Over two days of lively exchange and hands-on discussion, the BOLSTER Transferability Workshop and Just Transition Helix Event brought together practitioners, policymakers, and experts committed to making Europe’s green transition truly inclusive. Organised in collaboration with Bankwatch, Crowdhelix, and Tilburg University, and with the help and participation of all the project partners, the event moved beyond theory to showcase practical tools, governance models, and methodologies developed within the EU-funded BOLSTER project.
Rooted in extensive research—including interviews, focus groups, and experimental community projects across more than 40 regions—the workshop provided the 57 participants (policy makers, NGO’s and academics) concrete strategies for involving marginalised communities in just transition processes. From collaborative decision-making techniques to insights on aligning climate policies with lived realities, attendees left equipped with actionable knowledge to support fairer transitions in their own regions.
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Day One – 25th March
The first day, March 25th, began with the distribution of name badges and a networking lunch, where participants began exchanging ideas and sharing experiences.
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The session began with a welcome address from Nikolay Danchev Dochev, Deputy Mayor of Kyustendil Municipality, Bulgaria, who expressed his pleasure that the BOLSTER project had chosen his city as the venue for the event. For the BOLSTER Team, given the characteristics and goals of the project, it was clear from the beginning of the event planning that it should take place in a region that “we don’t want to leave behind” in the process of just transition.
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Next, the first official session of Day 1 focused on the BOLSTER project’s research results, highlighting new governance models and policy guidelines aimed at supporting just transition. Speakers included Dr. Michiel Stapper (Tilburg University, BOLSTER Project Coordinator), Miloslawa Stepien (Just Transition Coordinator, CEE Bankwatch Network), and Zafar Saydaliev (Culture Goes Europe). The session emphasised the importance of the social dimension of the just transition and featured the presentation of two key policy briefs – “Building bridges: Harnessing the JTF for vulnerable communities“ and “From consultation to collaboration: Rethinking participation in EU Cohesion policies“ – along with the capacity-building manual developed within the project.
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Following the opening session, the second panel of Day 1, “Navigating the Just Transition: Insights and Reflections from the Field”, brought together diverse perspectives from civil society, business, and local government. Panellists included Nevena Smilevska (Just Transition Campaign Coordinator for the Western Balkans, Bankwatch Network Macedonia), Francesco Castellano (Founder, President & CEO, Tondo), and Alojz Vlčko (Head of the City Office, City of Prievidza). The discussion addressed whether the Just Transition is delivering on its promises, offering insights into the challenges and progress observed on the ground. Perspectives from the market, public administration, and local communities were shared, along with reflections on what lies ahead for the transition process. The session concluded with a 20-minute Q&A, fostering an engaging exchange between the audience and the speakers.
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Next, Burçak Çullu (Global Network Manager at Crowdhelix) presented the session on “Crowdhelix Platform, Just Transition Helix for Impact Acceleration and Future Collaboration,” which focused on how to leverage the Crowdhelix platform to accelerate the impact of the Just Transition and explore opportunities for future collaboration. The Just Transition Helix, created within the BOLSTER project, will remain a crucial tool even after the project concludes, helping to keep the topic relevant and active. The Q&A session was productive, with valuable contributions from participants.
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After the coffee break, the session “Discussing How to Create Transformational Projects” led by Alexandra Lulache (Researcher, MKBT) addressed the role of EU cohesion funds in enabling the development of projects, but highlighted the challenge that these projects do not always reach vulnerable communities. The discussion focused on how to design projects that can effectively transform social structures, ensuring inclusivity and long-lasting impact. The session concluded with a 10-minute Q&A, where participants had the opportunity to delve deeper into the topic.
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The final session of the day, a workshop on “Transformational Projects”, was led by Miłosława Stępień (Just Transition Coordinator) and Dan Dobre (Just Transition Campaigner) in collaboration with other CEE Bankwatch team members.
The workshop explored the practical steps and strategies required to design and implement transformational projects that drive social change within the context of the Just Transition. Participants, including consultants, academics, NGOs, and municipal representatives, formed groups that rotated to explore solutions for addressing Just Transition issues in different European regions, such as Estonia, Hungary and other outside the BOLSTER regions. The session concluded with a valuable exchange of experiences, resulting in new hypotheses and ideas for solving the challenges at hand. This session was one of the event’s key highlights and was widely regarded as a success.
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Day Two – 26th March
The second day of the conference, March 26th, kicked off with a session focused on improving participation in Just Transition regions. Speakers Nevelina Pachova (RMIT Barcelona), Barbara Szafir (Deputy Director – Silesian), Tanja Fatur Šikić (University of Rijeka), and Asel Doranova (Tilburg University) presented BOLSTER’s findings on participatory processes and ways to enhance them. Topics included understanding marginalized communities, priority scorecards, foresight activities, and monitoring.
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The following session focused on The Potential and Limitations of Collaborations in the Just Transition. Panelists included Anastasiia Bushovska, Just Transition Campaigner at NGO Ecoaction, Alexandru Kelemen, Executive Director of The Association for Integrated Territorial Development of the Jiu Valley, and Dr. Anton Marcinčin, Senior Researcher at KOZ SR (Confederation of Trade Unions).
The session explored key topics such as how to engage different actors in the Just Transition processes, identifying those who are left behind, and the balance between quick wins and long-term lessons. The discussion provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of collaboration within the context of a Just Transition.
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The session on Improving Multi-Level Governance focused on strengthening cooperation between local, regional, national, and European actors, NGOs, and businesses. The first two speakers represented local authorities: Karmela Maren from the Municipality of Pula, Croatia, shared experiences from activities carried out by the municipality, while Meelis Kuusk, President of the Association of Municipalities of Ida-Virumaa, Estonia, discussed Just Transition and the inclusion of marginalized communities in the regions he oversees. The session concluded with Anastasiya Ansteeg from Tilburg University presenting BOLSTER’s research, highlighting the progress of Just Transition in the project’s target and study regions.
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The event concluded with a Wrap-up and Conclusions session led by Dr. Michiel Stapper, BOLSTER project coordinator from Tilburg University. Following this, an Optional Session on Recommendations for the Future of Just Transition was held. In this session, the consortium and guests drafted a letter to the European Commission, summarising the main points from the event and offering recommendations based on the findings of the Horizon Europe BOLSTER project:
“In conclusion, the Just Transition is not only worth preserving—it provides a foundation to build successful democratic economies. The BOLSTER project and all the other JTM activities have shown us how. By amplifying community voices, adjusting regulatory frameworks, and ensuring equitable access to funding and power, the EU can lead the world in building a green transition that is genuinely just, inclusive, and durable.”
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The full event recording is available on BOLSTER’S YouTube channel to watch or rewatch anytime you like:
