Law School to act as Secretariat to the European Islands Policy Network

The University of Strathclyde Law School will act as Secretariat to the European Islands Policy Network (EIPN).

The Network brings together Scotland, Finland, Ireland and Croatia, all of which have bespoke island legislation or policy. It will facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange, allowing to share expertise while learning from the solutions developed by others. The EIPN has been established through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the four countries in 2024.

Francesco Sindico, Professor of International Environmental Law at the Law School, will lead the Secretariat. He benefits from first-hand experience and contact with the four countries in the Network during his secondment at the Scottish Government where he was the lead on the Scottish Government Carbon Neutral Islands project between 2021 and 2024.

Commenting on the University’s role within the EIPN he said:

“This is an exciting moment for the Law School! We have been given the honour and the privilege to support Scotland, Croatia, Finland and Ireland in sharing effectively good practices, but also challenges and opportunities when it comes to island policy. The four countries are pioneers in this field, and it will be my pleasure to work closely with them to shine a light on their experiences so that they can benefit from them reciprocally.”

By hosting the Secretariat of the European Islands Policy Network, the Law School also provides its students at both undergraduate and postgraduate level with the opportunity to be exposed first hand to policy in action.

Francesco delivered a seminar entitled “Island Policy: What does it mean and how to do it well?" on Wednesday 26 February, in which he reflected on his experiences at the Scottish Government, and had the opportunity to announce the establishment of the EIPN and the role of the University of Strathclyde Law School as its Secretariat. The recording of the seminar is available here.