Isle set to win biggest grants

Shetland is on course to regain the highest level of regional aid by the end of this month following a visit from European commissioner Johannes Hahn.

He was impressed by the way Shetland had spent state aid in recent years, to the extent that he wants the islands to demonstrate to other European communities how to maximise the value of public funding.

The commissioner now intends to invite council leader Gary Robinson to Brussels to showcase the islands.

Mr Robinson, in turn, hopes European delegates will travel to see for themselves how structural funds are being spent in places such as Lerwick harbour.

After his 36-hour visit, Mr Hahn attended a ScottishGovernment regional aid workshop in Edinburgh where he made it clear thatmember

“I am quite hopeful we will gain their support”

states could overrule Europe’s edict that Shetland only receive half the 40% subsidies permitted elsewhere in the Highlands and islands.

Since then, both northern isles MP and UKGovernment cabinet member A l i s t a i r Carmichael and Scotland’s Deputy FirstMinister Nicola Sturgeon havepledgedtoputtheir weight behind Shetland’s case.

Mr Robinson said he expected a decision to be made by the end of this month.

“I am absolutely delighted that the European Commission has listened to our case and considered it and I think it is now verymuch over to the UK Government,” Mr Robinson said.

“I am quite hopeful we will gain their support and regain our regional aid status so we will be able to continue to support local business and organisations.”