Brussels, 24/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission gave its clearance to a German aid regime amounting to around EUR 3 billion in favour of the German coal industry for the year 2004. The aid will be divided into aid for the reduction of activity, production aid (EUR 2,045.3 million), aid to cover exceptional costs (EUR 557.4 million), and pecuniary benefits to miners (EUR 24 million). The beneficiaries of the aid system are the coalmining companies RAG AG (EUR...