On May 13, 2020, information on the granting of PLN 2 million from EU funds for the preparation of regional just transition plans appeared on the website of the European Funds Portal. The money was granted as part of support for 3 regions – Greater Poland (Konin), Silesian and Lower Silesian provinces.

EU money to prepare the regional just transition plans already available

Poland will receive over PLN 2 million (EUR 0.5 million) from the EU for this purpose. The European Commission positively evaluated the application drawn up by the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy (MFiPR).

The money will come from the Structural Reform Support Program. MFiPR submitted the application on March 31. The European Commission communicated its decision on Monday. 18 EU Member States submitted similar applications.

"The negotiations regarding the Just Transformation Fund are ongoing, but we already know that using the funds available in it will require the preparation of the just transition plans for individual provinces. We want to be ready as soon as possible, which is why we will cooperate with the regions in the preparation of such plans, and therefore we applied to the European Commission for financial support” – explains the Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy, Małgorzata Jarosińska-Jedynak.

The European Commission agreed so that this money would support the preparation of the just transition plans for three provinces – Silesian, Greater Poland and Lower Silesian, in which 9 areas requiring the transition are located. It refers to Katowice, Bielsko-Biała, Tychy, Rybnik, Gliwice, Bytom, Sosnowiec (all in the Silesian province), Konin (Greater Poland  province) and Wałbrzych (Lower Silesian  province). The next step will be choosing a consulting company that will work on the plans together with MFiPR and the provinces.

The Just Transition Fund is one of the mechanisms of the European Green Deal, i.e. the EU action plan towards a sustainable economy. The fund is to support the transition of regions whose economies are based on coal mining.  Under the fund, within 2021-2027, EUR 7.5 billion has been allocated to the entire EU, of which Poland (according to the EC's proposal, which is still being discussed) is to receive the largest share - EUR 2 billion.

Source: http://www.funduszeeuropejskie.gov.pl/strony/wiadosci/sa-pieniadze-unijne-na-przygotowanie-regionalnych-planow-sprawiedalnej-transformacji/ (15/05/2020)