The Just Transition Council held its first session today, officially establishing an institutional framework that will guide energy and climate change in a way that protects people, communities and the economy, the Ministry of Energy and Mining announced.
The session was chaired by the relevant minister, Admir Šahmanović, and the Council brings together the ministers of finance, European integration, labor, employment and social dialogue, public works and ecology, as well as representatives of relevant institutions, energy entities, local governments, trade unions, the academic community and civil society.
"Our task is to ensure that the transition is just, smart and inclusive - to bring new value and security to every part of Montenegro, without leaving anyone behind," said Šahmanović.
As announced by the Ministry, he emphasized the importance of inter-sectoral cooperation and announced stronger dynamics in the implementation of specific measures.
The session adopted key documents for the work of the Council, presented a comprehensive diagnostic of the socio-economic situation in the Municipality of Pljevlja, and formed a working group that will, in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), update the Roadmap for a Just Transition and develop an accompanying Action Plan.
Special attention was paid to Pljevlja - a municipality that has borne the burden of Montenegro's energy system for decades, but today rightly expects support and alternative paths of development.
A just transition for Pljevlja means investing in energy efficiency, new jobs, support for entrepreneurs, education for green skills, but also health and environmental protection.
"Pljevlja is a symbol and a test of our ability to lead the transition responsibly. Where people have given the most, the state must now give the most back - through concrete projects and a vision of a sustainable future," said Šahmanović.
Programs are already underway that are yielding concrete results.
These are the National Program for Energy Efficiency in Households, which includes more than 3,5 thousand users, with investments of ten million EUR, then the Program for Support to the Economy in the Tourism and Manufacturing Sector, with a total value of five million EUR, and the functioning of the Creative Hub in Pljevlja, as a space for new ideas, training and community networking.
It was agreed that the Council would meet quarterly, organize thematic events, and encourage stronger involvement of local communities in decision-making processes.
At the session, in order to ensure a more comprehensive approach, it was proposed that the Minister of Education and the Minister of Economic Development be included in the work of the Council. Also, all members of the Council, as well as representatives of relevant organizations and institutions, will delegate their members to the process of developing the Action Plan for a Just Transition.
The Council recognized the Pljevlja Recovery Plan, the Pljevlja Coal Mine Business Transformation Plan, and the already adopted Situation Diagnostics as key foundations for planning further activities.
The Minister of Labor, Employment and Social Dialogue, Naida Nišić, also proposed the inclusion of Šahmanović in the work of the Social Council, where the activities of the Council for a Just Transition to date will be presented, with the full involvement of trade union organizations in the next phases of the process.
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