The regional policy of the European Union : a case study of Gozo in an EU scenario

Abstract

More than 13.5 million islanders live in the EU Islands, whose overall land mass is about 3.4% of the Community's surface. These island territories offer the EU an economic and geopolitical presence in nearly all the world's oceans, and an active border with many continents. Islands, like Member States, are diverse, but through their insular characteristic they share very specific social, economic and environmental problems. It is for this reason, that the work in this thesis covers such an increasingly important subject. The Regional Policy of the European Union needs to be critically analysed, if, in turn, a Gozo in this scenario is to be envisaged. Indeed, Regional Policy has in fact gained prominence of late, especially since Gozo has been acknowledged as a separate region by the European Union. The analysis undertaken in this thesis starts by supplying different theoretical approaches with regards to how regional policy could be tackled. After an understanding of such theories, the legislative background comes on stage to show where everything started from, and on which basis such regional policy leans. Then, a comparative analysis of how fruitful regional policy actually is on the ground, helps one appreciate its advantages. Ultimately, the study was broadened to provide an insight on how definitions of regional aid were challenged, as well as what Gozo' s needs are, highlighted by proposals that would maximize Gozo's gains as a region in this scenario. The legislation, Treaties, Directives, Regulations and other sources of information of this thesis are correct up to August 2002. To this effect, this thesis holds no bearing when amendments to the current legislation are enacted.