Following the adoption of its own initiative opinion on Smart Islands, the European Economic and Social Committee has decided to launch a project on the topic. It will kick off with a conference on Smart policies for smart islands, which will be organised in conjunction with the INSULEUR network and with the support of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) Islands Commission and the European Small Islands Federation.
The conference will explore the idea that islands have unique characteristics which bring specific difficulties, but which can often be turned into opportunities if smart and sustainable development policies are implemented. Such policies give islands a competitive advantage deriving from sustainable growth and better jobs.
The conference aims to bring together policy makers and key stakeholders involved in developing and implementing smart island policies, providing them with a place to discuss projects and good practices. Various solutions and ideas from different insular regions will be presented at the conference, covering a broad range of issues including:
- Energy and Transport
- Digital Agenda
- Security
- Agriculture
- Trade, Entrepreneurship and Taxation
- Health policies
The event will be hosted by the Rijeka County Chamber of the Croatian Chamber of Economy on Friday 6 November 2015, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Malinska (Island of Krk, Croatia). Interpreting will be provided from Spanish, Greek, English, French, Croatian and Italian into Greek, English, French and Croatian.