Friday, 15 December 2023
The area covered by the public call for proposals is the narrower area of the just transition of the Zasavska coal mining region, which includes the municipalities of Hrastnik, Trbovlje, and Zagorje ob Savi, and the narrower area of the just transition of the SAŠA coal mining region, which includes the municipalities of Velenje, Šoštanj, and Šmartno ob Paki. The final recipients are the municipalities, which are also the applicants/implementers/investors of the projects. The amount of non-repayable funds available for co-financing projects under this public call is EUR 34,494,117.64, of which EUR 31,905,882.35 is for co-financing projects in the SAŠA coal mining region.
The press conference, which took place before the information event, was attended by Dr. Aleksander Jevšek, Minister for Cohesion and Regional Development, Andreja Katič, State Secretary responsible for regional development, Peter Dermol, Mayor of the Municipality of Velenje, and Zoran Poznič, Mayor of the Municipality of Trbovlje.
Minister Jevšek emphasised that Slovenia ranks fourth among EU member states in terms of the successful utilisation of European funds, with all stakeholders, including beneficiaries, playing a truly positive role. The Just Transition Fund is a new feature of the 2021-2027 financial perspective, which will provide additional support to the SAŠA and Zasavje coal mining regions in their restructuring efforts in the coming period.
State Secretary Andreja Katič highlighted the good cooperation between the managing authority, line ministries, development agencies, municipalities, and other stakeholders in both regions with a view to ensuring the effective use of funds from the Just Transition Fund.
Peter Dermol thanked Minister Jevšek and his colleagues for their numerous consultations and discussions with municipalities, which is a unique and most appropriate way to listen to the needs of the demanding restructuring process for all residents in the region.
Zoran Poznič pointed out that the Just Transition Fund enables the Zasavje region to make the transition from the industrial age to a post-modern society, with all municipalities taking the tasks and commitments of the just transition extremely seriously. In his opinion, the Just Transition Fund is an opportunity for cooperation within the region on projects that will enable a future for all three valleys.
With successful applications for the call, the SAŠA region will obtain funds for the establishment of additional infrastructure conditions and support services for incubators, which will strengthen the support environment for the business ideas of those who are at the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey. This is one of the prerequisites for the growth and development of small businesses as well as large companies and will contribute to the development of entrepreneurship, employment, and restructuring of the SAŠA coal region, as well as the transition to a low-carbon circular economy in line with the Slovenian Strategy for Sustainable Smart Specialisation (S5) and its priority areas. The creation and growth of new companies is also important in terms of creating new business opportunities and contributes to the creation of new jobs.
The Just Transition Centre, operating under the SAŠA Development Agency, provides support in project preparation – from promoting project ideas, preparing applications and drafting investment documentation to implementation. The Centre for Just Transition will continue to perform key tasks in establishing local partnerships and networks for the implementation of projects and operations, conduct training to strengthen the capacity of project sponsors, provide support in project preparation, from promoting project ideas, preparing applications and investment documentation to implementation. The Centre will also continue to monitor project implementation and provide support in project management, record spatially and environmentally degraded areas and, in cooperation with other stakeholders, develop a vision for the revitalisation of coal mining heritage, prepare analyses and studies necessary for the effective implementation of the strategy and related programmes, measures and projects.
The activities of the SAŠA Just Transition Centre are fully funded by technical assistance from the Just Transition Fund.
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