If the Commission finds that the financing of a programme or the operation of the  installations therein planned would involve subsidies, aids,  protection or discrimination  contrary to this Treaty, the adverse opinion delivered by it on these grounds shall have the  force of a decision within the meaning of Article 14 and the effect of prohibiting the  undertaking concerned from drawing on resources other than its own funds to carry out the  programme.

The Commission may impose on undertakings, which disregard the prohibition referred tom  the preceding paragraph fines not exceeding the amounts improperly devoted to carrying out  the programme in question.

Article 55

1. The Commission shall promote technical and economic research relating to the production and increased use of coal and steel and to occupational safety in the coal and steel industries.To this end it shall organize all appropriate contacts among existing research bodies.

2. After consulting the Consultative Committee, the Commission may initiate and facilitate such research:

a. By inducing joint financing by the undertakings concerned; or

b. By allotting for that purpose any funds received as gifts; or

c. With the assent of the Council, by allotting for that purpose funds derived from the levies  provided for in Article 50; the limit laid down in paragraph 2 of that Article must not,  however, be exceeded.

The results of research financed as provided in subparagraphs ( b ) and ( c ) shall be made  available to all concerned in the Community.

3.The Commission shall deliver any opinions which serve to make technical improvements  more widely known, particularly with regard to the exchange of patents and the granting of  licences for using them.

Article 56

1. If the introduction, within the framework of the general objectives of the Commission, of  new technical processes or equipment should lead to an exceptionally large reduction in  labour requirements in the coal or the steel industry, making it particularly difficult in one or  more areas to re employ redundant workers, the Commission, on application by the  governments concerned:

a. Shall obtain the opinion of the Consultative Committee;

b. May facilitate, in the manner laid down in Article 54, either in the industries within its  jurisdiction or, with the assent of the Council, in any other industry, the financing of such  programmes as it may approve for the creation of new and economically sound activities  capable of reabsorbing the redundant workers into productive employment;

c. Shall provide non repayable aid towards:

• The payment of tide over allowances to workers;
• The payment of resettlement allowances to workers;
• The financing of vocational retraining for workers having to change their employment.

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