Background information

A part of Finland’s Just Transition Fund-strategy is to halve the energy use of peat by 2030. The South Ostrobothnia region is one of the most significant peat regions in Finland, contributing to 25% of all energy peat production areas in the country. The region’s regional cooperation group [Maakunnan yhteistyöryhmä], which monitors the implementation of all EU structural fund programmes regionally, set an expert group to support the creation of the Territorial Just Transition Plan.

Content of measure

The group consisted of the regional council, the ELY-centre (regional centers responsible for the regional implementation and development tasks of the central government), businesses, energy companies, regional environmental organisations and forestry organisations, forest owners, institutes of education, research institutions, as well as the Employers' Trade Association of Finnish Forestry and Earth-Moving Contractors [Koneyrittäjät] and the Entrepreneurs of South-Ostrobothnia [Etelä-Pohjanmaan Yrittäjät] (the branch organisation of Finnish Entrepreneurs [Yrittäjät]).

The purpose of the expert group was to inform the planning process, engage stakeholders in the objectives of the plan, and disseminate information, as it was recognised that the Territorial Just Transition Plan required broad involvement of interest groups.

The expert group was active from fall 2020 to spring 2021. No information is available regarding renumeration for participants.

Use of measure

The Territorial Just Transition Plan for the South Ostrobothnia region was approved by the European Commission on 16 December 2022.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Other groups of workers	Other businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Employers' organisations Other social actors (e.g. NGOs) Local / regional government	Regional funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Only employers' organisations
• Main level of involvement: Sectoral or branch level

Involvement

Employers' Trade Association of Finnish Forestry and Earth-Moving Contractors [Koneyrittäjät] was a member of the expert group.

No trade unions were part of the expert group. Trade unions are however represented in the regional cooperation group.

Views and reactions

Involved in the measure.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 16 December 2022: JTF in South Ostrobothnia [JTF Etelä-Pohjanmaalla] (epliitto.fi)