No L 233/24 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 8. 81 COMMISSION DECISION of 10 July 1981 approving aids from the Kingdom of Bélgium to the coal-mining industry during 1980 (Only the Dutch and French texts are authentic) (81/647/ECSC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to Commission Decision 528/76/ECSC of 25 February 1976 regarding the Community system of measures taken by the Member States to assist the coal-mining industry (1), Having consulted the Council, Whereas the Belgian Government has informed the Commission, pursuant to Article 2 of the above Deci- sion, of the financial measures which it intends to take during 1980 in order to give direct or indirect support to the coal-mining industry ; whereas, of these measures, the following aids qualify for approval pursuant to that Decision : million Bfrs — investment aid : 450-0 — aid to cover losses : 49872 Whereas these aids meet the criteria laid down in the Decision for the admissibility of such state assistance ; Whereas, of the investment aid sum of Bfrs 450 000 000, Bfrs 449 800 000 will go to the Campine coalfield and Bfrs 200 000 to the Southern coalfield ; whereas in the Campine coalfield, special investments are envisaged on behalf of the Eisden colliery (Bfrs 100 million) and the amount of Bfrs 350 million covers depreciation in the Campine coalfield so that it can maintain production of coking coal, which is important for the Belgian steel industry; the invest- ment aid for the Southern coalfield enables it to carry out the most essential repairs so as not to jeopardize the technical safety of the collieries; Whereas the Belgian investment aid is therefore compatible with the provisions of Article 7 (2) of the Decision ; () OJ No L 63, 11. 3. 1976, p. I. Whereas the aid totalling Bfrs 4 987 200 000 to cover operating losses is paid to the two Belgian coalfields for different reasons; whereas the aid paid to the Campine coalfield will almost make up the difference between costs and returns; whereas this almost complete covering of the difference between costs and returns is necessary because the coalfield is intended to supply the Belgian steel industry with coking coal and must therefore maintain its output; Whereas the purpose and amount of aid granted to cover losses in respect of the Campine coalfield there- fore comply with the second subparagraph of Article 12 (1) and Article 12 (3) of the Decision ; Whereas, on the other hand, the Southern coalfield should be granted aid in respect of pit operating losses to cover part of the difference between costs and returns, so that the proposed closure of this coalfield by 1981 can take place without serious economic and social disturbances in the re-employment of the redundant miners; whereas in 1980 two pits were closed in the Southern coalfield, thereby affecting 816 miners ; Whereas the purpose and type of the aids to cover pit operating losses of the Southern coalfield are therefore compatible with the first subparagraph of Article 12 (1) and Article 12 (2) of the Decision ; 11 Whereas, pursuant to Article 3 (2) of the Decision, all other measures to assist current production in 1980 must be taken into consideration for an examination of the compatibility of the proposed aids with the proper functioning of the common market ; Whereas, on this basis of assessment, the total amount of aid proposed is 298 200 000 ECU, ie. 4733 ECU per tonne ; whereas this figure is exceptionally high compared with that for the other Member States of the Community ;