Between the 16th and the 17th November Joseph Borg, attended as President of Insuleur (Insular Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the European Union) the Islands Commission Plenary Meeting of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR), and the CPMR General Assembly that were held in Saint Malo, France. Apart from institutional matter the Islands Commission Plenary Meeting held on the 16th November discussed principally the way forward for islands in view of the next EU elections. Within this context it discussed the state of play and the challenges of insularity. A number of high profile personalities participated in the discussion including Hon Josianne Cutajar, Member of the European Parliament, and SEArica Vice-Chair for SMEs and Digitalisation, and Francois Alfonsi, Member of the European Parliament, and SEArica Vice-Chair for Islands.
Joseph Borg, also participated in the main session of the CPMR General Assembly which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the CPMR. During this session various themes were discussed. This include a debate by current and former CPMR Presidents where they reflected on the past and future of the CPMR and why regions matter. The Final Declaration of the CPMR Manifesto was also presented. Other matters under discussion included maritime affairs and fisheries, cohesion policy, the new EU migration deal and support for Ukraine. At the end of the assembly it was also highlighted that the next General Assembly will be held in Gozo between the 2nd and the 4th October 2024.
