European Economic and Social Committee
ECO/262
Innovation in island tourism
Brussels, 22 July 2010
of the
European Economic and Social Committee on
Innovation in tourism: Defining a strategy towards sustainable development in islands
(own-initiative opinion)
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464th plenary session, held in Brussels on 14 and 15 July 2010
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Meeting of 15 July
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Agenda item 21
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ECO/262 – CESE 1003/2010 FR/CAT/gh
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EN

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The president moved that the Committee turn to agenda item 21 - adoption of an own-initiative opinion on
Innovation in tourism: Defining a strategy towards sustainable development in islands .
The preliminary work had been carried out by the Section for Economic and Monetary Union and
Economic and Social Cohesion (president: Mr Pater ). The rapporteur was Ms Gauci .
The section had adopted its opinion on 23 June 2010.
Ms Gauci outlined the main points of the opinion, stressing the importance of tourism for island economies and society.
The speakers in the ensuing debate were Mr Boyle, Mr Mendoza (who had prepared three amendments on behalf of his Group), Ms Attard and Ms Darmanin . The speakers congratulated the rapporteur on her excellent work, for having producing a balanced opinion and being open to the amendments proposed throughout the drafting process. Amendment 3 sought to delete Point 5.6.1, which the speakers felt marred an otherwise excellent opinion.
The president asked the Committee to vote on the amendments tabled by Group II:
Point 1.4 – Amendment 1
Amend as follows:
"1.4 Although business, and especially small business, benefits when there is less appropriate and better legislation, a specific administrative authority within the European
Commission services, e.g. a Directorate General for Tourism should be considered (..
.
) "
The amendment was prompted by a linguistic problem; it was accepted by the rapporteur and the assembly on the understanding that the wording "less and better legislation" would be kept in the
English version.
Point 1.5 – Amendment 2
Amend as follows:
"The EESC believes that a favourable fiscal regime should be sought, taking into account the special efforts that have been made on investments, maintaining and creating jobs, adapting the periods for that businesses are open, all with a view to mitigating the effects of seasonality."
ECO/262 – CESE 1003/2010 FR/CAT/gh

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The amendment was accepted by the rapporteur and by the assembly.
Point 5.6.1 – Amendment 3
Delete and replace the point with the following text:
"5.6.1 An innovative way to deal with extra work in summer and down-time in winter was presented to the EESC hearing in Malta and is the introduction of a "banking system" whereby accumulated extra time in summer is compensated for winter so as to offer workers a more even spread of revenue. Fostering and renewing island tourism will require changing and modernising labour relations, especially in areas such as training, occupational advancement and careers, occupational functions, working days, and working hours and conditions, within the framework of social dialogue and collective bargaining between the social partners ."
When put to the vote, the amendment was adopted by 90 votes to 63, with 19 abstentions.
The president asked the assembly to vote on the opinion as amended.
The opinion was adopted by 153 votes to one, with 13 abstentions.
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ECO/262 – CESE 1003/2010 FR/CAT/gh