It was disclosed during an informational session conducted in Heraklion, that the region of Crete is one of the nine regions of Europe that have been chosen for the construction of a clean hydrogen valley.
These initiatives will produce clean, environmentally friendly hydrogen for a variety of uses in the energy, transportation, and industrial sectors.
Together with Theodore Georgakopoulos, the content director of Dianeosis, George Alexakis participated in a panel discussion on the European Union’s energy policy during the educational event “The European Union in Crete.” Discussion topics included the “green agreement,” “fit for 55,” “the EU’s leadership role in the global fight against climate change and how that impacts the Union’s ability to compete,” “the opportunities that open up for Greece in the context of the European energy policy,” and “specific issues concerning Crete,” such as hydrocarbon exploration but also the sizable investments being made in the renewable energy sector.
Before the event, Elvira Forte, the press secretary for the European Parliament office in Greece, highlighted that the key question is whether the Union’s members would respond to crises more effectively individually or collectively.
According to Nellis Paleologu, a representative of the EU in Greece, the purpose of the educational activities is to educate people about what Europe is doing in the world. He stated that the policy of the EU aims to lessen regional imbalances. The purpose of the educational activities, he continued, is to disseminate information about the outcomes of the various financings that are provided to Crete and each region.
The regional governor of Crete, Stavros Arnautakis, emphasized that EU policies are converted into initiatives in Crete. He described the Recovery Fund as a formidable obstacle to be overcome. He stated that the Recovery Fund meeting with Crete could only take place in the context of long-standing concerns. The Region develops specific recommendations, including the BOAK and the management of solid and liquid waste, as well as proposals for the agriculture industry.
The new program for the years 2021–2027 includes several goals, including a smarter Europe, increased investment in research and innovation, economic change, and business digitization. Regarding the NSRF and the Crete regional program that was approved, the support for the regions is broken down into two main fundamental components: the regional programs and a further eight sectoral programs. These do not exhaust the financial instruments because there are still additional initiatives like the Horizon program for research or the agricultural strategic plans.
