Significant Government Announcements and Strong Messages for Island Sustainability at the «Nisyros Dialogues 2024»

With significant government announcements and strong messages for island sustainability, the «Nisyros Dialogues 2024» concluded under the auspices of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

The forum, organized annually by the Georgios M. Mihalos Foundation on the remote island, this year focused on the central theme "Europe & Eastern Mediterranean: Geopolitics - Energy - Insularity" and featured high-profile speakers.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in a prerecorded message on the first day of the proceedings, announced the inclusion of Nisyros in the "GR-eco Islands" initiative. As he pointed out, "The volcano of Nisyros fortunately remains dormant, but its «Dialogues» should awaken us all. For geopolitical balance and energy security in the Mediterranean, for contemporary issues such as the climate crisis and hypertourism. Especially during a time of multifaceted upheaval in our region".

His Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, in his video message, expressed confidence that this year's «Dialogues» would highlight modern challenges and contribute to raising awareness to address them. He also congratulated the Georgios M. Mihalos Foundation for organizing the «Nisyros Dialogues», as they focus on the sustainability of the small Aegean islands.

The Vice President of the European Commission responsible for Promoting our European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, speaking as the keynote speaker, praised the initiative of the Georgios M. Mihalos Foundation and its President Panagiotis G. Mihalos. As he said, discussing these issues in small places like Nisyros island shows that Greek insularity is a historical, cultural, and natural wealth for Greeks and Europeans.

Asked about the upcoming American elections and what to expect or fear if Trump is elected, Schinas estimated that Trump's election would ring all the right bells to push Europe towards a Europe of action.

The Minister of Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou, in his address at the Dialogue on "Digitalization and Smart Islands: Paradigms and Prospects", announced that Greece signed the contract for the first seven of the 15 new microsatellites, which will provide solutions to the islands by contributing to civil protection efforts and the timely prevention of extreme phenomena.

The Minister of Environment and Energy, Thodoros Skylakakis, speaking at the Dialogue on "Geopolitical Developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and Energy Security", announced that the Decarbonization Fund is the path our country will follow to tackle the issue of water scarcity, which significantly troubled the islands this year.

Deputy Minister of Environment & Energy, Alexandra Sdoukou, speaking at the Dialogue on "Climate Change: Gr-eco Islands, Sustainability of Islands and Coastal Greece", detailed the scope of the Decarbonization Fund, ranging from 1.8 to 3.6 billion euros, starting in 2025. As she explained, key priorities include further penetration of renewables, eliminating the energy isolation of the islands with underwater electrical connections to mainland Greece, and utilizing water resources better with dams.

The President of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), Angela Gerekou, in her prerecorded message, mentioned that actions are progressing to include Nisyros in the GR-eco Islands and efforts for UNESCO recognition as a geopark. As she stated, Nisyros island could become an ideal sustainable destination, being an open geological museum with rare cultural heritage.

It is worth noting that at the Dialogue on "Tourism, Hypertourism: Limits, Management, and Ecotourism", the NECCA and diaNEOsis study "Strategic Plan for the Organization and Development of Tourism in Natura 2000 Network Areas" was presented nationwide for the first time.

The President of the Georgios M. Mihalos Foundation, Panagiotis G. Mihalos, announced the Foundation's agreement with Amazon Web Services to conduct a "Study for the Promotion of Nisyros as a Smart Island and the Improvement of Social, Economic, and Environmental Parameters". It is the first time AWS will conduct a study for a Greek remote island. This ambitious project has the potential to bring significant social, economic, and environmental improvements to the island of Nisyros.

«Nisyros Dialogues 2024» were held with the support of various organizations and companies, marking the Georgios M. Mihalos Foundation's commitment to promoting sustainable solutions and practices concerning environmental and energy issues and the development of Greece's remote and island regions.

The Gold Sponsor of «Nisyros Dialogues 2024» is DEPA Commercial Group S.A.

Silver Sponsors of «Nisyros Dialogues 2024» are GNTO (Greek National Tourism Organization), NECCA (Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency).

Bronze Sponsors of «Nisyros Dialogues 2024» are Piraeus Bank and Faria Renewables.

Supporters of «Nisyros Dialogues 2024» are the Bank of Greece, Pancretan Bank, EYDAP, the Green Fund, Amazon Web Services and ACS.

The Media Sponsor of the «Nisyros Dialogues 2024» is the Athens-Macedonian News Agency.