Speech by the President of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels on insularity, at an event hosted by MEP Mr. Vangelis Meimarakis

Dear Members of the European Parliament and Distinguished attendees: I would like to thank you for the opportunity to address you today on such an important topic, one that is fundamental to our common future I speak to you not only as a representative of the Greek tourism sector, but, more importantly, as someone who lives year-round on an island and knows island life inside out.

First, let me state the obvious: Island life is not easy. Access to healthcare, education, and basic infrastructure is fragile in ways often invisible to most. And still, life is expensive: the same litre of milk, the same kilowatt of electricity, the same bag of cement costs significantly more than on the mainland. Despite these challenges, our islands perform functions central to our common well-being. They serveas entry points for cross-border movement, hubs for seasonal labor, and critical nodes in energy flows and maritime transport.  And their ability to perform those functions, despite challenges such as, irregular migration and climate disruption, is at stake today. 

In my country tourism accounts for one-third of indirect GDP, and two-thirds of that value is created on islands. Hence for us, Tourism is the vital cross-sectoral engine, supporting businesses in construction, agriculture, energy, and shipping. However, in areas with limited infrastructure and finite housing, we should not underestimate the fact that unregulated development poses a whole new set of challenges. What was initially a valuable income stream for a local household, has already morphed into a development model that displaces residents and leaves fragmented communities behind. I could share many stories about the dire consequences of this situation. But, to save your time, I will leave these examples for another day and come promptly to the policymaking issue.

Having lived the realities of our islands throughout all seasons, I witness firsthand the pressing need to support local infrastructure, ensure adequate connectivity, adjust VAT burdens and address the unprecedented proliferation of unregulated short-term rentals which overload public services, distort housing markets, and cultivate touristophobia. Therefore, I urge you to focus on crafting smart targeted policies that allow existing businesses to – reinvest and reinvent themselves as high value-added contributors, ultimately protecting our home for both residents and visitors.

Ladies & Gentleman, Greece has over 227 inhabited islands – home to 15% of its population – and many of them lie along the EUs longest maritime border with a third country. If Europe is serious about cohesion, it must be serious about its islands. Without targeted investment, adequate connectivity, and long-term infrastructure planning, many of these places will never play the roles they are supposed to.

Allow me to make myself clear: The strategic depth of Europe itself relies on the future of our islands. These are not marginal territories but the living frontiers of our Union. When infrastructure investments bypass these areas – either due to logistical challenges or limited risk appetite – we don’t just lose economic opportunity. We lose our people. We lose our influence. And ultimately, we erode our capacity to sustain life where it is most necessary strategically. 

For this reason, I’m here to promote dialogue on policies that understand, that at stake is not merely the preservation of a lifestyle, but our civilization itself. Because it is on the islands that our most important values – solidarity, resilience, and cohesion are tested most.

I am also here to convey the sentiment of my fellow neighbours: We will stay in these places, to support our schools, our elders, our communities. We will fight adversity. We will invest in better jobs, because we are proud to be the ambassadors of European identity in the remotest corners of our Union.

Dear esteemed members of our European Community you have demonstrated again and again your commitment to our values that transcend borders and generations. I urge you once more to stand by your legacy and show not only that these values matter to you, but also that these islands matter to Europe.