Approval for coal companies’ activities following the decommissioning of mines

9.4.2025

Priority question for written answer  P-001478/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Marcin Sypniewski (ESN)

In the course of work on the amendment of the Coal Mining Operations Act in Poland, consideration is being given to enabling coal companies to conduct business activities on the property of decommissioned mines ( so-called ‘afterlife’). The aim is to transform coal companies, not to close them down: moving them away from coal mining and converting them into businesses active in other areas (e.g. utilisation of methane and mine water, technical facilities, former mining land, employment of qualified workers).

In light of the above:

• 1.Does the Commission authorise coal companies to continue economic activities on the assets of the mines undergoing decommissioning, including through the creation of special purpose vehicles?
• 2.Would the introduction of such a mechanism require a new notification application for state aid or the modification of the existing application?
• 3.Taking into account the experiences of restructuring in Germany, Spain and the Czech Republic, does the Commission consider this type of coal company transformation model to be acceptable under EU state aid rules and climate policy?

Submitted: 9.4.2025