Appointment as Joint Vice President

Councillor Alasdair Macleod of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has been appointed as Joint Vice President of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions’ influential Islands Commission for 2018/19.  Councillor Macleod shares this position, on a six monthly rotation, with Mr Filip Reinhag, Vice Mayor of Gotland Island, Sweden.

Cllr Macleod, said, “In the Western Isles, we view ourselves as Europeans and we have benefited greatly from membership of CPMR’s Islands Commission over many years.  The Islands Commission engages on our behalf at the highest level within the European Union and will continue to do so after Brexit as we continue to access vital EU research and development funds.

“Along with Vice Mayor Reinhag, I have accepted this position to ensure that the islands of Northern Europe retain their rightful place at the decision making table in Europe.  Through this appointment, Filip and I will work to ensure that our islands continue to benefit from engagement with Europe and, equally important, to ensure that our combined experience across a range of sectors can continue to be shared with our Island partners across Europe”.