The European Commission has opened the way for EUR 3.85 billion to be invested in five of Poland's coal-mining regions to 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 no one could be cast aside in this age of carbon transition, as everyone must achieve success in this field.
He was looking forward to working with provincial assembly leaders and mayors of cities to help them achieve their plans, said Timmermans. PAP jch md