Possible merger of coal companies receiving state aid

Question for written answer E-001479/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Marcin Sypniewski (ESN)

Three major coal companies receiving state aid and subject to the EU notification procedure are currently carrying out mining activities in Poland: Polska Grupa Górnicza (PGG), Południowy Koncern Węglowy (PKW) and Węglokoks Kraj (WK). Each of them operates separately, even though they produce coal almost exclusively for commercial power and heating, competing with each other in the same market and often for the same customers.

This leads to overlapping organisational structures, complexities in the settlement of state aid and difficulties in the implementation of protective packages for employees - relocations are only possible within a single company.

Taking the above into consideration:

• 1.Would it be acceptable to merge PGG, PKW and WK into a single economic entity that would continue the transformation process and be covered by a single state aid mechanism?
• 2.Would such an organisational change require an update or a renotification of state aid?
• 3.Does the Commission acknowledge that there are reasons to simplify the organisational structure of coal mining in Poland, in line with practices used in other Member States?

Submitted: 9.4.2025