Cooperative Transition of Polish and Bulgarian coal regions

EUKI project 2022-2024

In 2023, we will work on the “Cooperative Transition of Polish and Bulgarian coal regions” project. The project will be implemented with the support of key stakeholders in the Polish and Bulgarian coal regions aiming for the transition to a zero-emission economy and they will be involved in the development of region-specific employment strategies.

On 21-22 of March the first study (fact-finding) visit and workshops were organized by Europe, a Patient in Wielkopolska Wschodnia.

Main goal of the study visit was to evaluate the needs of key local stakeholders in Eastern Wielkopolska and prepare a suitable plan of supporting the project  “The road to employment after coal”.

The visit was supported by experts from Secretariat Technical Assistance to Regions in Transition (START) of Coal Regions in Transition Initiative managed by the European Commission’ s Directorate-General for Energy and operated by Ecorys.

 

Main products of visit:

On 21st March

Study visit in a successful social cooperative in Powidz.

 The visit started with a meeting with Society for Social Cooperatives, a social cooperative incubator which has established several dozens of functioning cooperatives across Wielkopolska Wschodnia. The meeting was dedicated to the potential of cooperatives in the transition of the region.

 Participants:

 

  • Europe, a Patient: Mateusz Piotrowski,
  • Ecorys: Paul Baker, Aleksander Szpor, Marta Kulesza
  • Society for Social Cooperatives: Przemysław Piechocki (President)
  • Zbigniew Prałat, Incubation and financial support coordinator
  • Jarosław Wypyszyński, Coordinator of the department for animation and local partnerships
  • Emilia Wasielewska, Communication Specialist

 After a meeting with Przemysław Piechocki, president of Society for Social Cooperatives and his team, Europe, a Patient’s and Ecorys’s team visited with him  Powidz, a commune where the social cooperative operates for years. During a visit, we interviewed its CEO and employees about key success factors and risks to social cooperatives.

 

Participants:

  • Europe, a Patient: Mateusz Piotrowski,
  • Ecorys: Paul Baker, Aleksander Szpor, Marta Kulesza
  • Society for Social Cooperatives: Przemysław Piechocki (President)
  • Powidz Commune: Jakub Gwit (Mayor of Powidz Commune)
  • Social Cooperative “Together for the Environment” / “Razem dla Środowiska” : Artur Filipiak (CEO)

 

After that we met local NGOs leaders engaged in Just Transition process

  • Agata Kuźmińska, Green Future Institute
  • Miłosława Stępień, Konin climate activist and expert / Bankwatch CEE
  • Emilia Wasielewska, Vice-Chair Konin City Councilor and Cooperative Activist

On 22nd March

Workshop 1: ZE PAK power plant with trade unions leaders

Moderator: Mateusz Piotrowski

Participants:

  • Europe, a Patient: Mateusz Piotrowski, Marek Lussa
  • Ecorys: Paul Baker, Aleksander Szpor, Marta Kulesza
  • ZE PAK: Daniel Baliński (Advisor to ZE PAK board on just transition)
  • Alicja Messerszmidt (Chairwoman of Kadra Trade Union) and 10 other ZE PAK trade union representatives

Main outcomes of workshop:

Information about ZE PAK employees’ attitude towards just transition, profile, level of social cooperatives awareness, key communication channels.

Trade Unions | ZE PAK

 

Workshop 2: Agency of Regional Development (ARR)

Moderator: Mateusz Piotrowski

Participants:

  • Europe, a Patient: Mateusz Piotrowski, Marek Lussa,
  • Ecorys: Paul Baker, Aleksander Szpor, Marta Kulesza
  • Agency for Regional Development / ARR (operator of Just Transition Fund in the region) : Maciej Sytek (head of Agency),
  • Michał Rejewski (key ARR expert) and representatives of Marshall Office working on Just Transition,

Main outcomes of workshop:

Information of socio – economic profile of the region, instruments in ARR’s disposal for just transition, mapping key stakeholders, identifying communication channels within main stakeholders and potential obstacles.

Summary:

Visit to Konin on 21-22 March helped us to depthen our understanding of needs of key stakeholders, risks to just transition in the region and to prepare suitable workplan for working with START (Ecorys) experts and local stakeholders on a detailed, regional cooperative transition strategy.

 

Cooperatives and local government officials | Powidz

Trade Unions | ZE PAK

This project is part of the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) of the German Federal
Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).