Paphos, Cyprus. The European Union’s new strategy for islands is only a starting point and must now be turned into practical policies that reflect the daily realities of island communities, European Commission Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto said on Thursday. He was speaking at a high-level conference on islands and coastal communities in Paphos.
Scale and importance of Europe’s islands
Fitto said more than 17 million people live across over 4,000 inhabited islands in Europe, while three EU member states are islands themselves.
He said islands contribute to Europe’s economic development, maritime identity, environmental diversity, cultural heritage, security and resilience. He added that they are also places of innovation, entrepreneurship and strong local identity.
Structural challenges of insularity
Fitto said insularity is not simply a geographic fact, but one with real economic and social consequences.
He said islands face structural challenges linked to their distance from mainland markets, dependence on maritime and air connections, higher transport costs and limited economies of scale. According to Fitto, these challenges affect almost every aspect of daily life and economic activity.
He described the cost of insularity as a daily burden for island residents and businesses, affecting access to jobs, education, healthcare, public services and economic opportunities.
Framework of the new strategy
The EU Strategy for Islands was adopted by the European Commission earlier this month and aims to create a coordinated framework for EU action while supporting member states in designing policies and investments that respond to island realities.
Fitto said the strategy is built around four pillars: economic development and connectivity; energy, climate and the environment; people and demographic challenges; and security and crisis preparedness.