This chapter broadens the analytical perspective by situating the geographies of Italian small islands within the wider political context of the European Union. It highlights the absence of a unique European strategy for small islands and notes that these territories are usually incorporated into broader policies or macro-regional strategies. Providing an overview of ‘European insularities’, the chapter identifies shared challenges, such as connectivity, economic dependency and limited access to public services, across regions from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean. The core of the analysis is a critical review of the main EU policies. The Cohesion Policy is examined in detail, highlighting its tendency to categorize islands as peripheral and disadvantaged regions. Furthermore, the chapter emphasizes the long-term impact of the Blue Growth Framework on the economies of small islands and the centrality of small-scale fisheries (SSFs) for islands’ societies. It concludes that while EU policies provide significant resources, they often perpetuate a narrative of marginality that hinders the full recognition of island-specific characteristics.