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ManagEnergy
  • News article
  • 23 January 2024
  • European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency
  • 1 min read

The START Initiative: Applications Open for Technical Assistance in Coal+ Regions

Empower your region's transition, and apply to the START initiative until Feb 23. Tailored support awaits coal+ regions, guiding them through decarbonisation, economic diversification, and social development.

 EU coal regions in transition

The European Union Initiative for Coal Regions in Transition introduced the START (Secretariat’s Technical Assistance to Regions in Transition) program, offering tailored support to regions transitioning away from fossil fuels.  

Open from 10 January to 23 February 2024, the call invites coal, peat, lignite, and oil shale regions to apply. This initiative aims to aid in decarbonising energy, diversifying economies, and enhancing social development. 

What is START? 

The START is a program that aims to provide short-term, customized support to coal+ regions navigating transitions. It addresses challenges in strategy development, governance, stakeholder engagement, community resilience, and project assessment. This initiative aims to fill knowledge gaps, build local capacities, and complement other assistance tools. 

What Can START Provide? 

START offers targeted support over 6-10 months, spanning 50-100 "person days." It covers a range of transition areas, including strategy development, governance, stakeholder engagement, community resilience, and project identification. 

It has already supported 14 teams across nine EU countries, fostering just transitions and providing valuable insights.

Added to that, has provided over 20 publicly available outputs, including guidance and reports. 

How Do I Apply? 

Applications are made via email and are open until 23 February 2024

Interested regions can download the application form, guidelines and technical assistance summary, fill out the documents and email them to secretariatatcoalregions [dot] eu 

Conclusion 

START stands as a beacon for regions in transition, offering invaluable support for just and sustainable transformations. With a proven track record of success, this initiative continues to play a pivotal role in empowering coal+ regions toward a greener and more resilient future.  

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