42 civil society organisations call on EU leaders to secure funding for the just transition in the next EU budget

Currently, 92 regions across Europe are using the Just Transition Fund to mitigate the impacts of the closure of high-carbon industries in regions throughout the EU. Some countries will complete the process within a few years, but others face a much longer and more painful journey towards full decarbonisation.  

The timing of this statement is particularly significant given the upcoming mid-term review of the EU’s cohesion policy, the review of the Just Transition Fund, and the European Commission’s proposal for the new Multiannual Financial Framework, which will be followed by negotiations with other EU institutions.  

While the political guidelines for the next European Commission include a commitment to ‘significantly increase our funding for a just transition across the next long-term budget’, there are also signals from various corners of the EU that the fund should either be discontinued entirely or be significantly modified. This could lead to much dissatisfaction in regions that have already embarked on the just transition pathway.   

With this statement, Europe’s leading civil society organisations underline the importance of keeping the Just Transition Fund as a dedicated financial instrument under the cohesion policy, while preserving its territorial focus to ensure targeted support. In addition, they call on EU leaders to ensure that the next version of the fund applies stronger social conditionalities to protect the most vulnerable communities, including dedicating a minimum proportion of spending to social projects. They also call for more robust environmental conditionalities to ensure that funded projects make a greater contribution to the EU’s climate and biodiversity targets.  

Miłosława Stępień, Just Transition Coordinator for Central and Eastern Europe at CEE Bankwatch Network: ‘In regions transitioning away from high-emission industries, especially in central and eastern Europe, the Just Transition Fund is seen as the only dedicated and easily accessible fund they can use. It provides enormous support in revitalising areas that have been in decline for decades. These regions will continue to struggle if they’re not further assisted in their efforts to shift to a green economy.’ 

Olivier Vardakoulias, Finance and Subsidies Policy Coordinator at Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe: ‘The European Green Deal is in its implementation phase and, while it promises to reduce emissions, it also requires ongoing dialogue with citizens to maintain their trust. It’s crucial that Member States and EU institutions show that they can meet their basic needs and provide a safety net. Extending the Just Transition Fund beyond the current long-term EU budget would demonstrate that the EU is serious about the public’s demands for a socially just energy transition, particularly in regions shifting away from fossil fuels.’ 

Mags Bird, Senior Policy Officer for Just Transition at WWF European Policy Office: ‘Addressing environmental, economic and social challenges in a coordinated way is a key challenge for the green transition. The Just Transition Fund is unique in aiming to do exactly that via plans tailored to local needs and contexts. It’s an important instrument for a more integrated and place-based shift towards sustainable societies.’ 

Contacts: 

Miłosława Stępień, Just Transition Coordinator for Central and Eastern Europe at CEE Bankwatch Network

miloslawa.stepien@bankwatch.org, +48 607 491 322 

Olivier Vardakoulias, Finance and Subsidies Policy Coordinator at Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe

olivier.vardakoulias@caneurope.org, +30 697 816 2538 

Mags Bird, Senior Policy Officer for Just Transition at WWF European Policy Office:

mbird@wwf.eu  

Notes for editors:

(1) Keeping the promise: Why the Just Transition Fund must be maintained in the next EU budget – Bankwatch

About Bankwatch

CEE Bankwatch Network is today the largest network of grassroots environmental groups in countries of central and eastern Europe and a leading force in preventing dubious public investments that harm the planet and people’s well-being in this region and beyond.

About CAN Europe

Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe is Europe’s leading NGO coalition fighting dangerous climate change. We are a unique network, in which environmental and development organisations work together to issue joint lobby campaigns and maximise their impact. With over 200 member organisations active in 40 European countries, representing over 1,700 NGOs and more than 40 million citizens, CAN Europe promotes sustainable climate, energy and development policies throughout Europe.

About WWF EPO

WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature. The European Policy Office contributes to this by advocating for strong EU environmental policies on sustainable development, nature conservation, climate and energy, marine protection, sustainable finance and external action. We represent 27 national and regional WWF offices and over 3 million supporters.