Slovenia will receive more than €258 million under the Just Transition Fund (JTF) following the adoption of the single Cohesion Policy programme that includes its Territorial Just Transition Plan (TJTP).
This EU support will help deliver a just climate transition in the Slovenian regions of Savinjsko-Saleška (SAŠA) and Zasavje.
Energy restructuring in Savinjsko-Šaleška
In SAŠA, the coal mining in Velenje and the Šoštanj thermal power plant's coal blocks (TEŠ) will close by 2033.
The JTF will help diversify the local economy by investing in research and development related to innovative industrial processes and production capacity in small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).
Moreover, the Fund will redesign the district heating system and support the transition from the use of coal to alternative clean energy sources for heating, for instance from solar energy and heat pumps. JTF will also support the production of energy from renewable sources, such as hydrogen.
Moreover, degraded coal-related facilities in the region will be repurposed and revitalised with the aim to invest in the expansion of renewable energy production.
Finally, the JTF will support 2,400 workers active in the coal sector with lifelong career guidance and training.
New economic opportunities in Zasavje
The region of Zasavje used to have a coal mine and power plant and is seeking to develop new sectors that will support the restructuring of its economy.
To that end, the JTF will support SMEs to develop innovative business models, as well as measures that will help to retain talent in the region and create new job opportunities.
The Fund will also invest in decarbonising the region, through the production of various renewable energy sources such as solar energy, and energy efficiency measures.
Finally, to promote a green transition, the Fund will back the establishment of a ‘Centre for Demonstration and Training in Zero Carbon Technologies' in the region that will focus on the research on climate-neutral technologies for the transition to a modern, sustainable and green-oriented industry.
Background
The JTF ensures that the transition towards a climate-neutral economy happens in a fair way, leaving no one behind, in particular in the regions that face the most difficult transition.
Those territories are identified during negotiations of the 2021-2027 Partnership Agreements and the associated programmes between the Slovenian authorities and the Commission. The Partnership Agreement with Slovenia was approved in September 2022.
The TJTPs, developed by the national and regional authorities in close consultation with local partners, identify the challenges and development strategy and needs in each territory, and the objectives to be met by 2030. They also identify the planned actions with specific governance mechanisms.
The approval of TJTPs opens the door to funding by the JTF as well as to dedicated financing under the other two pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM): a just transition scheme under InvestEU and a Public Sector Loan Facility for Just Transition that combines Commission grants with European Investment Bank loans. The JTM provides targeted support to help mobilise around €55 billion over the period 2021-2027 in the most affected regions.
Local partners and all stakeholders can also get support and exchange best practices and experiences all across the EU via the Just Transition Platform.
In particular, in Slovenia, the JTF will support the creation of a ‘Just Transition Centre' in each region. It will promote local partnerships, provide training and capacity building, support for project preparation and coordinate just transition activities in the two regions, including with youth, NGOs, social and economic partners, and local communities.
Upon request by the Slovenian Authorities, the Commission provided tailor-made technical expertise for the preparation of the National Strategy and action plans for transition from coal of the concerned Slovenian regions. The support was provided by the Technical Support Instrument under DG REFORM.
More information
The Just Transition Mechanism: making sure no one is left behind
The Just Transition Platform: Accompanying Member States and regions to achieve a just transition
Breakdown of Just Transition Fund allocations per Member State
Questions and Answers on the EU Cohesion Policy legislative package 2021-2027
Cohesion Open Data Platform
Kohesio
2021-2027 Partnership Agreements
@TimmermansEU
@ElisaFerreiraEC
@EUinmyRegion
@EUClimateAction
| Zařazeno | pá 16.12.2022 12:12:00 |
|---|---|
| Zdroj | Evropská komise |
| Originál | ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/documents?reference=IP/22/7744&language=cs |
| lang | en |
