Brussels, 16/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission approved the planned aid for the modernisation of the coal industry presented by the United Kingdom. The British restructuring plan foresees an aid ceiling of GBP 110 million between 17 April 2000 and 23 July 2002, (expiry date of the ECSC Treaty) for coal aimed delivered to power stations and for use by industry. The Commission underlines in a Communiqué that the British coal industry had not benefited from any aid since 1995, and adds that the new plan will only support the production units that present real prospects for economic and financial viability after the expiry of the ECSC Treaty, but which temporarily have problems due to the fall in coal prices during 1999. The beneficiary companies will have to show that they can still reduce their production costs to a level located between GBP 25 and 29 per tonne. The European Commission felt that the plan is in accordance with the criteria of the ECSC Treaty on functioning aid aimed at improving the economic viability of companies through reduced production costs. Moreover, adds the Commission, "the United Kingdom has undertaken, through concrete measures that the aid does not lead to any distortions to competition and does not create any discrimination between coal producers, between buyer or consumers in the Community".