What is the Just Transition Fund?

The European Union’s Just Transition Fund (EU JTF) is a brand-new fund created under the 2021-2027 programming round. It operates under Regulation (EU) 2021/1056 within the framework of the EU Cohesion policy.

The Fund’s single specific objective is to support the regions and communities in Europe that are most negatively affected by the transition to climate neutrality, ensuring that no one is left behind.

In essence, the EU JTF aims to address employment, economic, social and environmental impacts that come with the shift away from carbon-intense activities. In Ireland’s case, the territory supported by the Fund will focus on the regions where there have been direct impacts from the move away from peat production and electricity generation from peat.

Ireland is set to receive up to €84.5 million from the EU Just Transition Fund over the period to 2027. With the Government of Ireland’s match funding using Exchequer resources, up to €169 million will be available.

As required in legislation, Ireland has prepared a Territorial Just Transition Plan and accompanying Programme setting out the activities the Fund supports. With the European Commission’s adoption in December 2021 of Ireland’s Territorial Plan and the JTF Programme, activities under the programme have begun rolling out in 2023. A number of funding calls were launched in 2023 and further calls will be launched in 2024.

EU JTF Territory

Several evidence-based assessments have identified certain counties and municipal districts in the wider Midlands as being the most negatively affected in Ireland by the closure of peat-reliant power stations. This will therefore be the target area of the EU JTF.

The territory will consist of the counties and municipal districts indicated in the map below.
This territorial designation was approved at Government level on the basis of:

  • A county-level analysis supported through the Structural Reform Support Programme of the European Commission
  • The reports and recommendations of the Just Transition Commissioner
  • The coverage of the National Just Transition Fund
  • A sub-county analysis commissioned by Government

These reports can be found on this www.gov.ie page.

EU Just Transition Fund Territory map
This map shows the territory where the EU JTF will support activities.

What does EU JTF fund

The EU Just Transition Fund in Ireland has 3 priority areas for investment:

  • Generating employment through diversification of the local economy
  • Restoration of degraded peatlands and regeneration of industrial heritage assets
  • Smart and sustainable mobility

These priority areas are designed to complement each other to address employment, economic, social and environmental impacts from the cessation of peat production for energy generation in the wider Midlands area. They are also complemented by other EU funding programmes.

Find out more about other EU funding programmes on our site.

There will be a number of calls for funding and opportunities to engage with the EU JTF programme. To see all the calls visit the below page:

EU JTF CALLS

Just Transition Mechanism resources

The EU Just Transition Fund is one of three pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism under the European Green Deal. Investments under the Just Transition Fund may be complemented by a combination of grants and loans to private sector entities from the EU’s InvestEU instrument (Pillar 2) or through a specific Public Sector Loan Facility managed by the European Investment Bank (Pillar 3).

Read more about the Just Transition Mechanism.

 

Relevant Documents

Ireland’s Territorial Just Transition Plan (also available in Irish)

EU Just Transition Programme

Frequently Asked Questions

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Contact EU JTF in Ireland

Have any questions for us? Email us at: eujtf@emra.ie

Follow us on Twitter: @EUJTF_ie

Sign up to the newsletter to keep updated with the latest information and funding opportunities: Fill out this online form
(note: form is hosted on Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly page, the Managing Authority of the EU JTF)