by Ivan Matić
For the first time, the Habitability methodology, developed in the Baltic Sea region, will be applied and tested in the Mediterranean. The new Croatian project brings together islanders from Vis and Brač, Finnish and Croatian experts, and ESIN member organisation Pokret Otoka (Croatian Island Movement). The initiative is supported by Croatian MEP Tonino Picula through the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) in the European Parliament
From the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean
A new chapter in the development of Habitability is beginning in Croatia. The methodology, originally developed on the island of Kökar in Åland, Finland, and further developed through the Archipelago Institute at Åbo Akademi University, is now expanding into the Mediterranean for the first time.
The Croatian project will bring together island communities from Vis and Brač with experts from Finland and Croatia to test the methodology under different geographical, economic and social conditions.
For the European Small Islands Federation (ESIN), the project represents an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between European island communities and demonstrate how knowledge and experience developed in one part of Europe can benefit islanders elsewhere.
ESIN’s Croatian member organisation, Pokret Otoka (Croatian Island Movement), is a project partner responsible for communication, dissemination and making project materials available to island communities across Croatia.
Habitability: Islanders as Experts on Their Own Islands
Habitability is based on a simple principle: islanders themselves are the people who best understand their islands.
The concept was first developed on Kökar between 2018 and 2020 through a community-led process involving local residents. It was subsequently refined into a structured methodology through the Archipelago Institute at Åbo Akademi University.
Today, the Habitability Handbook includes 45 indicators organised into seven areas, covering place identity, ecosystems, freshwater, energy, the local economy, public services and the wellbeing of island communities.
The methodology enables islanders to assess their own living conditions, identify challenges, recognise strengths and discuss the future development of their communities. By combining statistical information with local knowledge and lived experience, Habitability provides a more complete understanding of what makes an island a good place to live.
However, Habitability is more than a local development tool.
Traditional statistical indicators are often designed for larger mainland territories and do not always reflect the specific realities of island life. Distance, for example, cannot be measured only in kilometres. Ferry schedules, travel times, seasonal connections and access to essential services can be just as important.
Better island-specific indicators can therefore also support better-informed national and European policies, helping decision-makers understand the actual effects of insularity and develop more targeted and effective measures.
Following its application in Finland and ongoing work in Denmark, the Croatian project will provide the first opportunity to test and adapt Habitability to Mediterranean island conditions.
An ESIN Connection Across European Islands
The Croatian project also brings together individuals with long-standing connections to ESIN and its work on island development.
The main trainers will be Christian Pleijel, the originator of the Habitability concept and a former member of ESIN’s leadership, and Erika Englund, ESIN Vice-Chair for the Nordic Region.
Pleijel has been involved in European small-island cooperation for many years and was instrumental in developing the original Habitability approach on Kökar. Englund has extensive practical experience supporting Finnish island communities in applying the methodology and conducting their own Habitability analyses.
Their involvement brings together the academic development of Habitability and the practical experience of island communities that have already used it.
The Croatian expert team will contribute knowledge of Mediterranean conditions, including economic, geographical and social characteristics that differ significantly from those of northern European islands.
This cooperation is particularly important because the project is not simply about transferring an existing methodology from Finland to Croatia. It is also about learning from Mediterranean islanders and using their experiences to improve the methodology itself.
Two Parallel Processes: Local Implementation and Methodological Development
The project will follow two closely connected processes over the next six months.
The first focuses on local implementation. Islanders from Vis, Komiža, Supetar and Milna, representing the islands of Vis and Brač, will participate in introductory online sessions followed by a three-day training programme on Vis and in Komiža from 6 to 8 November 2026.
The training will be primarily practical. Participants will learn how to use Habitability indicators, collect information, involve local stakeholders and interpret results. Through workshops and group exercises, they will begin exploring how the methodology can be applied in their own communities.
Following the training, Croatian and Finnish experts will provide mentoring and advisory support as participants gradually test and implement the methodology.
The second process focuses on improving Habitability itself. A joint team of Croatian and Finnish experts will examine how the existing indicators and methodological guidance can be made more flexible and applicable to Mediterranean conditions.
Particular attention will be given to economic, geographical and social indicators, as well as challenges related to tourism seasonality, housing, transport connections, infrastructure and the availability of public services.
Lessons learned during the Croatian implementation will contribute to the preparation of an updated edition of the Habitability Handbook.
The first results and conclusions are expected to be presented in spring 2027.
Connecting Local Knowledge with European Island Policy
The launch of the project comes at an important moment for Europe’s islands.
In June 2026, the European Commission presented the first-ever EU Strategy for Islands, responding to long-standing calls for stronger recognition of the specific needs and challenges of island territories.
The Strategy marks an important step towards better reflecting insularity in European policymaking. However, recognising island-specific challenges also raises an important practical question: how can these challenges be measured accurately enough to inform policies and the allocation of development resources?
This is where Habitability could make a valuable contribution.
By developing indicators that better reflect the actual conditions of island life, the methodology could help connect local evidence with national and European decision-making.
For ESIN, which has long advocated for improved island statistics, island-proofing of legislation and stronger recognition of small island communities, this is particularly relevant.
The Croatian project offers an opportunity to explore how community-led research can contribute not only to the development of individual islands, but also to the broader European discussion on evidence-based island policies.
Sharing Knowledge Across the ESIN Network
As a project partner, Pokret Otoka has established a dedicated Habitability Corner on its ETO platform.
The platform will provide updates on the Croatian project, information about the methodology, educational materials and project results. A Croatian-language edition of the Habitability Handbook is already available for download.
The project aims to make the experience gained in Croatia accessible to other island communities interested in exploring the methodology.
For ESIN, the Croatian initiative demonstrates the value of cooperation between islanders, researchers and policymakers across Europe — and the potential of sharing practical knowledge between the Baltic and Mediterranean regions.
