Maupertuis calls for solutions to mobility inequalities across island regions

Participating as a panellist in COTER commission’s policy conference on ‘Addressing mobility poverty across the EU’ held on 12 March, EA Group president Nanette Maupertuis highlighted mobility challenges faced by remote island regions.

The primary objective of the conference was to foster dialogue on mobility inequalities and the need to provide local transport systems contributing to a ‘fairer, greener and more inclusive Europe’.

Panellists discussed mobility inequality as an injustice that exacerbates existing social inequalities and undermines broader EU goals of cohesion, decarbonisation and the green transition.

Contributing to a panel discussion on ‘Accessibility, connectivity and EU Policy response’, Ms Maupertuis called for development of more accessible and resilient transport systems within and between remote island regions.

Accessible transport options should be guaranteed as a right in all regions, stated President Maupertuis, given how they condition access to territorial cohesion and the single market and consequently underpin economic competitiveness, defence security, environmental transition and social equality.

Nonetheless, geographically isolated islands, like Ms Maupertuis’ native Corsica, frequently face unique mobility issues that preclude their transport capacities and consequently affect negative socio-economic and environmental impacts.

Scarcity of cross-border maritime links further impedes transport between island territories, exacerbating isolation and precluding territorial integration.

President Maupertuis accordingly called for focused policymaking and investing at national- and European-levels to tackle the unique challenges faced by island regions and thereby foster cohesive and equal growth of remote island regions.