Small islands make big impact in Brussels

The European Small Islands Federation highlight some of the issues that small islands face as well as the wealth of opportunity for sustainable development. 

“The Small Islands of Europe are extremely precious as potential beacons of sustainability and low carbon living” was the message delivered at the conference organised at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels as part of the 16^th AGM of the European Small Islands Federation (ESIN), the organisation that brings together 11 small islands federations throughout Europe.

Máirtin Ó’ Méallóid from Cape Clear island, vice-chairman of Cómdhail Óileán na hÉireann, the Irish Islands Federation said:

“The ESIN conference and AGM in Brussels on 27 and 28 September were a resounding success.  We are delighted that the European Small Islands were welcomed so warmly at the heart of Europe.”

The valuable work done by ESIN, notably regarding renewable energy issues, and promoting the use of sustainability indicators to describe the small island situation was noted by the European Commission.  It also received the strong support of George Dassis, President of the EESC, who sponsored the conference, and Pierre-Jean Coulon, President of the EESC’s TEN section who championed the EESC Smart Islands study.

It is in the islands’ nature to be smart as they have to constantly re-invent new solutions for their issues, notably those resulting from their popularity as tourist destinations.  The home of 359,000 all-year islanders, the European Small Islands also have 3 million summer residents and 30 million yearly visitors.  They are the objects of a somewhat brutal love which may bring them money but also uses vast amounts of energy and water and leaves huge amount of waste to be dealt with, not to mention the marine waste which ends up on their shores.

Further information on the event can be found on the ESIN website.