The European Commission approved this week two funds from the Just Transition Fund (JTF) for the French region of Hauts-de-France and the Estonian region of Ida-Viru.
They will receive €228 million and €354 million respectively to contribute to a just ecological transition. Indeed, the JTF supports the territories most affected by the green transition to ensure that it does not occur at the expense of social and economic considerations (see EUROPE 12735/26, 12721/10).
Hauts-de-France. While the partnership agreement for the 2021-2027 cohesion policy with France was adopted in June 2022 (see EUROPE 12964/31), the aim here is to finance the country’s first Territorial Just Transition Plan, approved on Tuesday 11 October. The objective is to develop the circular economy and diversify the economic base of the Hauts-de-France region, which is known for its steel industry. The plan includes investments in local SMEs’ industrial research projects on recycling as well as support for incubators and advisory services for SMEs and start-ups.
Ida-Viru. On the Estonian side, the grant will support the phasing out of oil shale in Ida-Viru’s energy production. Companies in the region linked to this fossil fuel are responsible for more than 50% of the country’s greenhouse gases. The plan, approved on Monday 10 October, includes investing in renewable energy and helping to diversify the region’s economy. The partnership agreement for the cohesion policy 2021-2027 with Estonia was approved in July 2022 (see EUROPE 12995/19). (Original version in French by Hélène Seynaeve)