Greek post-lignite authority EYDAM, the Just Transition Special Authority, is preparing twelve new programs budgeted at a total of more than 820 million euros for 2023 and 2024 to support businesses and other initiatives in northern Greece’s west Macedonia region and Arkadia in the Peloponnese, both lignite-dependent local economies.

The plan includes a 380 million-euro budget as support for investment plans in just-transition areas; 29.2 million euros for workforce empowerment interventions; as well as an 8.23 million-euro budget support program for unemployed young adults, vocational counselling and social empowerment.

Other aspects of the overall plan include a 30 million-euro budget for support of existing enterprises active in just-transition areas, a 20 million-euro budget for new enterprises either already active or preparing for launch in just-transition areas, as well as a 50 million-euro budget for the transformation and reuse of former lignite areas.

In addition, a 22 million-euro sum has been marked out for a special program aimed at the economic and productive transformation of entrepreneurial activity in the wider Megalopoli area’s bioeconomy.