The Just Transition Platform (JTP) is the key tool to help EU Member States and regions unlock support available through the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM). It ensures that all stakeholders have the guidance, information and knowledge they need to support Europe's just transition to a sustainable, climate-neutral economy.
Established in 2020, the JTP is your single access point to information about the support for the EU territories most affected by the transition. It provides technical assistance and advice, including a dedicated helpdesk. The Platform also promotes sharing of knowledge and exchanges of best practices to a wide range of stakeholders, particularly in regions dependent on fossil fuels or carbon-intensive industries.
The Platform organises regular events for all stakeholders and gives the floor to financial actors, social partners, business representatives, youth organisations and transition experts to discuss the needs and challenges of the just transition. Another key initiative involves dedicated JTP Working Groups for Just Transition Fund regions.
The JTP builds on and expands the work of the existing Initiative for Coal Regions in Transition, which supports fossil fuel producing regions across the EU in achieving a just transition through tailored, needs-oriented assistance and capacity-building.
This transition to a sustainable and climate-neutral economy will require substantial investments across Europe. In order to turn the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, the new Europe's growth strategy has been established: the European Green Deal (EGD). It aims to bring cross-sectoral, transformative change, decouple economic growth from resource use, and eliminate net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. To achieve this goal, a new instrument has been launched: The Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) ensuring the 'just' transition for all - leaving no person or region behind.
The concentration of extractive industries (hard coal, lignite, peat or oil shale) and related energy production, as well as carbon intensive industries (e.g. cement, steel, aluminium, fertiliser or paper production) poses significant challenges to territories that are heavily reliant on such activities. These territories will be required to restructure and diversify their economy, maintain social cohesion, and (re)train the affected workers and youth to prepare them for future jobs.
The first pillar of the Just Transition Mechanism is the Just Transition Fund (JTF), established in 2021 through the JTF Regulation. The Fund will bring wide-ranging benefits, including job and re-skilling opportunities and economic diversification.
It was launched in the framework of cohesion policy, the main EU policy to reduce disparities and address structural change in Europe's regions. Focusing on economic diversification and reskilling, the Fund aims to support regions facing serious socio-economic challenges due to the transition process. Regions that are heavily reliant on fossil fuels or greenhouse gas-intensive industrial activities will need to phase out certain activities and restructure their industries, while also protecting the environment and providing job and re-skilling opportunities to workers and their families.
The JTF represents EUR 19.2 billion in EU financing and is one of three funding pillars of the JTM. The second pillar is a just transition scheme for private investments under the InvestEU programme, with investment guidelines set out by Regulation (EU) 2021/1078. Its third pillar is a public sector loan facility backed by the EU budget, established by Regulation (EU) 2021/1229.
Other relevant legislation includes Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.
In order to unlock and implement JTM resources, EU Member States prepared strategic Territorial Just Transition Plans (TJTPs), which are part of their cohesion policy programmes.
TJTPs include an outline of the transition process until 2030 and 2050, and identify the eligible territories expected to be most negatively impacted by this transition. They should set out the social, economic, and environmental challenges stemming from the phasing out of fossil fuel-related activities or decarbonisation of greenhouse gas-intensive processes or products. Moreover, they describe the types of operations to be funded by the JTF and outline the intended use of Pillars 2 and 3 of the JTM.
TJTPs were prepared in dialogue with relevant partners and the European Commission, ensuring they are consistent with the Smart Specialisation Strategies and National Energy and Climate Plans. The JTP offers support to JTF regions in the implementation of their TJTPs.
While support with developing TJTPs was provided by
DG REFORM,
the knowledge, information and support provided by the JTP can help Member States draw up TJTPs that reflect their territories’ needs.
A template for the TJTPs is available in Annex II of the
JTF Regulation.
Fifth meeting of the Just Transition Platform
