Brussels, Belgium. The European Commission on Wednesday unveiled its first dedicated strategies for islands and coastal regions, bringing together existing and future policy measures to address the specific challenges faced by these areas across the European Union. The strategies were presented in Brussels by Fisheries and Oceans Commissioner Costas Kadis and Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto after a meeting of the College of Commissioners.
Formal launch planned in Paphos
Both strategies will be formally launched on June 26 in Paphos in cooperation with Cyprus’ presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Focus on coastal regions
Presenting the strategy for coastal regions, Kadis said coastal areas range from small fishing villages to major port cities, making tailored local solutions essential.
“These communities are characterised by great diversity, which requires localised responses rather than a one-size-fits-all approach,” he said.
The strategy, announced under the framework of the European Ocean Pact, covers about 95 million people living along 70,000 kilometres of coastline across 22 coastal EU member states.
Economic role and pressures
According to Kadis, coastal regions generate around €265 billion in gross value added annually while facing increasing pressures from climate change, pollution, tourism imbalances and demographic decline.
“They are vital for maritime trade, tourism, fisheries, renewable energy, cultural heritage and security, as many of them form the EU’s maritime borders,” he said.
Three pillars and flagship actions
The strategy is built around three pillars — prosperity, resilience and sustainability — supported by 13 flagship actions.
Under the prosperity pillar, measures include diversifying the sustainable blue economy, promoting dual-use fishing vessels that can also be used for fishing tourism, developing certification methodologies for blue carbon credits and supporting innovation in the blue bioeconomy, including algae-based fertilisers.
