Registration and coffee

Registration and coffee

OPENING PANEL: 2 YEARS AND 2 EVENTS LATER

Introductory speeches – (hybrid session open to media)

during the discussion will discuss the results and messages of the 2020 and 2021 editions of the event and what is progress in the fair transition in the country

Featuring:

• Rumyana Grozeva, PhD, Executive Director of SZ REDA
• Konstantin Stoyanov, PhD Head of Europe Direct Stara Zagora
• Apostol Dyankov, Head of Climate and Energy Program, WWF Bulgaria

Q&A 

PANEL 1: YOUTH VOICE AND VISION ON THE GREEN DEAL AND FAKE NEWS

(hybrid session open to media)

During the panel will be discussed the involvement of young people from the country and the region in the decision-making process, including for the just transition and beyond and how fake news influences their formation

Keynote speaker: Mr Cvetan Kyulanov, Head of the EC Representation in Bulgaria (tbc)

Featuring:

• Ass. Proff. Ophelia Kuneva, Social Committee of Bulgaria;
• Viktoria Tabakova,  Youth Engagement Coordinator at WWF Bulgaria,
• Ass. Prof. Ani Zlateva Secretary General of Trakia University, Stara Zagora
• Ilin Stanev, Policy Adviser, EC Representation in Bulgaria,
• Rostislav Velitchkov (FB group "The Truth about Maritsa East");
• Ralitsa Kovatcheva, (Factcheck);

Q&A session

Moderated by: Ivajlo Stanchev, journalist ECONOMEDIA

PANEL 2: SOCIAL DIALOGUE – THE DEVELOPMENT OF COAL REGIONS THROUGH THE PRISM OF TERRITORIAL PLANS FOR A FAIR TRANSITION

(hybrid session open to the media)

The discussion will focus on the different perspectives, alternatives for jobs and business in the decades of just transition and beyond, the opportunities that TJTPs give, including innovation and research, the capacity to implement successfully future projects and the potential for a positive impact on the community

Featuring:

• Mr Sander HAPPAERTS, DG REGIO Policy Officer - Just Transition  - DOWNLOAD PDF
• Assoc. Prof. Lefteris Topaloglou, former Executive Director of the Regional Association of Local Governments of Western Macedonia; (Kozani as the first region with approved TJTP in the EU);
• Plamen Barakov, Deputy Mayor of Galabovo Municipality;
• Ognyan Atanasov - Vice President of the CITUB;
• Judith Kirton‑Darling​, Deputy General Secretary, industriAll European Trade Union
• Lora Lyubenova, Chief Expert Economic and Social Affairs Directorate, ESC;
• Vera Petkantchin - Junior Achievement Bulgaria;
• Apostol Dyankov,  Head of Climate and Energy Program of WWF - Bulgaria,
• Sylwia Borkowska, (DG REGIO) - - DOWNLOAD PDF

Q&A

Moderated by: Sofia Savova, SZ REDA

Lunch time and informal discussions

PANEL 3: THE NEW ENERGY MIX – INNOVATION, INVESTMENT, BUSINESS

(hybrid session open to the media)

The discussion will elaborate the different views on economic alternatives for a new model of the energy mix in coal regions

Featuring:

• DG Research & Innovation, EC
• Ivan Tzankov, Executive Director of AES Bulgaria
• Karel Tichý, Economic and Social Council of the Ústí Region
• Georgi Simeonov, Director Investment and EU Programmes, Municipality of Stara Zagora – Stara Zagora Hydrogen Valley
• Bogdan Bogdanov, Executive Director Bulgarian Investment Agency (tbc)
• Kostadin Sirleshtov, Managing Partner CMS Sofia and Head of EPC at CEE at CMS, Bulgaria
• Rumyana Grozeva, Executive Director, SZ REDA, Coordinator of the European Digital Information Hub Zagora

Q&A

Moderated by: Konstantin Stoyanov, PhD, Head of Europe Direct Center – Stara Zagora

Conclusions, final comments from moderators and messages