Catalogue description National Coal Board and British Coal Corporation: International Department and successors: Registered Files

The International Department was set up in May 1967. It consisted of a Secretariat, a Translation and Interpreting Branch, a Visits Section, and a European Community and Foreign Co-operation Branch. The department's central concern was the safeguarding and furthering of the National Coal Board's (NCB) interests and activities within the European Community. This involved contact and co-operation with a number of European Community organisations, such as the European Commission's Energy Directorate-General, the Community Coal Producer's Association (CEPCEO), and the Association of Public Enterprises in the Community (CEEP). Other concerns were international collaboration on research and development into coal mining and utilisation, and the sale of British expertise to developing coal industries.

The department was re-designated the International Relations Department in 1976. In 1977/78 a new directorate of overseas mining was set up and a new company, British Coal (International) Ltd, formed to expand the board's overseas activities. The company had responsibility for general co-ordination of overseas activities involving consultancy, mining developments, and sales of equipment and services. In 1982 the Visits and Translations sections were transferred to the Secretary's Department and the department was renamed the European Community Unit.