Local leaders warn against the risk of losing available resources and call for fast-tracking the Just Transition Fund (JTF).
With two key opinions adopted at its plenary session, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) recalled the paramount role of cohesion policy in reducing disparities between EU regions while helping the Union to achieve a just transition, getting rid of fossil fuels and becoming more energy independent. The ongoing war against Ukraine and the energy crisis accentuated even more the need for a strong cohesion in Europe, while COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that the digital dimension cannot be neglected anymore in order to guarantee that no one is left behind.
Gaetano Armao, rapporteur on digital cohesion, said "Digital cohesion must be introduced as an important additional dimension of the traditional concept of economic, social and territorial cohesion into the EU Treaties. This is key since citizens empowered with connectivity and digital skills can offer significant value to their communities. The digital gap, is not recognised formally as a threat to the EU’s cohesion. A public debate on how to close the innovation and digital gap is necessary and should be focused on achieving a clear understanding of the ‘Digital Cohesion’ concept, which calls for the recognition of the essential role that technology plays in our life, and requires the integration of the Cohesion objectives (set out in the EU Treaty) in the digital rights, principles and policies of the Union."
Armao, who is vice-president of the Region of Sicily added that a growing digital divide could increase social and territorial inequalities because it has an impact on services provided at local level, such as the access to e-Health services and educational resources, or prevent many citizens accessing to fundamental services, i.e. the use of cashless payments or of the electronic vote. Moreover, an increased digital cohesion would be a tool for reversing demographic decline in inland, rural and mountainous areas.
Pehr Granfalk, Member of Solna Municipal Council and ECON Vice-Chair said that digitization helps to reduce inequalities in access to certain services. "This is something that will become significantly more tangible now that we are facing the next big technological leap with blockchain and web3. We are facing an explosive development of companies and services based on blockchain. If the gaps that exist today regarding digitization are not dealt with now, they will multiply in connection with this technological leap. Pretty much everything connected to transactions, agreements, ownership and documentation on the internet will be based on this technology."
Sari Rautio, rapporteur of the opinion on the 'Just and sustainable transition in the context of the coal and energy intensive regions', said "The war in Europe has made the just transition more urgent. The crucial transition to a low-carbon society, has to take in focus on the different needs of citizens, by creating new jobs and skills. The energy sector, industries, the manufacturing sector and SMEs are struggling. That is why it is important to support industry's ambitions to become carbon-neutral the JTF can play a role in achieving this goal. The search for the most effective means will only succeed when regions and cities are genuinely engaged in all stages of planning and implementation. And at the same time – we must get the machine working!"
The success of a just environmental transition for all regions in Europe will also be crucial to avoid increasing inequalities between communities. The offensive war launched by Russia in February 2022 has made the just transition more difficult and yet more urgent, thus the € 19,3 billion JTF programme planning should be stepped up in order to mobilise funding in a timely manner. The financing of the RRF was made available within the space of one year, local leaders pointed out, while the European Commission and the Member States have been working on the JTF for almost three years. If the JTF programme is not up and running in 2022, there is a risk of losing the full year allocation of 25% of the available funds.