coal mines are restricted on the basis of the 'common market' and set price for coal across europe. because european pits wouldn't be able to compete on price, they have to sell at a lower price and then get a subsidy...
except...
the EU then capped subsidies to coal mines.
there were still 2 out here in the sticks till a couple of years back, employed maybe a dozen men apiece, selling the anthracite round the doors locally. Were told they weren't allowed to do that, so closed