Local and regional leaders from across the European Union gathered at the Multi-Level Dialogue on Just Transition, organised by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in cooperation with the European Commission, to discuss the future of the EU’s Just Transition Mechanism and its role beyond 2027.
The event brought together representatives from all levels of governance — from cities and regions to national governments and EU institutions — to assess how Europe can ensure that the green transition remains fair, inclusive, and place-based.
Speaking at the dialogue, Sari Rautio, President of the EPP Group in the European Committee of the Regions, stressed that the Just Transition must remain centred on people and regions:
“It’s not only about energy but it’s also about people, it’s about the future, it’s about hope, and it’s about solidarity. We have to have solidarity if we want to make Europe better and make sure that all Europeans have the possibility to live the lives they want. This is why the just transition is so important.”
Rautio warned that the current proposals for the EU’s next long-term budget risk sidelining cohesion policy and reducing the role of regions in the transition process: “When we looked closely at the regulations proposed by the Commission we found that unfortunately, cohesion policy is no longer considered a European common and decentralized long-term investment policy.”
She highlighted that while the “clean transition” dominates the policy discourse, references to “just transition” have become scarce, raising concerns that social fairness and regional realities are being overlooked. “I don’t want to say that we don’t need a clean transition — we do — but we need a clean and just transition together with the regions,” Rautio underlined.
The EPP-CoR President also reiterated the group’s demand for the full involvement of regions in the design and implementation of the post-2027 Just Transition Fund (JTF): “The just transition has to, of course, look after what we need, but at the same time, being members of the CoR, we insist that regions must be involved in the future JTF programme as equal partners. We have been calling for more participatory elements in the implementation of the territorial just transition plans so as to avoid centrally managed decisions that fail to take into account the real needs of regions and the people who live in them.”
The debate highlighted the urgency of preserving justice and solidarity at the heart of Europe’s green transition and ensuring that the next EU budget provides sufficient funding and flexibility for all regions — not just the less developed ones — to adapt to the climate-neutral economy.
“If we want to achieve the goals that the Commission is proposing — and I am sure we all agree that we want to achieve them — we cannot do so without having justice at the heart of the transition,” concluded Rautio.
Background:
The Multi-Level Dialogue on Just Transition is a recurring event hosted by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in partnership with the European Commission. Its aim is to foster cooperation across all levels of governance and ensure that the shift towards climate neutrality remains fair, inclusive, and regionally responsive. The JTM, a key part of the 2021–2027 EU budget, supports territories most affected by the transition to a climate-neutral economy. As discussions on the post-2027 framework begin, regional leaders are calling for the continuation and reinforcement of the JTF’s role in achieving both clean and just transitions.