28/11/2019 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission authorised on Thursday 28 November a €92 million Slovak public aid package for the mining company Hornonitrianske bane Prievidza (HBP) to alleviate the social and environmental impact of closing its mining units in Handlová and Nováky by 2023. The Commission assessed the measure in particular in the light of Council Decision 2010/787/EU (State aid to support the closure of uncompetitive coal mines) in order to alleviate the social and environmental impact resulting from the closure. The Commission has found that the aid will ease the closure process by providing financial support to workers who would lose their jobs due to the closure of the mines. In particular, the State aid will fund redundancy payments and will be used to secure mine shafts and re-cultivate land after the mine closures. (LC)