EC adopts new strategies for islands and coastal communities
The European Commission has for the first time adopted coordinated strategies for EU islands and coastal communities, setting priorities for their sustainable development.
On June 10, the European Commission (EC) approved two dedicated strategies – one for EU islands and one for the bloc's coastal communities. This marks the first coordinated European approach to support these territories and fully harness their long-term development potential.
The strategies were presented on June 26 in Paphos, Cyprus, at a high-level conference organized by the Cypriot Presidency of the EU Council and the EC. The event brought together several high-ranking officials, including Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela.
Coastal Communities Strategy
The coastal communities strategy focuses on three priorities: prosperity, resilience, and livability. It calls for giving local communities and municipalities more influence in marine spatial planning, such as fishing, shipping, or tourism, through the so-called European Ocean Law. Key measures include supporting local projects that develop the blue bioeconomy and introducing a system for blue carbon credits to earn from protecting marine and coastal nature. It also aims to strengthen coastal resilience to climate change.
EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis noted that each coastal community and member state can use the most suitable support measures, but some initiatives will be common to all European coastal areas.
Islands Strategy
The islands strategy is based on four pillars: economic development, connectivity, competitiveness, and innovation; energy security, environmental protection, and climate resilience; communities and demography, including measures to counteract population decline; and security and crisis preparedness.
EC Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto emphasized that the strategy was developed in close dialogue with territories and communities, not decided in Brussels. Its aim is to establish a coordinated action framework and support member states in policy and investment planning.
Context and Future
Approximately 17 million people live on over 4,000 islands across 16 EU member states, while 95 million live along the EU's 70,000 km coastline. Former Commissioner Karmenu Vella said that islands and coastal communities have long been on the periphery of EU policy but are now back in focus. The conference also marked the end of the Cypriot Presidency – Ireland will take over on July 1.
