Brussels, 12 May 2023
Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, will be in the city of Taranto in Italy on Monday, 15 May. He will participate in a Citizen’s Dialogue to discuss the green transition in the city and in the wider region of Apulia. In the morning, he will meet with representatives from the local municipality and entrepreneurs working on the ‘Green Hydrogen Valley’ of Taranto, to discuss the city’s plans to become a hub for renewable hydrogen production and transport.
The Executive Vice-President will have a bilateral meeting with the Mayor of Taranto, Rinaldo Melucci, and the President of the Apulia Region, Michele Emilian to discuss the just transition towards a climate-neutral economy in the region. Italy will receive €1 billion under the Just Transition Fund to help deliver a fair climate transition, in Taranto and other regions, by fostering economic diversification and job creation in green sectors, including renewable energy. The Fund will support the retraining of 4,300 workers for green jobs linked to the clean energy transition and circular economy.
In the afternoon, Mr Timmermans will visit Beleolico – the first offshore wind farm in the Mediterranean. While in Italy, he will also deliver an online speech at the Sustainable Development Festival 2023 of the Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development (ASviS), held in Milan.
Source – EU Commission