Community support to technical coal research
The European Commission is proposing to grant financial aid of a total of ECU 31 million to projects in the area of technical coal research. The projects in question have been selected following the call for proposals for the European Coal and Steel Community's (ECSC) technical coal research programme published in June 1995 (OJ No C 144 of 10.6.1995). A total of 23 coal research projects have been selected in accordance with the "Medium-term guidelines for technical coal research 1994-1999" which set out the following general aims: - Efficient protection of the environment and improvement of public understanding of the role of coal as an energy source; - Improving the competitive position of coal; - Rational utilization of Community resources. The proposed maximum funding for these projects is ECU 30,681,000. In addition, the Commission proposes to allocate a sum of ECU 319,000 to cover the additional costs associated with these research projects. These include the costs of disseminating information and of taking out and maintaining patents. A further 14 research projects have been put on a reserve list for funding if and when supplementary or residual finances become available. The Commission proposal must now be approved by the Council and examined by the ECSC Committee before a final decision may be taken.