exchangeEU launches first round of exchanges: 19 coal+ regions in transition have been selected to participate in the EU-wide ex-change programme

After receiving a great number of engaging and high-quality applications from EU coal+ regions, the EU coal+ regions exchange programme (exchangeEU) enters its next stage and launches the first round of exchanges. In total 19 coal+ regions in transition have been selected to participate in the exchanges. In the application process, each region was invited to propose the kind of exchange format for joint learning that would best meet their specific needs. These regions were matched with one another according to their profile, thus, better equipped to work together towards a common goal. The matching process resulted in 8 exchanges, including 4 region pairs and 4 region triangles. The participating regions represent a total of 12 EU Member States: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain. 6 of these countries have more than one coal+ region participating in the programme.

A unique opportunity for networking and learning

During the exchange, the regions will share insights as well as learn and work together on solutions for a just transition. exchangeEU provides them with the opportunity to jointly promote the just transition process in their regions and create a network of practitioners that offers ongoing support and dialogue.

Tailor-made workshops and site visits

In the exchange programme, each match will be offered individual assistance and guidance by an experienced facilitator team. The exchange is designed in a way that one region takes the hosting role and the other(s) the visiting role. Accordingly, only one visit is foreseen per pair. The participants will be able to constantly influence the organisation of the exchange formats, allowing them to take ownership of their personal learning experience. From the beginning, participants will be actively involved in the agenda-setting process and encouraged to propose their own exchange format. This is how tailor-made study visits and innovative approaches for joint learning and peer-to-peer encounters will arise.

Themes

The exchange facilitators already conducted preliminary meetings with the matched regions representatives. The majority of regions expressed interest in a wide range of topics, largely related to current challenges they face in their Just Transition processes, such as economic diversification and regional development, infrastructure, site sustainability, and rehabilitation as well as clean energy transition and transition governance.

Next steps

Over the next few weeks, the participants will collaborate closely to set up their agenda for the study visit. The first exchanges will take place in June. Throughout the agenda-setting process and implementation, the regions are supported and accompanied by assigned exchange facilitators from the exchangeEU team.

About exchangeEU

• exchangeEU is the exchange programme for coal, lignite, peat, and oil shale (coal+) regions in transition in the EU. The first round of exchangeEU will take place in 2022. The second round will kick off in September 2022 and continue into 2023. Ongoing updates on the programme’s process and results, as well as future calls for applications, will be shared via this newsletter, on the project’s website and DG ENER’s Twitter channel (@Energy4Europe).