Western Balkans: Civil society groups call on European Commission to strengthen support for just transition

In a new briefing (1), they outline concrete steps that the Commission, international financial institutions and national governments should take to accelerate a just transition and enable local economic diversification, ensuring they respond to people’s needs and leave no-one behind. 

An EU platform aimed at supporting carbon-intensive regions to prepare for the energy transition and exchange experiences with EU communities in a similar situation, called the Initiative for Coal Regions in Transition for the Western Balkans and Ukraine (2) ran from late 2020 to late 2023, but has not yet been replaced, leaving local authorities uncertain about what further support they can expect for this complex process. 

Nevena Smilevska, Just Transition Coordinator for the Western Balkans, CEE Bankwatch Network — ‘There is an urgent need for the EU to renew and expand support for coal-dependent communities, to enable a just transition towards a decarbonised economy. Our recommendations aim to ensure that local authorities are empowered and have the necessary resources to plan a process that will allow their communities to thrive, instead of being left behind as the energy transition inevitably advances.’ 

The recommendations emphasize the need for targeted financing for municipal level projects, as local authorities often lack the resources and expertise to create and implement redevelopment plans for just transition on their own. Dedicated financial tools to facilitate economic diversification and create small-scale pilot projects can help to showcase the possibilities a decarbonised future offers. To ensure accountability and impact, funding must depend on strong local governance and transparent monitoring.  

Similar recommendations were put forward last week in a manifesto signed by six mayors from coal-dependent municipalities in the Western Balkans (3). The mayors are calling on the European Commission to support their efforts to decarbonize their local economies by increasing technical assistance, promoting success stories, and facilitating stronger partnerships with carbon-intensive regions in the EU. 

Davor Pehchevski, Balkan Energy Coordinator, CEE Bankwatch Network — ‘The new European Commission must seize the opportunity to make a positive impact by addressing these urgent needs and helping the Western Balkans set a course toward a just and sustainable future. We urge the Commission to reaffirm its commitment to our coal-dependent regions and provide the necessary support for a fair and effective energy transition.’ 

Contact information 

Nevena Smilevska, Just Transition Coordinator for the Western Balkans nevena.smilevska@bankwatch.org  

Notes for editors 

1. The briefing can be found here. 

1. More about the EU’s Initiative for Coal Regions in Transition for Western Balkans and Ukraine can be found here. 

1. The manifesto can be found here.