Annual meeting of the Initiative for coal regions in transition in the Western Balkans and Ukraine

Ensuring that the just transition is well managed by coal regions is of utmost importance to make it a reality. Thereby, the annual initiative meeting of the Initiative for coal regions in transition in the Western Balkans and Ukraine convened a diverse group of stakeholders, including public authorities, international organisations, representatives from the energy industry, and civil society, fostering a candid and open discussion. It served as a platform for these stakeholders to engage in direct conversations about the present status, obstacles, and potential pathways for achieving just transitions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine.

The event encompassed various subjects, including

• just transition integration into National Energy and Climate Plans
• reflections on technical assistance and investment preparation
• governance and stakeholder engagement mechanisms to facilitate the just transition
• accessing international, public, and private finance
• capacity building for navigating the just transition

Related links

• Speaker presentations: Day 1 and Day 2
• Visual notes
• Recordings:
  • Opening & Panel “Just Transition as a building block in the transformation”
  • Updates from the international partners of the WBUA initiative 
  • Panel “The role of peer exchange in facilitating the just transition”
  • Panel “Governance structures and stakeholder engagement for a just transition”
  • Panel “Financing the just transition and coal phase-out”
  • Panel “Capacity building: what are the needs and what is offered?” & Closing session 

• Meeting report : November 2023

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.