1. 8. 96 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 191/45 (Acts whose publication is nor obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 30 April 1996 authorizing France to grant aid to the coal industry for 1996 (Only the French text is authentic) (96/458/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 ('), and in particular Articles 2 (1) and 9 thereof, Haﬁing regard to Decision 95/465/ECSC of 19 July 1995 approving the French coal industry’s activity-reduction plan (), Whereas: Pursuant to Article 9 (1) of Decision No 3632/93/ECSC, France notified the Commission, by letter of 12 February 1996, of the financial aid which it proposes to grant to the coal industry for 1996. Pursuant to Decision No 3632/93/ECSC, the Commission must give a ruling, for 1996, on the following financial measures: — aid to reduce activity, amounting to FF 569 million, to cover operating losses, — aid for research and development, amounting to FF 15 million, () OJ No L 329, 30. 12. 1993, p. 12. () OJ No L 267, 9. 11. 1995, p. 46. — aid to cover exceptional costs, amounting to FF 3 831 million. The financial measures envisaged by France in favour of its coal industry are in line with Article 1 of Decision No 3632/93/ECSC and pursuant to Article 9 have to be approved by the Commission, which gives a ruling in particular on the basis of the general objectives and criteria laid down in Article 2 and the specific criteria set out in Articles 4, 5 and 6 of the said Decision. When cxamining the measures, the Commission, pursuant to Article 9 (6) of the said Decision, assesses the conformity of the measures with the activity-reduction plans which have been approved by the Commission. I The sum of FF 569 million which France is proposing to grant the coal industry under Article 4 of Decision No 3632/93/ECSC, is aimed at partially compensating Char- bonnages de France for operating losses. This aid is part of the undertaking’s activity-reduction plan, total cessa- tion of activities being planned for the year 2005. Given the exceptional social and regional consequences which the reduction of activity by this undertaking will entail, the French Government, in agreement with the social partners, has decided to phase the closures up to the year 2005. Pursuant to Article 3 (1) of the Decision, the Commission has checked that, for 1996, the aid notified per tonne does not exceed for each production unit the difference between production costs and foreseeable revenue.