The European Union’s recovery plan, with approximately 2,3 trillion Hungarian forints in funding and additional loans, focuses significantly on energy-related investments that contribute to the green transition, stated Tibor Navracsics in Zalaegerszeg on Friday, 26 May.
The Minister of Regional Development said during the opening of the 4th GreenTech Green Energy and Sustainability Exhibition and Conference that the Hungarian government aims ‘to lay the foundation for the future green economy with these EU funds.’ These projects should be implemented rapidly, and since they involve substantial costs, they require European collaboration among member states, he indicated.
The minister recalled that when the Greens entered the German parliament forty years ago, Europe faced the realisation that environmental protection could become a driving force in policy-making. Since then, environmental protection and sustainability have been integral to shaping Europe’s future, with one of the European Commission’s most important vice-presidents being responsible for the green transition, he added. The theme and policy framework of the green transition are among the most prominent programmes of the European Commission’s activities, which have not been overshadowed by the pandemic or the Russo-Ukrainian war. Hungary, a country located in the heart of Europe, we are ‘confronted with’ the topics of sustainability and environmental protection in our own right, he stated.
The networks related to renewable energy enable large systems to be divided among smaller suppliers, allowing for much more decentralised development and industrial policy, Minister Navracsics emphasised. He noted that this not only serves environmentally-friendly thinking, but also provides greater opportunities and responsibilities for local decision-makers.
Tibor Navracsics also pointed out that conferences like the one in Zalaegerszeg serve as meeting points not only for professionals but also as reference points for local and regional politics. These occasions offer the opportunity for attendees to become familiar with the latest trends, opinions, and the results of higher education and science, which shape the green transition.
The closing day of the GreenTech exhibition and conference in Zalaegerszeg featured a forum on the role of hydrogen in energy storage and transportation, as well as a roundtable discussion on the future of public transportation, urban mobility, and logistics.
