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Balearic Islands, Sardinia, Corsica agree on islandsʼ “joint front” vis-à-vis European institutions
Insular governments demand specific tax treatment from the EU · Corsican president says Balearic Island autonomy is example to follow
According to Balearic president Francina Armengol, the joint policy should start by forging a "joint front" and a "united voice" to the EU's advisory Committee of the Regions "to achieve greater recognition of insularity, and a specific taxation for peripheral insular territories." According to the three governments, this is a matter of equality between European citizens: "If we do not get our own state [governments] and the European Union to treat us on a differentiated basis, we will not be able to ensure equality for our citizens," Armengol said.
Sardinian president Francesco Pigliaru recalled that Western Mediterranean islands can play an important role "to promote peace and well-being" in Europe-North Africa relations.
Corsican president Gilles Simeoni predicted the deal to have great significance: "Only time will tell," he said, "but today's meeting is a turning point, perhaps landmark," not only because the three governments can begin to work together, but because of the "perspective of the new EU cohesion policy after 2020", which is already being discussed and which, according to the Corsican leader, "does not foresee any specific plan for our [island] territories."
Simeoni pointed out that island territories have a tool to substantiate their claims, Article 174 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. "But to be taken into account," the Corsican president warned, "we can not move forward separately: that would condemn us to failure."
What does Article 174 say?
According to Article 174, the Union should promote "its overall harmonious development" with actions "leading to the strengthening of its economic, social and territorial cohesion." In this, the article reads, "particular attention" shall be paid "to rural areas, areas affected by industrial transition, and regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps such as the northernmost regions with very low population density" —the Sami lands and the Scottish Highlinds could be two examples of — "and island, cross-border and mountain regions."
Corsica takes lead in islands' relations
Yesterday's meeting is yet another step in the Corsican government's strategy to forge alliances with governments of other regions of the Western Mediterranean. This was one the pillars of Simeoni's manifesto for the 2015 Corsican election. Three months later, with him already inaugurated as president of Corsica, his government and Sardinia's signed a cooperation agreement which in the long run aims to assemble a new, common area on transport and energy in the western Mediterranean.
Besides this, Simeoni yesterday recalled that the Balearic Islands are a point of reference for Corsica, given the fact that they have real legislative power and that Catalan has co-official status there. These are precisely two of the Corsican government's main demands to the French government, which continues to refuse to consider them.