EU approves EUR 3.85 billion Just Transition Plans for Poland

The European Commission has paved the way for EUR 3.85 billion to be invested in helping five of Poland's coal-mining regions deal with the challenges of becoming carbon neutral.

In the southern city of Chorzow, which is in the heart of Poland's mining industry, Frans Timmermans, the EU's climate policy chief, said that the European Commission had approved all five of the Just Transition Plans for Poland.

The plans, which include a national one and a number of Territorial Just Transition Plans, outline the main socio-economic challenges regions face in their transition towards climate neutrality.

They must be submitted to the European Commission if they want to get access to the Just Transition Fund.

Timmermans said that all of the plans were now in the hands of local and regional governments and that the EC would work together with them. The strategies would address the specific needs of the local communities, as well as large, small and medium-sized enterprises.

Timmermans said that in this age of carbon transition, no one could be cast aside, as everyone must achieve success in this field.

Timmermans said he was looking forward to working with provincial assembly leaders and the mayors of cities to help them achieve their plans. PAP jch md