Energy policy and the labour market STUDY European Economic and Social Committee Final Report Energy policy and the labour market: consequences for employment in regions undergoing energy transitions Study The information and views set out in this study are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee. The European Economic and Social Committee does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this study. Neither the European Economic and Social Committee nor any person acting on the European Economic and Social Committee’s behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein. General information STUDY FOR The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) REQUESTING SERVICE Workers’ Group Secretariat STUDY MANAGING SERVICE Foresight, Studies and Policy Assessment Unit DATE 22.04.2023 MAIN CONTRACTOR CASE – Center for Social and Economic Research AUTHORS Oskar Chmiel, Tomas Jeck, Agnieszka Kulesa, Izabela Marcinkowska, Waldemar Milewicz Jonathan Weber – proofreading, Delia Agostinelli – editorial support CONTACTS ul. Zamenhofa 5/1b, 00-156 Warsaw, Poland tel.: +48 798 023 759 case@case-research.eu IDENTIFIERS STUDY print PDF QE-05-23-214-EN-C QE-05-23-214-EN-N ISBN doi 978-92-830-6126-7 978-92-830-6127-4 10.2864/12935 10.2864/534718 Final Report: Energy policy and the labour market: consequences for employment in regions undergoing energy transitions Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... 1 Executive summary ................................................................................................................................. 2 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 4 Chapter 1. Energy policy and the labour market – a general overview................................................... 7 1.1 Links between energy policy and labour market ..................................................................... 7 1.2 Policy instruments and initiatives supporting just transition – a regional perspective ............ 7 1.3 Overview of the relevant policies .......................................................................................... 10 1.3.1 EU policies and instruments .............................................................................................. 10 1.3.2 National and regional policies ........................................................................................... 11 1.4 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 13 Chapter 2. Transformation of the lignite industry – case studies .......................................................... 14 2.1. Lusatia, Germany .................................................................................................................. 14 2.1.1 Definition of the region: basic characteristics ................................................................... 14 2.1.1.1. Location, area, population ............................................................................................. 14 2.1.1.2. Economic structure of the region .................................................................................. 17 2.1.1.3. Regional labour market ................................................................................................. 20 2.1.2 A brief history of mining in the region .............................................................................. 26 2.1.3 Policies and reasons behind the transition ......................................................................... 27 2.1.4 Lignite mining in the region in times of transition ............................................................ 29 2.1.5 Transformation of the region in public policies ................................................................ 30 2.1.6 Funding of transformation ................................................................................................. 36 2.1.7 Conclusions ....................................................................................................................... 40 2.2. Wi