Romania to receive 2.14 bln euro from the EC for just climate transition

The fund will target the most affected regions, helping Romania to follow up on its commitment to phase out coal by 2032, the EC said in a press release.

It will support workers affected by the ongoing energy transition to find new qualifications and new jobs. It will also support small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and, in specific cases, large companies to create jobs and diversify the economy in the fossil fuel production and carbon-intensive regions, the Commission added.

The funds will be allocated to Gorj and Hunedoara counties, which still host active coal mining, notably in the Jiu Valley, and to Dolj, Galati, Prahova and Mures, which have carbon-intensive industries, such as steel, cement and fertilisers and where coal power is used for heating.

The JTF will support the rehabilitation of brown fields in the mining sector, economic diversification and will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Also, it will support workers in the coal and carbon intensive industries with extensive training programmes for up- and reskilling to the new green sectors and to be prepared for the economic diversification planned for the regions.

It is estimated that, through these programmes alone, almost 30,000 workers will be trained and about 11,000 new jobs will be created, the EC added.

The Commission approved the funding after Romania adopted its Territorial Just Transition Plan (TJTP). Under tha plans, member states receive funds from the JTF as well as dedicated financing under a just transition scheme under InvestEU and a Public Sector Loan Facility for Just Transition that combines Commission grants with European Investment Bank loans.

The JTF has a budget of over 19 billion euro for the 2021-2027 period, according to the Commission's website.

($= 0.9472 euro)