29. 8. 85 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 230/51 COMMISSION DECISION of 24 July 1985 approving aids from the United Kingdom for the coal-mining industry during the 1984/85 financial year and approving additional aids from the United Kingdom to the coal-mining industry during the 1983/84 financial year (Only the English text is authentic) (85/419/ECSC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to Commission Decision No 528/76/ ECSC of 25 February 1976 regarding the Community system of measures taken by the Member States to assist the coal-mining industry (), Having consulted the Council, Whereas the United Kingdom Government has informed the Commission, pursuant to Article 2 of the above Decision, of the financial measures which it intends to implement directly or indirectly for the benefit of the coal industry during the 1984/85 finan- cial year (3 ; whereas the following of these measures may be approved pursuant to the Decision : (€ million) — aid for the recruitment and reten- tion of skilled workers : 15,1 — aid to cover losses on mining : 513,2 Whereas these aids meet the criteria laid down in the Decision for the admissibility of such State assistance ; The aid for attracting and keeping skilled workers is intended to offset in part the National Coal Board’s costs arising from rationalization and the transfer of production to their best pits. This results in outgoings on removals, transport, etc.,; (") OJ No L 63, 11. 3. 1976, p. 1. () The 1984/85 financial year runs from the beginning of April. 1984 to the end of March 198S. Whereas the United Kingdom Government is to contribute £ 15,1 million towards such costs borne by the/ NCB in 1984/85; Whereas the purpose and form of the aid show that it meets the criteria set out in Article 8 of the Decision ; Whereas the aid given to cover losses on mining (£ 513,2 million) will largely cover the losses sustained by NCB pits in 1984/85. The aid is given, in principle (i.e. independently of the miners’ strike) to avoid serious economic and social problems in those coal- fields where there are not yet adequate re-employment opportunities and to maintain existing production capacities so as to safeguard energy supplies. The aid is therefore compatible with Article 12 of the Decision ; I Whereas, under Article 3 (2) of the Decision, an examination of the compatibility of the abovemen- tioned aids with the proper functioning of the common market must also extend to all other finan- cial measures to support current production in the 1984/85 financial year;. Whereas aids for current production in the United Kingdom will amount to 910,8 million ECU or 18,22 ECU per tonne for the 1984/85 financial year; whereas the current production in the United Kingdom is more heavily subsidized (per tonne) than in the Federal Republic of Germany and substantially less than in France and Belgium; Whereas an examination of the compatibility of these aids with the proper functioning of the common market requires no detailed information or investiga- tion : — in spite of the strike of the British miners, there were no supply difficulties on the British market in 1984/85, '