Island Committee

The Island Committee is appointed by the Government. Its activities are based on the Island Development Act and the Decree on the Island Committee. It is a parliamentary body that is appointed for each government term. It has a secretariat whose members represent the ministries, Government agencies and institutes, Regional Councils, municipalities, non-governmental organizations and commercial operators. It gives statements and opinions and carries out small-scale research and survey projects. The Committee has its own budget.

The duties of the Island Committee, as defined by decree, are to:

• monitor the implementation of the Island Act
• actively monitor conditions in archipelago areas and obtain any information deemed necessary concerning them;
• cooperate with island municipalities, partial island municipalities, other archipelago and inland waterway areas, organizations operating in these areas, and state authorities;
• prepare the National Archipelago Programme and participate in the preparation of any Government Resolution on Island Policy or other similar government decisions, in cooperation with municipalities, regional councils, state authorities, and other stakeholders;
• consider proposals submitted to the Committee by municipalities, regional councils, state authorities, organizations, and, where necessary, other parties;
• make proposals and issue statements.