Commission to extend coal state aid exemption

摘要

Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia is set, on 6 July in Strasbourg, to present a new proposal for a regulation on state aid for uncompetitive coal mines. The new regulation would supplant the existing 2002 rules, set to expire on 31 Decemberrn2010. In the absence of sector-specific EU legislation on aid for coal, only general state aid rules would apply from 1 Januaryrn2011. In this context, notes the European Commission, uncompetitive coal mines, currently benefiting from aid under Regulation 1407/2002, may no longer be eligible for aid and may be forced to close.