The European Parliament Tuesday voted for EU national governments to be allowed to subsidize their coal industries until the end of December 2018, rather than the October 2014 deadline proposed by the European Commission in July.
The parliament's view has no legal force but "sends a strong political signal" to the 27 EU national governments acting in the EU Council, which has the final say, the parliament's press office said Tuesday.
EU competitiveness ministers are expected to decide on the final deadline at an EU Council meeting on December 10, when they plan to adopt a revised EU coal regulation to replace the one that expires December 31, 2010.
EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger said earlier this month that the EC could accept extending the right to give state aid to coal mines beyond 2014 if it is convinced output will be shut down when the aid ends.
The parliament's view has no legal force but "sends a strong political signal" to the 27 EU national governments acting in the EU Council, which has the final say, the parliament's press office said Tuesday.
EU competitiveness ministers are expected to decide on the final deadline at an EU Council meeting on December 10, when they plan to adopt a revised EU coal regulation to replace the one that expires December 31, 2010.
EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger said earlier this month that the EC could accept extending the right to give state aid to coal mines beyond 2014 if it is convinced output will be shut down when the aid ends.
