11 th Annual General Meeting European Small Islands Federation On Ile d Yeu, France, 14 th of September 2011 MINUTES

Transcription

1 11 th Annual General Meeting European Small Islands Federation On Ile d Yeu, France, 14 th of September 2011 MINUTES LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Dorthe Winther Association of Danish Small Islands Denmark Eva Terkelsen Association of Danish Small Islands Denmark Lise Soerensen Association of Danish Small Islands Denmark Tina Johansson National Association of Finnish Islands Finland Pia Prost National Association of Finnish Islands Finland Denis Palluel Association «Les Iles du Ponant» France Bruno Noury Association «Les Iles du Ponant» France Marie Brossier Association «Les Iles du Ponant» France Emilie Gauter Association «Les Iles du Ponant» France Cyril Lelong Association «Les Iles du Ponant» France Sylvie Groc Association «Les Iles du Ponant» France Guy Bezille Association «Les Iles du Ponant» France Laurent George Association «Les Iles du Ponant» France Christian Pleijel Foretagsam Skargard Aland Sandy Brunton Scottish Islands Federation Scotland Camille Dresler Scottish Islands Federation Scotland John Walsh Irish Islands Federation Ireland Bengt Almkvist National Association of the Swedish Archipelago Sweden Sten-Åke Persson National Association of the Swedish Archipelago Sweden Eva Widlund National Association of the Swedish Archipelago Sweden Lennart Andersson National Association of the Swedish Archipelago Sweden Anetté Larm Johansson National Association of the Swedish Archipelago Sweden Anna-Karin Utbult Almkvist National Association of the Swedish Archipelago Sweden Manuela Théraud European Small Islands Federation France ESIN minutes 11th AGM 1

2 1. Welcome and opening of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) Bengt Almkvist, chairman of ESIN, gave a personal welcome in which he outlined the two important objectives for ESIN. The first is to promote exchange of ideas and experiences between islanders. This also includes new projects to be set up efficiently for greater chance of success. Secondly, to reach the European Institutions, the Parliament and the Commission who need much more concise information about the living conditions on small islands. This will also give special attention to the problems of small islands throughout Europe. 2. Election of member to check the minutes Christian Pleijel from Åland was elected. 3. Adoption of the minutes from the annual general meeting 2010 The minutes from ESIN 10 th annual general meeting on Sejero in Denmark was adopted. 4. Chairmans report Bengt Almkvist, chairman of ESIN, gave a short activity report on events since last AGM and especially underlined some main events and activities. ESIN was invited to meetings with the European Parliament Intergroup 174, for mountains, islands and sparsely populated areas. ESIN also continued the cooperation with other organizations, foremost with the CPMR Islands Commission, to prepare comments and proposals. This cooperation also includes the organizations Euromontana and INSULEUR. All organizations exchange information and have during 2011 adopted a resolution on Specific Territories to the European Parliament. Also a proposed revision of regional aid guidelines was presented to the European Commission in July The promotion of exchange of experiences between ESIN member organisations has not been successful during the last year. Several of the member organisations have financial difficulties. This makes it very difficult to set up a common project in the Interreg system. 5. Treasurer s report & budget for 2011 Treasurer Kristina Mattsson,was not present at the meeting. Her report on the finances of ESIN for 2010 were presented by Anetté Larm Johansson. The present financial problem in ESIN is related to the difficulties to collect the adopted fees from all members. Still for 2010, several members have not paid the member fee and the service fee. The service fee shall cover ESINs costs for the secretariat, travel and website in accordance with the agreement with the Association les Iles du Ponant. The budget for income during 2010 was including membership fee and service fee from all ten members. ESINs cost for the secretariat for 2010 was This amount includes management charges, travel costs and website cost. Different ways to find basic funding for ESIN from the EU has been examined. The costs for the ESIN organization must adapt to the actual amounts the members contribute. Propositions were also made to manage the secretariat through contributions from members, sharing administrative tasks, etc. ESIN minutes 11th AGM 2

3 The ESIN annual general meeting decided to continue the cooperation with the Association les Iles du Ponant on a technical secretariat during the rest of The AIP will, during a meeting in the autumn, decide how much they can contribute in this cooperation. The ESIN board can then decide on financial compensation in relation to content of job for the secretariat. The annual general meeting agreed on a budget for 2012 of ESIN secretariat report Yet to be presented. 7. Election of board members and substitutes Each member is entitled to one board member and one nominated substitute. The following persons were elected ESIN board members for 2011/2012. Board member Substitute Denmark Dorthe Winter Eva Terkelsen Estonia to be announced to be announced Finland Tiina Johansson Pia Prost France Bruno Noury Denis Palluel Greece to be announced to be announced Ireland Paddy O Malley John Walsh Italy to be announced to be announced Scotland Sandy Brunton Camille Dressler Sweden Bengt Almkvist Anetté Larm Johansson The Aland Islands Christian Pleijel Jim Eriksson 8. Election of president and vice president Bengt Almkvist was elected president of ESIN for 2011/2012. Bruno Noury was elected vice president of ESIN for 2011/ Annual membership fee 2012 & service fee 2012 The annual general meeting agreed that the membership fee for 2012 is 200. The annual general meeting agreed that the service fee for 2012 is Economic authorization Anetté Larm Johansson, Sweden, was elected treasurer. The AGM decided that the treasurer, Anetté Larm Johansson, is authorized to sign the economic matters for ESIN. 11. Appointment of auditor Kristina Andersson, Gräsö and Agneta Pettersson, Gräsö, both from Sweden, were appointed. ESIN minutes 11th AGM 3

4 12. Annual general work plan A general working plan proposal for 2011/2012 was presented. ESINs two main objectives are to initiate and support contacts and exchange of information between the member organizations and to bring information and knowledge about the small islands to the EU institutions. During the coming year, exchange project shall be promoted and the cooperation between member organizations maintained. The agreement with Association les Iles du Ponant will be evaluated. Board meetings on a more regular basis will be tested via Skype communication. The cooperation with the CPMR Islands Commission shall continue on promoting island issues to the European institutions. This cooperation also includes the organizations Euromontana, NSPA and INSULEUR concerning the work specific territories and article 174. The working plan 2011/2012 was approved. 13. Motion from Denmark on adult education college Henry Larsen and the Association of Danish Small Islands propose cooperation on a vision to start an adult education college. This could offer courses for all ages, training on traditional skills in areas that do not offer much employment anymore. The courses can have short or long duration. The purpose is to inspire islanders, and people from the mainland. Another purpose is to pass on understanding of island life to non islanders and that way attract new inhabitants. The motion applies for funding to finance a project manager to develop the project in cooperation with the group. The ESIN annual general meeting agreed on the vision of the proposal. Since ESIN cannot contribute funding all interested members were encouraged to contact Henry. 14. Proposals at the AGM Christian Pleijel proposed two project ideas for ESIN cooperation: a youth exchange project, eventually financed in Interreg 4C, and a project on electric cars for small islands. Both proposals were based on fruitful discussions during the AGM including the use of electric cars for the conference. The ESIN annual general meeting was positive to the proposals. Two working groups were formed during the ESIN meeting. They will give short outlines on the project ideas. Christian will send information from the initiatives. 15. Discussion on work plan and ambition in relation to budget During the AGM there was a discussion on how ESIN can improve its work on important issues. A group of five executive persons put together some important aspects. Concentrate on three main issues. Form a stronger, more executive, board. Regular board meetings. Promote the political issues. Appoint a vice chairman. Use the website more actively. Distribute short, and quick, reports from all activities. ESIN minutes 11th AGM 4

5 Members must update their information on the website. Keep a correct list of members and mail list for information. Avoid collision of events. 16. Next annual general meeting of ESIN. The Scottish Islands Federation offered ESIN to host ESIN 12 th AGM on the isle of Mull. The invitation was gratefully accepted. 17. Next board meeting A board meeting via Skype was decided to be on December 8 th. Pia Prost organizes the meeting. 18. Close of conference Chairman Bengt Almkvist expressed great thanks to the Association les Iles du Ponant for hosting the 11 th annual general meeting of ESIN on Ile d Yeu. Also special thanks to Bruno Noury, maire of Ile d Yeu municipality, for the very warm reception on the island. The chairman closes the formal annual ESIN board meeting. Auray December 2011 Manuela Theraud Secretary Bengt Almkvist Chairman Christian Pleijel Elected to check the minutes ESIN minutes 11th AGM 5