The European Commission said on Monday that Poland might not receive the European Union’s flagship green transition fund if the country proceeded with its plans to extend coal production in Turow until 2044. The €17.5-billion ($21.07-billion) Just Transition Fund is part of the EU’s COVID-19 recovery package. It is aimed to assist communities most affected by the region’s transition from fossil fuels to renewable and cleaner energy sources. Poland, which accounts for more than 50% of Europe’s coal workforce, is in line for the largest share of the plan.
The Turow coal mine is located near Poland’s borders with the Czech Republic and Germany. In February, the Czech Republic filed a lawsuit demanding the closure of the mine on an allegation that it violated EU laws. The EU’s Court of Justice is due to decide its ruling in the coming months whether the mine must be shut immediately. Turow provides coal to an adjacent electricity plant. A Polish diplomat said that the shutdown would affect the European power systems and hit the region with unemployment.
