Brussels, 20/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has opened an investigation procedure into a series of subsidies, amounting to 18 million euros, granted by the Autonomous Community of Castilla-Leon to private coal mining companies in 2001 and 2002. During this same period, the Spanish government had, with Commission approval, granted aid to these companies to cover operating losses and exceptional costs arising from restructuring activities. In opening this inquiry, the Commission intends to verify that the subsidies awarded by the Autonomous Community were not combined with the state aid, thus exceeding the permitted percentages. Spain is invited to submit its comments.