L 282/66 Official Journal of the European Communities 19.10.2002 COMMISSION DECISION of 5 May 2002 authorising the United Kingdom to grant aid to six coal production units for 2001 and for the period from 1 January 2002 to 23 July 2002 (notified under document number C(2002) 2016) (Only the English text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2002/786/ECSC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, Having regard to Commission Decision No 3632/93/ECSC of 28 December 1993 establishing Community rules for State aid to the coal industry (1), and in particular Article 9(4) thereof, Whereas: By letter of 13 March 2002, the United Kingdom notified the Commission, in accordance with Article 9(1) of Decision No 3632/93/ECSC, of financial aid which it intends to grant to the coal industry for 2001 and for the period from 1 January 2002 to 23 July 2002. 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 5 516 100 to cover the operating losses of three production units for the period from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001. It is also required to take a decision on operating aid amounting to GBP 2 915 960 to cover the operating losses of three production units for the period from 1 January 2002 to 23 July 2002. Consequently, the total operating aid on which the Commission is required to take a decision amounts to GBP 8 432 060. The financial measures are covered by Article 1 of Decision No 3632/93/ECSC. The Commission must therefore take a decision on these measures pursuant to Article 9(4) of that Decision. The Commission’s approval is subject to the general objectives and criteria laid down in Article 2 and the specific criteria set out in Article 3 () OJL 329,30.12.1993, p. 12. of Decision No 3632/93/ECSC and, more generally, to the aid’s being compatible with the proper functioning of the common market. In addition, in its assessment, the Commission is required to check, in accordance with Article 9(6) of that Decision, whether the measures notified are in conformity with the plan for modernis- ation, rationalisation and restructuring of the United Kingdom coal industry approved by the Commission by Decision 2001/114/ECSC (3, and Decision 2001/597/ ECSC (%) (hereinafter referred to as the restructuring plan). II The sum of GBP 8 432 060 which the United Kingdom is proposing to grant to the coal industry under Article 3 of Decision No 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 conditions prevailing on the world market for coal of similar quality from third countries. The aid proposed for the period from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001 is intended for the following units: (@ GBP 3187100 for the East Pit Extension pro- duction unit of Celtic Energy Ltd; (b) GBP 2285 000 for the North Lanarkshire Coal- fields production unit of L.A.W. Mining Ltd; (c) GBP 44 000 for the Nant-Hir No 2 production unit of M. W.A. (Anthracite) Ltd. By Decision 2001/597/ECSC, the Commission has already authorised the United Kingdom to grant operating aid pursuant to Article 3 of Decision No 3632/ 93/ECSC to East Pit Extension, amounting to () OJ L 43,14.2.2001, p. 27. () OJL 210, 3.8.2001, p. 32.