2. The equalization arrangements shall be designed, from the beginning of the transitional  period:
a. To enable all consumers of Belgian coal within the common market to be charged prices  more nearly in line with the ruling common market prices, reducing Belgian prices to the  approximate figure of the estimated production costs at the end of the transitional period. The  price list so fixed shall not be changed without the agreement of the Commission;  
b. To ensure that the Belgian steel industry is not prevented by the special arrangements for  Belgian coal from being integrated into the common market in steel and reducing its prices  accordingly to the level ruling in that market.

The Commission shall periodically fix the amount of such additional equalization payments in  respect of Belgian coal sold to the Belgian steel industry as it considers necessary for this  purpose in view of all the operational factors involved for that industry, taking care, however,  that these equalization payments do not bear unfairly on the steel industries of the  neighbouring countries. Also, having regard to the price of the coke used by the Belgian steel  industry to below the delivered price it could obtain if supplied with coke from the Ruhr;

c. To allow, in respect of exports of Belgian coal within the common market considered by  the Commission to be necessary in view of the production and demand prospects in the  Community, additional equalization payments to cover 80% of the difference which the  Commission finds to exist between the pit head price plus carriage to destination of Belgian  coal and of coal from other Community countries.

3. The Belgian Government may, by way of derogation from the provisions of Article 9 of  this Convention, retain or institute, under the supervision of the Commission, machinery for  insulating the Belgian market from the common market.

Imports of coal from third countries shall require the approval of the Commission.

These special arrangements shall end as provided below.

4. The Belgian Government undertakes to remove the machinery for insulating the Belgian  market under paragraph 3 of this Article by the end of the transitional period at the latest. If  the Commission considers it necessary by reason of exceptional circumstances not now  foreseeable, it may, after consulting the Consultative Committee and with the assent of the  Council, allow the Belgian Government an additional year, which may be extended by a  further year.

The integration thus provided for shall take place after consultation between the Belgian  Government and the Commission, which shall both determine the ways and means therefor;  these may include allowing the Belgian Government, notwithstanding Article 4( c ) of the  Treaty, to grant subsidies covering the extra operating costs due to the natural conditions of  the coal fields, taking into account any charges due to manifest disequilibria which add to  these costs. The procedure for granting of subsidies and their maximum amount shall require  the approval of the Commission, which shall see to it that the maximum amount of subsidies  and the tonnage subsidized are lowered as quickly as possible, taking into account the  facilities for readaptation and the extension of the common market to products other than coal  and steel, and ensuring that the scale of such production cutbacks as may be made does not  give rise to fundamental disturbances in the Belgian economy.

<92>