EU Officials (Commission, Parliament, Council & Perm Rep) are welcome to participate free of charge to the conference.
Journalists are welcome to attend EURELECTRIC events free of charge, however, they will be requested to present their press badge at the event.
European island power systems face significant challenges, due to their isolated nature and limited size. But isolation and smallness can be assets rather than handicaps, turning islands into potential test beds for sustainable power systems.
Islands could become excellent examples for the  deployment of new technologies and a benchmark also for power systems on the mainland. Unfortunately their potential has not yet been fully recognised: islands have largely remained outside of the EU's scope in energy policy. Although remarkable examples exist for smart grids and highly efficient technologies, islands are generally ignored by policymakers or are granted exemptions rather than political attention.
EURELECTRIC's Network of Experts on Islands thinks it is high time to raise this issue as a topic of political debate.
EURELECTRIC has therefore elaborated a report bringing together already existing examples of best practice and the requirements needed to bring all European islands from promise to practice - in the interest of the 10 million Europeans living on islands, but also of the EU at large.
Following a first presentation of the report at the EURELECTRIC Annual Convention in Malta last month, this workshop will allow a Brussels-based audience to learn more about EURELECTRIC's conclusions and recommendations. Findings will be discussed with, among others, the European Commission and the Cypriot government, whose EU presidency until the end of 2012 is a fantastic window of opportunity to lead islands towards sustainability.