Minister Jevšek in Zasavje region: »EU funding is opening up development opportunities for degraded areas«

Projects Zelena vez Ojstro and Ojstro-Hrastnik are examples of good collaboration between the municipalities of Hrastnik and Trbovlje.

»I am happy to see that the two municipalities are working hand in hand to transform the abandoned mining sites into green, sports, and communal spaces that make the lives of residents better,« said Minister Jevšek on this occasion.

Minister Jevšek and his team visited the construction site for the project Development of Lakonca industrial zone, for which the ministry approved EUR 9.3 million in cohesion funding. The project aims to develop public utility infrastructure on a former 35-hectare large mining waste disposal site. By developing three large platforms and providing the necessary public utility infrastructure, the municipality is setting the foundations for economic revitalization of these areas, paving the way for future job creation.  

Successful implementation of the Just Transition Fund

Zasavje is a coal region facing a series of challenges related to exit from coal and a just transition. To advance its transition to climate neutrality, it is eligible for funding from the European Union’s Just Transition Fund. About EUR 75 million has been earmarked for this purpose for the coal region.

»The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has already issued funding decisions that account for 97 per cent of the funding made available under the Just Transition Fund (JTF). However, 60 per cent of the available funds have already been allocated to projects currently underway. This speaks to the commitment and hard work of the region that is also very united,« stressed Minister Jevšek.

Agreement on the development of the region and system change

Besides the projects supported by the Just Transition Fund, the region is also implementing projects that are funded under the agreement on the development of the region. The agreement on the development of the Zasavje region includes 12 projects worth nearly EUR 20.8 million that have received EUR 14.4 million in co-financing from the European Union and the Republic of Slovenia. The projects include, inter alia, investments in water supply and cycling connections in municipalities Litija and Zagorje ob Savi.

At the meeting with the representatives of the Regional Development Agency Zasavje and the meeting of the government with local mayors and local businessmen Minister Jevšek presented the amended act on promotion of balanced regional development. He underscored the importance of reducing regional disparities, noting that the GDP per capita in the Zasavje region reached merely 55 per cent of the national average. The incoming act will give the regions a greater say in setting regional development priorities and directing funds to projects with higher added value.