Picula (S&D) emphasised that the nomination was a "great tribute to many years of his work, above all, a tribute to the European islanders who have recognised the energy transition as a priority and made his initiative successful."
One of MEP Picula's priorities is to include geographically disadvantaged areas in EU policies. He proposed a preparatory action plan in 2016 and suggested an amendment to the EU financial framework by which he secured €2 million for the plan. This resulted in the foundation of the Clean Energy for EU Islands Initiative through which the Clean Energy for EU Islands Secretariat on behalf of the European Commission was later founded on.
More than 40 island communities around Europe are included in the Initiative, and the Initiative's success was also confirmed by the European Commission, which included it in the European Green Deal.
During his new mandate in the European Parliament, Picula was chosen president of the EP Intergroup Seas, Rivers, Islands, and Coastal Areas (SEARICA), which has grown to include 114 MEPs from 24 member states from the former 80 MEPs, it was added in the press release.
There are two more nominees in the energy category: Finnish MEP Henna Virkkunen (EPP), and Polish MEP Jerzy Buzek (EPP).
The decision for the nomination was made by a Parliament Magazine jury, and the winner will be announced on Monday, 17 February 2020.