The Just Transition Fund can only become reality on the ground in conjunction with regional investment and cohesion policy. This is why we should not rob Peter (cohesion policy) to pay Paul (the Just Transition Fund). This is the main message of PES Group members reacting to today’s European Commission proposal for a Just Transition Fund and Mechanism.
As part of the European Green Deal, the Just Transition Mechanism responds to a major request of Europe's regions: assisting those regions most heavily affected by the green transition, in particular those with carbon-intensive industries such as coal and steelmaking, to move towards a climate-neutral economy. In total, the Commission aims to generate around EUR 100 billion under this new instrument, which will have a Fund of around EUR 7.5 billion managed under cohesion policy rules and drawing resources mainly from the EU’s long-term budget.
Speaking at the European Parliament’s plenary session, Commissioner Frans Timmermans stressed: “The Green Deal must be inspired by solidarity: while paving the way for Europe becoming the first climate-neutral continent we need to ensure that no one is left behind in the transition.”
Reacting on behalf of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, President Iratxe García Pérez emphasised: “We need to look at the need for fresh funding to underpin this social and ecological transformation. We must not undermine the cohesion funds and the agricultural fund.”
Europe’s second big challenge is to achieve climate neutrality in 2050 without generating social exclusion and without widening the gap between EU regions.
— S&D Group (@TheProgressives) January 14, 2020
To solve this crucial issue, my group is committed to a just transition in which no one is left behind. - @iratxegarper pic.twitter.com/wxpqBzhaxg
Commenting on the proposals, PES Group member Vojko Obersnel, Mayor of Rijeka (Croatia) and European Committee of the Regions’ rapporteur on the topic, argued: “We certainly welcome the fact that all affected regions will be able to benefit from the Just Transition Fund and that there will be additional money. However, EUR 7.5 billion do not make up for the severe cuts to the overall cohesion policy budget under negotiation in the Council. All additional financial promises the European Commission gives are high hopes for the moment – but will they be able to deliver in the regions?”
"We welcome that all affected regions will be able to benefit from the Just Transition Fund. However, the additional money does not make up for the severe cuts to cohesion policy."
— PES Group Committee of the Regions (@PES_CoR) January 14, 2020
The #EUGreenDeal needs a strong cohesion policy! @Obi_Rijecki #EPlenary #CohesionAlliance pic.twitter.com/i8z1o680ng
The concerns of progressive local and regional leaders had alrdeay been raised last week at a meeting between the #CohesionAlliance partners and the European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, and at which PES member Vasco Cordeiro, President of the Azores Region (Portugal) pointed out: “We all agree on the goals and the principles and the importance of this new fund. The devil, however, lies in resources and procedure: How can we be sure that regions are strengthened if the Just Transition Fund comes at the expenses of cohesion policy, thus jeopardizing the key solidarity instrument of the European project.”
"The main question is about resources. Where do we get the money from?
— PES Group Committee of the Regions (@PES_CoR) January 9, 2020
We must not allow that a key element of the European project is jeopardized.
On the contrary, cohesion policy needs to be strengthened with the Just Transition Mechanism."
Vasco Cordeiro #CohesionAlliance pic.twitter.com/C8u1VRVIDF
"Si le financement du Green Deal est pris sur les moyens de la politique de cohésion, il n’apportera rien de plus.”
— PES Group Committee of the Regions (@PES_CoR) January 9, 2020
Notre membre @IBoudineau à @ElisaFerreiraEC #CohesionAlliance #EUGreenDeal pic.twitter.com/a8zPfup4d0
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Photo credit: Unsplash/Science in HD
