On 25 June 2026, the EcoMobility Transition project organised an online roundtable focused on strengthening regional cooperation and coordination in the Trnava region in the context of the ongoing transformation of the automotive industry.
The event, led by CELSI researcher Patrik Gažo (Institute for Sociology, Slovak Academy of Sciences), built on discussions initiated during the March stakeholder roundtable in Trnava.
It identified labour shortages, skills gaps, growing reliance on foreign workers and insufficient coordination among regional actors as key challenges for the region’s future development.
This second meeting shifted attention from identifying challenges towards exploring practical solutions. Discussions drew on the latest findings from the EcoMobility Transition project and focused on the role of regional networks in managing industrial, technological and labour-market change.
Participants explored which European funding opportunities and policy instruments are most relevant for the region, what barriers currently hinder their effective use, and how cooperation between regional actors could be strengthened in the coming years.
A recurring theme throughout the discussion was that successful transformation requires more than technological investments and industrial adaptation.
Stronger cooperation between public institutions, education providers, social partners and other regional stakeholders is essential to ensure that economic restructuring contributes to quality jobs, skills development and long-term regional resilience.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of creating more stable and structured platforms for regional dialogue, allowing stakeholders to exchange information, coordinate activities and jointly respond to emerging challenges and opportunities.
The event formed part of a broader series of stakeholder dialogues organised across automotive regions in Central Europe. By connecting research findings with practical experience and regional expertise, the project seeks to support more informed and inclusive approaches to mobility transition and industrial transformation.
🔗 Read the policy report on Trnava region in the context of automotive development.
🙏 We would like to thank all participants for their active engagement and valuable contributions.
EcoMobility Transition is a joint initiative of the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), the Central European Labour Studies Institute (CELSI), NELA. Next Economy Lab and Instytut Spraw Publicznych, implemented with support from EUKI – the European Climate Initiative.
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