Changes from plenary report to adopted text

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Articles 2 and 3 of the Treaty on European Union,

– having regard to Articles 4, 9, 151, 153, 162, 174 to 178 and 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU),

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/691 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1056 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 establishing the Just Transition Fund,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 establishing the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1296/2013,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 on the European Regional Development Fund and on the Cohesion Fund,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy (Common Provisions Regulation),

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (‘European Climate Law’), including a legal objective for the EU to reach climate neutrality by 2050, setting the intermediate target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % by 2030 compared to 1990 levels,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2024/1735 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology manufacturing ecosystem and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1724,

– having regard to its resolution of 25 March 2021 on cohesion policy and regional environment strategies in the fight against climate change,

– having regard to its resolution of 20 May 2021 on reversing demographic trends in EU regions using cohesion policy instruments,

– having regard to its resolution of 7 June 2022 on EU islands and cohesion policy: current situation and future challenges,

– having regard to its resolution of 15 September 2022 on economic, social and territorial cohesion in the EU: the 8th Cohesion Report,

– having regard to its resolution of 23 November 2023 on job creation – the just transition and impact investments,

– having regard to its resolution of 23 November 2023 on harnessing talent in Europe’s regions,

– having regard to its resolution of 12 December 2023 on reshaping the future framework of EU structural funds to support regions particularly affected by challenges related to the automotive, green and digital transitions,

– having regard to its resolution of 14 March 2024 on cohesion policy 2014-2020 - implementation and outcomes in the Member States,

– having regard to the Paris Agreement, adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) in Paris on 12 December 2015,

– having regard to the Territorial Agenda 2030 – A future for all places, adopted at the informal meeting of Ministers responsible for spatial planning, territorial development and/or territorial cohesion on 1 December 2020,

– having regard to the Commission communication of 4 March 2021 on the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan (COM(2021)0102),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 5 March 2025 entitled ‘The Union of Skills’ (COM(2025)0090),

– having regard to the opinion of the European Committee of the Regions of 8 October 2024 entitled ‘A Just Transition for all EU regions’,

– having regard to the opinion of the European Committee of the Regions of 21 November 2024 entitled ‘A renewed Cohesion Policy post 2027 that leaves no one behind’,

– having regard to the report by Enrico Letta of 17 April 2024 entitled ‘Much more than a market – Speed, Security, Solidarity: Empowering the single market to deliver a sustainable future and prosperity for all EU citizens’,

– having regard to the report by Mario Draghi of 9 September 2024 entitled ‘The future of European competitiveness’,

– having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Regional Development (A10-0137/2025),

A. whereas the ambitious goal of transitioning to a carbon-neutral economy by 2050 at the latest has the potential to generate substantial economic, environmental and social benefits, including the creation of new industries, job opportunities and improved quality of life; whereas, at the same time, this transition may also exacerbate existing disparities between regions, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations due to socio-economic factors hampering their ability to benefit from the transition, and create new vulnerabilities, particularly in regions that are highly dependent on carbon-intensive industries, including the coal regions;

B. whereas the regions of the EU vary considerably in terms of socio-economic characteristics, with varying levels of development, infrastructure, demographic trends and labour market conditions, and it is evident that there is no one-size-fits-all solution capable of adequately addressing their diverse needs; whereas less developed regions tend to suffer more from the transition, compared to more developed regions;

C. whereas disparities remain in the speed of the digital transition and connectivity across Europe, especially in rural and remote areas; whereas many affected regions lack basic infrastructure and essential services, which makes it difficult for them to attract productive investment that leads to sustainable economic recovery; whereas more investment is needed to accelerate the shift to sustainable and smart mobility and to modernise and diversify the infrastructure systems in order to enhance accessibility, promote innovation and support the transition to a greener economy; whereas cohesion policy should play a strategic role in bridging these gaps, promoting territorial cohesion and ensuring no region is left behind in the transition;

F. whereas the EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) is, and should continue to be, an important tool in ensuring people living in territories affected by the shift to climate neutrality are not left behind and in contributing to the objective of enabling regions and people to address the social, employment, economic and environmental impacts of the transition; whereas the absorption rates remain too low at this stage of the programming period;

G. whereas the transition to a low-carbon economy, the global climate crisis and environmental pollution, with their impact on food, education and health, also spell a crisis for children’s rights in the many different regions of the EU, and effective, meaningful measures should be taken to ensure that children and future generations grow up with dignity and are equipped for the skilled labour market of tomorrow;

H. whereas recommendations to Member States for an overall, adequately resourced strategy to combat poverty and, in particular, family and child poverty in the EU, as well as policies and action for its implementation, promote a deepening of the internal market and progress in achieving economic, social and territorial cohesion, and support the Commission’s goal for a competitive and inclusive Europe of diverse regions;

I. whereas Europe is currently experiencing labour and skills shortages, hampering the Union’s competitiveness, as identified by the Draghi and Letta reports; whereas strategic decentralisation of industrial and technological development and investment to regions affected by the transition can help to address such shortages, but requires sufficient investment in the accompanying public services and infrastructure such as housing, education and transport;

J. whereas many of the industries hit the hardest by decarbonisation faced unfavourable working conditions and a dependency on seasonal workers; whereas the green and digital transitions must go hand in hand with social justice; whereas just transition should help in addressing workplace discrimination, ensuring decent and quality working conditions, raising labour standards and ensuring effective safety nets and protection mechanisms for the workers whose jobs are affected;

L. whereas the EU, unlike its main competitors, is a world leader in emissions reduction, while tackling many challenges triggered by the complex global geopolitical and economic context;

M. whereas the energy transition process should go hand in hand with economic competitiveness and whereas it is essential to protect the energy security of regions in transition;

N. whereas nuclear energy is included in the green taxonomy and whereas, therefore, it contributes to the transition towards a decarbonised economy; whereas more investment in that energy form would help to achieve the EU’s strategic autonomy and carbon emission reduction goals; whereas, further, that energy source would be an effective replacement with regard to energy performance, job creation and economic growth in transition regions;

O. whereas the European continent is warming faster than the rest of the world and the risks posed by climate change are becoming more intricate and challenging to address;

P. whereas particular focus and support need to be directed to the vulnerable situation of islands and insular and outermost regions, given the serious socio-economic challenges they face in the transition towards the EU’s 2030 energy targets and the goal of a climate-neutral economy by 2050; whereas the co-existing handicaps of islands, stemming from insularity, combined with the severe impact of the climate crisis, place their citizens at further disadvantage, exacerbating existing social and economic disparities; whereas the increasing occurrence of extreme weather events and natural disasters, such as droughts, floods and wildfires, further widens development gaps and hinders progress in the sustainable development of EU island regions;

Q. whereas without adequate attention and financial support, regions formerly dependent on energy production, including peat production, mining activities and refinery processes, as well as other heavily industrialised regions, face the risk of economic decline, reducing their competitiveness; whereas these areas often experience demographic challenges such as persistent depopulation, in particular in rural areas, islands and outermost regions, as well as ageing and brain drain, combined with limited access to investment, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient connectivity and a widening gap in productivity and employment opportunities when compared to more dynamic regions; whereas they require comprehensive support and specific reconversion strategies to turn these challenges into opportunities;

R. whereas the effectiveness of just transition strategies depends on the coherent and strategic use of EU financial instruments; whereas it is therefore essential to maintain a territorial and place-based approach for the Territorial Just Transition Plans, ensuring the involvement of regional and local authorities in the design of bottom-up strategies for the territories covered by the programme;