March 28 2017 marks a strong comeback of islands in the European Parliament. The "Smart Islands Event: Creating New Pathways for EU Islands" gathered over 100 European island representatives, stakeholders and policy-makers to officially present the Smart Islands Initiative, one that sheds light on the potential of islands to emerge as ideal territories for the deployment of innovative technologies in the fields of energy, transport & mobility, water & waste management and ICT.
36 island representatives from Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK signed the Smart Islands Declaration, the cornerstone of the Smart Islands Initiative.
The event was co-hosted and warmly supported by a group of 11 MEPs from Member States with islands led by MEP Eva Kaili. Mrs Kaili also expressed her intention to table, in the coming months, a Motion for Resolution so that the Smart Islands Declaration is formally endorsed by the European Parliament.
In his intervention, Director-General for Energy Dominique Ristori pointed out to the immense potential of the islands to host innovative projects that can have a positive impact on local economies, all while helping Europe meet the targets it has set in a number of key policy areas, including climate, energy, transport and mobility.
The two roundtables, composed of experts from the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions, the Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions, FEDARENE and EURELECTRIC together with market and civil society representatives, provided useful insights on islands' as well as on smart technologies, financial instruments and policies available which, if properly combined, can boost local sustainable development on the islands.
Revealing the on-going work to bring ins in the EU policy agenda was the reference by Clive Gerada, Chairman of the Energy Working Party of the Maltese Presidency, on the Political Declaration on Islands to be signed during the informal meeting of Energy Ministers on 18 May in Valetta.
The Smart Islands Event marks an important milestone on the island's road to becoming smart, inclusive and thriving societies, contributing to an innovative and sustainable Europe.
For more information, please visit www.smartislandsinitiative.eu