Sittings · Document
OPINION (2024/2121(INI)) 2025-05-14
On the role of cohesion policy in supporting the just transition
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs · Rapporteur: Giusi Princi
AMENDMENTS
The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs submits the following to the Committee on Regional Development, as the committee responsible:
Amendment 1
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| – having regard to Articles 4, 162, 174 to 178, and 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), | – having regard to Articles 4, 9, 151, 153, 162, 174 to 178, and 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), |
Amendment 2
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| – having regard to the European Pillar of Social Rights and its Action Plan, |
Amendment 3
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| – having regard to the Commission communication of 5 March 2025 on ‘the Union of Skills’ (COM(2025)0090), |
Amendment 4
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| – having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/691 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1309/20131a, | |
| _________________ | |
| 1a OJ L 153, 3.5.2021, pp. 48-70, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/691/oj. |
Amendment 5
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| – having regard to its resolution of 23 November 2023 on job creation – the just transition and impact investments1a, _______________ 1a OJ C, C/2024/4224, 24.7.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/4224/oj. |
Amendment 6
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| – having regard to the International Labour Organization’s 2015 guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all, |
Amendment 7
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| – having regard to the report by Enrico Letta of 17 April 2024 entitled ‘Much more than a market’; |
Amendment 8
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| – having regard to the Commission communication of 26 February 2025 on the Clean Industrial Deal: A joint roadmap for competitiveness and decarbonisation (COM(2025)0085), |
Amendment 9
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| A. whereas the ambitious goal of transitioning to a carbon-neutral economy by 2050 can give rise to opportunities as well as new challenges for regions which are adversely affected by this transition; | A. whereas pursuing an ambitious environment policy is imperative for long-term prosperity and well-being; whereas the goal of transitioning to a modern, competitive, sustainable and carbon-neutral economy by 2050 can give rise to opportunities as well as new challenges for regions which are adversely impacted by this transition, particularly rural and peripheral areas; whereas particular focus on regions, workers and affected groups, that are adversely impacted by this transition is crucial to ensure that no one is left behind; whereas the gender dimension of the just transition should be taken into account; |
Amendment 10
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Aa. whereas peripheral areas face structural disadvantages, including weaker infrastructure, lower investment levels, and persistent socio-economic disparities, which are exacerbated by demographic decline, brain drain, and lower industrial diversification; |
Amendment 11
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Ab. whereas a just transition involves maximising the social and economic opportunities of climate action, while minimising and carefully managing any challenges such as job losses and unintended consequences of climate policies; whereas a just transition should ensure social inclusion, reduce poverty and inequalities, seize the potential to create quality jobs, foster democracy at work, ensure decent working conditions and protect workers’ rights across all sectors to ensure social justice for all; |
Amendment 12
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| C. whereas many of the industries hardest hit by decarbonisation had unfavourable working conditions and a dependency on seasonal workers who were seeking social justice before the transition; | C. whereas some of the industries hardest hit by decarbonisation have been traditionally vital European sectors which provided millions of jobs; whereas the transition to ecological sustainability must go hand in hand with economic and social justice, the creation of quality jobs and uphold high social standards; |
Amendment 13
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| D. whereas the EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) was to be a key tool in ensuring people living in territories affected by the shift to climate neutrality were not left behind; whereas it has delivered absorption rates of less than 5 % to date; | D. whereas the EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) should be a key tool in ensuring people, particularly workers, living in territories impacted by the shift to climate neutrality are not left behind; whereas however it has delivered absorption rates of less than 5 % to date; whereas the number of jobs created by the JTF is not on track to cover the number of jobs forecast to be lost as carbon-intensive industries shift to cleaner technologies; whereas closing the R&D investment gap is crucial to ensure that all regions, including peripheral ones, can effectively participate in the green and digital transitions; whereas the EU target of investing 3 % of GDP in R&D to support innovation and ensure an inclusive and just transition across the EU has not yet been reached; whereas preventive social policy through early investment in childhood education and family support yields high future social returns; whereas the green and digital transition calls for effective safety nets and protection mechanisms to support affected workers; |
Amendment 14
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Da. whereas recommendations to Member States for an overall, adequately resourced strategy to combat poverty and, in particular, family and child poverty in the EU, as well as policies and action for its implementation, promote a deepening of the internal market and progress in achieving economic, social and territorial cohesion, and support the Commission’s goal for a competitive and inclusive Europe of diverse regions; |
Amendment 15
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Db. whereas the transition to a low-carbon economy, the global climate crisis and environmental pollution, with their impact on food, education and health, also spell a crisis for children’s rights in the many different regions of the EU, and effective, meaningful measures should be taken to ensure that children and future generations grow up with dignity and are equipped for the skilled labour market of tomorrow; |
Amendment 16
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| E. whereas if not addressed adequately, former peat and mining regions risk becoming more economically inactive; | E. whereas if not addressed adequately, former peat and mining regions risk becoming more economically deindustrialised and depopulated; calls for a swift implementation of the Talent Booster Mechanism to counteract brain drain and support local economic revival; |
Amendment 17
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Ea. whereas managing the shift to a carbon neutral economy should not only support transitions to new jobs in emerging sectors but also maintain and adapt existing jobs and sectors to climate-neutral and clean industries and technologies for people living in impacted territories; whereas it is important that workers and jobseekers feel supported in managing transitions in order to foster understanding and acceptance of the aims of the 2050 strategy; |
Amendment 18
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Eb. whereas the Commission’s Competitiveness Compass highlighted the importance of promoting skills development, quality jobs, and social fairness in all regions, with a focus on addressing the skills gap and labour shortages that persist across the EU, and ensuring full participation in the green and digital transitions; whereas support for workers and jobseekers in impacted territories such as up- and re-skilling schemes, job-search assistance as well as access to public services, must be ramped up to ensure they can adapt to the changing labour market; whereas at the same time investment in the creation of new enterprises in future-oriented sectors as well as support for existing businesses, particularly SMEs, to pivot are essential for quality job creation where workers can use such skills; |
Amendment 19
Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Ec. whereas Europe is currently experiencing labour and skills shortages, hampering the Union’s competitiveness, as identified by the Draghi and Letta reports; whereas strategic decentralisation of industrial and technological development and investment to regions affected by the transition can help to address such shortages but requires sufficient investment in the accompanying public services and infrastructure such as housing, education and transport; |
Amendment 20
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Fa. whereas the EU 27 has lost 4.4 million industrial jobs, representing a 13 % decline; whereas this loss occurred mainly between 1995 and 2015; whereas the number of people employed in manufacturing fell by 853,000 between the third quarter of 2019 and 2024; |
Amendment 21
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Fb. whereas the technical assistance for public authorities under the JTF, InvestEU and the Public Sector Loan Facility – the three pillars of the Just Transition mechanism – should be strengthened; |
Amendment 22
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 1. Calls on the Commission to facilitate the establishment of special JTF economic zones for areas affected by site closures, with priority access to funding given initially to locations within a 50 km radius of job loss sites and other areas where the impact of such losses would justify access to the JTF; | 1. Strongly believes that the main objective of the JTF should be the creation of quality jobs and sustainable economic alternatives available for workers who are affected by the transformation of carbon-intensive industries; calls on the Commission to facilitate the establishment of special JTF economic zones for areas affected by site closures, including in island and mountainous regions, with priority access to funding given initially to locations within a 50 km radius of job loss sites and other areas where the impact of such losses would justify access to the JTF, in partnership with Member States and the regions, and taking into account not only geographical criteria but also social criteria such as local unemployment rates, socio-economic precariousness, and increased risks of social exclusion; stresses that access to funding should be based on a thorough analysis of the actual social and economic impacts rather than a mere logic of geographical proximity; stresses that these zones should offer simplified administrative procedures through one-stop-shop facilities, targeted support for local SMEs, and explicitly require the development of skills and training programmes in collaboration with local vocational and education institutions and social partners; underlines the need to protect EU companies and jobs; recalls that the transition will only be just if it respects workers’ rights and safeguards companies’ possibility to thrive; |
Amendment 23
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 1a. Recalls that EU policies should ensure economic, territorial and social cohesion with a view to overcoming structural differences and unequal development between regions as well as social and territorial inequalities; calls for ambitious measures to support the re-industrialisation and prevent the de-industrialisation of European regions through strategic investments and through development plans for vulnerable regions, especially in rural and remote areas; stresses that just transition principles and policies to promote climate and social justice must go hand in hand; |
Amendment 24
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 2. Calls for the introduction of special regulations in these zones, including lower tax rates for businesses and investments, along with swifter planning decisions; reaffirms that such measures can create jobs and provide opportunities for people living in these regions; | 2. Calls for the introduction of sustainable investment goals integrating support from different funds into the most affected sectors and regions, with a focus on the most vulnerable; calls on the Member States to consider special initiatives for these zones, along with swifter planning decisions and a further reduction of the administrative burden; reaffirms that such measures can create quality jobs, support SMEs, and provide opportunities for people as well as family and traditional businesses in these regions; stresses the need for support in the access to funding for social economy projects for the JTF, thereby ensuring that these projects have access to finance; |
Amendment 25
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 5. Stresses in this regard the need to prioritise investment in all levels of education and training in affected areas; emphasises the need for funding for tuition; | 5. Emphasises that the EU budget plays an important role in enhancing the right to education from an early age and the right to training, boosting workforce adaptability through reskilling and upskilling, especially in the context of the transitions; highlights the importance of introducing specific measures to address regional inequalities in education and training, ensuring equal access to high-quality and affordable education for all; stresses that ensuring the long-term sustainability of the new local economy models requires a change in the education strategy in order to offer diverse curriculum options that are focused on areas of growth and the region’s needs; stresses in this regard the need to prioritise investment in all levels of public education and vocational training in affected areas; emphasises the need for funding for training allowances in order to ensure access to quality education and training for low-income groups; calls for an individual right to paid training during working hours and for lifelong learning for all workers; stresses the importance of cooperation between social partners, present and prospective enterprises, regional and local authorities and educational institutions through partnerships financed jointly by ESF+ and JTF; stresses the crucial importance of teachers and trainers as facilitators of the just transition; highlights the need to invest as a priority in their continuous training in order to equip them with the skills needed to cope with the digital and green transformations; |
Amendment 26
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 5a. Stresses that the relevant funds should be used with the goal of their becoming a regional sustainable development accelerator that brings together regional and local authorities, social partners, civil society, and the private sector to create a virtuous cycle of sustainable development that generates economic and social returns and facilitates just transitions; |
Amendment 27
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 5b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure social conditionalities when public funds are granted to private companies, making sure that public investments generate shared and sustainable returns and that beneficiary companies engage in social dialogue, provide high-quality apprenticeships, offer training for workers and ensure high quality traineeships as a bridge to a skilled workforce in emerging sectors; calls for mechanisms to ensure that companies benefiting from public funds uphold their commitments to the European economy and workforce, including provisions to recover such funds in cases where companies relocate outside Europe; |
Amendment 28
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 6. Calls for at least 50 % of education funds in affected regions to be used for apprenticeships, recognising investments already made in apprenticeships; | 6. Calls for the Member States to include a targeted approach to education apprenticeships and high quality traineeships in the just transition territorial plans; |
Amendment 29
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 6a. Stresses that the shortage of specialised teachers exacerbates skills gaps in strategic sectors and undermines the economic competitiveness of less developed regions; calls for the development of targeted programmes to improve the attractiveness of the teaching profession, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), through economic and non-economic incentives, especially in regions affected by the transition; stresses the importance of allocating specific resources for innovative teacher and trainer training, as well as the development of digital pedagogical skills, which are essential to prepare workers for industrial transitions; calls for measures to improve teachers’ salary and working conditions to attract and retain qualified educators, particularly in areas undergoing transition, recognising their crucial role in preparing the workforce for future industrial needs; calls on the Commission to assess the impact of investments in trainers and teachers training to ensure better use of funding and optimise the skills outcomes acquired by students and workers in less developed regions; |
Amendment 30
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 7. Calls for European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) funding to be more regionally focused and for greater synergies between the ESF+ and the JTF, particularly in relation to education and training; | 7. Calls for the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) to be more regionally focused, emphasising the greater involvement of local and regional actors in the management of the fund and increased funding opportunities for them, as they are closer to people’s needs; recalls that the ESF+ is the key and primary instrument for supporting Member States, people, and regions in strengthening the social dimension of the EU, ensuring the full implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR), its action plan, and its headline targets; calls for greater synergies between a strong, reinforced and stand-alone ESF+ and the JTF; calls on the Commission, in the light of current challenges, to include in the specific objectives of the ESF+ support for the just transition, particularly in relation to education and training and with an emphasis on youth employment; stresses the need for targeted investments in local skills development to align with regional industrial needs and the digital and green transitions; |
Amendment 31
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 7a. Welcomes the introduction of the Competitiveness Coordination Tool announced by the Commission and calls for its swift implementation, aligned with the European Semester, the EPSR and Union of Skills, to address the lack of quality public services, infrastructure, quality jobs and the skills gap in regions at risk of losing their socio-economic competitiveness and attractiveness; considers that this tool should facilitate cross-border projects, coordinate investments, align industrial and research policies, foster re-skilling and up-skilling programmes, while also integrating sustainability and well-being factors into its framework; stresses that it should balance economic objectives with environmental sustainability and social cohesion, ensuring that improved competitiveness leads to better quality of life, enhanced territorial development, and resilient communities in transition regions; considers that the tool should drive long-term investment in public and social services and growth and competitiveness across the EU while supporting the creation of quality jobs that contribute to both economic prosperity and citizens’ well-being; |
Amendment 32
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 8. Calls on the Commission to work with Member States to ensure that workers who have lost their jobs are given a special status for participating in ESF+ supported employment and training schemes in their locality; | 8. Calls on the Commission to work with Member States to ensure that workers who have lost their jobs have access to employment and training schemes in their locality, with the support of available funds; recalls the relevance of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) in providing targeted support for workers affected by major restructuring events, and encourages Member States, with the support of the Commission, to make full use of the Fund and create synergies with cohesion funds to enhance its effectiveness; calls for strengthened efforts to implement the Youth Guarantee, ensuring increased earmarking by Member States to allocate at least 15 % of their ESF+ resources to targeted actions and structural reforms supporting quality youth employment, vocational education and training – particularly through paid, high quality traineeships and apprenticeships – and facilitating transitions from school to work, reintegration into education or training, and second-chance education; reiterates, in this context, its call on the Member States to ban exploitative practices, including unpaid traineeships; notes that the green transition affects different demographic groups differently, with women often under-represented in emerging green sectors; underlines, therefore, the importance of considering the impact on both women and men when designing and implementing transition policies to ensure balanced opportunities within local labour markets; recognises the need to encourage women’s participation in STEM fields and provide incentives for sectors where women are under-represented; emphasises that supporting targeted education and training initiatives can enable greater workforce participation, boost local economies, and help address skills gaps, while also strengthening community resilience and competitiveness; |
Amendment 33
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 9. Emphasises the need to develop apprenticeship schemes for the affected areas in collaboration with local businesses to provide students with experience in their communities, giving them the ‘right to stay’; | 9. Emphasises the need to develop apprenticeship and high quality traineeship schemes for the impacted areas in collaboration with local businesses to provide students, young workers and people not in education, employment, or training (NEETs), with experience in their communities, reinforcing their ‘right to stay’ through quality employment opportunities and quality of life improvements, incentives for businesses to invest and hire in these areas, support for remote work infrastructure, and enhanced access to EU funding for local talent retention policies, thereby preventing demographic decline and ensuring sustainable local economic development; recalls the importance of investment in public services and infrastructure such as decent housing, transport and education in this regard; |
Amendment 34
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 9a. Recognises the potential of digital technologies to improve access to quality education in less developed regions; calls on the Commission to support the development of a digital educational ecosystem that includes online learning platforms, digital educational content and open educational resources; stresses the importance of facilitating public-private partnerships in vocational training by encouraging cooperation between training institutions and local businesses through co-designed education programmes, periods of in-company training and stable job offers; highlights that such digital and training partnerships can significantly improve young people’s employability, respond more effectively to the real needs of the regional labour market and create a skills ecosystem that supports local economic competitiveness; calls for the implementation of a sustainable development framework specifically designed to address the consequences of structural and demographic shifts across European regions; |
Amendment 35
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 9b. Encourages national employment services to deliver targeted active labour market programmes in the impacted regions that link affected groups to employment opportunities in emerging sectors, in particular in energy efficiency and sustainable construction sectors; welcomes in this regard the Union of Skills package, in particular the proposed STEM education strategic plan, the new EU Vocational Education and Training (VET) Strategy, Skills Guarantee pilot and support for EU Skills Academies; stresses however the need for a greater dedicated focus on workers impacted by the transition to a carbon-neutral economy and green skills provision and calls on the Commission to ensure this as a horizontal priority in all forthcoming Union of Skills proposals; |
Amendment 36
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 9c. Encourages Member States to integrate housing guarantees, co-living schemes, and rental support for apprentices and students into JTF and ESF+ supported projects, particularly in regions with high youth unemployment or experiencing demographic decline; |
Amendment 37
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 d (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 9d. Calls for the Partnership Principle and the European code of conduct on partnership to be upheld in all programming, implementation and monitoring of EU cohesion policy, and to set up strong cooperation between regional and local authorities, stakeholders and trade unions; |
Amendment 38
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 e (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 9e. Points out that EU funds (the European Structural and Investment Funds and, in particular, the European Social Fund Plus and the Recovery and Resilience Facility) and the Just Transition Fund are being used to supplement the investments of the various regions in early childhood education; |
Amendment 39
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Replacement employment | Quality Jobs Plan |
Amendment 40
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 10. Suggests that the just transition has overlooked the unique situations of affected full-time workers, part-time workers and students; suggests that there has been little or no consideration of providing replacement seasonal employment; | 10. Suggests that the just transition should take into account all affected workers, in particular full-time, part-time employees and students and their families and children; |
Amendment 41
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 11. Emphasises the need to fund higher education and training boards to retrain workers and their families, particularly those over the age of 50 who have lost their jobs; proposes that the JTF should also offer retraining opportunities to partners and spouses of affected workers; | 11. Underlines that effective retraining and upskilling programmes require adequate planning and preparation well in advance of any phase-out or significant industrial change; considers that industrial competitiveness strategies agreed with social partners are essential to promote the economic viability of European industrial companies and preserve jobs; calls on the Commission and the Member States to support companies, in particular SMEs, to prevent forced redundancies and provide targeted assistance during transition periods; calls on the Commission and the Member States to put in place mechanisms that help avoid forced redundancies, such as temporary support programmes to protect employment during transitions, avoiding the loss of strategic industrial capacity and skilled workforces; notes that, when job-to-job transition is necessary, transition to a strategic or growth sector should be promoted while allowing workers sufficient time for adjustment, and providing the necessary support to facilitate the transition and avoiding workers suffering financial losses; emphasises the need to fund higher education and training boards to reskill workers, particularly those over the age of 50 who have lost their jobs; calls on the Member States and local and regional authorities to leverage opportunities under the JTF, other cohesion funds and upcoming initiatives under the Union of Skills to provide targeted support for training, skilling and reskilling of workers in the Just Transition regions; |
Amendment 42
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 12a. Calls for job creation strategies in transition regions and rural areas that prioritise the renovation of the housing stock, decentralised renewable energy deployment, and community-led energy efficiency programmes as key components of a just and green transition; stresses the importance of cohesion policy and the Just Transition Fund in addressing territorial inequalities and ensuring access to affordable, sustainable energy and decent housing; |
Amendment 43
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 12b. Highlights that investing in adequate housing and energy retrofits for low-income households delivers rapid and high returns on public funding by reducing social spending, improving health outcomes, and cutting energy costs; |
Amendment 44
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 13. Recalls that some EU regions are experiencing a continuous outflow of young and skilled workers due to demographic shifts and migration, with rural areas being particularly impacted; | 13. Recalls that some EU regions, in particular rural areas, are experiencing a high level of migration of young and skilled workers to urban centres due to demographic shifts and lack of economic opportunities; calls for the swift implementation of the Talent Booster Mechanism with sufficient funds and simple operational procedures in order to counteract brain drain, thereby helping to support local economic revival in affected regions; expresses concern for the long-term economic viability of these regions and their risk of falling into development traps; |
Amendment 45
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 13c. Recommends that integrated territorial strategies explicitly include targets for reducing energy poverty and improving housing conditions, with clear indicators and monitoring frameworks; stresses the need to empower municipalities and local actors to design and implement place-based solutions that reflect local socio-economic realities; |
Amendment 46
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 d (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 13d. Calls for a portion of cohesion funds to be specifically allocated to renovating the homes of the lowest-income households and the least energy-efficient buildings, who would otherwise be left behind in the green transition; |
Amendment 47
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 14. Stresses the need for ‘social deals’ for employees to be approved by the Commission for the period 2025-2049; | 14. Highlights that the Just Transition Fund has contributed to initiating the changes needed for the restructuring of the local economies in regions dependent on fossil fuels; stresses, however, that the objective of a just transition will not be achieved by the end of the current programme and emphasises the need to continue post 2027; underlines the crucial role played by the SURE instrument to protect workers and mitigate the severely negative socio-economic impacts following the COVID-19 pandemic; underlines the importance of targeted support for workers affected by transitions, focusing particularly on reskilling opportunities and employment assistance; calls for a reinforced SURE mechanism, as supporting such employment-protection measures in times of crises can stabilise public expenditure dedicated to employment policies and just transition measures; calls for effective and sustainable funding for skills development and labour market adaptability in the post-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF), with an emphasis on creating pathways to new quality employment and reinforcing the EU’s economic and social resilience; calls on the Commission to assess both the number and quality of jobs created in the affected regions to better tailor future support measures to regional needs; |
Amendment 48
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 15. Accepts that the implementation of the JTF process is a matter for Member States but underlines the need for simplification and for the Commission to take a more urgent approach to notifying Member States; | 15. Accepts that the implementation of the JTF process is a shared goal between the EU and the Member States; |
Amendment 49
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 15a. Underlines that the JTF must retain a regional focus; stresses in this regard the need for Just Transition Plans to take into account the complexities of the target regions, including the demographic makeup and socio-economic factors; stresses that all initiatives must be implemented in close collaboration between national, local and regional authorities, employers, workers representatives and other local stakeholders; calls on the Commission to create a regularly updated centralised digital platform that would provide streamlined information about retraining assistance and investment opportunities being supported by relevant European funds in regions impacted by the shift to climate neutrality; believes that this platform could help both workers and companies identify opportunities in the impacted regions; |
Amendment 50
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 16. Believes that the Commission should have set out clear parameters for each Member State to pursue in areas such as investing in education and training and enabling third-party investors to preserve the culture and traditions of former coal and peat regions; | 16. Believes that the Commission should have set out clear parameters for each Member State to pursue in areas such as investing in public education and training and preserving the culture and traditions as well as the linguistic minorities of regions impacted by the transition; |
Amendment 51
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 16a. Calls for coordination of the just transition to ensure active involvement of regional and local authorities in the design and implementation of territorial just transition plans, ensuring that territorial specificities are fully taken into account and that local stakeholders and social partners have an appropriate role in the decision-making process; recalls the obligation to involve the social partners in the preparation and implementation of just transition territorial plans and acknowledges the valuable input they can provide throughout the development, execution, monitoring and evaluation phases of transition policies; |
Amendment 52
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 19a. Reiterates that housing-related cooperative or community-led projects should benefit from simplified access to JTF funding, including through lower co-financing thresholds and advance payments; calls for guidance to Member States on enabling housing actors to access funds; |
Amendment 53
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 19b. Recognises the importance of digitalisation in the implementation and governance of the JTF; stresses the need to facilitate collaboration between Member States to enable a faster response to the needs of the changing labour market; stresses that skills monitoring tools already exist at EU and national level to monitor the skills need in affected regions and calls for European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) work to cover regions in just transitions; |
Amendment 54
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 20. Calls on the Commission to work with Member States so there can be greater consistency and clarity in the interpretation of EU State aid laws in so far as they apply to community and not-for-profit groups; | 20. Calls on the Commission to work with Member States to reduce the administrative burden resulting from the rules governing the cohesion funds so there can be greater consistency and clarity in the interpretation of these rules as well as on the interpretation of EU State aid laws in so far as they apply to community and not-for-profit groups; highlights the importance of ensuring that European and national funds are used to facilitate the transition to a climate-neutral economy while promoting the competitiveness of European businesses and creating high-quality jobs and encouraging social dialogue; calls for EU funding and State aid by Member States to be aligned with a European industrial policy, in order to offer high-quality jobs, promote collective bargaining, respect of EU labour rights and standards, improve the competitiveness of European businesses, and reduce regulatory burdens, particularly for SMEs; stresses the importance of respecting applicable working conditions and employer obligations resulting from EU or national labour law and relevant collective agreements; |
Amendment 55
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 20a. Urges the Commission, in the context of the forthcoming revision of the European Public Procurement Directive, to further promote collective bargaining and the use of the social clause, and for preferential treatment to be given to companies whose workers are covered by collective agreements; calls on the Commission to strengthen the social clause and underlines that contracting authorities must exclude from public tenders economic operators that have engaged in criminal activities or activities to disrupt or weaken collective bargaining or trade union organisations, such as union busting; |
Amendment 56
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 21a. Calls for cohesion policy to support the renovation of social service buildings, including healthcare facilities, child and elderly care facilities and shelters; underlines that improving the energy performance of these buildings will reduce operating costs, and enhance infrastructure quality; |
Amendment 57
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 22. Calls on the Commission to facilitate the establishment of a social training scheme for older unemployed workers who are unable to retrain and acquire new jobs; highlights that this could fill the gap between employment and retirement for some workers; | 22. Calls on the Commission to facilitate the establishment of training schemes for older unemployed workers who are unable to retrain and acquire new jobs; highlights that this could fill the gap between employment and retirement for some workers; considers it necessary to establish tailored training schemes for young workers entering the job market in peripheral and underdeveloped regions, to provide them with opportunities to remain in their regions of origin, ensuring employment pathways that align with regional economic development strategies and smart specialisation initiatives; |
Amendment 58
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 23. Calls for the JTF to reduce the administrative burden on communities by employing ‘hands-on’ managers in towns and villages who would assist in preparing funding applications and proposals; | 23. Calls for the JTF to reduce the administrative burden on communities by employing ‘hands-on’ managers in towns and villages who would assist in preparing funding applications and proposals; calls on the Commission to improve the implementation of JTF projects and foster additional investments in regions impacted by the green transition; stresses that such partnerships should also include financial institutions and investment funds to facilitate the mobilisation of complementary financial resources, creating a leverage effect on public investment; |
Amendment 59
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 24. Calls for the JTF to celebrate the heritage of affected communities and establish training for heritage guides; supports the creation of visitor centres highlighting local history; | deleted |
Amendment 60
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 24a. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to propose a Quality Jobs Roadmap by the end of 2025 developed together with the social partners to ensure a just transition for all; recalls that the Roadmap should support fair wages, high standards for health and safety, good working conditions, training and fair job transitions for workers, including the self-employed, notably by increasing collective bargaining coverage; stresses that the Roadmap should prioritise management of transitions as key priority and include accompanying proposals which concretely support workers; |
Amendment 61
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Justice before transition for the whole economy | Social justice before transition for the whole economy |
Amendment 62
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 25. Believes that shifts in the geopolitical landscape, along with other factors, are causing massive changes to the functioning of the EU economy; urges the Commission, therefore, to review the timescales for closures of key energy players in the EU; | 25. Believes that shifts in the geopolitical landscape, along with other factors, are causing massive changes to the functioning of the EU economy and are requiring investments for the preservation of its long-term competitiveness and sustainability; highlights that the green and digital transitions are inextricably linked to competitiveness, the just transition, the modernisation of the economy and the resilience of society and that, therefore, the post-2027 MFF must continue to support the twin transition; insists that the twin transition must be socially fair and just, ensuring the anticipation and effective management of the changes in the world of work such as job-to-job transition plans for affected sectors, based on meaningful and effective social dialogue; |
Amendment 63
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 25a. Believes that our welfare states should ensure universal access to high-quality essential services such as clean, affordable and energy-efficient housing and mobility, as well as strengthened social protection systems that mitigate the devastating consequences of climate change and environmental degradation; considers that by implementing social policies that tackle socio-economic inequalities, reduce our carbon emissions and limit our environmental impact, socio-ecological welfare states will improve people’s quality of life and strengthen their resilience to shocks; |
Amendment 64
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 c (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 25c. Insists that in order to make the transition just and fair, the EU must strengthen the just transition framework, especially the JTF and the Social Climate Fund; |
Amendment 65
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 d (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 25d. Stresses that Europe needs a new social contract in which social and environmental sustainability go hand in hand, built on policies that accelerate the climate and environmental transition at the same time as they tackle structural socio-economic inequalities and gender, age, racial, disability and other forms of discrimination, promote inclusion and social and territorial cohesion, ensure respect for fundamental human rights and reduce poverty; |
Amendment 66
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 26a. Highlights the importance of Member States in promoting sectoral social dialogue and collective bargaining, especially in newly emerging green industries, and also in ensuring the inclusion of small and medium-sized businesses, including social economy enterprises; stresses that the implementation of the Minimum Wage Directive1a represents a great opportunity to strengthen collective bargaining on wage-setting and the presence of the social partners in emerging sectors; __________________ 1a Directive (EU) 2022/2041 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on adequate minimum wages in the European Union, OJ L 275, 25.10.2022, p. 33, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2022/2041/oj. |
Amendment 67
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 26b. Calls for a dedicated strand for sustainable social infrastructure, including affordable housing, community energy systems and integrated service hubs in disadvantaged territories; |
Amendment 68
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 c (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 26c. Stresses that the climate transition must be accompanied by measures ensuring the competitiveness of European companies, in particular SMEs, and strategic industrial sectors; welcomes the Commission’s announcement of a European Competitiveness Fund to provide financial support for the implementation of actions under the Competitiveness Coordination Tool; underlines that while investments in clean and strategic technologies and support for Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs) are essential, effective actions to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness require a comprehensive approach that also includes targeted measures to bridge the skills gap through education, (re)qualification, and training, thus ensuring that the European workforce remains adaptable and future-ready; emphasises that the fund’s effectiveness depends on the allocation of additional budgetary resources rather than merely redistributing funds from existing programmes; |
Amendment 69
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 27. Calls on the Commission to propose a new fund, the JTF II, for the post-2027 programming period, ensuring that it operates under shared management and partnership principles; stresses that this fund should have greater financial resources than the current JTF; | 27. Calls on the Commission to propose a new fund, the JTF II, for the post-2027 programming period, ensuring that it operates under shared management and partnership principles; calls for a directive on the Just Transition in the world of work that sets out a legislative framework to ensure the creation of quality jobs in the affected regions; stresses that this fund should have greater financial resources and result in a lower administrative burden than the current JTF in order to provide more robust support to regions and workers in the green transition and that it should strengthen the involvement and consultation of the social partners and local stakeholders in the design and implementation of initiatives to mitigate negative social consequences, such as inter alia unemployment, energy or transport poverty; |
ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT
The rapporteur for the opinion declares under her exclusive responsibility that she did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.
INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION
| Date adopted | 13.5.2025 | |
| Result of final vote | +: –: 0: | 38 12 5 |
| Members present for the final vote | Maravillas Abadía Jover, Grégory Allione, Li Andersson, Pascal Arimont, Gabriele Bischoff, Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, Rachel Blom, Andrzej Buła, David Casa, Estelle Ceulemans, Leila Chaibi, Per Clausen, Henrik Dahl, Johan Danielsson, Marie Dauchy, Mélanie Disdier, Gheorghe Falcă, Chiara Gemma, Niels Geuking, Juan Carlos Girauta Vidal, Isilda Gomes, Alicia Homs Ginel, Sérgio Humberto, Irena Joveva, Marit Maij, Marlena Maląg, Jagna Marczułajtis-Walczak, Eleonora Meleti, Idoia Mendia, Maria Ohisalo, Branislav Ondruš, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Dennis Radtke, Liesbet Sommen, Villy Søvndal, Pál Szekeres, Georgiana Teodorescu, Romana Tomc, Raffaele Topo, Francesco Torselli, Brigitte van den Berg, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, Marianne Vind, Mariateresa Vivaldini, Petar Volgin, Jan-Peter Warnke, Séverine Werbrouck | |
| Substitutes present for the final vote | Vivien Costanzo, Estrella Galán, Isabelle Le Callennec, Giusi Princi, Eugen Tomac, Kim Van Sparrentak | |
| Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote | Hanna Gedin, Kai Tegethoff |