Slovak €9.6 million support to HBP for closing coal mines gets EU nod
Slovak plans to provide €9.6 million of public support co-funded by EU structural funds to coal mining company Hornonitrianske bane Prievidza (HBP) to alleviate the social impact of closing its mining units in Handlová and Nováky by 2023 comply with EU state aid rules, the European Commission said.
Under a Council decision, Member States are allowed to support the closure of uncompetitive coal mines in order to alleviate the social impact resulting from the closure.
The Commission’s said the aid aims to ease the closure process by providing financial support totalling €9.6 million to HBP in order to support the employees who will lose their jobs due to closures.
In particular, the state support to HBP will cover the expenditure corresponding to the average salary of specific employees who would lose their jobs due to the closure of the mines, the Commission said, adding that these employees will be taking part in a retraining programme for a maximum of six months, while still employed at HBP, which will help them find new jobs.