Strenghts and weaknesses of small islands

Abstract

This paper describes the special economic strengths and weaknesses faced by small islands. As I shall show, there are very few strengths, and many weaknesses, which arise mostly from small economic and territorial size, insularity and peripherality. These weaknesses often threaten the viability of these territories. Reference will be made to the island of Gozo, which enjoys a number of strengths, notably its attraction as a tourist destination, but which also suffers from the weaknesses associated with its small size and double insularity. There are about 20 island regions in the EU with a jurisdiction over 13 million inhabitants. The fact that these island regions contain together a relatively small population limits their political clout, and as a result their plight tends not to be given enough importance in major decisions affecting the European Union. To make matters worse, data required to measure the economic conditions in which the island regions find themselves if often lacking. The paper argues that the predicament of islands would be given better consideration by the EU if statistical information about the conditions in which islands find themselves are collected and processed on an ongoing basis.