Program for The Small Islands Committee’s open hearing on a national
island policy
Wednesday the 12
th
of March 2025 at. 13.00 - 15.45 in Landstingssalen, Christiansborg
(Danish Parliament)
Folketinget’s Small Islands Committee, in collaboration with the Association of Danish Small Islands, is
hosting an open hearing regarding a national island policy. The hearing aims to uncover perspectives for a
possible national island policy, provide insight to research on the value of islands in the broader society,
present other countries’ experiences with a national island policy, and to inform the committee on how a
national island policy can secure the survival and development of the islands.
13.00-13.05
13.05-13.25
(Incl. questions)
The values of islands to society
13.25-13.45
(Incl. questions)
Godfrey Baldacchino, professor of sociology at the University of Malta, specialist in
island and small state studies (via Teams)
Experiences from other countries regarding a national island policy?
13.45-13.55
13.55-14.05
Ivan Matic, Croatian Island Movement Board Member, ESIN Vice-Chair (via Teams)
Diarmaid O’Mordha, Department of Rural and Community Development, Island Unit,
Ireland (via Teams)
14.05-14.20
14.20-14.35
14.35-14.55
(Incl. questions)
What defines a successful island?
14.55-15.10
(Incl. questions)
Visions for the future of Danish islands
15.10-15.25
Short presentations of 5 minutes:
Kirsten Sydendal, Chair Association of Danish Small Islands
Lone Jakobi, Mayor in Odder municipality (Tunø), (via Teams)
Steffen Damsgaard, Chairman of the National Counsil for Rural Affairs
15.25-15.43
Questions and debate
Jens Westerskov Andersen, Ph.D., sociolog, Lunds Universitet
Questions
Break
Mikko Ollikainen, MP, Chairman of Island Committee of Finland (via Teams)
Welcome by Kasper Roug, MP, chair of The Small Islands Committee
Morten Dahlin, MP, minister of Urban and Rural Affairs
15.43-15.45
Closing remarks by Kasper Roug, MP, Chair of the Committee for Small Islands