The European Commission (EC) on Monday approved five fair transformation plans for Poland’s mining regions. “The total value of the approved plans is EUR 3.85 billion”, EC Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans announced in Chorzów.

“Today, at 10 a.m., the European Commission approved all five fair-transformation plans for Poland. This means that EUR 3.85 billion is already available for the five regions for the transformation towards advanced high-performance industry”, Timmermans said.

The National Plan for Equitable Transformation at government level, together with the Territorial Plans for Equitable Transformation (TPST) in the regions, are to be the basis for the implementation of projects based on the new European instrument: The Fair Transformation Fund (FST). The FST is intended to offset the social and economic impacts of the energy and climate transition.

“All these plans are now in the hands of the local and regional governments, and we will work on them together. This will allow us to take care of the very specific needs of the local community, as well as the needs of large, small, and medium-sized businesses. We need to make it clear that in this transition from the coal age, no one will be left alone, everyone must succeed. I am already looking forward to working with marshals and mayors to make these plans a reality and to make them a success”, said the Vice-President of the European Commission at a press conference.

According to the EC Representation in Poland, the Vice-President is visiting the Silesian Voivodeship on Monday to discuss a fair transition and new economic opportunities with representatives of local authorities, civil societies and citizens.

Timmermans met with the Marshal of the Silesian Voivodship and took part in a roundtable discussion with Marshals and Mayors from various mining regions and cities with high-carbon industries, including Katowice, Ruda Śląska and Walbrzych.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński