Exchange of just transition best practices in Northern Hungary

From 26-31 March, the Hungarian Coal Commission Secretariat welcomed two delegations to the Heves and Borsod Abauj Zemplen coal regions (HU) as part of the exchangeEU programme.

First, the Secretariat welcomed a representative from the Regional Development Agency of Zasavje (SI) for a reverse job-shadowing exchange to gain insights on specific approaches to using just transition funds for economic diversification and regional development projects. Secondly, delegations from Western Macedonia (GR) and the Upper Nitra Region (SK) travelled to Hungary to discuss strategies for establishing energy communities, re-skilling and upskilling workers, and conducting stakeholder engagement.

All regions came together to share best practices, develop new ideas and discuss tangible projects and potential cooperation opportunities.

Results in a nutshell

Implementing just transition projects

Zasavje shared their experiences implementing just transition projects supported by Just Transition Funds. Two lighthouse projects in particular were presented: the newly created Just Transition Center, and the soon-to-be built Zasavje Center for Development, Demonstration, and Training for Carbon-Free Technologies. The latter will be located on a former mining site, and will function as a training and job creation centre for the region. Zasavje also highlighted the region's ‘Common Strategy’ on transnational, national, regional, and local policy improvements.

Energy community projects

Western Macedonia presented lessons learnt from the approximately 1,406 energy communities already established in their region. Delegates emphasised the importance of designing clear criteria for the size and type of participants in energy communities, in order to ensure that participants' energy needs are satisfied first. This is in contrast to the outcome that energy communities merely sell energy to the grid.

Further inspiration stemmed from a site-visit to the Social Solar Power Plant at Tiszabő, established by Magyar Máltai Szeretetszolgálat & E.ON. The Hungarian village of Tiszabő, a low-income, rural Roma village, uses energy from the nearby solar plant to keep houses warm. As such, about a quarter of the village’s families are given free heating through the winter season! The plant serves as a model for further projects throughout Hungary. Under the “Felzárkózó Települések” (Upgrading Towns and Villages) programme, social solar power plants are planned to be built in 300 underserved locations across the country.

Re- and up-skilling programmes

During a visit to the Heves Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber president presented a plan for how to use JTF funding to offer coal workers career guidance, training, employment support, and individual and group counselling. A similar project designed by the City of Prievidza (SK) with local stakeholders was highlighted by the Upper Nitra delegation. Thanks to the programme’s promising results, the Slovak government is expected to extend it for two more years to support coal workers through the closure of the Upper Nitra coal mine in 2023.

Youth engagement initiatives

All delegations emphasised the importance of including younger generations in the transition process. Both the Western Macedonian EUTeens4Green projects, as well as the Slovakian company ‘Pronea’ – which works to educate students on entrepreneurship and developing their region through their own ideas and projects – were explored as best practice examples of engaging young people in just transition. Following this exchange of good practice approaches, delegation members met with current students at the Eszterházy Károly Catholic University, where the Hungarian Coal Commission Secretariat is located. Students and exchange members engaged in a workshop to discuss strategies and approaches to better engage youth in just transition processes.

Future opportunities for collaboration

Both exchanges laid the foundation for fruitful future collaboration between the regions, with all participants planning to intensify collaboration on potential just transition projects. Slovakia and Western Macedonia intend to share case studies on energy community models; while Northern Hungary expressed interest in participating in a learning visit to Western Macedonia to gain more insights on hydrogen and renewable energy projects, as well as stakeholder engagement strategies. The latter two jurisdictions are also planning to submit a Horizon Europe proposal on how to overcome energy poverty through social inclusion.