This conference is the final step of an EESC project launched within the follow-up to the opinion "Towards a more balanced territorial development in the EU" (NAT/615).
Community Led Local Development (CLLD) is a specific tool for use at sub-regional level, which is complementary to other development support at local level. CLLD can mobilise and involve local communities and organisations to contribute to achieving the Europe 2020 Strategy goals of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, fostering territorial cohesion and reaching specific policy objectives.
In order to deliver an overview of the position of civil society, a public hearing was organised on 29 September 2014 at the EESC headquarters in Brussels, bringing together different actors in the field who shares their experience and positions regarding this new tool.
Islands have special characteristics and therefore face particular problems. However, their very specific situation can also offer opportunities if, with the necessary effort from all parties concerned, policies are developed and implemented which create sustainable growth and, at the same time, job opportunities for the young generation, competiveness and innovation, whilst respecting the environment and cultural heritage. This conference is foreseen in the Smart Islands project, and is aimed at showcasing and discussing best practices to help islands develop in a sustainable and "smart" manner.
Speech by President Luca JAHIER at the inaugural session of the Round Table organised by the Bulgarian ESC in Sofia on Friday 5 September 2014
The EESC "Smart Islands" project is based on the own-initiative of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on Smart islands TEN/558.
