Background information

The Government of the Slovak Republic updates the Action plan Transformation of the upper Nitra coal region every year from 2019, by 30 June. The update is prepared by the Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization (MIRRI SR). In 2023, the third update of the Action Plan took place. In this update, the original structure of the Action plan remains, including the naming of each chapter. The main changes were in chapters 3, 8 and 10.

Chapter 3 The introduction was amended with respect to 'Program Slovakia', a part of which is the Just Transition Fund, which in the context of dealing with effects of transition to climate neutrality will provide mechanism for help the Upper Nitra region.

Chapter 8 Financial sourcing of the Action plan. In chapter 8, financial sources were updated from 'Program Slovakia' as well as different sources of financing.

Chapter 10 Appendices were updated with regards to remarks and commentary of relevant regulating authorities, mediating authorities, members of working group for the Action plan, who took into account their continuing process of the region’s transition and updated the data provided in the document. In chapter 10, a tank for indication of project aims was updated as well as information on characteristics of each source of financing of the Action plan.

Content of measure

The Government passed the plan according to resolution n. 580/2018. It was prepared in the framework of the European Commission’s Structural Reform Support Service (EC SRSS) as a part of a wider project of transformation of the Upper Nitra coal region. After the conclusion of coal mining and its use for combustion, there will be a need to ensure requalification and employment of mine workers and other employees in the region, in which by the end of 2023 coal mining will be concluded.

With respect to the action plan, it is necessary to address questions of increasing health care, social support and assistance to groups of citizens, that will be mostly affected by the transformation of the region. This will be achieved by adjusting education and requalification in the region to fit new economic sectors; increasing attractivity of the region to youth in form of cultural, extracurricular and recreational possibilities; ensuring heat supply to the region in future. The basic pillars of the Action plan are mobility and interconnectivity of region, economy, entrepreneurship and innovation, sustainable environment and quality of life together with social infrastructure. The goal of this strategic document is to ensure diversification of the region’s economy with utilisation of existing economic, social and institutional structures and at the same time, to minimize the negative effects of transformation of the region after the coal mining and combustion will be concluded by the end of 2023.

The action plan is financed from various sources, also European (European Social Fund, funds of the European Central Bank, IROP, LIFE, EPFRV and others).

Use of measure

Approximately 1200 miners and similar workers will be affected. The regional Employment office will receive support. A slowdown in mining activity may bring an increase unemployment, but the slowdown will take place in phases. In addition to that assumes that up to 45% of mine employees will be older than 55 years in a year 2023, many will be entitled to early retirement.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Particular professions	Sector specific set of companies	Other groups of citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Public employment service	European Funds National funds National Recovery and Resilience Facility

Social partners

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

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
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:

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: Sectoral or branch level

Involvement

Social partners, both at regional and national level, were involved in the creation of the Action Plan through the Economic and Social Council of the Slovak Republic (tripartite body).

Social partners also comment on the update of the Action plan every year, but in the third update in 2023 they did not make any major comments.

Views and reactions

Social partners accept and agree with this measure.

Sectors and occupations

Sources

• 31 March 2019: Akčný plán transformácie uhoľného regiónu Horná Nitra (www.novaky.sk)
• 09 February 2021: Plán spravodlivej transformácie územia SR (mirri.gov.sk)
• 30 May 2023: Aktualizácia Akčného plánu transformácie uhoľného regiónu horná Nitra - návrh (rokovania.gov.sk)