Excerpt from cpmr.org
The CPMR and its Islands Commission have consistently welcomed the European Commission’s commitment to a dedicated EU Strategy for Islands, as initially presented in the 2025 Cohesion mid-term review communication. This document acknowledged that island and outermost regions face unique challenges – from energy dependency and limited accessibility to labour shortages and climate vulnerability – requiring targeted policy responses. However, the 2026 European Commission Work Programme, as presented today in front of the European parliament, raises serious concerns regarding the much-anticipated EU Strategy for Islands, as it suggests that it would be merged into a broader EU Islands & Coastal Communities Strategy. The CPMR warns that such an approach would dilute the distinctive features of insularity within a wider territorial category, risking the loss of focus on islands’ structural challenges.