On 15 April 2025, BOLSTER had the opportunity to host our 3rd EU Policy Dialogue as part of ECAS’ flagship event, the State of the Union Citizens’ Rights 2025 Conference. The session brought together voices from academia, civil society, and policy institutions to reflect on the European Green Deal and how its implementation can be made more inclusive – particularly in regions undergoing the transition.
Our panel, “Including Citizens in the Just Transition”, focused on how we can ensure that local voices shape the transition. From data-driven insights to grassroots mobilisation and digital innovation, the session highlighted multiple pathways toward more participatory and just policy approaches.
BOLSTER coordinator, Michiel Stapper (Tilburg University, BOLSTER) shared key findings from the project’s fieldwork, including over 190 interviews across Europe. His intervention demonstrated how the Just Transition Fund (JTF) is being deployed, but also stressed that policies must be tailored to diverse community needs – particularly in historically marginalised regions facing complex challenges such as gender inequality and political disillusionment.
Brooke Moore (European Policy Centre) turned the spotlight on digital engagement, illustrating how co-design platforms and online tools can lower barriers to participation. Yet she cautioned that technology is no silver bullet. For digital inclusion to be meaningful, it must go hand-in-hand with efforts to tackle deep-rooted inequalities, including infrastructure gaps and digital literacy.
Bringing a grassroots perspective, Maris Pedaja (CEE Bankwatch Network, BOLSTER partner) shared experiences from Central and Eastern Europe, where civil society organisations are playing a key role in shaping just transition plans at the municipal level. While funding mechanisms like the JTF offer new opportunities, she noted that many strategies remain overly focused on economic indicators, often sidelining essential social policies.
Throughout the discussion, several critical themes emerged:
- Policy needs to listen better: There’s still a disconnect between the top-down design of transition funds and the lived experiences of those most affected by just transition.
- Digital tools are powerful – but only when inclusive: Online platforms can improve transparency and citizen engagement, but their success depends on addressing digital divides.
- Civil society is key: Local organisations not only represent community interests but also help shape more resilient and inclusive policies when involved from the outset.
- Just transition requires systemic thinking: Gender dynamics, cultural history, and long-standing social inequalities must all be accounted for in effective transition strategies.
This dialogue is part of our continued effort to amplify citizen voices and support just, inclusive, and locally grounded transition processes. At BOLSTER, we remain committed to building stronger bridges between policy and the people it aims to serve.
