This paper deals with central EU law issues of the so-called “coal exit” decided by the Federal Republic of Germany, in particular state aid law and the relevant fundamental freedoms and basic rights of the coal companies concerned. It comes to the conclusion that the draft for a coal phase-out law („Kohleausstiegsgesetz“) is compatible with EU law. It also has a positive incentive and role model effect for both EU legislation (“European Green Deal”) and for other EU member states.