Halki: Cooperation between France and Greece on green tourism

The Embassy of France is a party and guardian for this ambitious energy transition project in Halki.

On 2 July 2021, the French Ambassador to Greece, Patrick Maisonnave,co-signed with the Greek authorities and business groups a Memorandum of Understanding for which the Embassy will act as guardian. The agreement provides for the partnership of the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Municipality of Halki, the South Aegean Region, PPC, the Sygelidis Group, AKUO, Omexom-Vinci Energie, Vodafone and ALD Automotive.

The French industrial groups – in the field of RES (AKUO, Omexom-Vinci Energies) and The Distributor of Citroën in Greece (Sygelides Group) – make their know-how available to local authorities, for the benefit of citizens.

The installation of photovoltaic parks for the island's energy needs, the transition to electric cars, access to the internet at high speeds for residents and tourists, and the use of RES for sustainable and green tourism are planned. This Greek-French cooperation will highlight the ability of tourism to coexist with the protection of the environment.

At the signing of the agreement, Patrick Maisonnave, French Ambassador to Greece, said:

"When French and Greek institutions work together to demonstrate the feasibility of a development model using green energy and state-of-the-art technology in Halki, for the benefit of residents and visitors, the news is excellent. This is a step towards the European target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, which is our common response to tackling the climate challenge. The beauty of the Greek islands and the clarity of the Greek waters – from which many Greeks live and which French tourists so value – must be protected in practice. I am convinced that this wonderful project will be an inspiration to all of Greece, whose great potential in the field of renewable energy sources is simply waiting to be exploited, for the well-being of all of us."