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Energy

exchangeEU programme

Aiming to create long-term cooperation, facilitate mutual learning and knowledge exchange to accelerate the clean, just and successful energy transition of Europe's coal + regions.

Goals and benefits

The exchangeEU programme established meaningful and tangible exchanges between coal+ regions across Europe. Participating regions had the opportunity to capitalise on

  • an exchange agenda, tailored to the participating regions’ interests and needs
  • hands-on learning opportunities and tangible results for collaborative action
  • creation of a long-lasting practitioners’ network

Timeline

exchangeEU consisted of 2 exchange rounds. The first round spanned from November 2021 to October 2022. The second round launched with a call for applications in September 2022 and concluded in June 2023.

Both rounds consisted of the following phases:

  1. Phase 1
    Call for applications and virtual pre-matchmaking sessions
  2. Phase 2
    Application submissions
  3. Phase 3
    Evaluation, selection, and matchmaking
  4. Phase 4
    Agendas co-creation and logistical preparations
  5. Phase 6
    Implementation of one-way study visits to hosting regions
  6. Phase 7
    Evaluation and lessons learnt dissemination

First round of exchanges - overview

The first round included 19 delegations from 18 coal+ regions in transition . The matching process resulted in 8 exchanges, including 5 pairs of regions and 3 triangles of regions.

©Secretariat of the WBUA initiative

 

Exchange 1

Participating regions:

Zasavje (SI): Hosting region

Northern Hungary (HU): Visiting region

Moravia-Silesia (CZ): Visiting region

Duration of study visit: 1-2 June 2022

Exchange 1 - leaflet in 4 languages

Exchange 2

Participating regions:

Upper Nitra Region (SK): Hosting region

Eastern Cohesion Region (SI), represented by the city of Velenje): Visiting region

Jiu Valley (RO): Visiting region

Duration of study visit: 21-22 June 2022

Exchange 2 - leaflet in 4 languages

Exchange 3

Participating regions:

Malopolska (PL): Hosting region

Ústi (CZ): Visiting region

Aragón (ES): Visiting region

Duration of study visit: 19 - 20 July 2022

Exchange 3 - leaflet in 4 languages

Exchange 4

Participating regions:

Western Macedonia (EL): Hosting region

Stara Zagora (BG): Visiting region

Duration of study visit: 29 August - 1 September 2022

Exchange 4 - leaflet in 3 languages

Exchange 5

Participating regions:

Midlands Region (IE): Hosting region

Western Macedonia (EL): Visiting region

Duration of study visit: 6 - 7 September 2022

Exchange 5 - leaflet in 2 languages

Exchange 6

Participating regions:

Saxony (DE): Hosting region

Karlovarský (CZ): Visiting region

Duration of study visit: 13 - 15 September 2022

Exchange 6 - leaflet in 3 languages

Exchange 7

Participating regions:

Asturias (ES): Hosting region

Silesia (PL), represented by the city of Bytom: Visiting region

Duration of study visit: 5 - 6 October 2022

Exchange 7 - leaflet in 3 languages

Exchange 8

Participating regions:

Saxony-Anhalt (DE): Hosting region

Ida-Viru (EE): Visiting region

Duration of study visit: 4 - 7 October 2022

Exchange 8 - leaflet in 3 languages

Second round of exchanges - Overview

The second round included 23 delegations from 18 coal+ regions. In total 9 exchanges, divided into 4 pairs and 5 triangles were implemented.

©Secretariat of the WBUA initiative
Exchange 1

Participating regions:

Lusatia (DE): Hosting region

Turów (PL): Visiting region

Duration of study visit: 13-14 March 2023

Exchange 1 - leaflet in 3 languages

Exchange 2

Participating regions:

Northern Hungary (HU): Hosting region

Upper Nitra Region (SK)

Western Macedonia (EL): Visiting region

Duration of study visit: 27-29 March 2023

Exchange 2 - leaflet in 4 languages

Exchange 3

Participating regions:

Northern Hungary (HU): Hosting region

Zasavje (SI): Visiting region

Duration of study visit: 26-30 March 2023

Exchange 3 - leaflet in 3 languages

Exchange 4

Participating regions:

Stara Zagora (BG): Hosting region

Karlovy Vary (CZ): Visiting region

Duration of study visit: 4-5 April 2023

Exchange 4 - leaflet in 3 languages

Exchange 5

Participating regions:

Ústí (CZ): Hosting region

Asturias (ES): Visiting region

Upper Nitra Region (SK): Visiting region

Duration of study visit: 17-18 April 2023

Exchange 5 - leaflet in 4 languages

Exchange 6

Participating regions:

Western Macedonia (EL): Hosting region

Ida-Virumaa (EE): Visiting region

Moravia-Silesia (CZ): Visiting region

Duration of study visit: 18-19 April 2023

Exchange 6 - leaflet in 4 languages

Exchange 7

Participating regions:

Rheinish Region (DE): Hosting region

Wielkopolska (PL): Visiting region

Duration of study visit: 19-21 April 2023

Exchange 7 - leaflet in 3 languages

Exchange 8

Participating regions:

Ida-Virumaa (EE): Hosting region

Western Macedonia (EL): Visiting region

Sisak-Moslavina County (HR): Visiting region

Duration of study visit: 2-5 May 2023

Exchange 8 - leaflet in 4 languages

Exchange 9

Participating regions:

Bytom (PL): Hosting region

Eastern Cohesion Region (SI): Visiting region

Duration of study visit: 8-11 May 2023

Exchange 9 - leaflet in 3 languages

Participating regions

exchangeEU was open for coal, lignite, peat and oil shale (coal+) regions from all 27 EU countries.

Applications were received from various relevant public and private stakeholders actively involved in the just transition processes of regions highly dependent on coal+ mining and burning

  • local, regional or national public authorities
  • civil society, NGOs, CSOs, trade unions or similar associations
  • development, innovation, energy or similar agencies
  • research organisations or universities
  • businesses, SMEs or related associations
  • other key socio-economic actors

In total, the exchangeEU programme supported the exchange of 42 regional delegations through 17 on-site visits, representing delegations from 13 EU countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain.

Exchange formats

exchangeEU facilitated tailor-made exchanges between 2 or 3 regions, allowing them to engage and learn from each other’s practical experiences in planning and implementing just transition projects on the ground.

Each exchange included online meetings and a one-way study visit to one of the participating regions, with options for:

  • knowledge sharing
  • group workshops
  • meetings with local stakeholders and political decision makers
  • site visits to just transition lighthouse projects and mining areas
  • job shadowing

Some regions proposed their own exchange formats to meet specific needs and promote innovative approaches.

A team of designated exchangeEU facilitators supported the implementation of the exchanges, from kick-off to evaluation, with active input from the participating regions. exchangeEU subsidised travel and accommodation costs for the study visits.

    Success stories

    Discover exchangeEU’s inspiring success stories through the

    These resources showcase real-life experiences and valuable insights from individuals who have benefited from the programme.

    Newsletter articles

    Learn more about the second exchange round by experiencing detailed accounts of the study visits in our exchangeEU newsletter articles.

    Newsletter about exchange 1

    Joint newsletters about exchanges 2+3

    Newsletter about exchange 4

    Newsletter about exchange 5

    Newsletter about exchange 6

    Newsletter about exchange 7

    Newsletter about exchange 8

    Newsletter about exchange 9