The Commission presents the EU’s first strategies for island and coastal communities

The European Commission has adopted two specific strategies, one for the EU’s islands and the other for the EU’s coastal communities, establishing for the first time a coordinated European approach to support both types of territories and unlock their long-term potential.

The two initiatives introduce a targeted approach, tailored to the specific needs and unique challenges of:

• 17 million people living on more than 4,000 islands spread across 16 EU Member States;
• 95 million people live along the EU’s 70,000 km of coastline and in coastal areas across 22 EU Member States.

To this end, the Commission proposes a coherent and comprehensive approach that addresses the economy, connectivity, energy, the environment, demographics and security in an integrated manner, with the aim of transforming the challenges faced by these territories into lasting opportunities and strengths. This includes ensuring that their specific needs are fully reflected in future proposals and aligned with the EU’s broader priorities.

Most EU islands share common challenges that affect their economic sustainability and quality of life, such as geographical isolation, limited connectivity, high transport costs and journey times, small and fragmented markets, over-reliance on tourism, excessive dependence on fossil fuels, climate vulnerability, demographic decline, water scarcity, reduced access to essential services and other additional costs arising from insularity.

At the crossroads between land and sea, Europe’s coastal communities are a vital asset. They combine a rich environmental, cultural and maritime heritage with great potential to drive asustainable blue economy. At the same time, these communities are on the front line of climate change, the loss of marine and coastal biodiversity, and marine pollution – factors that affect their long-term resilience and economic growth. Some also face additional pressures, such as unbalanced tourism, a shortage of affordable housing, the seasonal nature of economic activity and limited job opportunities, leading to youth emigration and economic instability.

Atailored approach is therefore essential. Both strategies work in tandem, reinforcing one another to address common pressures whilst responding to the unique realities of islands and coastal communities.

Recognising theseinterconnected pressures, the EU has developed two complementary strategies to build a coherent framework within existing policies and funding, with a view to strengthening economic opportunities, quality of life and resilience.

A future-proof strategy for Europe’s islands

The strategy aims to integrate the needs of islands and reflect the challenges they face in broader EU policies tailored to their specific needs. It is structured around four key pillars:

• Economic development, connectivity, competitiveness and innovation: boosting entrepreneurship, the diversification of local economies, sustainable tourism and digitalisation, whilst addressing connectivity gaps that limit economic activity and life on the islands.
• Energy security, environmental protection and climate resilience: accelerating decarbonisation, renewable energy, adaptation to climate change and the protection of biodiversity.
• Communities and demography: strengthening public services, healthcare, housing, education and social inclusion to reverse depopulation and retain young people.
• Security and crisis preparedness: strengthening resilience to natural disasters linked to the climate crisis, maritime risks and other emerging threats.

The strategy promotes the establishment of a regular dialogue between EU institutions and stakeholders representing the interests of the islands, as well as various technical support measures, including capacity building and the exchange of best practices. Member States are invited to include specific measures for the development of islands in their futureNational and Regional Partnership Plans, including those linked to insularity in areas such as connectivity, services and infrastructure. Member States are also invited to propose territorial investment instruments to promote integrated strategies for islands and facilitate better cooperation.

A strategy for thriving coastal communities

The strategy for coastal communities focuses on three priorities:

• To boost prosperity, it promotes a dynamic, competitive and diversified blue economy, fostering innovation, new business models — such as fishing tourism, the bioeconomy and marine renewable energy — and creating high-quality employment opportunities.
• To strengthen resilience, it improves adaptability to climate change and broader environmental, economic, social and security challenges, in particular through the implementation of therecently launched OceanEyeinitiative.
• To improve quality of life, it promotes dynamic, inclusive and attractive places where people of all ages can thrive — working, living and enjoying their surroundings — whilst safeguarding maritime culture, heritage and local identity.

The strategy emphasises tailored, locally led solutions, recognising the diverse needs of coastal communities, from remote fishing villages to major port cities.

Key measures include:

• Empowering coastal communities in maritime spatial planning through the forthcoming Oceans Act, promoting the sustainable use of the ocean’s natural capital, fostering adaptation to climate change and creating opportunities for sustainable growth.
• Supporting blue bioeconomy clusters and supply chains in coastal areas through local, community-led projects, within the framework of the future EU Blue Bioeconomy Innovation Initiative.
• Develop a certification system for blue carbon credits to create new opportunities for blue economy services and generate incomefor coastal communities.
• Promote climate resilience through enhanced risk assessment, investment mapping and support for capacity-building for coastal adaptation, with the involvement of the European Investment Bank and the EU Missions on Climate Change Adaptation and Restoring Our Oceans and Waters.

Fund

The EU is home to more than 4,000 inhabited islands across 16 Member States— including the three island nations of Cyprus, Ireland and Malta —where some 17 million people live. These islands are a fundamental part of the EU’s identity, economy, history and cultural heritage. The EU Islands Strategy is based on a broad public consultation, including contributions from stakeholders to acall for input, as well as input from the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee and island communities, which have long been calling for a specific policy framework.

Meanwhile, 95 million people — 21% of the EU’s population — live along the EU’s 70,000 km of coastline or in coastal areas across 22 Member States. The EU Strategy for Coastal Communities was also based on apublicconsultation, ensuring that local views influenced its development.

Both strategies align with theEuropean Pact for the Oceans(launched in 2025) and complement the EU’s broader policies on climate action, cohesion and sustainable development. However, the EU’s Outermost Regions are not covered by these proposals, as they are addressed through a specific strategy, which recognises their particular status under Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. That strategy will be presented later this year.

More information: European Commission.