Welcome

EUROPEAN SMALL ISLANDS? NETWORK
INTER-ISLAND EXCHANGE PROJECT (ESIN IIEP)

The European Small Islands' Network (ESIN) wasset up in 2001 to raise awareness of the development challengesexperienced by 's smallest inhabited off shore islands and topromote inter-island co-operation on the subject of sustainableisland development.

Many of these small remote communities, with populations intheir tens and hundreds, are threatened with extinction and arestruggling to build a future for the next generation of islandchildren. ESIN's members are island-based organisations in 6 memberstates They share a vision of integrated and sustainable economic,social, environmental and cultural development based on themaintenance of permanent, resident island communities.

What Future for the , 21/22 November ?06

ESIN IIEP also plans to host, on the21^st/22^nd November 2006, a major conferenceon sustainable development on small islands in EU which willinvolve senior policy makers from the EU institutions, national,regional and local governments as well as island organisations. Forregistration and information contact: maire@oileain.ie or Dorothy.middleton@argyll-bute.gov.uk

Finally, the operation will develop and expand its website totransform it into an effective and interactive communication toolfor those concerned with island development throughout EU. Theresults envisaged by E-SIN include:

(i) stronger contacts among decision makers and islandorganisations in all 6 island regions

(ii) improved access to information on sustainableapproaches & solutions to the most pressing developmentproblems facing small islands

(iii) greater co-operation between 6 islandregions

(iv) identification at national and EU level of specificpolicy measures to support sustainable development on 's smallislands;

(v) better understanding at EU level of the challengesfacing micro-communities on small islands.