We are delighted to announce the launch of the EURADA Working Group on Insular Regions (WG-IR), with its kick-off meeting set to take place on 6 March 2026, from 10:30 to 12:00 CET!
This initiative, launched in close collaboration with our member La Réunion Développement, aims to offer a platform and collective voice for Insular Regions within the EU, thereby enhancing their visibility at European level.
Within this context, EURADA’s new WG-IR aims to:
- Be a meeting point gathering European economic development agencies operating in insular regions;
- Foster the exchange of good practices and public policies;
- Facilitate the identification of shared strategic priorities among WG Members;
- And initiate a dialogue with EU Institutions, thereby increasing the visibility of WG Members at European level.
The kick-off meeting is set to be structured around a set of core themes pertaining to Insular Regions:
- Structural constraints: physical remoteness, small markets, high logistical costs:
- Economic challenges: difficulty scaling companies, dependence on few key sectors;
- Good practices: potential regional solutions, existing cooperation networks and access to EU programmes.
Based upon these core themes, the aim of this first meeting will be to:
- Create a shared understanding of insular development challenges;
- Share concrete examples and solutions from different regions;
- And identify the priority topics that will inform the work of the WG.
The IR-WG is still open for registration to both EURADA members and non-members, and we warmly invite you to register your interest to join.
European islands, despite differences in size, geography, and governance, share common structural challenges, such as physical remoteness from continental markets and decision-making centres; logistical and transport constraints; higher dependence on imported energy and goods; increased vulnerability to environmental and geopolitical shocks and limited access to standardised EU support mechanisms.
EURADA, as an association focused on advocating for and facilitating the cooperation of Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) across Europe, is committed to supporting Insular Regions in overcoming their specific challenges.
