Towards a European islands Strategy: Bringing solutions to the forefront.

Islands are an important element of Europe’s geography. In addition to Malta, Cyprus and Ireland, which are island states, there are 26 regions belonging to 13 states that are considered island regions. This adds up to 286 islands in total, where more than 20 million people live.

The European Union has great potential to transform islands’ institutional framework, both in terms of policies and governance. In light of this, a report on the treatment of insularity in the different policies of the Union has been drafted upon request of Greens/EFA MEP, Jordi Solé i Ferrando, and will be presented to the audience. The report entails a set of proposals to improve these policies, with a specific focus on the Balearic Islands, and taking into account the role of the Mediterranean island territories in the framework of the new cohesion policy (2021-2027).

• Jordi Solé i Ferrando, Member of the European Parliament for the Greens/EFA Group and EFA Secretary General
• Joan David Janer, Professor at Universitat de les Illes Balears
• Miquel Àngel Maria, MÉS per Menorca General Coordinator
• Joana Aina Campomar, MÉS per Mallorca Member of the Balearic Islands’ Parliament

Moderator:

• Maria Victòria Llull Albertí, Mallorca Nova General Coordinator

• Lorena López de Lacalle, EFA President 
• Xabier Macias, Coppieters Foundation President
• Lila Thomàs Andreu, Fundacions Darder-Mascaró Secretariat Member
• Vicenç Vidal Matas, MÉS per Mallorca Member of the Spanish Senate

The EU lacks of a framework to compensate for the permanent systemic disadvantages of insularity. In this session, the speakers discuss the need to develop strategies to enable islands to overcome the barriers insularity causes. They will also underline the different social and geographical features and institutional arrangements of EU islands to consider when defining and implementing solutions at European level. 

Framework for a debate:

• Antoni Vicens Vicens, Director-General for External Relations of the Balearic Islands Government
• Marie-Antoinette Maupertuis, President of the Corsican Assembly and Vice president of the European Alliance in the Committee of the Regions (CoR)

Moderator:

• Marta Carrió, MÉS per Mallorca spokesperson

Mediterranean islands face a double challenge. They suffer from classic shortcomings associated with insularity and they have been overexploited by tourism in economic and social terms. This panel will give voice to civil society organisations to pinpoint the problems connected to insularity, tourism and their intersection with culture, housing issues, the job market and environmental sustainability.

Round Table:

• Aline Cendon, Associazione Gruppo 25 Aprile President (organisation campaigning for residents’ rights in Venice)
• Margalida Maria Ramis Sastre,GOB Mallorca Spokesperson (environmental organisation from the Balearic Islands)
• Miquel Angel Sureda Massanet, Chair of the Network to Promote Linguistic Diversity (NPLD)

Moderator:

• Antonello Nasone, Member of the Coppieters Foundation’ Bureau and of Istituto Camillo Bellieni

There are long-standing demands for a better response to the demographic, economic or environmental challenges faced by EU islands, in addition to the negative impact tourism has on these territories. In this panel government representatives and policy experts discuss best practices and policy solutions to provide better livelihood for the peoples of Europe.

Roundtable:

• Jaume Alzamora, Secretary General of MÉS per Mallorca and Executive Councilor of the Council of Mallorca
• Antonia Luciani, Executive Councillor of the Corsican Government and Coppieters Foundation Secretary General
• Carme Alomar, Member of the Balearic Civil Society Forum
• Pedro Quevedo, Councilor for local development, tourism and employment in las Palmas de Gran Canaria, former Member of the Spanish Parliament for Nueva Canarias

Moderator:

• Jill Evans, European Free Alliance Vice President and former Member of the European Parliament for Plaid Cymru

• Lluís Apesteguia Ripoll, Coordinator of MÉS per Mallorca