Greek MEP Elena Kountoura (The Left) has called on the European Commission to propose a legally binding definition of islands and to introduce a mandatory 'island clause' in future EU legislation, in a written parliamentary question submitted on 9 June 2026. The initiative aims to ensure that island-specific handicaps are systematically addressed across all EU policies, impacting island communities, regional authorities, and EU policymakers.
The question, filed under Rule 144, argues that the absence of a binding definition undermines Article 174 TFEU, which recognises islands as areas with permanent natural or demographic handicaps. Kountoura urges the Commission to establish a typology of island regions based on objective, multidimensional criteria—such as size, isolation, fragmentation, seasonality, and dependence on external resources—drawing on an OECD study from 2026. She asks whether such a definition could be integrated into the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF 2028-2034) to allow differentiated funding by island type.
Kountoura also presses the Commission to ensure that the upcoming EU strategy for islands includes a functional model of 'island-proofing by default', meaning that the island dimension is taken into account from the outset in all European legislation and programmes. Specifically, she asks whether the Commission intends to introduce a mandatory 'island clause' in key sectors with significant territorial impact—such as cohesion policy, transport, energy, digital infrastructure, CAP, fisheries, water/waste management, and state aid—through mandatory island impact assessments incorporated into existing Better Regulation tools like territorial impact assessments.
The question reflects a push for stronger EU integration in territorial cohesion, balancing the need for standardised EU rules with the specific challenges of island regions. If adopted, the measures would impose new procedural requirements on EU institutions and member states, potentially increasing administrative burden but also ensuring that island communities receive tailored support. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks, and its answer will signal the direction of EU policy on island-specific legislation.