RESOLUTION OF THE EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE on the working programme on solid fuels (adopted unanimously with four abstentions at the 235th session of 21 and 22 June 1983)

THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE,

- recalling its view, expressed in recent years in a number of resolutions and opinions (1), that the energy policy of the Community must lead to a rapid and significant reduction in dependence on imported oil, and that to this end it is necessary to increase the share of coal in energy consumption as quickly and as substantially as possible;

- recognizing that a substantial rise in coal consumption will in the future necessitate increasing recourse to imported coal;

- believing that Community coal makes an indispensable contribution to the security of supply of all member countries;

- reaffirming the need for a policy aimed at maintaining Community coal-production capacity at broadly the present level, while continuing to concentrate output on new mines and mines that have been, or will be, the subject of modernization and technical improvement;

- concerned about the renewed serious difficulties in the Community coal industry, which are primarily attributable to the marked reduction in coal and coke disposals to the steel industry as a result of the crisis in that industry, and to the danger of oil-to-coal conversion in the general heat market being halted as the result of the temporary relative weakening of oil prices;

- aware of the danger that developments in the energy market, in which the basic factors remain unchanged, may be misinterpreted because of the situation described above, leading to a reversion to the errors in energy policy committed in the past;

- considering that, in view of long-term coal demand, measures need to be taken by the Community and its Member States for the future, in order to maintain the supply contribution of the Community coal-mining industry;

- noting with regret that the Council and the Governments of the member countries have not yet implemented a significant number of the Commission's coal policy proposals;

1. welcomes the Commission's launching of a new initiative in this area, in the form of the working programme on solid fuels of 9 February 1983, by launching which the Commission is emphasizing the important role of coal in supplying the Community's energy needs;

2. supports in particular the measures proposed in this working programme for the increased use of solid fuels, and notes with satisfaction that the Council has approved the recommendations to Member States concerning the promotion of conversion to coal in industry and public buildings, and in district heating;

3. requests the extension for at least five years of the well-established Decision on intra-Community trade in coking coal. This Decision should: (a) provide for higher sales aids;

(b) continue to constitute the legal basis for the granting of production subsidies in order to offer a firm basis for long-term coal delivery contracts on competitive terms;

(c) set no ceiling for adjustment to match supplies from non-member countries;

(d) also be extended to cover sintering fuels and coal for injection into the blast furnace;

4. approves of the Commission's proposal to promote intra-Community trade in steam coal also;

5. welcomes the Commission's intention to put forward proposals in respect of Community assistance for investment in the sinking of new mines and the modernization of existing mines, and to provide for the possibility of additional assistance with regard to the restructuring of the industry and any social costs arising from it; (1) 1. Opinion of 6/7 May 1982, OJ No C 147, 11.6.1982, p. 3.

2. Resolution of 8 May 1981, OJ No C 161, 1.7.1981, p. 2.

3. Resolution of 6 June 1980, OJ No C 161, 1.7.1980, p. 3.

4. Resolution of 15 June 1979, OJ No C 175, 12.7.1979, p. 3.

5. Report by Mr Thomas of 11 May 1979, OJ No C 161, 28.6.1979, p. 3.

6. regards the subsidies being considered by the Commission for reducing the high level of cyclical stocks as a valuable measure of short-term assistance;

7. agrees with the Commission's proposal to maintain its contacts with third country coal producers;

8. asks that the growing importance of environmental protection should be recognized by intensifying research in this field, and further asks that no Directive should be approved which lacks a serious scientific basis. Ideally, such work should be carried out as part of a Community-funded research and development programme;

9. notes with satisfaction that the Regulations submitted by the Commission on the promotion of demonstration plants in the field of alternative energy sources, energy conservation, and the conversion from oil or gas to coal, and on coal liquefaction and gasification, have been approved by the Council, but considers it imperative that these Regulations be extended to the full five-year period envisaged by the Commission.