There is money for a just transition in Kyustendil - the question is how to use it

The sixth regional event of the "Transition of Opportunities" European project, implemented by Brand Media Bulgaria, once again aroused serious interest in the local community. More than 40 representatives of the local government, businesses, trade unions, non-governmental organizations and residents attended the "Realization of opportunities - Kyustendil" roundtable forum. They discussed in depth the possibilities for financing the just transition in Kyustendil Province - one of the three traditional coal regions in Bulgaria.

The moderator of the event was Slavcho Neikov, chairman of the Management Board of the Energy Management Institute, who was adamant that coal is going away and that the transformation of power plants implies a change in the nature of work.

The event participants believe that Kyustendil still has a chance for a fair transition. They united around the opinion that "there is money", but it must be spent transparently and precisely for its intended purpose. And in order to call the transition truly fair, everyone working in the mine or the plant must have a guaranteed job, instead of leaving to find work in Sofia or abroad.

It is for this reason that the trade unions called on the local government to support the businesses and attract new investments.

890 people work at Bobov Dol TPP. So, with two or three new investments in the province, these would-be lost jobs can be retained," believes Yani Georgiev, regional coordinator of the KNSB trade union.

However, it is important that the retained jobs are relevant, and that the people are well-paid. The trade union has already started job skills mapping and is ready to start training and retraining, but if the requalified personnel have nowhere to work, then there would be no point in doing this.

The question is not about “for” or “against” green transition. We want to have a green economy, but we also want a fair transition," said Mario Ninov, national consultant for a fair transition at KT “Podkrepa” trade union.

The Green Deal is not about destroying and closing businesses, but about "greening non-green businesses", he says. One of the main goals of KT "Podkrepa" is to direct European funds to enterprises that need to be transformed.

According to Yordan Belovodski, the general secretary of the Kyustendil Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the planned training of those working in the affected sector (Bobov Dol TPP and the Bobov Dol mines) is not done correctly, as it is not known how many of the people will remain there to work after the transition.

At the event, it was announced that work on the construction of an industrial zone in Kyustendil will begin, with the aim of attracting new investors. The industrial zone is in the plans of the municipal administration, and money from the Just Transition Fund can be used for its creation.

However, Belovodski doubts that an investment in an industrial zone is justified. According to him, the money can be better directed to other things, such as a textile waste plant.

"There's money"

Funding opportunities were specifically discussed in the event's second panel, titled "Identifying Funding Opportunities and Partnerships for Successful Transformation." It became clear that Bulgaria has access to 1.2 billion euros from the Just Transition Fund.

This means that "there’s money for a just transition", but it must be used transparently and for its intended purpose.

Although there is European Union funding, Bulgaria has [a history of] extremely low rate of utilization of these resources", commented Hristina Lazarova, founder and manager of EGGS – an environmental consulting company.

The strong centralization of the state, as well as the political crisis in Bulgaria, greatly hinders the development of the regions. The event participants believe that the funds should be distributed by the municipalities of the affected regions, and not by the national government.

Establishing subcommittees at the local level to the Just Transition Monitoring Committee is a good way to make local wants and needs heard.

The subcommittees are a strong tool for control and a way to prevent personal interests from predominating in the decision-making process," said Remina Aleksieva, an analyst in the Energy and Climate Program at the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD).

Each of the coal regions should have an alternative development profile, according to CSD. Their research for Kyustendil shows that tourism comes to the fore as a development opportunity.

Youth, transition and art

Junior Achievement Bulgaria is a non-governmental organization which works on an international educational program together with WWF in Pernik and Kyustendil regions to develop the entrepreneurial spirit among students.

Young people themselves clearly prioritize environmental protection, and the danger of climate change and are focused on finding solutions," said Vera Petkanchin from Junior Achievement.

She emphasized the need for early career orientation towards green professions because these are the professions of the future.

Young people are interested in the Green Deal, as was affirmed by local students who attended the roundtable event.

Precisely young people and their education are one of the main goals of Evgeni Serafimov, a local artist and teacher. He believes that it is important that topics such as how to write a European project are taught in school. That way, students will know how to take advantage of the opportunities of the European Union.

Co-financed by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed, however, are entirely those of their author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission is responsible for them.

Translated by Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov