The Government of the Balearic Islands has strengthened its presence on the European stage by calling for a differentiated policy approach that effectively addresses the structural challenges faced by island territories. During the General Assembly of the Islands Commission of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR), held in Cagliari, the Balearic delegation emphasized the need for European policies that go beyond acknowledging insularity and instead deliver concrete and operational solutions.
The institutional participation was led by the Director General for Institutional Relations and Relations with Parliament, Xesca Ramis, who highlighted that island regions must be placed at the core of Europe’s strategic agenda. She advocated for the establishment of a genuine European insularity clause, enabling EU policies to be adapted to the specific realities of island territories and ensuring fairer implementation across regions.
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Balearic Islands push for concrete EU measures on insularity in the Cagliari Declaration 2026
Within this framework, the Islands Commission adopted the Cagliari Declaration 2026, a joint position that marks a shift from recognition to action. The document integrates key contributions from the Balearic Islands, including the acknowledgment of double insularity, internal disparities within archipelagos, and the growing pressures derived from tourism, housing demand, and demographic imbalances.
The Balearic Government also showcased its progress in transforming the tourism model towards a more sustainable, value-driven and territorially balanced approach, in line with European objectives for resilience. It further highlighted initiatives such as the regional Water Pact, focused on improving efficiency and sustainability in resource management under constrained conditions, and stressed the importance of regulating tourism pressure to safeguard residents’ quality of life.
Housing emerged as a major social challenge, with calls for specific European instruments to expand access to affordable housing, strengthen supply for residents and essential workers, and tackle illegal accommodation. Additionally, the delegation underlined the importance of workforce training, enhanced connectivity — maritime, air and digital — and the need to tailor EU transport and cohesion policies to island realities.
The Declaration also reinforces the demand for more rigorous territorial impact assessments in EU legislation and calls for targeted measures within the future European budget to offset structural disadvantages affecting non-ultraperipheral Mediterranean islands such as the Balearics. Strategic priorities such as the blue economy, green transition and talent retention are also emphasized.
The outcome of the Cagliari Assembly underscores a key principle: equal opportunities in Europe require differentiated policies that reflect unequal starting conditions. In this regard, the active role of the Balearic Islands has helped place the specific challenges of Mediterranean island regions at the heart of the European debate.