BETA


2006/2106(INI) Islands and natural and economic constraints in the context of regional policy

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead REGI MUSOTTO Francesco (icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54

Events

2007/05/11
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2007/05/03
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2007/03/15
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2007/03/15
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the own-initiative report drafted by Francesco MUSOTTO (EPP-ED, IT) on the islands and natural and economic constraints in the context of the regional policy. The report was adopted by 473 votes in favour to 26 against with 35 abstentions. It drew attention to the plight of islands suffering from an accumulation of disadvantages, and stressed the need to help them to overcome those difficulties and to reduce regional disparities.

Parliament believed that insularity was both a geocultural characteristic that was open to potential exploitation by a development strategy, and a permanent handicap which rendered the situation even more difficult as regards the competitiveness of these regions. Whilst some concrete provisions in favour of structurally disadvantaged regions had been incorporated in the regulations on the Structural Funds 2007-2013, the Council failed to take on board other important proposals from the Parliament, such as the possibility of increasing the co-financing rate for areas affected by more than one geographical or natural handicap. It called on the Commission, with regard to the programming period 2007-2013 concerning the operational programmes of island regions, to exhaust all avenues giving them the possibility to carry-out measures related to infrastructure works.

In order to deal more satisfactorily with the permanent disadvantage of such territories, Parliament felt that there should be increased flexibility in the implementation of existing and future state aid policies, without such flexibility causing unacceptable market distortions within the EU. The Commission was asked to review matters so as to take better account of the need of islands to enjoy access to the internal market on equal terms with mainland regions. Improved transport links should constitute a priority action in this field, especially in the case of ports and airports.

Parliament went on to ask the Commission to do the following:

- to pay particular attention to islands in the context of the European Spatial Observation Network (ESPON) in order to acquire a thorough knowledge of their situation. The Member States should establish specific mechanisms for gathering and sending relevant local data to the Network, while the Commission should update the island statistics last gathered in 2003 and define more pertinent statistical indicators better suited to measuring development;

- to study the possibility of permitting state aid to be granted to island regions where fuel and energy costs clearly adversely affect the competitiveness of the communities living on them, since significant fluctuations in the cost of fuel can make transportation between island regions and mainland Europe significantly more burdensome. In its next regional state aid guidelines, a regime allowing operating aids should be extended to all island regions which are not island states or inland islands;

- to undertake a “special needs assessment” study of island regions taking into account issues of specific concern to islands and proposing measures to address them. This refer especially to the impact of the implementation of regional policy on islands, including on levels of investment, the spread of economic activity, unemployment, transport infrastructure (notably, ports and airports), environmental pressures and the overall level of economic and social integration of islands within the internal market;

- to set up an administrative unit for the islands, along the lines of the existing administrative unit for the outermost regions;

- to consider what adjustments are needed to the "market investor" test for state aid in order to reflect the realities of life on islands and other remote regions where it can be impossible to find or evaluate a market investor as there may be none in the area;

- to give priority to the energy security of the islands and to funding for the development and implementation of projects for the production of energy using new technologies and renewable energy sources and to promote efficient use of energy, whilst protecting the environment and preserving its natural beauty;

- to place particular emphasis on the development of broadband and to promote measures for solving the specific difficulties of providing services in island regions, such as health care and online medical services, electronic governance and citizens' services;

Parliament encouraged the efforts made towards a holistic Community maritime policy, and felt that special attention should be given to those areas of economic activity which were more prevalent on islands, notably agriculture, fisheries, tourism and crafts. Tourism represented for most islands a primary source of wealth creation, having a direct influence on the growth of other sectors (agriculture, commerce, services, fisheries), it was imperative to put in place an integrated policy capable of ensuring the sustainability of island tourism. This policy needed to be accompanied by an European information campaign directed at European citizens through the creation of a quality and island origin label. With this in view, Parliament called on the Commission to carry out a cross-sectoral analysis paying special attention to opportunities to support sustainable tourism within the regional strategies of islands that are far from centres of population.

Lastly, Parliament proposed that the Commission and the other Institutions designate the year 2010 as the European year for the islands.

Documents
2007/03/15
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2007/03/02
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
Documents
2007/03/02
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Documents
2007/02/27
   EP - Vote in committee
Details

The committee adopted the own-initiative report by Francesco MUSOTTO (EPP-ED, IT) on the islands and natural and economic constraints in the context of the regional policy. The report reiterated Parliament's frequently-repeated position that more help was needed to enable the EU's island regions to overcome their difficulties and to reduce regional disparities.

As far as the 2007-2013 Structural Funds are concerned, the committee regretted that the Council had not taken on board certain proposals put forward by Parliament, such as the possibility of increasing the co-financing rate for areas affected by more than one geographical or natural handicap. It said that the 2007-2013 operational programmes for island regions should focus on support for economic diversification and much-needed infrastructure works.

The report stressed the need for more flexibility in the implementation of existing and future state aid policies, and said that the Commission should consider allowing state aid to be granted to islands "where fuel and energy costs clearly adversely affect the competitiveness of the communities living on them", given that fluctuations in fuel costs can make transportation between island regions and mainland Europe "significantly more burdensome". It called on the Commission to include in its next regional state aid guidelines a regime allowing operating aids to be extended to all island regions which are not island states or inland islands. The Commission should also consider what adjustments are needed to the 'market investor' test for state aid to better reflect the realities of life on islands where such investors may be lacking.

MEPs stressed the importance of tourism for the economy of the island regions and called on the Commission to carry out a cross-sectoral study paying special attention to opportunities to support sustainable tourism within the regional strategies of islands that are far from centres of population. The committee also welcomed the efforts made towards a 'holistic' Community maritime policy extending beyond the legal borders of the EU, saying that it would facilitate the development of strong commercial, economic and political relations between the Community islands and neighbouring countries.

Among its other recommendations, the committee urged the Commission to pay particular attention to islands in the context of the European Spatial Observation Network (ESPON) in order to acquire a thorough knowledge of their situation. The Member States should establish specific mechanisms for gathering and sending relevant local data to the Network, while the Commission should update the island statistics last gathered in 2003 and define "more pertinent statistical indicators" better suited to measuring development. The Commission was also asked to undertake and present to Parliament, on regular basis, a 'special needs assessment' study of island regions indicating the issues of specific concern and proposing measures to address them.

MEPs suggested that the Commission should set up, within the Directorate-General for Regional Policy, an administrative unit for the islands along the lines of the existing unit for the outermost regions, to ensure that the special needs of islands and their permanent and seasonal populations are systematically taken into account in policy development. Lastly, given that there has been considerable illegal immigration into the Community island regions within the last year, the report urged the Commission to look into the creation of a European coastguard body to assist the islands, in parallel with FRONTEX, in monitoring the EU's external borders.

2007/01/16
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2006/12/01
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2006/05/18
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2006/05/02
   EP - MUSOTTO Francesco (PPE-DE) appointed as rapporteur in REGI

Documents

  • Commission response to text adopted in plenary: SP(2007)2139
  • Commission response to text adopted in plenary: SP(2007)1901/2
  • Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
  • Decision by Parliament: T6-0082/2007
  • Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A6-0044/2007
  • Committee report tabled for plenary: A6-0044/2007
  • Amendments tabled in committee: PE382.573
  • Committee draft report: PE382.326
  • Committee draft report: PE382.326
  • Amendments tabled in committee: PE382.573
  • Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A6-0044/2007
  • Commission response to text adopted in plenary: SP(2007)1901/2
  • Commission response to text adopted in plenary: SP(2007)2139

Activities

Votes

Rapport Musotto A6-0044/2007 - résolution #

2007/03/15 Outcome: +: 473, 0: 35, -: 26
DE FR IT ES GB PL RO BE BG HU PT NL AT CZ DK SK EL SE IE LU LT SI EE MT FI CY LV
Total
68
52
50
36
50
39
26
18
15
15
17
20
12
20
12
9
14
15
8
6
5
5
5
5
6
4
2
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
188

Denmark PPE-DE

For (1)

1

Ireland PPE-DE

3

Luxembourg PPE-DE

3

Lithuania PPE-DE

1

Slovenia PPE-DE

3

Estonia PPE-DE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE-DE

2

Finland PPE-DE

1

Cyprus PPE-DE

1
icon: PSE PSE
146

Czechia PSE

2

Slovakia PSE

2

Ireland PSE

1

Luxembourg PSE

For (1)

1

Estonia PSE

2

Finland PSE

For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
81
2

Austria ALDE

1

Sweden ALDE

For (1)

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

2

Estonia ALDE

2

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
32

Italy Verts/ALE

2

Spain Verts/ALE

2

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

4

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1
icon: UEN UEN
23

Denmark UEN

For (1)

1

Ireland UEN

2

Lithuania UEN

1

Latvia UEN

For (1)

1
icon: ITS ITS
15
2

United Kingdom ITS

Abstain (1)

1

Belgium ITS

2

Bulgaria ITS

1
icon: NI NI
5

Italy NI

1
2

Austria NI

1

Slovakia NI

1
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
12

United Kingdom IND/DEM

3

Poland IND/DEM

3

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

Czechia IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Denmark IND/DEM

1

Sweden IND/DEM

2
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
32

France GUE/NGL

2

Spain GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

2

Netherlands GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Czechia GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

3

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Greece GUE/NGL

3

Sweden GUE/NGL

2

Ireland GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Finland GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

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  • date: 2007-01-16T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE382.573 title: PE382.573 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
  • date: 2007-03-02T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2007-44&language=EN title: A6-0044/2007 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP
  • date: 2007-05-03T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=13345&j=1&l=en title: SP(2007)1901/2 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
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events
  • date: 2006-05-18T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2007-02-27T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP summary: The committee adopted the own-initiative report by Francesco MUSOTTO (EPP-ED, IT) on the islands and natural and economic constraints in the context of the regional policy. The report reiterated Parliament's frequently-repeated position that more help was needed to enable the EU's island regions to overcome their difficulties and to reduce regional disparities. As far as the 2007-2013 Structural Funds are concerned, the committee regretted that the Council had not taken on board certain proposals put forward by Parliament, such as the possibility of increasing the co-financing rate for areas affected by more than one geographical or natural handicap. It said that the 2007-2013 operational programmes for island regions should focus on support for economic diversification and much-needed infrastructure works. The report stressed the need for more flexibility in the implementation of existing and future state aid policies, and said that the Commission should consider allowing state aid to be granted to islands "where fuel and energy costs clearly adversely affect the competitiveness of the communities living on them", given that fluctuations in fuel costs can make transportation between island regions and mainland Europe "significantly more burdensome". It called on the Commission to include in its next regional state aid guidelines a regime allowing operating aids to be extended to all island regions which are not island states or inland islands. The Commission should also consider what adjustments are needed to the 'market investor' test for state aid to better reflect the realities of life on islands where such investors may be lacking. MEPs stressed the importance of tourism for the economy of the island regions and called on the Commission to carry out a cross-sectoral study paying special attention to opportunities to support sustainable tourism within the regional strategies of islands that are far from centres of population. The committee also welcomed the efforts made towards a 'holistic' Community maritime policy extending beyond the legal borders of the EU, saying that it would facilitate the development of strong commercial, economic and political relations between the Community islands and neighbouring countries. Among its other recommendations, the committee urged the Commission to pay particular attention to islands in the context of the European Spatial Observation Network (ESPON) in order to acquire a thorough knowledge of their situation. The Member States should establish specific mechanisms for gathering and sending relevant local data to the Network, while the Commission should update the island statistics last gathered in 2003 and define "more pertinent statistical indicators" better suited to measuring development. The Commission was also asked to undertake and present to Parliament, on regular basis, a 'special needs assessment' study of island regions indicating the issues of specific concern and proposing measures to address them. MEPs suggested that the Commission should set up, within the Directorate-General for Regional Policy, an administrative unit for the islands along the lines of the existing unit for the outermost regions, to ensure that the special needs of islands and their permanent and seasonal populations are systematically taken into account in policy development. Lastly, given that there has been considerable illegal immigration into the Community island regions within the last year, the report urged the Commission to look into the creation of a European coastguard body to assist the islands, in parallel with FRONTEX, in monitoring the EU's external borders.
  • date: 2007-03-02T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2007-44&language=EN title: A6-0044/2007
  • date: 2007-03-15T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=13345&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2007-03-15T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20070315&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2007-03-15T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2007-82 title: T6-0082/2007 summary: The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the own-initiative report drafted by Francesco MUSOTTO (EPP-ED, IT) on the islands and natural and economic constraints in the context of the regional policy. The report was adopted by 473 votes in favour to 26 against with 35 abstentions. It drew attention to the plight of islands suffering from an accumulation of disadvantages, and stressed the need to help them to overcome those difficulties and to reduce regional disparities. Parliament believed that insularity was both a geocultural characteristic that was open to potential exploitation by a development strategy, and a permanent handicap which rendered the situation even more difficult as regards the competitiveness of these regions. Whilst some concrete provisions in favour of structurally disadvantaged regions had been incorporated in the regulations on the Structural Funds 2007-2013, the Council failed to take on board other important proposals from the Parliament, such as the possibility of increasing the co-financing rate for areas affected by more than one geographical or natural handicap. It called on the Commission, with regard to the programming period 2007-2013 concerning the operational programmes of island regions, to exhaust all avenues giving them the possibility to carry-out measures related to infrastructure works. In order to deal more satisfactorily with the permanent disadvantage of such territories, Parliament felt that there should be increased flexibility in the implementation of existing and future state aid policies, without such flexibility causing unacceptable market distortions within the EU. The Commission was asked to review matters so as to take better account of the need of islands to enjoy access to the internal market on equal terms with mainland regions. Improved transport links should constitute a priority action in this field, especially in the case of ports and airports. Parliament went on to ask the Commission to do the following: - to pay particular attention to islands in the context of the European Spatial Observation Network (ESPON) in order to acquire a thorough knowledge of their situation. The Member States should establish specific mechanisms for gathering and sending relevant local data to the Network, while the Commission should update the island statistics last gathered in 2003 and define more pertinent statistical indicators better suited to measuring development; - to study the possibility of permitting state aid to be granted to island regions where fuel and energy costs clearly adversely affect the competitiveness of the communities living on them, since significant fluctuations in the cost of fuel can make transportation between island regions and mainland Europe significantly more burdensome. In its next regional state aid guidelines, a regime allowing operating aids should be extended to all island regions which are not island states or inland islands; - to undertake a “special needs assessment” study of island regions taking into account issues of specific concern to islands and proposing measures to address them. This refer especially to the impact of the implementation of regional policy on islands, including on levels of investment, the spread of economic activity, unemployment, transport infrastructure (notably, ports and airports), environmental pressures and the overall level of economic and social integration of islands within the internal market; - to set up an administrative unit for the islands, along the lines of the existing administrative unit for the outermost regions; - to consider what adjustments are needed to the "market investor" test for state aid in order to reflect the realities of life on islands and other remote regions where it can be impossible to find or evaluate a market investor as there may be none in the area; - to give priority to the energy security of the islands and to funding for the development and implementation of projects for the production of energy using new technologies and renewable energy sources and to promote efficient use of energy, whilst protecting the environment and preserving its natural beauty; - to place particular emphasis on the development of broadband and to promote measures for solving the specific difficulties of providing services in island regions, such as health care and online medical services, electronic governance and citizens' services; Parliament encouraged the efforts made towards a holistic Community maritime policy, and felt that special attention should be given to those areas of economic activity which were more prevalent on islands, notably agriculture, fisheries, tourism and crafts. Tourism represented for most islands a primary source of wealth creation, having a direct influence on the growth of other sectors (agriculture, commerce, services, fisheries), it was imperative to put in place an integrated policy capable of ensuring the sustainability of island tourism. This policy needed to be accompanied by an European information campaign directed at European citizens through the creation of a quality and island origin label. With this in view, Parliament called on the Commission to carry out a cross-sectoral analysis paying special attention to opportunities to support sustainable tourism within the regional strategies of islands that are far from centres of population. Lastly, Parliament proposed that the Commission and the other Institutions designate the year 2010 as the European year for the islands.
  • date: 2007-03-15T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
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  • REGI/6/36457
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 052
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 052
procedure/subject
Old
  • 4.70.06 Outlying and outermost regions, overseas countries and territories
New
4.70.06
Outlying and outermost regions, overseas countries and territories
procedure/title
Old
The islands and natural and economic constraints in the context of regional policy
New
Islands and natural and economic constraints in the context of regional policy
other/0/dg/title
Old
Regional Policy
New
Regional and Urban Policy
activities
  • date: 2006-05-18T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: REGI date: 2006-05-02T00:00:00 committee_full: Regional Development rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: MUSOTTO Francesco
  • date: 2007-02-27T00:00:00 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: REGI date: 2006-05-02T00:00:00 committee_full: Regional Development rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: MUSOTTO Francesco type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2007-03-02T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2007-44&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A6-0044/2007 body: EP type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
  • date: 2007-03-15T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=13345&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20070315&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2007-82 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0082/2007 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
committees
  • body: EP responsible: True committee: REGI date: 2006-05-02T00:00:00 committee_full: Regional Development rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: MUSOTTO Francesco
links
other
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/regional_policy/index_en.htm title: Regional Policy commissioner: HÜBNER Danuta
procedure
dossier_of_the_committee
REGI/6/36457
reference
2006/2106(INI)
title
The islands and natural and economic constraints in the context of regional policy
legal_basis
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 052
stage_reached
Procedure completed
subtype
Initiative
type
INI - Own-initiative procedure
subject
4.70.06 Outlying and outermost regions, overseas countries and territories