No L 255/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 9. 84 COMMISSION DECISION of 6 September 1984 approving aids from the Federal Republic of Germany to the coal-mining industry during 1983 (Only the German text is authentic) (84/455/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 Government of the Federal Republic of Germany has informed the Commission, pursuant to Article 2 of the Decision, of the financial measures which it intends to implement directly or indirectly for the benefits of the coal industry in 1983 ; whereas of these measures the following may be approved pursuant to that Decision : (DM million) — Investment aids to individual projects under an investment programme : 261,0 — Aid for development and innova- tion (testing and trial of new equipment) in the coal-mining industry : 50,0 — Premiums to shift-paid workers and piece workers for each shift worked underground : 2120 — Aid for the entertainment of long- term security stocks : 144,5 Whereas these aids meet the criteria laid down in the Decision for the admissibility of such State assistance ; Whereas the investment of DM 261 000 000 — inclu- ding a special aid of DM 109 000 000 awarded to the () O) No L 63, 11. 3. 1976, p. 1. Eschweiler Bergwerksverein — is proposed for invest- ment projects for mines, coking plants, briquette works and pit-head power stations; whereas the percentage to all investment covered by investment aid is just under 30 % ; Whereas in relation to the Community’s new policy for coal, this 1983 investment aid, which fell by nearly 50 % wvis-a-vis 1982, is to be regarded as beneficial since it will promote the long-term stabilization of production in the German coalfields. The aid complies with the provisions of Article 7 (1) of the Decision ; Whereas, pursuant to Article 7 (5) of the Decision, the Federal Government must notify the Commission at least once a year, in respect of each project in the programme which it has decided to carry out, of the aims pursued, the sums invested and the amounts of the aid; Whereas the sum of DM. 50 000 000 to promote inno- vation is intendeu to ensure that research results are applied to production as quickly as possible ; whereas the aid is lower than the costs borne by the under- takings and is granted in respect of individual projects which, when completed, are likely to prove their economic worth to coal-mining in the medium term ; whereas the purpose and amount of this aid show that it is compatible with the third subparagraph of Article 7 (3) of the Decision; Whereas the aid of DM 212000 000 towards the payment of the coal-winning premium helps the coal industry to secure a stable, skilled workforce, which is imperative if its productivity is to increase ; whereas the undertakings moreover incur expenditure on the necessary recruitment, training, retraining and reten- tion of workers which is several times the amount of aid in the form of this premium; Whereas the purpose and amount of the coal-winning premium show that this measure is compatible with Article 8 of the Decision;