The 5th Annual Political Dialogue, organized by the European Commission and the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development of Slovenia, recently took place with great success in the Municipality of Velenje, Slovenia. The Institute for Political Protection and its partners from the MaterLab Workshop attended the event upon special invitation.
Professor Ioannis Bakouros, Chemical Engineering Professor, Director of the Institute and SITRANS coordinator, was one of the keynote speakers on the second day of the event. He provided a detailed presentation on the results of the SITRANS project, specifically focusing on the steps and stages involved in creating an independent Observatory for Fair Energy Transition.
The importance of an effective governance model was emphasized, accompanied by a mechanism for scientific monitoring, analysis, evaluation, and the formulation of evidence-based policy recommendations. In this framework, a mechanism was proposed for recording and monitoring economic and, particularly, social issues, capturing the impacts and correlations during the transition process to ensure timely policy action and priority setting. This proposal garnered significant interest and is expected to be promoted at the central European level.
The event included two days dedicated to a detailed presentation of strategies and policy discussions regarding the challenges faced by regions in the phase of decoalification, the EU’s path toward climate neutrality, and how the energy transition can proceed in a fair and inclusive manner. Additionally, there was a presentation of areas, industrial infrastructures, and coal mines that have been transformed into business zones, energy spaces, and areas of cultural significance.
