The Coal Commission was established on the 11th of March 2021 as the first permanent consultative forum on coal transition in Hungary. The primary objective of the Commission is to involve all key stakeholders in the planning and implementation of the green transition of the Northern Hungary coal region (Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and Heves counties).
The counties of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and Heves are eligible to receive funding from the new cohesion policy financial instrument, the Just Transition Fund (JTF), which aims to support areas facing serious socio-economic challenges as a result of the process of climate neutrality transition. In order to qualify for JTF support, territorial plans for a just transition (Territorial Just Transition Plan) had to be submitted to the European Commission and were adopted by the commission in December 2022. The plans identify specific areas of intervention based on the economic and social impacts of the transition.
Six such main intervention areas have been identified for the counties of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and Heves, the SME loan programme concept will be the first to provide the framework for the first calls for proposals under the JTF. The calls for proposals will support technology change and energy efficiency investments that enable greenhouse gas reductions; green economy diversification of companies, in particular the green diversification of SMEs; and innovative energy storing pilot projects.
During the recent Commission meeting in Eger, the Head of Unit of the Environment and Energy Efficiency Operational Programme Plus Managing Authority (KEHOP+ IH) presented the concept of the Just Transition Fund for SMEs. Commission members had the opportunity to share their comments and ask questions.
The meeting was organised by the Coal Commission Secretariat in the framework of the LIFE IP North-HU-Trans project.
News sent by: Zsuzsa Piskóti-Kovács PhD
Photos by: Szántó György, Póka Patrik