Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) The European Commission adopted the Just Transition Fund (JTF) program on Monday as part of which the Czech Republic will receive 1.64 billion euros.
The body pointed out in a statement on Monday that the Czech Republic will receive the money in the form of grants to support its green push.
Czechia is to use the money to phase out coal from its energy mix by 2033, with the EC stressing that the programme will “ensure a fair transition to climate neutrality.”
The body pointed out that the JTF will help parts of the Czech Republic with high concentrations of heavy industry, including Carlsbad, Ústecký and Moravian-Silesian regions.
The three regions employ roughly 21,000 people in chemicals and coal industries, with the EC stressing that the JTF will provide support to make sure nobody is left behind in the green transition.
Czech Republic’s industrial tradition
Frans Timmermans, European Commissioner for Climate Action, pointed out “Czechia is a country with a rich industrial tradition and a promising future… together with the Modernisation Fund, the Czech Just Transition Plan will help deliver a fair transition to climate neutrality.”
He concluded that the EC wants to help the Czech Republic “to work for a healthy, green and fair future for the country.”
Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, welcomed the approval of the plan and pointed out that “Cohesion Policy is already supporting the regional economy.”
“Karlovarsky, Ustecky and Moravskoslezky will now have at their disposal 1.64 billion euro to implement a just transition of their local economy,” Ferreira noted and concluded “together we will make sure that the climate transition in Czechia goes hand in hand with new opportunities for the concerned regions and their citizens.”
The EC pointed out that more than 1,000 jobs in the Carlsbad region are connected with carbon-intensive power generation, stressing that it wants the region to develop small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) instead.
“To make sure the industrial transition in this region is benefitting everyone, the JTF will support entrepreneurs and human resources by helping to re- and up-skill workers,” the Commission concluded.
