OFFICIAL Introductory remarks

Keynote speech:  Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice President of EC (video messages)

Watch the Recorded Session

Participants:

• Yordan Nikolov, Deputy Mayor of Municipality Stara Zagora
• Diana Dimitrova, Conservation Manager, WWF Bulgaria
• Aleksandra Tomczak, Member of Cabinet of the Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans at European Commission
• Q&A time with the Executive Vice President of EC, (questions from mayors)

Moderator: Georgi Stefanov, WWF Bulgaria

Panel of Mayors

Watch the Recorded Session

• Handover of Forum of Mayors leadership - press invited (a hybrid session)

From Mariusz Wolosz - Mayor of Bytom to Yordan Nikolov - Deputy Mayor of Stara Zagora

• Presentations of new mayors - press invited (a hybrid session)

Moderator: Georgi Stefanov, WWF Bulgaria

Overview of partner projects: DeCarb, Regions and Municipalities for a Just Transition and TRACER

Watch the Recorded Session

Short introduction: DeCarb, Regions and Municipalities for a Just Transition and Tracer.

Will be presented by: Rumyana Grozeva, PhD, Georgi Stefanov, Angel Nikolaev

Just Transition Plans

(Тhe purpose of the session is to share & discuss the TJTPs of the Bulgarian Coal Regions: Stara Zagora, Pernik & Kyustendil and to be presented a tool developed for their potential impact assessment)

 Watch the Recorded Session

Participants:

• Dimitar Dimitrov, PWC, Just Transition Plans of the BG Coal Regions (tbc.)
• Katie Treadwell, WWF EPO, WWF Territorial Just Transition Plans scoring tool
• Q&A time

Moderator: Slavtcho Neykov, Energy Management Institute, Bulgaria

Parallel sessions in Stara Zagora event hub: Mayors Networking

Exchange of experience on municipalities’ transition plans and best practices  (on request during the registration process)

Lunch break discussion & networking

Social Dialogue: what is the Future of the coal region?

Keynote speech: Iliyana Tsanova, Deputy Director-General, Directorate-General for Budget, European Commission, (video message)

(Тhe purpose of the session is to share & discuss different points of view, the choices of youth and professions in the years of the just transition and beyond)

Watch the Recorded Session

Participants:

Atanaska Nikolova, Economic and Social Council of the Republic of Bulgaria

• Тhe Trade Unions
• Тhe Youth
• Q&A time with questions on the future of the people, environment and regions

Moderator: PhD Rumyana Grozeva, SZ REDA

Research and Innovation

(Тhe purpose of the session is to share & discuss the points of view of academia & business on how the research and innovation policies/projects could support the regional economy in the years of the just transition and beyond)

Watch the Recorded Session

Participants:

• Prof., DSc Daria Vladikova, Bulgarian Academy of Science, Institute for Sustainable Transition and Development/Trakia University
• PhD Rumyana Grozeva, SZ REDA Executive Director, as Managing Coordinator of European Digital Innovation Hub Zagore (EDIH)
• Prof. Dr. Dr.-Ing. Dr. h. c. Jivka Ovtcharova, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)(online)
• Assoc. Prof. Evgeni Evgeniev, Research Attaché for Bulgaria
• Q&A time

Moderator: Assoc. Prof., PhD Kosyo Stoychev, Sofia University

Parallel Session: EDIH corridor collaboration as support for ‘smartisation’ of industries & services, part I – Cyber Security

(Тhe purpose of the session is to share & discuss the point of view of partners EDIHs on how the services provided by them in the Cybersecurity field and the networking could support for digitalisation, bearing in mind that one of the main priority of the Digital Europe 2021-2027 Programme is the promotion of a wide EDIH Network in the EU)

Moderator: Radoslav Rizov, EDIH Zagore, Telelink Business Services

Mr. Maxime EZEQUEL, EDIH DIVA (region Pays de la Loire in France)

Delian Coroama, Digital Innovation Zone  /DIZ/

Coffee & cookies short break for discussion & networking

Parallel Session: EDIH corridor collaboration as support for ‘smartisation’ of industries & services, part II – Startup Ecosystem

(Тhe purpose of the session is to share & discuss the point of view of partners EDIHs how the services provided by them and networking could support startup ecosystems building in the coal transition regions, bearing in mind that one of the main priority of the Digital Europe 2021-2027 Programme is the promotion of a wide EDIH Network in the EU)

Moderator: Radoslav Rizov, EDIH Zagore, Telelink Business Services

Mr. Maxime EZEQUEL, EDIH DIVA (region Pays de la Loire in France)

Delian Coroama, Digital Innovation Zone  /DIZ/

Karl McFaul, Transilvania IT Cluster and Transilvania Digital Innovation Hub

Pirita Ihamäki, Liaison Manager at Prizztech Ltd., "Open Platform Entrepreneurship Education for Future Work"

New Energy Mix

(Тhe purpose of the session is to share & discuss different points of view on economic alternatives & New energy model in the coal and partners’ regions)

Watch the Recorded Session

Participants:

• Julian Popov, European Climate Foundation Fellow
• Prof., PhD Kosyo Stoychev, Head of "Regional and Political Geography Department" Sofia University St. Kl. Ohridski
• Kostadin Sirleshtov, Managing Partner CMS Sofia and CEE Head of EPC at CMS, Bulgaria 
• Nikola Gazdov, Chairman of the Association for Production, Storage and Trade of Electricity
• Ivelin Panchov, Member of the European Digital Innovation Hub Zagore BoD
• Q&A time

Moderator: PhD Rumyana Grozeva, SZ REDA

Conclusions and closing remarks by the moderators

Financing Just Transition Session - 1

Financing Just Transition Session (a hybrid session)

(Тhe purpose of the session is to provided guidance on the just transition priorities and info for financing the process both by public & private investments)

Watch the Recorded Session

Keynote speech: Lilyana Pavlova, EIB Vice-President, Financing sustainable and just transition, (online)

Participants:

• Elodie Durand, (EC, DG REGIO), Just Transition Territorial Plans and the connection with 1^st pillar
• Manon Brunel, (EC, DG ECFIN), Just Transition Territorial Plans and the connection 2^nd pillar of the JTM, (online)
• Sabine Vandermotten and Clement Gerthoffert, (EC, DG REGIO), Just Transition Territorial Plans and the connection 3^rd pillar of the JTM, (online)
• Q&A time

Moderator: Georgi Stefanov, WWF Bulgaria

Coffee & cookies short break for discussion & networking

Financing Just Transition Session - 2

(Тhe purpose of the session is to provide guidance on the just transition priorities and info for financing the process both by public & private investments)

Watch the Recorded Session

Participants:

• ………………………, Bulgarian National Decarbonization Fund as a core of Just Transition in Bulgaria - "Central Coordination Unit" Directorate, Council of Ministers (tbc.)
• Yumer Kodzhayumer, (Ministry of education and science), How “Horizon Europe” can support the just transition?
• Eng. Dotchka Vasileva, PhD, Fund of Funds, (online)
• Boyko Takov, PhD, Bulgarian SME Promotion Agency, (BSMEPA), (online)
• Q&A time

Moderator: PhD Rumyana Grozeva, SZ REDA

Closing cocktail and Matchmaking

Field trip to the coal mining and TPP’s area in Stara Zagora