The European Parliament is calling for a targeted regional policy for the European islands

A resolution on “Islands and Cohesion Policy: Current Situation and Future Challenges” was recently adopted by the European Parliament with 577 votes in favor, 38 against and 10 abstentions.

MEPs warn that the social, economic and environmental challenges facing the EU islands require targeted, sustainable and effective regional policies and actions for the islands, which are at the forefront of climate change and facing rising sea levels. , desertification and frequent natural disasters.

In addition, these areas are dependent on maritime and air transport, usually have difficult morphology and face serious social difficulties, such as population decline, “brain drain” and skills and unemployment.

In the same resolution, the European Parliament deplores the lack of EU vision for the European islands and calls for action to be taken to address inequalities between islands and the outermost regions of one of the most developed regions in the world. another.

Suggestions for specific actions

MEPs want the Commission to declare 2024 the European Year of Islands, to request additional financial support and to propose the establishment of a special group on islands. They are also calling for a reassessment of state aid rules and for a more flexible approach, especially with regard to airlines and maritime companies operating in island regions.

They also called for an investigation into the consequences of the new legislation, such as the 55% adjustment package in these areas, and stressed the need for emergency measures to allow the islands to address them. The European Parliament wants a real European agenda and a European strategy, calling for a “pact for the islands”.

Following the vote, European Parliament Rapporteur Younous Omarjee (Left, France) emphasized: “A political front has been set up to ensure a genuine European island policy, which is now an urgent priority. European rules for the islands must be achieved by 2023.

We have completed the agenda for the cities and the rural areas, now it is time for the islands. This is necessary for Europe to be close to its citizens. The Commission must lay down specific rules for managing the real conditions of these areas and implement Article 174 vigorously. ”

The EU has three island countries, and it is estimated that the island regions of the EU have a population of over 20,000,000 or 4.6% of the total EU population, divided into around 2,400 islands belonging to 13 Member States.