No L 255/26 Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 9. 84 COMMISSION DECISION of 6 September 1984 approving aids from the Kingdom of Belgium to the coal-mining industry during 1983 (Only the Dutch and French texts are authentic) (84/457/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 Kingdom of Belgium has informed the Commission, pursuant to Article 2 of the above Decision, of the financial measures which it intends to take during 1983 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 : (Bfrs million) — Investment aid : 566,7 — Recruitment of skilled workers : 12,0 — Aid for stocks: 146,3 — Aid to cover losses: 45184 Whereas these aids meet the critera laid down in the Decision for the admissibility of such State assistance ; Whereas, of the investment aid, almost all of the Bfrs 566 700 000 will go to the Campine coalfield, so that the coalfield can maintain the production of coking coal, which is important for the Belgian steel industry ; Whereas the Belgian investment aid is therefore compatible with the provisions of Article 7 (2) of the Decision ; Whereas the aid (Bfrs 12 000 000) for recruiting and training skilled workers has proved necessary in order to attract suitably qualified labour into Belgian coal- mining, capable of operating modern plant and machinery properly ; () OJ No L 63, 11. 3. 1976, p. 1. Whereas the aid therefore complies with Article 8 of the Decision ; Whereas the Bfrs 146 300 000 aid to cover the costs of stocks of coal and coke is based on total producers’ stocks amounting to more than 1 100000 tonnes; whereas, with monthly production of around 500 000 tonnes, stocks eligible for aid under Article 9 (2) of the Decision amount to 600 000 tonnes; whereas the amount of aid per tonne is accordingly Bfrs 244; whereas the actual cost of stocks (including deprecia- tion and interest) is substantially higher than the amount of aid ; Whereas the purpose and form of the aid show that it meets the criteria set out in Article 9 of the Decision ; Whereas the aid totalling Bfrs 4 518 400 000 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 thg 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. Here the intention is to ensure that only essentials are maintained and the pits remain viable until the coalfield can be closed down without friction, so that serious economic and social upheaval is avoided ; 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 ;