The Initiative for coal regions in transition in the Western Balkans and Ukraine invites all interested stakeholders to join its annual meeting scheduled for 23-24 June. The aim of the event is to support open, multi-stakeholder dialogue on coal phase out and just transition towards sustainable energy sources in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine.
The meeting will bring together representatives of national and regional public authorities, international organizations, energy sectors, NGOs, academia, businesses and media. It will be an opportunity for stakeholders to understand the main challenges in the road towards decarbonization of the energy sector in coal regions, the socio-economic impact in the transition to clean energy, and the main perspectives of the energy transition. Participants will be able to discover exchange opportunities across coal regions and be informed about how to take part in these activities.
The event will also shed light on the benefits of cross-border cooperation, positive examples of transition in other countries, as well as synergies with the Initiative for coal regions in transition in the European Union. Finally, the meeting will feature presentations and updates from the European Commission and international partners leading the initiative.
In February, The European Commission (EC) has launched a new initiative to help coal regions in the Western Balkans and Ukraine transition away from coal towards a carbon-neutral economy. Mirroring the successful EU Initiative for coal regions in transition, the newly established secretariat will deliver support to coal regions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine. Seventeen regions with significant coal mining activities and coal-based energy production will be the key beneficiaries.
