EU coal consumption is currently on its lowest level and falling. For a bit coal power plants were used to replace gas power plants, but that has mostly ended as gas has fallen in price and renewable built out has accelerated. Today the EU is at 3% of global coal consumption. It is not the main reason for coal not going down at all.

‘Natural gas’ is a fossil fuel. A lot better than coal, yes, and a lot of people still use it (well-tuned modern furnaces are 90% efficient). Unlike ICE engines with their 20-30% gasoline efficiency (buy 4 gallons, throw 3 into the wind).

In a sane world, all coal would be shut down NOW, all users would be shit-outta-luck. There are NO excuses for continued use.