Author Ministry of Local Self-Government, Cohesion and Regional Policy

The State Secretary at the Ministry of Local Self-Government, Cohesion and Regional Development, Rok Šimenc, and representatives of the European Commission, led by Director Sofia Alves, attended the Zasavje 2026 Just Transition Conference today, held at the former Vašhava mine in Trbovlje. The event brought together representatives of European institutions, the state, local communities, development institutions, the business sector, and other key stakeholders.

At the conference opening ceremony, State Secretary Rok Šimenc highlighted the region’s development progress and the importance of coordinated cooperation at all levels in the just transition process: “When we talk about just transition today, we are not merely talking about closing coal mines or decarbonising the economy. We refer to creating new development opportunities, new jobs, new skills, new housing, and new reasons for people to stay in the region and build their future here.”

Director Sofia Alves emphasised the importance of European cooperation and support for regions undergoing restructuring: “Throughout the entire process, the European Commission remains a committed partner, providing financial, technical, and advisory support, promoting the exchange of knowledge, and working closely with national, regional, and local stakeholders. Together, we can ensure that the Just Transition Fund delivers results and helps build a greener, stronger, and more resilient future for the Zasavje region. Slovenia is an example of how to turn ambitions into action. Let’s keep this momentum going. Because the transition we need requires vision and consistency.”

The conference highlighted key milestones in the region’s restructuring, from the consequences of coal mining phase-out to the inclusion of the Zasavje region in the Just Transition Mechanism, which provides the region with development investments for long-term, sustainable, and competitive growth.

Particular emphasis was placed on presenting current just transition projects in terms of the progress in their implementation and their impact on the economy, the labour market, the development of new activities, and the quality of life in the region. Participants also discussed future development directions beyond 2029 and the strategic priorities for the Zasavje region by 2050.

State Secretary Šimenc and Director Alves also visited the municipality of Zagorje ob Savi. Representatives from the Office for Natural Disaster Recovery at the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning, together with representatives from the Municipality of Zagorje ob Savi, visited the Prečna pot landslide site, where complex remediation work is underway. The landslide remediation project is worth over €13 million. The remediation will be very challenging, as the slope above the bus station in Zagorje is relatively steep, and the landslide area, which is approximately 380 metres wide, covers a total of 5 hectares. Residents will be safer after the remediation, as 15 homes will be protected, and the stability of the road network will be ensured. This is the largest project in the municipality of Zagorje ob Savi, which will also prevent the Medija stream from being dammed, a situation that could cause flooding in the town centre in the event of a landslide. The project was co-financed by the European Union Solidarity Fund for recovery following the August 2023 floods.

During his visit, the State Secretary underlined that the catastrophic floods of August 2023 were one of the greatest challenges in the history of independent Slovenia, an event that once again demonstrated the power of European solidarity. He noted that the European Union had allocated more than €428 million in aid to Slovenia from the Solidarity Fund, representing the largest amount of aid from this instrument to date.

He also presented the ministry’s role in preparing applications for European funds, establishing an implementation system, and monitoring measures throughout Slovenia. According to the State Secretary, the results of successfully implemented measures are most visible today on the ground, namely in infrastructure rehabilitation, addressing the consequences of natural disasters, and improving the resilience of local communities.

Director-General Sofia Alves added that solidarity is one of the fundamental values of the European Union and that the European Union must stand by its Member States and their citizens in the event of natural disasters. She highlighted the high-quality cooperation between the European Commission and Slovenian institutions in implementing post-flood measures, as well as the importance of pooling various European funding sources for the successful recovery and long-term resilience of the affected areas.

She also drew attention to the increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters in Europe caused by climate change and emphasised the need for further investment in preventive measures, spatial resilience and climate change adaptation.