The aim of the study is to inform a debate by representatives of European local and regional authorities on the issues and policy indications related to establishing and developing competitive enterprise as a prerequisite for the viability of European island and other peripheral areas.
The study includes the following elements: 1) a descriptive overview of business and enterprise on islands and in other peripheral areas, including the main sectors, classification by size, output and value added; 2) the key challenges and opportunities specific to islands and other peripheral areas from the point of view of entrepreneurship, including an identification of the common obstacles for start-ups and SMEs; 3) six case studies of individuals islands and other peripheral areas selected to reflect a range of different areas, chosen in consultation with the ECON secretariat. The case studies address the role of policy in entrepreneurship development on islands and in other peripheral areas and include critical analysis and highlight good practices; 4) Policy reccomendations for developing entrepreneurship on islands and in other peripheral areas.

The report of the study is available here.