The undertakings concerned must make all applications for aid through their governments. The Commission may decline to provide any aid to an undertaking which has not informed  its  government and the Commission that a situation was developing which might lead it to close  or change its activity.

6. The Commission shall make the provision of non repayable aid under paragraphs 4 and 5  conditional upon payment by the State concerned of a special contribution at least equal in  amount, unless an exception is authorized by the Council, acting by a two thirds majority.

7. The financing arrangements laid down for the application of Article 56 shall apply to this  Article.

8. Assistance under this Article may be provided during the two years following the end of  the transitional period by decision of the Commission with the assent of the Council.

CHAPTER 2

SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR COAL

Article 24

It is agreed that, during the transitional period, safeguards will be necessary to avoid sudden  and harmful shifts in production levels. The safeguards shall take account of the position as it  is when the common market is established.

Furthermore, if it should become apparent that in one or more areas some price increases are  liable to be so sudden and of such extent as to be harmful, precautions will have to be taken to  ensure that they do not occur.

To deal with these problems, the Commission shall, to the necessary extent, authorize during  the transitional period, under its supervision:

a. Practices referred to in Article 60( 2 )( b ) and zone prices in cases not covered by Chapter 5  of Title III;
b. The retention or institution of national equalization schemes or arrangements financed by a  levy on home production, without prejudice to the exceptional expedients provided for below.

Article 25

The Commission shall impose an equalization levy per saleable metric ton, fixed at a uniform  percentage of producers receipt' on the coal production of those countries whose average  costs are below the weighted average of the Community.

The ceiling of the equalization levy shall be 1.5% of these receipts for the first year that the  common market is operating and shall be regularly lowered each year by 20% of the initial  ceiling.

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