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7.4 The Pact of Islands

The Pact of Islands is a European initiative adopted by the European Parliament that embraces
European island authorities that commit to taking concerted action in line with the EU 2020 energy
targets through the support and promotion of renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable
transport projects at local level. The European Parliament supports the role of island communities in
the mobilisation against global warming through Declaration 37/2011 which recognises the Pact of
Islands as an EU initiative parallel to the Covenant of Mayors.
The Pact of Islands highlights the vulnerability of islands to climate change, stresses the need for
energy security and the importance of lowering dependence on imported fuels, while flagging up
the high economic, environmental and cultural values of the most popular tourist destinations in
Europe: the European islands.
Website for the initiative: http://www.islepact.eu/html/index.aspx?pageid=1020&langID=3

7.5 Redeveloping the urban environment

In Mallorca, two areas in the centre of Palma need to be redeveloped and adapted to the needs of
visitors and inhabitants. One of those is situated around a heritage listed 1970’s building, the now
abandoned former headquarters of Gesa, while the other is the area of Nou Llevant, currently deemed
unattractive by inhabitants and visitors.
Discussion is ongoing at civil society level concerning projects on urban initiatives proposed by civil
society. Based on these concerns, an initiative called “District scientific i technologic urban RAMON
LLULL 2030”, dedicated to innovation, science and technologies, has been rolled out. On 13, 14 and 15
April 2016, the Ramon Llull 2030 initiative was discussed; this would involve converting the seafront
of Palma into an urban scientific development district and attracting talent to the area.
The initiative could be considered a type of social innovation – where possible stakeholders would
create a multiplier effect, potentially resulting in more long-lasting and solid outcomes than a solution
forced on the local communities.

8. Recommendations

The site visits to these islands showed that there is an interest in getting to know the various smart
solutions that island communities are using today and which have been proposed for further
development. Based on the analysis of the data collected in situ, the EESC recommendations aim to
improve the inclusion of EU islands in EU policies and funding instruments.

8.1 Introductory remarks

• Despite their geographical diversity, EU islands face identical challenges such as territorial discontinuity,
demographic desertification, strong seasonal fluctuation of tourists, energy dependency on fossil
fuels (e.g. diesel), waste management, water supply and funding scarcity.
• Islands are answering these challenges by developing innovative projects which can be a model
for other territories, particularly in the fields of ICT, the environment, energy, transport, tourism and
commerce.
• Islands are living laboratories since they optimise the use and management of local resources and
infrastructures.
• The UNFCCC Paris Agreement is paving the way to a transition towards a low carbon economy.
Smart islands have already started this journey through local decisions creating synergies between
ICT, the environment, energy, transport, tourism and commerce.

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