Welkoam
Dear Islanders, Partners and Change Makers,
In Europe over 20 million inhabitants live on more than 2,000 islands. Each island is unique – but at the same time, we all share similar challenges.
Despite their differences, islands are characterized by their location, which is very often associated with energy dependence – especially fossil fuels – high transport costs, limited economic diversity, but also significant potential for renewable energy, unique ecosystems, increased social capital and a strong sense of identity.
Therefore, various initiatives have been formed in recent years. It is not uncommon for the legal EU framework, which is broken down from Brussels to the local level, to hamper targeted, sustainable island development.
We are the “small countries with great complexity”.
Conscious of our tradition, we offer ideal, living laboratories for new structures of our future society in Europe. Its about time to come togethers. Therefore, I would like to cordially invite you to the first German Island Conference on April 25 and 26, 2019 on Helgoland.
We will talk about experience and future concepts in the fields of energy transition, mobility, digitalization, medicine and housing in the islands. In doing so, we want to develop goals, discuss the legal framework and understand the funding programs and networking opportunities of the islands.
The invitation is addressed to mayors, office directors, tourism directors and their most important business partners, experts from the fields of tourism, transport, energy, supply and disposal, digitization, the new world of work, health and our political supporters from the parliaments.
You can expect an excellent program with high-caliber speakers from all over Europe in a extrordinary desitination. This and all the information about the conference can be found on this – I look forward to welcoming you to Helgoland in April.
Highsea Fresh Regards
Jörg Singer, Mayor
& Member of the Board – Island und Hallig Konferenz
