Let’s celebrate the new year together by listening to a discussion on Central Eastern Europe and how the coal regions there can benefit from the European Green Deal, which was launched by the EU back in 2020. For the occasion, Radostina Slavkova and Simeon Gorov from NGO Za Zemiata join CAN Europe’s co-hosts Rachel Brabbins and Olivia Saxer. This month’s topic is particularly fitting, since it marks the 3rd anniversary of the European Green Deal (a set of policy initiatives by the European Commission aiming to make the European Union climate neutral by 2050). We will discuss the situation in Bulgaria, how much has been achieved so far and what are the next steps to take in the national climate strategy. However, with the war in Ukraine and the fossil fuel crisis, we still need to be careful not to take a step back to dangerous fossil fuels such as coal and gas, as this is an ever changing situation and there’s a risk of losing what has been achieved in the region - particularly in terms of a transition that is fair for all.Za Zemiata is a Bulgarian organisation that works with coal regions and supports them in transitioning directly towards Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Sources.Europe Climate Connection is an original podcast presented by Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe. Co-hosts: Rachel Brabbins and Olivia Saxer. Executive Producer and Editor: Samuel Martín-Sosa. Script by: Rachel Brabbins. Recorded and edited by Big Audio Media that also provides training, mentorship and assistance during the process.