Experience of Ukraine’s coal communities presented at the JTPeers Exchange in Greece
On 7–8 July, Oksana Tomashuk, Deputy CEO of the Association of Coal Communities of Ukraine, participated in the JTPeers Exchange in Western Macedonia, Greece, organised under the European Commission’s Just Transition Platform.
The exchange brought together representatives from Greece, Czech Republic, and Ukraine to share practical approaches to the just transition of coal regions. Discussions focused on brownfield regeneration, investment attraction, entrepreneurship support, digital transformation, and creating new economic opportunities for local communities.
During the two-day programme, Oksana Tomashuk presented the Association’s work across several thematic sessions covering entrepreneurship development, workforce reskilling, digital innovation, and community preparedness for economic transition. She also highlighted practical initiatives implemented in Ukraine to support coal communities in diversifying their local economies and building new opportunities for long-term growth.
The programme also included site visits to former coal mining areas in Western Macedonia, the Entrepreneurship Support Centre, the University of Western Macedonia, the European Digital Innovation Hub, and the Kozani Skills Center. These visits showcased practical examples of brownfield regeneration, digital skills development, and workforce training for emerging industries.
International exchanges such as JTPeers are more than an opportunity to learn from European experience. They also provide a platform to showcase Ukraine’s achievements, strengthen international partnerships, and develop joint solutions that will support a successful just transition for coal communities across Ukraine.
