Calls worth 869 million euros will be launched under the Just Transition Fund in 2025

Eight more calls under the Just Transition Fund (JTF) worth a total of 869 million euros will be launched in 2025 in Bulgaria. This was announced by Ivaylo Stoyanov, Head of the Strategic Planning and Programming Department at the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW). He took part in the "Just Transition in Pernik" international conference, organized by Brand Media Bulgaria as part of implementing the European project "Career Transition of Opportunities".

Stoyanov explained that together with the other three calls launched in 2024, the entire resource of the Just Transition Fund, part of the Regional Development Program 2021 - 2027, has thus been implemented.

The structure of the priority axis of the Just Transition Fund follows the structure of the three territorial plans of Bulgaria. These documents determine the investments under the JTF," said Stoyanov.

He told the conference participants that designing the priority axis of the Just Transition Fund took a long time because the measures and calls are very diverse.

Upcoming JTF calls in 2025

• "Support for industrial and logistics parks and zones with a focus on the use of clean energy" with a total budget of 76 million euros;
• "Diversification and adaptation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the economic transition" with a total budget of 127 million euros;
• "Support for energy communities for sustainable and clean energy solutions" with a total budget of 152 million euros;
• "Reclamation of mining areas" with a total budget of 243 million euros;
• The second call for "Qualification and requalification to support the green transition" with a total budget of 64 million euros;
• "Support for photovoltaic parks" with a total budget of BGN 72.5 million euros;
• "Clean Energy" with a total budget of 71 million euros;
• "Support for Research and Development (R&D)" with a total budget of 70 million euros.

Current progress in implementation

The first call under the JTF was announced in 2024. It was BG16FFPR003-4.001, "Support for sustainable energy renovation of multi-family residential buildings, including addressing energy poverty," with a budget of 100 million euros.

• A total of 330 projects worth 233 million euros were submitted.
• Pernik Region – 38 projects approved for 16.8 million euros.

Open calls

BG16FFPR003-4.002 "Support for workers in the affected sectors through training for upskilling and reskilling" - budget of 56 million euros, aimed at employees in companies operating thermal power plants or concessionaires of deposits. Deadline I is 13.03.2025 and deadline II is 13.06.2025.

• Pernik Region - TPP Republika, Pernik Coal Basin Deposit and Pernik Coal Basin Deposit, Bela Voda section.

BG16FFPR003-4.003 "Mapping the skills of indirectly affected individuals in the areas most affected by the climate transition" - with a budget of 1.5 million euros, deadline 04.02.2025.

The Just Transition Fund is not enough to solve the problem of coal regions, but we hope that other programs will be added to it," said Stoyanov.

He also announced that work on Bulgaria's Social and Climate Plan is underway. "We hope to have enough new opportunities," concluded the expert.

Co-Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Managing Authority. Neither the European Union nor the Managing Authority can be held responsible for them.

Translated by Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov