European Island Regions Conference

Joint Working Party responsible for the preparation of the 5th European Conference of Border Regions

Conference of European regions with legislative power | REGLEG [Abbr.]

Conference of European regions with legislative power [ REGLEG ]

Conference of Ministers of the Environment and of Health of the Member States of the European Region of the World Health Organisation

Regional Administrative Radio Conference for the Planning of for Maritime Radiobeacons in the European Maritime Area

Under that Article and the second and third paragraphs of Article 174 TFEU, the ERDF is to contribute to reducing disparities between the levels of development of the various regions and to reducing the backwardness of the least favoured regions, among which particular attention is to be paid to regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps such as the northernmost regions with very low population density and island, cross-border and mountain regions.

Under that Article and the second and third paragraphs of Article 174 TFEU, the ERDF is to contribute to reducing disparities between the levels of development of the various regions and to reducing the backwardness of the least favoured regions, among which particular attention is to be paid to rural areas, areas affected by industrial transition, and regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps such as the northernmost regions with very low population density and island, cross-border and mountain regions.

6. Calls for the inclusion of a specific European integrated and flexible policy framework, with legal and financial implications, for dealing with the European islands based on their shared features but taking into account the diversity situations and following the principle of proportionality; Cohesion Policy should address the situation of the islands not just through Regional Policy, but also using other EU policies that have a significant territorial impact on the development of these regions; believes that an European policy f ...[+++]ramework for islands may have the needed added value to overcome islands' permanent handicaps and adapt their development model utilising their assets;

Thus five island regions have populations exceeding 500.000 (Sicily, Sardinia, Canary Islands, Balearic Islands and Reunion and account for 75% of the European Island populationof the remaining islands seven are at NUTs 3 level and six have populations of less than 100.000. Relative size and geographical position will then clearly affect both the real possibilities for economic development and the kinds of products and activities t ...[+++]hat can be undertaken. Equally age distribution in the local society has a direct effect on social charges and unemployment statistics. For example in Réunion the population is growing and under 15 year olds account for 35% of the population, in the northern Aegean 25% of the population is over 60. Again whilst in some islands the population is on the increase, others such as the Western Isles of Scotland suffer from a high level of migration. Climate differences due to geographical position stimulate vastly different agricultural products