22.11.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L 305/27 COMMISSION DECISION of 25 July 2001 authorising the United Kingdom to grant aid to four coal production units for 2001 (notified under document number C(2001) 2434) (Only the English text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2001/807[ECSC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, Having regard to Commission Decision 3632/93/ECSC of 28 December 1993 establishing Community rules for State aid to the coal industry ('), and in particular Article 9(4) thereof, Whereas: By letter of 15 May 2001, the United Kingdom notified the Commission, in accordance with Article 9(1) of Decision 3632/93/ECSC, of the financial aid which it proposed to grant to the coal industry for 2001. In the light of the information submitted by the United Kingdom, the Commission is required to take a decision on operating aid amounting to GBP 21091 500 to cover operating losses, for the period from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001, in four product units. The financial measures are covered by Article 1 of Decision 3632/93/ECSC. The Commission must there- fore take a decision on these measures pursuant to Article 9(4) of that Decision. Accordingly, the Commis- sion's approval is subject to the general objectives and criteria laid down in Article 2 and the specific criteria set out in Article 3 of Decision 3632/93/ECSC and must, more generally, be compatible with the proper func- tioning of the common market. In addition, in its assess- ment the Commission is required to check, in accord- ance with article 9(6) of that Decision, whether the measures notified are in conformity with the plan for the modernisation, rationalisation and restructuring of the United Kingdom coal industry approved by the Commission by Decision 2001/114/ECSC (3, and by Decision 2001/597/ECSC of 11 April 2001 (}) (the restructuring plan). 29, 30.12.1993, p. 12. OoL3 O] L 43, 14.2.2001, p. 27. o L2 10, 3.8.2001, p. 32. (4) II The sum of GBP 21091500 which the United Kingdom is proposing to grant to the coal industry under Article 3 of Decision 3632/93/ECSC is intended to cover the difference between the production cost and the selling price of coal freely agreed between the contracting parties in the light of the prevailing condi- tions on the world market for coal of similar quality from third countries. The aid is intended for the following four units: (a) GBP 20 324 500 for Selby Complex production unit of RJB Mining plc; (b) GBP 217 000 for the Blaentillery No 2 production unit of Ffynonau Duon Mines Ltd; (c) GBP 264 000 for the Hay Royds Colliery produc- tion unit of J. Flack & Sons Ltd; (d) GBP 286 000 for the Eckington Colliery production unit of Moorside Mining Company Ltd. By Decision 2001/340/ECSC (¥, the Commission has already authorised the United Kingdom to grant oper- ating aid pursuant to Article 3 of Decision No 3632/93/ ECSC for the period for 17 April 2000 to 31 December 2000, amounting to GBP 23187000 for Selby Complex. Similarly, by Decision 2001/597/ECSC it has authorised operating aid of GBP 113 000 for Blaentil- lery No 2, GBP 79 000 for Hay Royds Colliery and GBP 88 000 for Eckington Colliery. In accordance with Article 3(2) of Decision 3632/93/ECSC, the Commission was of the opinion that the aid which the United Kingdom proposed to grant for 2000 was intended to improve the economic viability of the production units concerned by reducing their production costs. The aid should, in accordance with the restructuring plan, help to make the production units viable, enabling them to continue their activities beyond 2002 without public subsidy. () O L 122, 3.5.2001, p. 23.