Overcoming Insularity: Leveraging Sustainable Development Initiatives for Inclusive Growth in European Islands

Insularity leads to situations of slow growth or decline; this is a common reality for many islands. Focusing on the situation of European islands, this paper examines how to address the issue of insularity. In particular, sustainable development initiatives appear to be a useful tool for fostering inclusive growth. The analysis was conducted by observing the situation of islands within the European Union, including their position within the political-institutional agenda. This was followed by an exploration of the so- called insular gap, efforts to measure it and responses implemented thus far. The study then highlights the strategic importance of sustainable and circular development initiatives implemented on islands, which can enhance their economic, social, and environmental well-being, mitigating the challenges they face.

This study explores potential avenues for the future development of islands within the context of the European Union.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer a comprehensive set of guidelines that enable the transformation of the abstract idea of sustainable development into concrete policies and actions that create job opportunities, local development and environmental protection.

The aim of this study is to investigate the policy aspects of the issues at hand, and to examine how sustainable practices, consistent with the United Nations 2030 Agenda, can act as an effective means of overcoming the obstacles caused by insularity and fostering inclusive growth. 

The analysis presented in this study comprises four main sections. Section 2 delineates the theoretical context, providing information on the geographical and statistical characteristics of islands within the EU. Section 3 focuses on the specific challenges that islands encounter, followed by institutional and policy responses. Section 4 examines how European policy has addressed insularity and the emergence of balanced and sustainable territorial development. Finally, Section 5 describes the European challenge of balancing economic growth and environmental sustainability by implementing sustainable and circular policies that consider islands as an opportunity for development.