Ambassadors to the EU gave their green light on Wednesday 24 June to a partial negotiating mandate on the Just Transition Fund, which broadens the scope to include health and social issues in a limited way.
Delegations approved the Baltic countries’ amendment (see EUROPE 12504/11) which amends Article 4 of the Regulation to add new activities in the fields of education and social inclusion, as indicated in the territorial plans for just transition. The four ‘frugal’ countries as well as Belgium, Luxembourg and Spain are said to have expressed their opposition, indicating their support for the proposal of the Croatian Presidency of the EU Council. But the blocking minority would not have been reached.
Gas-related infrastructure will not be financed by this Fund. The proposal made by several Eastern European countries (Romania, Poland, Czech Republic), but also by Greece, to provide for a derogation regime for gas exploitation had previously been rejected by many net contributors, including Spain, Austria and Finland.
The EU Council has kept a number of points in square brackets relating to the budgetary negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework. Thus, the European Parliament, which is due to adopt its position on 6 July, has reportedly informed the EU Council that it does not wish to start negotiations until an agreement on the next Multiannual Financial Framework has been reached so that it can express its views on the Regulation in its entirety.
On the Parliament side
On the same day, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) adopted an opinion by Mounir Satouri (Greens/EFA, France), which also provides for a broadening of the scope of the Just Transition Fund in the social field.
Thus, skills upgrading should, according to the opinion, concern workers in fossil fuel industries, but also all long-term unemployed or young people without jobs or training (NEETs), and the fund should cover social housing (education and training centres, health facilities, social housing). On the other hand, the Renew Europe amendment reintroducing gas financing was adopted. The Committee on Regional Development will vote on its position on the Fund on 6 July. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)