CELSI is pleased to invite you to the upcoming CELSI Frontiers Seminar, taking place on Friday, February 21, from 11:30 to 13:00 CET at the CELSI office and will be available also online via Zoom.

During this seminar, Pavol Bors will present his doctoral thesis titled "Actors, Actions and Governance: Sub-national Just Transition Management in the Context of Countries of Central Europe", supervised by CELSI director Marta Kahancová. Please find the abstract of the thesis paper below for your reference.

To attend, please register by emailing dominik.hutko@celsi.sk. We will then send you the thesis abstract and a Zoom meeting link.

We encourage you to join and share your feedback, suggestions, and recommendations. Your insights and constructive input will be greatly appreciated.

Abstract:

The European Just Transition framework, as an integral part of the European Green Deal, seeks to ensure that the shift to a sustainable economy is socially just and inclusive. This dissertation thesis examines the governance structures, theoretical underpinnings, and the role and opportunities of regional actors in facilitating a Just Transition, particularly in the context of Central European regions undergoing socio-economic transformation.

The core issue analysed is the governance challenges arising from the uneven regional impacts of the transition. The puzzle lies in how regional and local actors can mitigate disparities in economic resilience and environmental adaptation while navigating complex multi-level governance structures. A key research gap exists in understanding how sub-national governance mechanisms can enhance policy coherence, stakeholder collaboration, and innovative economic restructuring in affected regions, especially in Central and Eastern European countries.

The research within the thesis applies theoretical frameworks such as Multi-Level Governance (MLG), Transition Management, and Path Development to investigate the interactions between governmental bodies, social partners, and economic actors in designing and implementing transition strategies. The study highlights the challenges faced by regional actors, including disparities in financial resources, institutional capacity, and political autonomy, while identifying policy tools that can bridge these gaps.

This research contributes to the discourse on regional governance by exploring how local actors can effectively create socioeconomic policies that foster inclusive and sustainable development relevant to the Just Transition framework. Ultimately, the dissertation tries to offer policy recommendations to strengthen the regional agency, ensure equitable economic diversification, and integrate social justice principles into the governance of Just Transition processes.