Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545950
7 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 24 JULY 2026 OPINION From strategy to action: Europe's islands need results not promises THE European Commission's proposal for a European Union Strategy for Islands marks an important milestone for island communities. Although the EU Treaties recognise the perma- nent structural challenges faced by islands, relatively little has been done to address them in a comprehensive and sustained manner. The publication of this strategy is therefore a welcome development. Yet, as with any European initiative, its true val- ue will ultimately be measured by its implementation. As a Gozitan, I know that insu- larity is not an abstract policy concept—it is a daily reality. Our lives are shaped by ferry schedules. Whether travelling for work, university, medical appointments or simply to ac- cess services unavailable on the island, crossing the channel is part of everyday life. We know what it means to leave home hours earlier than others, to wor- ry about rough seas disrupting travel, or to pay more because almost everything we consume must first cross the sea. Indi- vidually, these may seem like minor inconveniences. Collec- tively, they define the reality of island life. This is why I particularly wel- come the appointment of Noel Formosa, vice-president for Gozo and mayor of San Law- renz, as rapporteur for the Euro- pean Committee of the Regions' opinion on the EU Strategy for Islands. His appointment ensures that the realities of is- land life will be represented by someone who understands them first-hand. It is also rec- ognition that Gozo has valua- ble experience to contribute to Europe's first comprehensive strategy dedicated to islands. Policies conceived in Brussels will only succeed if they are shaped together with the peo- ple and communities they are intended to serve. For Gozitans, this strategy is not about seeking special treat- ment or privileges. It is about ensuring that geography does not determine the opportuni- ties available to citizens. The strategy must move beyond good intentions and deliver practical solutions to the every- day realities of island life. One of the most pressing is- sues is access to medicines. Eu- ropeans rightly expect equal ac- cess to healthcare regardless of where they live. Yet patients on smaller islands frequently ex- perience shortages, delays and higher costs simply because of geography and limited market size. Medicines are not a luxu- ry—they are an essential public service. The EU Strategy must acknowledge these structural disadvantages and work with Member States to ensure that island citizens enjoy the same standard of access to healthcare as everyone else in Europe. The same principle applies to the broader cost of insular- ity. Living and operating on an island inevitably involves additional costs. Businesses face higher transport expens- es, more complex logistics and reduced economies of scale. Families often pay more for everyday goods and services. Numerous island regions across Europe have documented these challenges and demonstrated that they are not the result of inefficiency, but of permanent structural realities that require long-term policy responses. Connectivity is equally funda- mental. Islands cannot partici- pate fully in the European Sin- gle Market if people and goods cannot move efficiently, reliably and affordably. Connectivity is not a privilege; it is the lifeline that enables access to employ- ment, education, healthcare, tourism and trade. This is why the conference organised last year by MEP Pe- ter Agius on island connectiv- ity was so significant. Bringing together academics, transport experts and island representa- tives, it highlighted an impor- tant reality—European funding for new maritime transport in- frastructure and vessels is avail- able. The responsibility now lies with governments to make full and effective use of these op- portunities to strengthen island connectivity. Connectivity today extends beyond transport. Digital con- nectivity is equally essential. High-speed broadband, re- silient digital infrastructure and modern communications networks are indispensable if islands are to attract invest- ment, retain young people, support innovation and deliver high-quality public services. The strategy also provides an opportunity to improve the way European legislation is developed. Too often, policies designed with continental real- ities in mind create unintended consequences for islands. This is why island-proofing should be- come a guiding principle across EU policymaking, ensuring that legislation is systematically as- sessed for its impact on island territories before decisions are taken. Solutions for islands can- not be designed solely in Brus- sels or national capitals; they must be developed in partner- ship with island communities themselves. Europe increasingly recognis- es that competitiveness, resil- ience and territorial cohesion are built from the ground up. Nowhere is this more evident than on islands. Whether dis- cussing renewable energy, sustainable tourism, fisheries, innovation, transport or de- mographic challenges, islands should be regarded not as pe- ripheral territories, but as plac- es where innovative European solutions can be developed, tested and refined. The publication of the EU Strategy for Islands is therefore only the beginning. Its success will not be meas- ured by the number of pages in the strategy or by the political declarations that accompany it. It will be measured by whether islanders experience tangible improvements in their daily lives: more reliable and afforda- ble transport, better access to medicines and healthcare, stronger local economies, low- er costs arising from insularity, and greater opportunities for young people to build their fu- ture on the islands they proudly call home. Europe has recognised that islands matter. Now it must ensure that this recognition is translated into meaningful ac- tion, since, for Gozo and island communities across Europe, that is what will make the real difference. William Vella Lawyer, executive member PN