At the European Parliament event on “Island Challenges: Resilience, and Connectivity”, organized by MEP and Pr. ND President and Evangelos Meimarakis, as Vice President of Searica Intergroup (Seas, Rivers, Islands, Coastal Areas), was attended and spoken by Deputy Minister of Maritime and Island Policy, Stefanos Gikas.

The event, attended by European Commissioners Apostolos Tzitzikostas and Kostas Kadis, head of Greek MEPs Eliza Wozenberg, many MEPs, ENPE President George Hatzimarkos, Regional Governors EU marine regions (CPMR). During the debate, the challenges and opportunities in the modern dynamic field of the island regions of Europe were highlighted, with emphasis on durability, connectivity and tourism.

In his speech, Mr. Gikas said: “One of our key priorities at the Ministry of Maritime and Island Policy is to further highlight” island “and bring it to the forefront of European policy.”

In this context: “We support the trend that has been developing recently for the institutional recognition of the concept of island as a distinct field of politics in European institutions, a development that the Greek government welcomes and participates in the formation of a coherent European politics for the islands.”

In this regard, Mr Gikas referred to the “European Industrial Maritime Strategy” and the proposal to have a separate pillar for marine transport, a proposal approved and launched by the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikas.

The Deputy Minister of Maritime and Island Policy briefly referred to the actions already launched in Greece, under the directions of Minister Vassilis Kikilia, and in particular:

– In increased subsidy for barren lines

– in rationalizing the transport equivalent

– In the transformation of the Greek ferry fleet, with the aim of reducing its environmental footprint

– In ongoing and planned port infrastructure projects

– In the program of construction of “green” ships through PPPs, with a key priority being the continuous and seamless interconnection of the islands in projects to address the impacts and consequences of water scarcity on the islands, etc.

In closing his position, Mr. Gikas said:

“We are claiming from the EU the implementation of the” islander program “and the introduction of mechanisms for better legislation and better funding for our islands. We call for the opportunity for a “vital” programmatic space for the islands, in the context of EU structural funds and in accordance with the spatial dimension of political cohesion. “

The meeting was a forum of discussion, analysis and recording of the particularities, difficulties, and the comparative advantages of the European Union’s island area, with the aim and ambition to form an integrated European islands strategy.