Coal is a key energy source for Europe, accounting for around 20 % of the European energy mix when domestic extraction and imports are combined. In view of the major investment that some European mining companies have made in safety, leading to a radical and continued decline in workplace accident figures:

Has the Commission considered the possibility of introducing a European safety stamp endorsing coal extracted in mines that meet the highest safety standards?

Does the Commission know what proportion of coal imported into the EU is extracted in mines that do not meet strict safety criteria?

Does the Commission believe that such an initiative would help encourage these efforts to reduce accident rates in mines?