The EU Mediterranean islands and Europe 2020 sustainability targets

Abstract

The dissertation looks at the relationship between the vulnerabilities faced Mediterranean islands and the Europe 2020 programme. Focus was put on seven particular islands, five being island-regions (Mallorca, Corsica, Crete, Sardegna and Sicily) and two island states (Malta and Cyprus). To completely understand how the Europe 2020 could aid these islands, it was deemed important to investigate what the vulnerabilities which islands faced were. It was found that the key vulnerabilities were linked to an islands size, insularity and remoteness. Once these vulnerabilities were recognised four flagship initiatives were chosen from the seven found in the Europe 2020 programme on the basis of the relationship that each initiative could have on the vulnerabilities discovered. The four initiatives chosen were Innovation union, Resource efficient Europe, Agenda for new skills and jobs and European platform against poverty. Quantitative analysis was adopted using statistical data gathered by Eurostat which looked at how each country was making progress towards reaching the targets set up by Europe on each m1tlatlve. It was found that the two initiatives regarding innovation and the development of new skills and jobs have been successful in the islands study where when it comes to resource efficiency and the platform against poverty successes have been marginal.