The 2nd European Conference of the Islepact project was held in the Charlemagne Building in Brussels on 21 November 2012.
In the morning, officials from the European institutions and island authorities together with representatives from organisations associated with the project introduced the context of the Islepact project and the Pact of Islands process.
From left to right:
Alessandra Zedda - Minister of Industry, Sardinia Region - Italy, Giannis Spilanis - Secretary General, Ministry of Aegean Sea - Greece, John Stuebler - Islepact Project Officer, DG Energy, European Commission, Angus Campbell – Chairman of the conference - Leader of the Council of the Outer Hebrides - Scotland, Jean-Didier Hache - Executive Secretary CPMR Islands Commission, Kristina Dely - Head of the Covenant of Mayors Office - Brussels
During the second part of the conference, all groups of islands involved in the project presented the achievements of ISLEPACT through the implementation of their own ISEAP (Island Sustainable Energy Plans) and their first results. The last part of the conference was the round table discussion dedicated to the future of the Pact of Islands beyond 2012.
From left to right:
Ioannis Glynos - Mayor of Andros and President of DAFNI - Greece, Ilias Efthymiopoulos - Director of DAFNI - Greece, Adam Szolyak - DG Energy, European Commission, John Stuebler - Islepact Project Officer, DG Energy, European Commission, Angus Campbell - Leader of the Council of the Outer Hebrides - Scotland, Marcel Meijer - Deputy Mayor of Samso - Denmark, Jean-Didier Hache - Executive Secretary CPMR Islands Commission, Kyriakos Hatzitofis - Mayor of Aghios Athanasios - Cyprus, Savvas Vlachos - Cyprus Energy Agency.
Mr Adam Szolyak, DG ENER, underlined the need to turn the challenges of the present financial crisis in Europe into opportunities for sustainable growth. He mentioned that there is "no magic box to finance every initiative" there is, however, a number of EU programmes that can provide funding with the view to helping all European communities, including island communities to promote and invest in energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable transport projects.
Mr Szolyak also reminded the audience on the possible synergies between the Pact of Islands and the Covenant of Mayors, two parallel initiatives with very similar objectives.
At the end of the Round Table Councillor Angus Campbell from the Outer Hebrides of Scotland encouraged all island authorities to continue supporting and providing funding for noble causes such as sustainable energy and transport investments showing that European island communities can be at the forefront of the fight against climate change.
For all the conference presentations are available on the Isle Pact website: please click here
For all the videos of the conference presentations ( available on the Isle Pact Youtube Channel): please click here
|