The Mayor of Chalki, Mr. Evangelos Fragkakis, participated on 2 February 2026 in the meeting of the Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC) of the European Committee of the Regions, which took place in Brussels.
During his intervention, the Mayor of Chalki, representing a small island municipality of Europe, emphasized the need for the effective participation of local and regional authorities in the formulation and implementation of European social policies.
He stressed that social cohesion, education, youth, employment and culture are not abstract concepts, but policies that are tested in practice on a daily basis, especially in island and remote areas.
Mr. Fragkakis stressed the need for European strategies and funding programmes to incorporate a strong territorial and island dimension, in order to respond to the real needs of small islands and ensure equal opportunities for access to education, knowledge, employment and social inclusion.
Particular reference was made to the importance of trust in local institutions, noting that without an active role of local government, no social policy can be truly effective, fair and sustainable.
Within the framework of the SEDEC, the Mayor of Chalki had a short meeting with the European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef, during which he conveyed the clear message that more and more attention is needed for small islands.
He stressed that European policies must take into account the peculiarities of insularity, the real needs of local communities and the increased challenges they face.
The participation of the Mayor of Chalki in the meeting of the SEDEC confirms the active role of the Municipality of Chalki in the European dialogue and the continuous effort to promote insularity, social cohesion and balanced development at the European level.