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SocietyFÖSS, National Association of Finnish Islands (Finlands öar rf – Suomen saaret ry), is a bilingual civic organisation with the goal of securing the future for islanders and improving their living conditions. FÖSS is a member of ESIN, European Small Islands Federation and SYTY, Village Action Association of Finland. Our annual report and action plan are published in Finnish and in Swedish. A society of islandersOne of the goals of FÖSS is the furtherance of a positive regional development at all levels on the Finnish islands without permanent road connection with the mainland. In order to guarantee the existence of traffic connections and basic services a continuous lobbying is needed. The insular culture and the insular identity are strengthened by all possible means. The insular people often form a minority within their area, thus networking both in Finland and between European small islands is of utmost importance in terms of advancing common goals. FÖSS acts as a grassroots society of insular people, through which their voice will reach national and European decision-makers. The networking of young insular inhabitants is given a central position in the field of activities of the society, since young people often live without peers on their islands. The society has a youth section, which acts in order to further the goals of young insular inhabitants. European cooperationAn important role in the society is devoted to an active cooperation of insular people with insular inhabitants of other European islands. The Finnish islands belong to the European and international insular family. ESIN, the European Small Islands Federation, is lobbying in the European Union and within the member states for a better supervision of the interests of insular inhabitants and also for bringing about a positive development on the European islands that are permanently inhabited. ESIN consists of national insular societies, one from each participating country. Finland was represented in ESIN by the regional Pro Åbolands utskär rf from the founding of that society, in 2001, until 2006, since Finland was without a national organisation representing islanders until that year. FÖSS was founded as the national mouthpiece for islanders, and also as the Finnish member of ESIN. Authorisation was given in 2007, when FÖSS was declared as the representative of Finland in the governing body of ESIN at the general meeting of the organisation, held on the island of Hydra, in Greece. FÖSS actively attends ESIN meetings in various European locations, read more at the ESIN website. FÖSS has among others influenced on the contents of the EU Integrated Maritime Policy, as well as on the EU Baltic Sea Strategy. The founding members represent all the coastal areas15 islanders from Finland attended a conference of ESIN on the island of Islay, in Scotland, in November 2006. The Finnish participants originated from various coastal areas, from Hailuoto in the northern part of the Gulf of Bothnia to the eastern parts of the Finnish Gulf. Altogether 160 insular people from nine member states of the European Union attended this concluding session of the EU Interreg-programme's Inter Island Exchange project. In Scotland the Finnish participants became ascertained that also in Finland there was a need for a national civic organisation to represent all the insular people in ESIN and to lobby for the interests of those people both in Finland and in the European Union. On 21 November 2006, was a constituent meeting of the Finnish insular society held. It was decided that the name of the society would be Finlands öar rf – Suomen saaret ry (Finnish Islands reg.ass.), with the abbreviation FÖSS. At the same time it was decided about the contents of the statutes. FÖSS was entered into the Finnish register of associations in February 2007. According to the statutes of the society as ordinary members with right to decide do admitted persons permanently inhabit islands without permanent road connection with the mainland. Anybody, independently of his or her residence is welcome as a passive member. Also societies, organisations, municipal communes and business enterprises may be admitted both as active and passive members. The number of members is increasingAmong member associations can be noted, inter alia, Bergö Öråd rf, Hailuotoseura ry, I samma båt – Samassa veneessä rf ry, Livonsaaren kyläyhdistys ry, Nötö Hembygdsförening rf, Pro Åbolands utskär rf, Velkuan saaristolaisyhdistys ry as well as Vänö Vänner rf. In addition, private individuals, municipal communes and business enterprises have joined as members. You are also welcome to join, it is easy to send an application for membership online. Statements, proposals, meetingsFÖSS has worked out statements and proposals concerning insular development. Among these should be mentioned a proposal concerning the allocation of municipal insular subsidies to islands without permanent road connection with the mainland. The society has, in addition, prepared statements to rural development programmes touching upon islanders. FÖSS has prepared several development project plans requesting financing, both national and European Union financing. One of the goals in this respect is to advance a better utilisation of national and European Union financing, particularly with respect to the year-round inhabited islands without permanent road connection with the mainland. You are kindly requested to get acquainted with our releases and with our collection of links. Contact us in case you would like to learn more about our activities! Annexes
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