The aim of the Programme is to help these regions, their inhabitants and businesses address the economic, social and environmental impacts associated with transforming their energy and economy towards climate neutrality. The Programme will, for example, support the transition of businesses to low-carbon operations, the development of new renewable energy sources, provide jobs for workers leaving the coal industry, improve public services or restore landscapes affected by mining.

The Programme is designed for the 2021-2027 programming period and will be funded by the European Just Transition Fund. The total allocation for the Czech Republic is €1.64 billion, so the regions concerned will split approximately CZK 41 billion (after deducting the technical assistance funds).

The managing authority of the Programme is the Ministry of the Environment, and the administration of applications is entrusted to the State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic as the Programme’s intermediary.

What is eligible for subsidy

The aid will be targeted at a number of different areas. The main areas include:

• support for small and medium-sized enterprises
• research and innovation
• digitisation
• clean energy and energy savings
• circular economy
• rehabilitation and new use of land
• requalification and support in finding employment

The Programme aims to channel funds into areas beyond the scope of other subsidy programmes. For the target regions, Just Transition thus represents extra resources compared to the rest of the country’s regions.

Who may apply

The aid will be directed to help a wide range of entities, such as:

• municipalities, regions
• Businesses – mainly small and medium-sized enterprises, large enterprises, including those included in the emissions trading scheme. Productive investments in large enterprises will only be supported if they are explicitly mentioned in the Territorial Just Transition Plan, preceded by the preparation of a business analysis for job creation in the region.
• state-owned enterprises and organisations, state administration bodies, public entities
• universities and research organisations

When the programme is open

The Programme is planned for the European programming period of 2021–2027. Eligibility of expenditure, therefore, starts in 2021 and ends in 2029, when the Programme is due to be definitively closed.

The first calls are expected to be announced in November 2022, and we will keep you updated on their publication.