The Islands Commission is one of the 6 Geographical Commissions of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe, and its oldest (founded in 1980).
Its membership covers nineteen European regional island authorities located in the Mediterranean, Baltic Sea and the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.
These regions represent a total population of around 15 million.
The Islands Commission is invited to work together with EU institutions and certain national governments, on account of its expertise on island issues, by representing and defending the interests of its members in policy areas of high relevance for islands.
Aims of the Islands Commission
The main goal of the Islands Commission is to urge the European Institutions and Member States to pay special attention to islands, to acknowledge the permanent handicaps and vulnerabilities resulting from their insularity, and to implement policies that are best suited to their condition. In this sense, with the Amsterdam Treaty in 1997, it succeeded indeed in getting a short reference to the islands included on economic and social cohesion (Article 174 of the Lisbon Treaty). Similarly, in most recent years it has been strongly advocating for an EU Islands Pact leading to the consequent development of an EU Islands Agenda. This Agenda, taking the form of a long-term strategy should provide an overarching framework guiding the operational work of EU Institutions in the next years, focusing on a set of jointly identified priorities for islands.
The Islands Commission also aims to foster interregional cooperation between islands, by finding common solutions and opportunities for development, especially on issues in direct relation with their insularity. Among others, it focuses particularly on targeted priority areas, such as cohesion, transport, maritime affairs, energy and climate
Organisation and Means of the Islands Commission
The Islands Commission is directed by the Assembly of its members (which meet twice a year), the Political Bureau and its President supported by its Vice President.
It is mostly financed by annual fees paid by its members, which is complemented by additional funding coming by EU projects and contracts, in line with its priorities of work.
An Executive Secretary is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Islands Commission, with the backing of the CPMR Secretariat and a dedicated IC team.
All Islands Commission members must be members of the CPMR.
General Assembly
The Islands Commission holds a General Assembly once a year. Each region has one vote for political decisions and budget issues.
It also organises a Plenary meeting once a year ahead of the CPMR’s Annual General Assembly.
Political Bureau
The elections for the Political Bureau are held every two years during the annual General Assembly.
President
Mr José Manuel CABRAL DIAS BOLIEIRO, President of the Azores, current Vice-President of the Islands Commission is taking over the Presidency on an interim basis, as stated by Article 8 of the IC Rules of Procedure, until new elections.
Partnerships
The Islands Commission collaborates and has regular contacts with other island structures, network organisations and associations, such as ESIN (European Small Islands Network), AIP (Association des Îles du Ponant), SMILO (Small Islands Organisation), among others, or INSULEUR which brings together island Chambers of Commerce and Industry from around the EU.