Activities of Josianne CUTAJAR related to 2021/2079(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
EU islands and cohesion policy (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on EU islands and cohesion policy: current situation and future challenges
Amendments (48)
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
— having regard to the Committee on Regional Development’s study “Islands of the European Union: State of play and future challenges” (March 2021),
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 b (new)
Citation 10 b (new)
— having regard to the Committee on Regional Development’s study “Cohesion Policy and Climate Change” (March 2021),
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas three Member States of the European Union are islands;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas islands often suffer from a combination of multiple and permanent structural handicaps, such as small size, lowchallenges related to population density, small market, double insularity (island and archipelago), difficult topography very similar to mountainous regions, a dependence on maritime and air transport or a dependence on a small number of products;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the specific characteristics of islands are recognised by Article 174 TFEU and whereas they, whereas the European Union still misses a concrete application of this article with specific regard to its insular territories and whereas the specific characteristics of islands should be taken into account in EU policies, in particular by drawing up a dedicated strategy and a European action plan;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the long-term social, economic, environmental and cultural consequences of the COVID-19 crisis on the island territories of the Union are of particular concern, and whereas Europe’s recovery must not create further regional disparitieseveral European islands are home to communities with their linguistic heritage, culture and traditions; whereas this diversity should be further promoted and valorised, including in educational settings;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
J a. whereas, in many islands, inland areas lag behind coastal regions in terms of economic development and service accessibility;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas the outermost regions and islands are particularly at risk from natural disasters, such as volcanic eruptions, forest fires and storms, storms as well as other risks such as floods, desertification and drought, which can have negative effects on agriculture and food supply;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Recognises insularity as a permanent structural handicap;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that Articles 174 and 349 TFEU recognise insularity as a permanent structural handicap and TFEU stipulates that the Union must pay particular attention to these region, among others, European islands;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Recalls that Article 349 TFEU includes insularity among the conditions restraining the development of the outermost regions;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Underlines that European islands, while facing common challenges, have various geographical features and institutional setups,which make it crucial to adopt flexible solutions that take into account these specificities;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that insularity creates structural problems of dependence on maritime and air transport, with additional costs for importing and exporting goods, as well as for passenger transport; highlights that these structural issues leave islands’ citizens and businesses more exposed to rising prices; stresses that, in the case of archipelagos, these difficulties are multiplied by a double insularity;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Highlights the deficit in terms of population, raw materials and resources of all kinds, and notes that in many islands access to drinking water is a central issue in people’s lives, the sustainability of the island and its tourism carrying capacity; stresses the importance of spatial planning focusing on effective and efficient land utilisation;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that isolation owing to insularity means a dependence on the mainland’s and continental areas’ markets and increases the cost of certain services, such as waste management as well as of certain goods, especially with reference to small islands highly dependent on imports;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes with concern the long-term effects of the COVID-19 crisispandemic, which is exacerbating an already precarious situation for EU islands in many areas;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
Environment and, energy autonomy, research and innovation
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses that many islands have a fragile environment and endemic marine and terrestrial biodiversity, and that the development of tourism, in particular on certain Mediterranean islands, is further increasing the anthropic pressure; calls for a strengthening of biodiversity protection capacities, the promotion of sustainable tourism, sustainable fisheries and seabed research; calls on the Commission to assess the impact of climate change on islands;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Recalls that islands are on the front line of climate change, particularly with rising water levels and the warming of seas and oceans; notes with concern the risks associated with overfishing and marine and coastal pollution; calls, in the context of the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal, including the Climate Law, for specific support for islands to combat and adapt to climate change;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Considers that islands can represent a formidable laboratory for sustainability practices in sectors such as clean energy, circular economy, smart mobility, waste management and blue economy;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses the increasingly precarious condition of all islands in terms of their environmental assets, particularly water resources; calls, in this context, on the Commission to adopt a common water management policy for islands; recalls also the challenges connected with waste management in island territories ands well as the strategic role of the circular economy and its potential in reducing marine litter;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Underlines the necessity and opportunities arising from the ‘Fit for 55’ legislative package; is however of the opinion that the concrete implementation of these legislative measures should go hand in hand with the promotion of the economic, social and territorial cohesion; since islands solely rely on the aviation and maritime transport;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls for specific rules and financial support to help islands achieve climate neutrality goals, taking into account the additional costs linvolved andked to sectors such as energy and transport as well as the impact of mobile technologies on their energy systems; calls for these costs to be taken into account in the ‘Fit for 55’ legislative package;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Calls for concrete compensatory measures that offset any possible negative consequence on islands’ economic, social and territorial cohesion in the process to transit to a cleaner economy and society, due to their dependence on the aviation and the maritime sector;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Considers the use of renewable energy to be a priority and believes it could bring substantial benefits to islands and the strengthening of their energy autonomy; calls, therefore, for the development of a wide range of renewable energy sources to be supported according to their geographical features; welcomes the green hydrogen programmes which islands have launched;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls for renewables-based energy autonomy to be established as a target for all European islands; calls for additional research to make offshore renewables more affordable and fit for the geographical features of the different sea basins;
Amendment 107 #
15 a. Recalls that a successful environmental transition for islands also depends on robust research and innovation policies at the local level; encourages the collaboration among local authorities, research institutions and enterprises such as the initiatives within the European Institute of Innovation and Technology and its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs); promotes a wider uptake of research facilities in insular territories;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for urgent measures to counteract the depopulation of islands as well as brain and skill drain and to improve quality of life, support local businesses and protect jobs and address ageing population; calls also for the development of professional training and employment establishments for island inhabitants to be promoted;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Calls for actions aiming at bridging the economic gap between inland areas and coastal regions, that very often persists in insular territories;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Is of the opinion that fully unleashing the potential of the green and blue sector will also help to enhance islands' positioning as sustainable destinations; calls for additional support measures to unleash such potential; calls specifically for action on sustainable tourism through EU funds and programmes;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Believes that culture and development of the cultural sector in islands are fundamental; considers that islands’ cultural and linguistic identities should be protected and promoted, including in educational settings, as they contribute to their enhancement on many levels;
Amendment 151 #
Access to public services, entrepreneurship and digitalisation
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls for the development of sustainable transport in island countries and regions to be fostered, and for support for the modernisation and greening of port infrastructure while ensuring a socially just transition;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Stresses the need to ensure the territorial continuity of all islands through maritime and air transport and to ensure the safety and suitability of land bridges and road links; calls on the Commission to ensure that the 2021-2023 work programme of the Connecting Europe Facility contributes to the territorial accessibility of islands and the development of sustainable transport;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 crisispandemic, the importance of improving the public health infrastructure on European islands and the access to medicines;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Considers digitalisation a crucial instrument to contribute to overcoming the geographical disadvantage of insularity; welcomes the Commission initiatives on the Digital Decade;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Calls for priority to be afforded to equipping islands with digital technologies,Underlines that digital connectivity for islands is an utmost priority in particular so as to enhance the provision of education and training services as well as e-health and other essential government services for citizens and businesses;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Is of the opinion that the uptake of ICT in European islands can also be beneficial to the digitalisation of small and medium enterprises, with positive effects on their business strategy as well as on their operations;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24 b. Believes that, especially in small islands, it is difficult for SMEs to easily access all the information referring to the promotion of entrepreneurship, to skills development and EU-funded opportunities; calls for stronger financial support in this regard as well as the provision of enhanced information sessions, advisory services and tailor- made training;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Stresses that the lack of statistical data on islands, including gender- disaggregated data, is hindering the development of targeted policies; calls on the Commission to set up a European Institute for Disadvantaged Territories to collect data at all administrative levels;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls on the Commission to take note of the studies already produced by island regions concerning the additional costs associated with insularity, and to establish interdisciplinary analyses covering the demographic, geographical and economic characteristics of island territories so as to ensure that these regions will not suffer from any competitive disadvantage linked to their geographical condition;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27 b. Supports the partnerships among European islands as an effective way to share best practices, cope with common challenges and implement solutions that are beneficial for citizens and businesses; calls on the European Commission to further facilitate these partnerships;
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 8
Subheading 8
Re-assessment of State aid schemes and measures to reduce the development deficit
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Calls on the Commission to produce an analysis of the volume of state aid granted to undertakings based in island regions; considers it imperative, despite the efforts made by the EU and the Member States, to determine whether and to what extent undertakings located in island territories have benefited from such measures and to re-assess state rules accordingly;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls for any future revision of the legislative framework on state aid to be subject to impact assessments based on specific indicators to assess the lagging competitiveness of island region economies, also vis-à-vis the consequences of the Fit for 55 Package on these territories, and to design a specific degressive scheme for island territories when the extraordinary measures provided for under the State Aid Temporary Framework end after 31 December 2021;
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to undertake a dynamic assessment of Article 174 TFEU and to build on that article to create a European strategy for islands, based on this report, that takes into account the specific features of each of the EU’s sea basins; calls on the Commission to carry out a study on the diverse situations of island territories and to consider a strategy for islands with tangible proposals;