Picture: Clean Energy for EU Islands Secretariat
On May 13-15th, the CPMR Islands Commission took part in the 2024 edition of the Clean Energy for EU Islands Forum. Once more this year, an active community of islands and energy stakeholders, as well as the European Commission, gathered to discuss the path towards a sustainable future for European islands. This time, participants travelled to Pantelleria, Italy, a small island off the coasts of Sicily and Tunisia, with a unique cultural heritage and a strong commitment towards decarbonation.
This Forum edition focused specifically on accompanying the 30 pioneering islands in their commitment to reach their goal of complete energy independence through 100% renewable sources by 2030. Several CPMR Islands Commission members count among the selected territories of the “30 for 2030” call who will now benefit from a comprehensive technical assistance in reaching their objective. Accordingly, the Forum represented a key opportunity to start reflecting on the next steps and the related challenges, through different interactive sessions.
One of the highlights of the event was the speech delivered by Eleni Marianou, Secretary General of the CPMR, who recalled the urgent need for a tailored strategy for islands, through the promotion and implementation of an Islands Pact on the EU scale. As she emphasized, the approach adopted by the European Commission through the Clean Energy for EU Islands Secretariat represents an excellent initiative and example in that regard, which should be further extended to other fields, towards a holistic vision to address islands’ needs.
Picture: Clean Energy for EU Islands Secretariat
In addition, Claire Helly, Policy and Project Officer at the CPMR Islands Commission, took part in a workshop where she presented the energy communities supported by the Horizon 2020 Maesha project in Mayotte (France). In this context, she particularly highlighted the importance of fostering partnership and cooperation with local authorities, and tailoring energy communities to islands’ specificities.
As anticipated during the last Islands Commission General Assembly by Jan Cornillie, Project Director of the Clean Energy for EU Islands Secretariat, a new initiative will be launched in September 2024 to support 19 additional “follower” islands.
The CPMR Islands Commission will continue to follow closely the future developments linked to this initiative and further promote it among its member regions.