Croatian Islands are the first European islands to host workshops and are the first to embark on an energy transition process with the support of the Secretariat. In early February, the Secretariat published a list of 26 European island communities, officially launching their transition to clean energy sources and forms. Among the 26 selected islands were 4 Croatian island communities: the Cres-Lošinj archipelago and Brač, Hvar and Korčula.
The two-day workshops, organized with the assistance of the Island Movement as a local partner, brought together some thirty representatives of selected islands who, with the assistance of experts, laid the groundwork for energy transition plans. The Cres-Lošinj archipelago, singled out as one of the 6 European pilot projects, should have an energy transition plan ready by the end of summer 2019. The remaining 20 islands, including Brač, Hvar and Korčula, will have plans by summer 2020. Despite the abundance of renewable energy sources, many islands are currently dependent on fossil fuels and onshore energy imports.
The transition to clean energy sources can help islands not only become more self-sufficient and prosperous, but also open up new employment opportunities in their communities and drive the island development further.
Picula, who is also a Vice-President of the EP Parliamentary Intergroup for the islands, said: "The Croatian Islands have accepted the energy transition challenge because it is the future of the Union. I see the commitment of the political leadership of the selected islands, as well as the civil and business sectors, as the best guarantee of the success of the whole project. Secretariat for the Islands and the Clean Islands Initiative for the EU Islands are promoting the Union as a community that best helps those who know where they want to go."
The Islands Secretariat was set up in June 2018, a year after MEP Picula, along with his two colleagues, pushed for an amendment that secured two million euros for its operation. The goal of the Clean Energy Secretariat in the EU Islands is to help as many European islands as possible to initiate and enhance their clean energy transition in a way that involves all island stakeholders.
The work of the Secretariat will continue with the so-called "Facility" through which the European Commission provided an additional 10 million EUR for clean energy infrastructure projects on the European islands. The first call for tenders is expected by the end of 2019.
The workshop report, published in Novi list, can be found below.
