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Its role


Mission Statement
The Secretariat General for the Aegean and Island Policy is affiliated with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs Islands and Fisheries. Its establishment and operation illustrates the importance of the government to implement specific strategies of parity convergence and harmonization to the mainland area aiming at the development of the Aegean.

Historical Backround
The Greek State established the Ministry of the Aegean in 1985 by the unanimous vote of the Greek Parliament. Ιn 2004 the Ministry of the Aegean was renamed to Ministry of the Aegean and Island Policy. In 2007 it merged with the Ministry of Merchant Shipping and its obligations were devolved on the Secretariat General for the Aegean and Island Policy. After the abolition of the Ministry of Merchant Shipping in 2009 the Secretariat General was affiliated with the Ministry of Infrastructure Transport and Networks. From September 2010 the Secretariat General is affiliated with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs Islands and Fisheries.

Objectives.
The objectives of the Secretariat General for the Aegean and Island Policy are:

  • The implementation of policies provided for the sustainable development of the Aegean islands.
  • The immediate and effective address to the Greek government and the Prime Minister of the governmental measures needed to resolve the problems which island communities face from time to time.
  • The exercise of a Social Policy on issues regarding accessibility education quality of life support of people with special needs qualitative and affordable transport.
  • The alignment with the and the formulation of an Integrated Maritime Policy in cooperation with other Ministries and Organizations
  • The dissemination and development of the Aegean cultural heritage.
  • The economic and social cohesion by developing links and communication among the islands in order to create an awareness of unity.
  • The promotion of the historical cultural environmental and tourist benefits of the Aegean islands.
  • The organization and improvement of the coastal policy by developing the coaster lines potential renewing and setting schedules establishing equivalent transport and maintaining the orderly operation of leased marginal routes where necessary.


Area of jurisdiction
The headquarters of the Secretariat General for the Aegean and Island Policy are located in Mytilene.

The Aegean archipelago is a cluster of islands dispersed on a water surface of 800 kilometers long from North to South and 600 kilometers long from West to East forming the most extensive group of islands in Europe. The geographical location of the Aegean in the Eastern part of Greece forms the Southeastern border of the European Union and therefore gives the Aegean a significant geopolitical role.

The Aegean archipelago consists of a multitude of islands. In the South Crete is one of the largest islands and forms together with Sicily Sardinia and Corsica a part of the southern border of the European Union separating it from the continent of Africa. The Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey is full of Greek islands small and medium-sized which administratively belong to five prefectures and two regions exclusively insular. The majority of the islands are isolated and small-sized whose economy encounters difficulties due to their geographical isolation. Compared to mainland Greece the Aegean islands confront with great difficulties in the fields of transportation communication and energy.

The Aegean culture has shown a historical continuity over the millennia and constitutes a rare heritage of international importance. The particular characteristics of the archipelago require not only the configuration of a specialized strategic development plan for the Aegean but also the formulation of effective practical implementation strategies.

Being aware of the problems that lead to the economic stagnation of the Aegean the Greek government has set the targets of a socio-economic policy based on a long term plan adapted to the specific characteristics and the unique character of the archipelago and each island separately. The new strategies include innovative measures and current actions aiming at the inversion of the negative growth factors by adhering to the principles of a sustainable island development.