Elena Kountoura, a Greek MEP from The Left group, has asked the European Commission whether it plans to create a dedicated competitiveness strand for small, medium-sized and micro-enterprises on islands, with adapted eligibility criteria, lower minimum investment thresholds and increased aid rates. The question, submitted on 9 June 2026, targets the perceived mismatch between existing EU funding programmes and the realities of island businesses, which face geographical isolation, high transport costs, seasonal turnover and limited administrative capacity.
Kountoura's written question highlights that current financial instruments—including the ERDF, ESF+, Horizon Europe, CEF and LIFE—are designed for larger businesses and mainland markets, effectively excluding many island SMEs. She asks the Commission to simplify access procedures to reflect the limited resources of these enterprises and to provide technical and financial support in critical areas such as green energy, water, circular economy, agri-food, sustainable tourism, green transport and digital services.
The question comes as the EU prepares its next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and follows a public consultation on the EU strategy for islands, where stakeholders flagged similar barriers. Kountoura's three specific queries seek concrete commitments: a new competitiveness strand under cohesion policy, simplified funding procedures, and targeted support for resilience and human resources. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks, and its answer will signal whether the executive is willing to tailor EU funding to the structural disadvantages of island SMEs—a move that would benefit thousands of micro-enterprises but could increase administrative complexity for managing authorities.