On Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 March, the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council organised the European Conference for a Just Transition at the Palais d’Egmont in Brussels. Coordinated by Zakia Khattabi, Federal Minister for Climate, Environment, Sustainable Development and the European Green Deal, the aim of the event was to bring together Member States, civil society and European institutions to discuss a policy framework for a just transition adapted to the future.
The first day was opened by Moustapha Kamal Gueye, Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Priority Action Programme on Just Transitions, and Leena Ylä-Mononen, Executive Director of the European Environment Agency. The Commission’s Executive Vice-President responsible for the European Green Deal, Maroš Šefčovič, also took part in the discussions.
In his contributions, Mr Šefčovič noted the achievements of the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) and the Social Climate Fund, which aim to support the most vulnerable citizens in the face of the changes brought about by the green transition, and which represent, in his words, significant steps towards support for small and medium-sized enterprises, reskilling, people seeking employment and the deployment of clean energy.
While he expressed optimism about the future of the green transition in Europe, Maroš Šefčovič acknowledged that many difficulties remain. Expanding on these difficulties, he recognised the central role of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the need for close cooperation with Member States to ensure that funding actually reaches those who need it.
Indeed, a key contribution to the morning’s round table discussion came from EESC President Oliver Röpke, who set out the Committee’s opinion on a European framework for a just transition. This opinion (https://aeur.eu/f/b5e ) was presented at a working session on just transition held during the informal meeting of environment ministers on 15 January (see EUROPE 13328/2).
It was the result of an exploratory request from Belgium to the EESC, concerning the measures that the European Union should consider in order to establish a stronger policy framework for a just transition. However, on Monday 4 March, Mr Röpke approached the issue from the point of view of governance.
The urgent need for a specific European framework. He reiterated the importance of a holistic approach to ensure an equitable transition for all through participatory political governance, requiring the meaningful involvement of stakeholders in policy development. The EESC insists on the fundamental involvement of workers’ representatives, trade unions and employers in the sustainable management of industrial transformation.
Oliver Röpke expressed the need to act quickly and fully integrate the social dimensions into climate action to avoid delays that could lead to an environmental backlash, poverty and growing inequality.
The EESC opinion proposes a European directive on just transition, noting the importance of a framework that would act as a catalyst. The JTM and the Social Climate Fund, although significant, were deemed insufficient in view of the scale of the transformation required.
In addition, the EESC calls for the establishment of a European Commission Directorate-General responsible for the Just Transition, anticipating and managing change through social dialogue and collective bargaining. Work on a new detailed opinion is already underway, marking a significant step towards a more sustainable, equitable and resilient Europe.
Mr Röpke’s presentation reaffirmed the EESC’s commitment that this just transition “should be enshrined in all its institutions” through the preparation and adoption of an “EU programme for 2050”, the appointment of a dedicated commissioner during the next legislature and the creation of a just transition observatory.
The ideas and results of the European conference will be officially presented at the Environment Council on 25 March 2024. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)