring plan that the Commission approved for the German coal industry for the period 2003 to 2005.

The total amount of the proposed aid for the year 2005 is € 2 731.4 million. This aid can be divided into:

;
• Aid for the reduction of activity : € 597.7 million
;
• Production aid : € 1 494.6 million
;
• Aid to cover exceptional costs : € 617.5 million
;
• Bergmannsprämie (traditional pecuniary benefit to miners): € 21.6 million

On 5 May 2003 the Commission approved a restructuring plan of the German coalmining industry. The plan contains detailed data for the period from 2003 to 2005 and provides for a gradual reduction of financial aid to the German coalmining industry that will lead to a permanent decrease in production. The aid will be on a decreasing basis. The proposed aid for 2005 is in accordance with this restructuring plan and respects the rules on maximum amounts of aid allowed.

The Commission has come to the conclusion that the proposed aid measures respect the provisions of the Council Regulation on State aid to the coal industry^[1] and are therefore compatible with the proper functioning of the internal market for coal.

^[1] Council Regulation (EC) No 1407/2002 of 23 July 2002 on State aid to the coal industry, OJ L.205, p.1, 2.8.2002