The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development approves EUR 77 million in EU funding for both coal regions
The Call for proposals for promoting investments for the economic restructuring of the Zasavska and Savinjsko-Šaleška coal regions provides EU funding under the Just Transition Fund 2024-2027. It will support investments in tangible and intangible assets that will contribute to job creation, particularly in the municipalities of Hrastnik, Trbovlje, Zagorje ob Savi, Šmartno ob Paki and Šoštanj and in the Urban Municipality of Velenje. It will also be possible to implement projects in the wider area of these regions. The call for proposals targets enterprises, aiming to support job creation and promote diverse sustainable investments that will help mitigate the negative socio-economic effects of coal phase-out. The Just Transition Fund makes a total of EUR 68.7 million available for the call for proposals that will be published by the SPIRIT Slovenia Business Development Agency in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia on 24 May 2024.
The Call for proposals for co-financing the projects of economic and business infrastructure development in the Savinjsko-Šaleška coal region provides EU funding under the Just Transition Fund 2023-2027. It will support the revitalisation of existing business zones and the expansion and construction of new ones in the areas experiencing degradation as a result of coal mining. While business and economic infrastructure development is one of the preconditions for the development and growth of micro enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises and large enterprises, these activities are expected to spur the development of entrepreneurship and create new jobs while supporting the restructuring of the coal region and paving the way for the transition towards a low-carbon circular economy. The call for proposals will include investments supporting the operation of business zones, including investments in road infrastructure, energy infrastructure, public utility infrastructure and telecommunications infrastructure. Investments in water infrastructure will be allowed if they include flood control measures. The call will make a total of EUR 10,635,294.12 available, of which EUR 9,040,000 comes from the just Transition Fund. The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development will publish the call for proposals in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia on 24 May 2024.