The hearings of the Bicameral Commission on the disadvantages resulting from insularity continue.

In the last session, Michele Cossa, regional councilor of Sardinia and president of the special commission for Insularity, was heard.

«Islands like Sardinia – said Cossa in the hearing before deputies and senators – need targeted policies and a real commitment from the central government to face the challenges that derive from their geographical position. Instead - he added - this attention is not seen: in the Southern decree, regarding cohesion policies, there is not even a mention of the peculiarities of the islands".

«The issue of island disadvantage - continued Cossa - can be addressed effectively if the island regions are able to be proactive. But this will be completely useless if the Government and Parliament have a passive attitude and do not perceive it as a great and unresolved national issue, on which to activate the necessary tools for accelerating development also at a European level: this is what the new article 119 asks for, sixth paragraph of the Constitution".

One of the themes highlighted by Cossa was that of transport and accessibility to the island, which in his opinion «requires a much more substantial political and financial involvement on the part of the State than that achieved so far. The comparison with the effort made by other States exposes data that explains well how little the "Sardinia case" interests the Italian State: Spain allocates 180.6 euros per resident to the territorial continuity of the Balearic Islands; France 248.5 for Corsica euros; the Sardinia Region (and not the State) 25.4 euros".

(Unioneonline/lf)