The European Commission today adopted two specific strategies defining for the first time a European approach to supporting and unlocking the full potential of European islands and coastal regions.
The European Commission today adopted two specific strategies, one for EU islands and the other for EU coastal communities, which for the first time define a coordinated European approach to supporting both types of territories and unlocking their long-term potential.
Both initiatives introduce a targeted approach, focused on the following specific needs and unique challenges:
- 17 million people live on more than 4,000 islands in 16 EU member states;
- 95 million people live along the 70,000 km of EU coastline and in the coastal areas of 22 EU Member States.
To this end, the Commission proposes a coherent and comprehensive approach that addresses the economy, connectivity, energy, environment, demographics, and security in an integrated manner, with the aim of transforming the challenges these territories face into opportunities and sustainable assets. This includes ensuring that their specific needs are fully taken into account in future proposals and aligned with broader EU 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 travel times, small and fragmented markets, over-reliance on tourism, over-reliance on fossil fuels, climate vulnerability, population decline, water scarcity, reduced access to essential services and other additional costs associated with insularity.
At the crossroads of land and sea, European coastal communities are a vital asset. They combine a rich environmental, cultural and maritime heritage with strong potential to stimulate a sustainable blue economy.At the same time, European coastal communities are on the front lines of climate change, marine and coastal biodiversity loss, and marine pollution, all of which impact their long-term resilience and economic growth. Some also face additional pressures, including unbalanced tourism, a shortage of affordable housing, seasonal economic activity, and limited employment opportunities, leading to youth emigration and economic instability.
This is why a tailored approach is essential. The two strategies work in tandem, reinforcing each other to address shared pressures while responding to the unique realities of the islands and coastal communities.
Recognizing these interconnected pressures, the EU has developed two complementary strategies aimed at establishing a coherent framework within existing policies and funding, with a view to strengthening economic prospects, quality of life and resilience.
A time-tested strategy for European islands
The strategy aims to integrate the needs of the islands and take into account the challenges they face into broader EU policies tailored to their specific needs. It is structured around four key pillars:
- Economic development , connectivity, competitiveness and innovation: stimulating entrepreneurship, diversifying local economies, sustainable tourism and digitalization, while addressing connectivity gaps that limit economic activity and island life.
- Energy security , environmental protection and resilience to climate change: accelerating decarbonization, renewable energy, climate change adaptation and biodiversity protection.
- Communities and demography: strengthening public services, health care, housing, education and social inclusion in order 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 encourages 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 targeted measures for island development in their future national and regional partnership plans.including those related to insularity in areas such as connectivity, services, and infrastructure. Member States are also invited to propose territorial investment tools 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 stimulate prosperity, it promotes a dynamic, competitive and diversified blue economy, fostering innovation, new business models – such as fishing tourism, bioeconomy and offshore renewable energy – and creating high-quality employment opportunities.
- To strengthen resilience, it enhances adaptability to climate change and broader environmental, economic, social and security challenges, notably through the implementation of the OceanEye initiative.recently presented.
- To improve quality of life, it promotes dynamic, inclusive and attractive places where people of all ages can thrive — work, live and enjoy their surroundings — while preserving maritime culture, heritage and local identity.
The strategy emphasizes tailored and locally driven solutions, recognizing the diverse needs of coastal communities, from remote fishing villages to large port cities.
The main measures are as follows:
- Empowering coastal communities to take action in the area of maritime spatial planning through the future Oceans Act, promoting the sustainable use of the oceans’ natural capital, fostering adaptation to climate change and unlocking opportunities for sustainable growth.
- Supporting blue bioeconomy hubs and supply chains in coastal areas through local projects led by local actors, as part of the future EU initiative for innovation in the blue bioeconomy.
- Develop a certification system for blue carbon credits to create new opportunities for blue economy services and revenues for coastal communities.
- Advancing resilience to climate change by strengthening risk assessments, investment mapping and capacity building support for coastal area adaptation, with the participation of the European Investment Bank and EU missions on climate change adaptation and the restoration of our oceans and waters.
Context
The EU is home to more than 4,000 inhabited islands in 16 Member States, including the three island nations of Cyprus, Ireland , and Malta, where some 17 million people live. These islands are a vital part of the EU’s identity, economy, history, and cultural heritage. The EU’s Islands Strategy is based on extensive public consultation, including stakeholder input in response to a call for contributions.as well as on the contributions of the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee and the island communities, which have long advocated for a specific framework for action.
Meanwhile, 95 million people, or 21% of the EU population, live along the EU’s 70,000 km of coastline or in coastal areas spread across 22 Member States. The EU strategy for coastal communities also relied on a public call for contributions.ensuring that local voices have shaped its development.
These two strategies align with the European Pact for the Oceans.(launched in 2025) and complement broader EU policies on climate action, cohesion, and sustainable development. However, the EU’s outermost regions are not covered by these proposals, as they are the subject of a separate, specific strategy recognizing their unique status under Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. This strategy will be presented later this year.
source : commission européenne
