Peripherality in the European Union

Abstract

While recognising that major strides have been achieved in the recognition of peripherality and insularity in the European Union, it is important to note that, at the present stage, one should not be too triumphalistic about the current situation. Still, we have come a long way. For forty years there was basically no mention at all of the situation of islands and island regions in the basic Treaties. Even today, although there is a new emphasis on islands and island regions, on peripheral regions and ultra-peripheral regions, and on insularity and double insularity, as we shall see, the focus is very much on the infrastructure and human resources side. More can be done, more is needed. Excluding the United Kingdom and Ireland, which are rather large islands, the small island states of Malta and Cyprus represent a first for the European Union. Up to now, islands have been mentioned only in the accession treaties of new member states, and the reference has been to specific islands attached to the acceding states, forming part of the acceding states' territories. The experience of small sovereign island states joining the European Union is particular and new. Thus, for example, in the accession treaties, Denmark referred to the Faeroes and to Greenland, the U .K. referred to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, Portugal and Spain referred to the Azores, Madeira and the Canaries, Finland referred to the Aland Islands. Reference to all these islands is found in the various accession treaties. These islands have particular rules applicable to them, indicated in the relevant accession treaty. The Aland islands, for example, still offer duty free goods to tourists visiting them because the E.U. legislation governing duty free at airports and seaports does not apply to them. Similarly, there is specific E.U. legislation for the Azores, for Madeira and for the Canaries taking into consideration their very particular status and realities.