site.btaConfederation of Independent Trade Unions Calls on Bulgarian MEPs to Back Just Transition Directive

In a letter to Bulgarian MEPs, Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) President Plamen Dimitrov called on them to support a legislative initiative for a Just Transition Directive, the CITUB said on its official website.

The European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs has adopted a report containing recommendations for the directive, with a final vote expected on January 21. Dimitrov said that backing the initiative would demonstrate concern for Bulgarian workers, as “Europe is already feeling the consequences of poor planning in the transition to a low-carbon economy.” He stresses the need for a clear and adequate strategy.

"Between 2019 and 2023 alone, European industry lost more than one million jobs," Dimitrov noted, adding that this negative trend continues. Citing data from the National Statistical Institute, he said that nearly 13,000 jobs in the industrial sector were lost in just one year, between 2023 and 2024 - 634 in the extractive industry, 11,860 in manufacturing, and 352 in the production and distribution of electricity, heat, and gaseous fuels. Dimitrov also drew attention to the skills shortage across Europe.

Citing a study, Dimitrov said that by 2030 the EU energy sector will require at least 145,000 additional skilled workers simply to meet its legally binding climate targets. In Bulgaria, the lack of skilled labor is already one of the main obstacles to attracting industrial investment, he added. For these reasons, the CITUB believes that the Just Transition Directive offers a concrete and practical framework for job creation, transition planning, and social dialogue - elements Europe urgently needs, Dimitrov wrote.

The CITUB President argued that a positive vote by Bulgarian MEPs "will strengthen the competitiveness of our country and Europe as a whole and ensure that the workforce is prepared for the changes brought about by the transition to a low-carbon and digital economy."