On 24-25 June 2025 in the city of Konin, Poland took place the Coal Regions Transition Initiative’s annual Policy Dialogue, a flagship event that brought together policymakers, business and civil society to discuss a just energy transition in the EU. It is part of the programme of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU.
A key part of the forum was plenary session 2 “Ensuring industrial competitiveness through clean energy deployment”. The session focused on the role of coal regions in achieving the EU’s target of 42.5% share of renewable energies by 2030 set out in the European Green Deal and REPowerEU. Coal regions concentrate energy-intensive industries – the transition to renewables is crucial for both climate goals and job preservation. The challenges are significant – limited finance, complex permitting procedures and lack of sufficient grid capacity. The Commission’s new policy guidelines and the Grid Action aim to speed up procedures, double electricity transmission capacity by 2030 and support domestic clean generation.
Dr. Rumyana Grozeva presented the experience of the Stara Zagora region – green diversification, support for start-up “cleantech” companies and creation of new jobs.For Bulgaria the topic is particularly relevant: the country – with a significant share of coal in the energy mix – needs to attract investments in energy storage, modern grids and production of renewable energy components to maintain the competitiveness of its industry.
Energy transformation is not just an environmental mission – it is an economic strategy for the future prosperity of regions that have long relied on coal. The discussions in Konin will show concrete solutions on how clean energy can become the engine of a new industrial wave – both in our country and across Europe.
Dr. Rumiana Grozeva, Executive Director of the Regional Economic Development Agency – Stara Zagora, participated in the plenary session “Ensuring industrial competitiveness through clean energy deployment”. She presented the region’s experience in green diversification, job creation and support for cleantech start-ups.
Stara Zagora shows how to make energy communities with the digital accelerator of the green transition EDIH “Zagore”
On 27 June 2025, the Trakia University hosted the first national conference “Energy Communities – a European tool for a strong local economy, clean transport and affordable energy”. The forum brought together academics, business and local authorities to exchange practices on creating energy communities and financing smart-grid projects.
Deputy Mayor Radostin Tanev confirmed that the municipality is already developing several communities with the assistance of ARRI – an example of a municipal-business-citizen partnership that reduces energy costs and retains investment in the region.
The combination of European political will and local innovation ecosystems shows how coal regions can not just survive but benefit from the green transition. With a panel in Konin and concrete projects in Stara Zagora, Dr. Rumyana Grozeva and the Zagore ECIC prove that when clean energy meets digital technology and community participation, the result is new industrial competitiveness – an example that can be multiplied in every region of Europe.
