The coal region-to-region exchange programme is an opportunity for regions to start direct, one-to-one dialogues, connect with different stakeholders, learn from each other and transfer knowledge. The possibility to explore peers’ experiences and reflect about own challenges and developments will help to accelerate coal regions’ clean energy transition.
Selected participants
We received 32 applications from regions wanting to participate in the exchange programme. Based on the assessment, 14 selected delegations have been paired up with one another to form 6 sets of exchange partners. Another 2 sets – each co-led by Ukrainian applicants – were foreseen, but to our greatest regret, these exchanges are – temporarily – put on hold.
All the exchanges are either long- or medium-term, featuring, respectively, reciprocal in-person visits or a single visit to one of the target regions. The 3 first exchanges took place in April-November 2022, and the other 3 exchanges are ongoing.
In 2022, initial in-person visits were held in June-July, and the reciprocal visits happened in October-November. Despite tight agendas allowing participants to make the most of each other’s experience in working towards a just transition, the visits were a big success. Most importantly, they allowed for a joint reflection by participants from the Western Balkans and the EU on the crucial importance of a holistic and strategic approach when preparing for a transition. The visits thus became a powerful source of motivation as well as practical knowledge needed to ensure that the transition is just. To “join” the exchanges and see how the regions in the Western Balkans and the EU work together towards just transition, watch these videos about the visit to Silesia (Poland), exchange with Western Macedonia (Greece), and the visit to Lukavac, Banovići and Živinice (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
The 2023 face-to-face visits kicked off in March (within exchange #6), the second exchange took place in April (exchange #4), and the next one is scheduled for May (exchange #5).
Focal delegation, Western Balkans, led by:
Kosovo Energy Corporation, with contributions from the Ministry of Economy and the Office of Prime Minister
Target area: Kosovo coal basin, Kosovo*
Focal delegation, EU, led by:
Association of Mining Communes in Poland
Target area: Upper Silesian coal basin, Silesian Voivodeship, Poland
Exchange duration: medium-term
In-person visit: 12-14 July 2022
Topics in focus: regional and local transition strategies; repurposing of post-mining/post-industrial areas; transformation challenges of coal-based enterprises in mining and utility sectors; knowledge creation and partnerships for change.
Focal delegation, Western Balkans, led by:
Municipality of Lukavac
Target area: Municipalities of Lukavac, Živinice and Banovići, Tuzla canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Focal delegation, EU, led by:
Economic and Social Council of the Ústí Region
Target area: Ústí region, Czechia
Exchange duration: long-term
In-person visits: 21-23 June, 7-9 November 2022
Topics in focus: rehabilitation and repurposing of mining sites; renewables and alternative energy solutions; economic diversification and developing business opportunities; just transition governance.
Focal and contributing delegations, Western Balkans, led by:
Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts - with contributions from the delegation led by the Municipality of Kičevo
Target area: Municipalities of Bitola, Novaci and Kičevo, North Macedonia
Focal delegation, EU, led by:
DCN Global, of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Target area: Region of Western Macedonia, Greece
Exchange duration: long-term
In-person visits: 6-8 July, 12-14 October 2022.
Topics in focus: regional strategy development; rehabilitation and repurposing of mining sites; renewables and alternative energy solutions; smart agriculture for economy diversification and job security; communicating the transition to and with citizens.
Focal and contributing delegations, Western Balkans, led by:
Belgrade Open School and Trade Union Confederation “Nezavisnost” – with contributions from the delegation of the Serbian Ministry of Mining and Energy
Target area: Kolubara and Kostolac districts, Serbia
Focal delegation, EU, led by:
Coalition of NGOs in Jiu Valley
Target area: Jiu Valley region, Hunedoara county, Romania
Exchange duration: medium-term
In-person visit: 19-21 April 2023.
Topics in focus: reskilling workers and employment creation; social dialogue, partnership, and participation; strategic project development.
Focal delegation, Western Balkans, led by:
Municipality of Kakanj
Target area: Municipalities of Kakanj and Breza, Zenica-Doboj canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Focal delegation, EU, led by:
Stara Zagora Regional Economic Development Agency
Target area: District of Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Exchange duration: medium-term
In-person visit: 29-31 May 2023.
Potential topics to exchange on: land and infrastructure repurposing; reskilling workers and employment creation; responsive governance.
Focal delegation, Western Balkans, led by:
Municipality of Pljevlja
Target area: Municipality of Pljevlja, Montenegro
Focal delegation, EU, led by:
Municipality of Velenje
Target area: Municipality of Velenje, Slovenia
Exchange duration: long-term
In-person visits: 14-16 March and September 2023.
Potential topics to exchange on: local transition planning and stakeholder engagement; energy efficiency; land and infrastructure repurposing.
Following steps
Led by facilitators from the initiative’s secretariat, the exchange programme participants are developing exact roadmaps of their exchanges. The roadmaps nail down the topics on which the want to exchange within this programme, define formats most suitable for them and point out any subjects for which they might need input from external experts.
Though all exchanges feature either 1 or 2 in-person visits, regions will truly solidify their relationships with one another through virtual interactions and discussions leading up to those visits; this relationship-building should lead to fruitful cooperation even beyond the programme.
Updates about their progress are provided on this webpage, in the initiative’s newsletter and on social media, and via the channels of all involved partners.
Selection process
Applications for the coal regions exchange programme closed on 30 September 2021.
The 32 submitted applications speak to the active interest from the side of coal regions, with a very good geographic spread of applicants.
The applications were carefully evaluated by the initiative secretariat’s team of experts, and their assessments were further peer-reviewed. The best-scored applications were selected for participation in the programme. Based on the exact needs, interest and experiences of the selected applicants, the secretariat developed suggestions for match-making among delegations. These suggestions were further discussed with the selected applicants. In some cases, the evaluators highlighted complementarity among delegations and suggested they join forces, with one being a focal delegation and the other being a contributing delegation. After consolidating feedback of all involved parties, the above-presented sets of delegations were confirmed.
Coal regions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine and the EU can participate in the exchange programme.
To join the programme, interested participants were invited to apply by 30 September 2021 by following 3 steps described below.
- Form a group of region representatives (a “delegation”) that fits the following criteria
- is led by a public authority from the coal region or by a suitable local entity (such as energy company, trade union, NGO, research institution) that submits a letter of support from a public authority in their region
- engages other relevant stakeholders, including from industry, labour groups, civil society organisations, academia
- consists of up to 7 representatives of the region
- demonstrates gender balance within the delegation
- Fill out a suitable application form from provided below (section “Documents and resources”)
- Submit their applications as PDF documents to the initiative’s secretariat via email: exchangeWBUA@coalregions.eu.
For applying and participating in the exchanges, some of applicants' personal data was required. Read the privacy statement for details here.
Priority will be given to pairs made up of one coal region from the Western Balkans and Ukraine and one from the EU. However, the programme is flexible and needs-based, so alternative figurations are also possible, for example
- a pair that consist of 2 regions from the Western Balkans and Ukraine
- EU regions that are frontrunners in smart specialisation or renewable energy to join and share their innovations
- various entities (such as public authority, energy company, trade union, NGO, research institution) to apply
The length of the exchange will depend on the needs and capacities of participating regions and available resources.
| Duration of exchange (indicative) | Number of meetings | Number of topics covered |
Long-term exchange | 1 year | Two meetings, 2-3 days each (hosted by each region in the pair) | Up to 4 |
Medium-term exchange | 3-6 months | One meeting, 2-3 days (hosted by one of the regions in the pair) | 1-3 |
Short-term exchange | 3-4 months | One meeting, 1 day (hosted back-to-back with a related event) | 1 |
Depending on the interest and needs of participating regions, topics will be selected to be explored in-depth. For example, they might include
- closing and repurposing coal-related sites and infrastructure
- designing an effective governance model to support a transition process in a region
- developing of an engagement strategy and setting up a series of transition dialogues
- conceptualising economic diversification for a coal region as a means for long-term job creation
The exchange in each pair will be guided by a facilitator from the initiative’s secretariat. Together with the regions, the facilitator will help define the focus of the exchange, objectives, key challenges, areas for which expert input is needed, as well as collaboratively develop agendas of meetings. Several experts will contribute to each exchange by sharing their knowledge on the topics selected by the regions.
The exchange programme is resourced to finance the region-to-region exchange including travel and accommodation of up to 7 representatives per participating region. No other activities are funded as part of the programme.
For further details about the coal region-to-region exchanges: exchangeWBUA@coalregions.eu
Exchange programme benefits
To enable a direct and beneficial exchange, participating regions are paired based on their interests and expertise.
As part of the programme, they can benefit from study visits, knowledge exchange, expert support, and other opportunities to share experiences.
- Participating regions from the Western Balkans and Ukraine will get tailored and specific inputs from experts supporting the exchanges. They will also access advice from their EU pairs, as the EU regions can share their specific knowledge and good practices, through hands-on learning opportunities offered within study visits.
- Participating EU coal regions will have the opportunity to reflect on their transition so far. Guided by inputs from experts and methodological tools, they can evaluate their own work and map out next steps. The experts can give further input on how the EU coal regions can achieve those identified steps and speed up their local just transitions.
The programme is also a networking opportunity, as the participants can access a network of regions from the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and the EU, as well as interact with the European Commission and 6 more international organisations leading the initiative.
Documents and resources
- Application forms
- Leaflet: Coal regions exchange programme (Available in: Albanian, Bosnian, Croatian, English, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Serbian and Ukrainian)
- Further details about the programme - video recording of the programme launch and presentation at the initiative's annual meeting
*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.