Geography should not be a barrier to people’s aspirations, economic opportunities, or Europe’s commitment to justice and equal treatment, said the Prime Minister of Malta, Robert Abela, in his speech at the High-Level Conference “Strengthening the EU’s Islands and Coastal Communities,” taking place in Paphos on Friday. For his part, the Vice President of the European Parliament, Yunus Omargi, spoke of a “historic moment,” referring to the Islands Strategy and the Coastal Regions Strategy.

The Prime Minister of Malta spoke of a “rare moment” in which the islands are not on the margins of the European debate, but at its center. He noted that conditions on Europe’s islands vary, citing challenges related to distance, higher costs, exposure to external shocks, and dependence on reliable connections.

Speaking specifically about island member states, she said that these pressures are not merely occasional difficulties, but “structural realities,” which are felt more acutely because there is no mainland hinterland on which they can rely when disruptions occur.

“Geography shapes the way we live and work. It affects how people move, how businesses operate, how services are provided, and how external shocks are transmitted into daily life. For an island, connectivity is not a luxury. It is essential infrastructure. When connectivity is weak, everything becomes more difficult. Transportation costs rise. Supply chains become less reliable. Access to markets becomes more uncertain. Families and businesses have fewer options and less room to maneuver when facing difficulties,” he said.

Moreover, he continued, these pressures reinforce one another, as island economies are often small and open. “This openness has benefited us. It has made us more outward-looking, more adaptable, and more resilient. However, it also means that disruptions in the energy, transportation, tourism, or trade sectors are felt quickly and directly.”

As he noted, the green transition is a prime example, as its implementation in real economies must take into account the actual costs and be carried out with a clear understanding of the different starting points. “Islands often face higher transition costs. They may be more dependent on imported fuels. They may have fewer technological options that can be implemented on a large scale. These are practical constraints. They affect what can be achieved, how quickly, and at what cost,” he noted.

As he said, environmental pressures are also becoming increasingly immediate and are already affecting infrastructure, public finances, and long-term planning, with the consequences being felt by our own citizens.

With regard to smaller economies, Prime Minister Abela said that sustaining economic activity depends increasingly on attracting a skilled workforce from abroad, creating pressures, particularly on infrastructure, housing, and the prudent use of limited available space.

“In smaller labor markets, these developments are felt earlier and more intensely. Over time, the issue becomes a question of whether communities remain sustainable, whether services remain accessible, and whether our young people believe they can build their future where they live,” he emphasized.

On the other hand, the Prime Minister of Malta noted that islands are also places of innovation, resilience, and strategic importance. “In energy, shipping, digital policy, and tourism, islands often serve as testing grounds for new approaches, precisely because they must adapt quickly, make careful use of their resources, and think beyond their size.”

He also added that islands understand interdependence. “We rely on sea and air connections, on our partners, on markets, and on our neighbors. This gives island communities a very clear understanding of why European cooperation matters.”

“Policy must be based on our actual circumstances. Equal treatment does not always mean identical treatment. When and where conditions are structurally different, policy must reflect that. That is why the Treaties recognize the specific challenges faced by island regions. “And that is why these realities must be taken into account more consistently when designing European policies, rather than attempting to correct them after the fact,” he said.

He welcomed the European Commission’s work on developing a specific strategy for islands, alongside the strategy for coastal communities. These strategies, he said, “must fundamentally change the way policies are formulated, rules are implemented, and European aspirations are translated into reality. The real test is whether this understanding will be incorporated from the outset—when policies are designed, resources are allocated, and rules are implemented—rather than after policies have already been proposed or agreed upon.”

Robert Abela noted that geography will continue to shape life on the islands, just as it shapes the lives of many coastal communities. “However, it should never be a barrier to people’s aspirations, economic opportunities, or Europe’s commitment to justice and equality,” he said, noting that it must be ensured that islanders are not called upon to bear the burden of European ambition while having fewer resources than other Europeans. “This strategy must be evaluated based on this criterion,” he concluded.

For his part, European Parliament Vice President Yunus Omarzi, speaking in French through an interpreter, said that “the moment we are experiencing here is one that I consider to be of historic significance, because for the first time in the history of the European project, we have an initial form of agreement between the European Union and the islands of Europe”.

As he said, this strategy is the culmination of a long political process, the origins of which can be traced to the resolution adopted almost unanimously by the European Parliament, which explicitly called on the European Commission to develop a European strategy for islands.

Mr. Omarsi emphasized that the challenges of insularity deserve coherent, ambitious, and comprehensive responses. “The European Union’s recognition of insularity is now a reality. This is a historic moment, and it is historic because for a very long time, European islands have been the forgotten ones of the European project,” he said, noting that the EU has developed specific policies for rural areas, mountainous regions, and border regions “and had forgotten the island regions, which had been left in a small corner, in a blind spot,” a situation that the current strategy aims to rectify.

The Vice President of the European Parliament called on us to view Europe as an archipelago. “We often forget that Europe is first and foremost a peninsula of the Eurasian continent, open to the seas and oceans,” he said, referring to the Mediterranean, the Baltic, the North Sea, the Atlantic, the Arctic Ocean, and the Black Sea.

He also noted that the islands are situated in areas that offer exceptional opportunities, referring to the maritime economy, while also addressing climate change, energy pressures, and challenges related to connectivity, mobility, access to public spaces, and housing.

“This is the reality of the islands, and they face problems that are completely different from those faced in mainland Europe, which means we need different solutions, tailored to their specific circumstances, and this strategy recognizes that,” he said.

He added that insularity “is not merely a matter of identity; it is a way of life,” noting that an assessment will be needed in the coming years to determine “the cost of insularity,” so that it can be better taken into account when formulating European policies.

He also emphasized the importance of enabling young people to remain in their hometowns and on the islands. “At a time when the demographic situation in Europe is so challenging, talented and young people must be able to stay on their islands and have a future,” with peace and prosperity.

Furthermore, he noted that the timing is ideal, as Ireland—also an island Member State—is taking over the Presidency of the Council of the EU. “I know that the Irish Presidency will continue efforts to move forward with the implementation of this strategy,” he said.

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Source: CNA