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Energy

EU coal regions in transition

The EU is committed to supporting coal regions to ensure that the clean energy transition is fair and no region is left behind.

While coal remains a primary fuel in the European energy mix, the transition to cleaner forms of energy and innovative technologies, such as carbon capture and storage, is imperative to meet the EU’s commitment to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and to become the world’s first climate-neutral bloc by 2050.

Since 2012, total coal power generation has dropped by almost a third in the EU. The declining use of coal has caused mines to close down and power plants to be decommissioned in a number of regions across Europe. Coal activities offered direct employment to around 208 000 people across Europe in 2021 and 76% of these jobs were in the mining sector. This is a decrease of almost 37% in the number of jobs indirectly related to the coal sector in the EU compared to data in the EU coal regions report from 2018. The countries with the highest number of jobs in the sector are Poland, Germany, Czechia, Romania and Bulgaria.

Key facts on coal in the EU

13%
coal share of EU total electricity production (2023)
208 000
jobs in EU coal mines and power plants (2021)
31
coal regions in 11 EU countries

(Source: Fraunhofer- based on ENTSO-E data; Recent trends in EU coal, peat and oil shale regions 2021 by JRC)

Initiative for coal regions in transition

To ensure that no region, worker or community is left behind in the energy transition, the Commission launched the Coal regions in transition Initiative (CRiT) in 2017 to help mitigate the social consequences of the low-carbon transition in coal, peat and oil shale regions of the European Union.

CRiT works closely with the Just Transition Platform and the Initiative for Coal Regions in the Western Balkans and Ukraine. It also fosters close relationships with regional, national, European, and international bodies, initiatives and projects working to foster a just transition for coal and carbon-intensive regions.

Assistance and material provided

The Initiative supports public administrations and other relevant stakeholders via knowledge productstechnical assistanceevents and peer-to-peer exchange. It also convenes topical Working Groups to tackle specific priority areas for European +coal regions.

Coal regions covered

The Initiative supports EU coal, lignite, peat and oil shale regions, defined as NUTS-2 regions, with over 100 jobs in coal, peat or oil shale extraction in 2018, according to JRC sources. While all can benefit from the Initiative’s resources, knowledge products and events, only these regions are eligible to apply for technical assistance and exchange programmes.

International collaboration

The Initiative is keen to engage international stakeholders and facilitate collaboration between EU coal+ regions and regions in other parts of the world. The Secretariat is always looking for international best practices that can help EU coal regions; furthermore, the Secretariat and regions it works with are available to share expertise and experience that exists within EU coal+ regions to support global counterparts.

To discuss potential collaboration opportunities, contact: secretariatatcoalregions [dot] eu (secretariat[at]coalregions[dot]eu).

Examples of specific areas of expertise within EU coal+ regions that can be presented to international partners

  • transition governance, including national and regional transition plans and strategies
  • managing labour market challenges associated with transition
  • brownfield site regeneration
  • region-to-region exchange of good practices and lessons learnt
  • leveraging former mining infrastructure, e.g. for tourism
  • capturing local mining heritage through museums, festivals, and events
  • community engagement

EU support

To help to achieve its energy and climate goals, the Commission introduced in January 2022 the Just Transition Mechanism in its proposal for Regulation COM/2020/22. Alongside tailored financial and practical support, it will help workers and generate the necessary investments to areas particularly affected, like the EU coal regions.

Furthermore, the Commission provides tailored support to coal regions, peat and oil shale regions, either in the form of operational country teams or bilateral discussions with Commission experts. This support can help national and regional authorities to identify ways to initiate and implement the transition. This support is accompanied by existing EU funds, financing tools and programmes. The country teams work with national and regional authorities in regions chosen by EU countries to encourage the preparation of transition strategies and support the identification of priority projects.

Secretariat

Since early 2019, a secretariat manages all the Initiative activities with the European Commission. The Secretariat is made up of a consortium of actors that bring a unique blend of skills and competencies to support coal regions in transition: EcorysClimate StrategiesICLEI Europe, and the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment, Energy.