Press Release
29th August 2013
European Commission accepts Shetland invitation
The European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Johannes Hahn, will be in Shetland next week at the invitation of SIC’s Political Leader Gary Robinson. Commissioner Hahn is influential within the European Commission and his visit provides an opportunity for him to witness life in Shetland at first hand.
The visit comes on the back of a pledge made by Mr Robinson earlier this year that the Council will do everything it can to get better acknowledgement of the geographic challenges of remote island communities, which contribute to the high cost of living and operating businesses in Shetland.
Shetland Islands Council’s position is that the EU is not paying enough attention to Shetland’s remote situation by ignoring other important factors such as distance from markets, the high cost of living and the fact that it costs much more per head of population to provide public services.
Shetland’s Regional Aid status is under threat because some indicators used by the EU show Shetland to have higher levels of economic prosperity than other parts of the Highlands and Islands.
Gary Robinson says: “I’m delighted that Commissioner Hahn has accepted my invitation to visit Shetland. We’ll take the opportunity to show him a range of projects that have received EU funds while he’s here.”
Johannes Hahn says: “I am very much looking forward to my visit to Scotland - to the Highlands and Islands, Shetland and Orkney and then to Edinburgh.
“I want to see for myself on the ground the excellent use that I know is already being made of EU structural funds in Scotland. During my time here I will be meeting with key players and representatives at national and local level. Crucially I will be seeing some of the projects that demonstrate the dynamism at play in Shetland. There are big changes ahead and this is a crucial time as far as planning for the next seven years is concerned. Our reforms of EU regional policy will help ensure that the funds are invested with more focus than ever before, with more strategy focus, while making the most of every region and every communities particular assets and strengths. This should all be aimed at improving the competitiveness of Scotland's regions and cities but most importantly the well-being of its communities.”
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