Restructuring of Slovenia’s coal regions already underway

24. 6. 2025

Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development

Minister for Cohesion and Regional Development Dr Aleksander Jevšek attended the Annual Political Dialogue of the Initiative for Coal Regions in Transition that was held in Konin, Poland. At the opening session, Minister Jevšek and other high-level representatives discussed ways for the European Union to support coal regions on their pathways to climate neutrality and social justice.

Trije moški in ženska sedijo v vrsti na odru, pred njimi majhne mizice. Drugi z leve strani minister Jevšek im a v roki mikrofon in govori. — Minister Jevšek at the Annual Political Dialogue 2025 of the Initiative for Coal Regions in Transition | Author Regional Development Agency in Konin

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Minister Jevšek stressed that support to coal regions in their transition from black to green was one of the steps in the right direction. ‘’The Just Transition Fund was established with a clear mission - to support regions with a long history of coal mining by providing them with a new impetus for development. JTF-funded projects are not just investments in bare walls and infrastructure. They are much more. They are investments in the future of these regions. They bring new jobs, support businesses, and help retain knowledge and talent in the local environment.’’

The restructuring of the Zasavje and SAŠA coal regions is already underway, with more than 250 million euros coming from the Just Transition Fund for this purpose.

Minister Jevšek also underscored that the European Commission should keep focus on just transition in the next programming period as well in view of the many challenges ahead of EU member states and regions.

On the sidelines of the event, Minister Jevšek held a bilateral meeting with his Czech counterpart, Minister for Regional Development, Mr Petr Kulhánek.

The 2025 edition of the Initiative for Coal regions in Transition's Annual Political Dialogue is organised by the European Commission in cooperation with the Wielkopolska Region, the City of Konin and the Regional Development Agency in Konin, and takes place under the patronage of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU. Last year, the event took place in Velenje, Slovenia.