The European Commission Tuesday proposed to end most government aid for coal mines in the European Union.

The proposal would limit government aid to mines that are in the process of shutting down, commission spokesman Jonathan Todd said.

"They will not be allowed to get the money and remain open," said Todd.

The commission proposes that the new rules come into effect from October 2014, he said.

The European Council, representing the national governments, must approve the proposal before it can become EU law.

Poland , Germany and Spain are the three coal-mining countries that would be most heavily affected by the proposal, Todd said.

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