European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Remarks by Executive Vice-President Fitto and Commissioner Kadis on the EU coastal communities and islands strategies. Brussels, 10 June 2026 Executive Vice-President Fitto Today, the European Commission adopted two dedicated strategies, one for EU islands and one for EU coastal communities. For the first time, the European Union has dedicated strategic frameworks...
European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Remarks by Executive Vice-President Fitto and Commissioner Kadis on the EU coastal communities and islands strategies. Brussels, 10 June 2026 Executive Vice-President Fitto Today, the European Commission adopted two dedicated strategies, one for EU islands and one for EU coastal communities. For the first time, the European Union has dedicated strategic frameworks for its insular and costal territories. Commissioner Kadis, who I thank for his work, will present the strategy for the coastal community. Let me focus on the Strategy for EU islands, starting from a simple question: Why do islands need a strategy? The EU has more than 4,000 inhabited islands. Around 17 million people live on the EU islands. Three of our Member States — Cyprus, Ireland and Malta — are islands themselves. Islands face challenges as other European territories. But the impact is often made worse by one specific condition: insularity. Insularity is not just a geographic fact. It has real economic costs. For example, in island municipalities, transport costs, housing prices, and the cost of providing public services are much higher compared to the mainland. This is what we call the cost of insularity. And it is a cost that millions of EU citizens and businesses pay every day, simply because of where they live and operate from, resulting in a structural/long-term negative effect on their income and competitiveness. We address these challenges with a strategy that is structured around four pillars, and governance as a horizontal enabler: The first pillar is economic development, connectivity, competitiveness and innovation. Connectivity is the central challenge for islands. We will support better transport and digital infrastructure, assess the particular situation of islands in the review of relevant State aid frameworks and provide relevant technical support, and we will launch an in-depth analysis of the cost of insularity. The second pillar covers energy, climate and the environment. Islands are often energy-isolated. We will extend the Clean Energy for EU Islands initiative through 2030. We will establish a voluntary platform for island network operators. And we will support the protection of the unique biodiversity found on island territories. The third pillar is dedicated to people. We look at communities, demography and quality of life. Many islands face population decline, ageing, brain drain, and severe housing pressure. We will act on housing affordability. We will support young people's mobility. And we will invest in the cultural heritage that makes island communities unique. The fourth pillar is security and crisis preparedness. Islands hold strategic value for the EU's security architecture. From the Baltic to the Mediterranean, islands are on the frontline of geopolitical challenges — from defence and critical infrastructure to migration management. This strategy addresses these realities directly. I want to underline one important point. The areas covered by this strategy were not decided in Brussels. They are the result of deep, sustained dialogue with the territories and communities that this strategy is meant to serve. Over the past months, we organised meetings, missions and discussions across Europe and in Brussels. And we launched a formal call for evidence in which 358 stakeholders from 18 Member States contributed. Citizens, public authorities, businesses, universities, NGOs, and island networks all contributed to this work. This strong participation matters. The top challenges identified — connectivity, housing, demographic change, energy dependency, access to services — form the pillars of this strategy. This is not a coincidence. It is the result of listening. Our commitment does not start today. The mid-term review of Cohesion Policy is redirecting more than EUR 1.5 billion to support strategic priorities in island territories. Looking ahead, the proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework further strengthens this approach. It explicitly recognises the need to address economic, social and territorial disparities by taking into account the specific needs of territories facing permanent structural constraints, including islands. This is an important signal. It means that islands are an integral part of Europe's territorial development agenda. Today marks the beginning of a new phase of work. A strategy is a starting point, not an end point. The Commission will now work with Member States, regional and local authorities, island communities, businesses and civil society to implement these commitments — through cohesion policy, through the future MFF, and through the specific tools and instruments identified in the strategy. Because the right to stay — the right of people to live, work and thrive in the place they call home — applies to islands everywhere in the EU. Thank you. *** Commissioner Kadis Following Executive Vice-President Fitto's presentation of the Islands strategy, I will now present the EU strategy for prosperous, resilient and liveable coastal communities. This strategy is the first dedicated strategy bringing together existing and future Commission actions addressing the challenges, the opportunities, the specificities facing Europe's coastal areas. It was announced in the context of the European Ocean Pact, and we deliver what we have announced. As in the case of the Islands strategy, the Coastal Communities strategy was developed based on an extensive consultation exercise. Why this strategy is important? For many reasons. Europe's coasts are home to around 95 million people and stretch across 70,000 kilometres of coastline in 22 coastal states. They generate about €265 billion in gross value added annually in the EU, and support millions of jobs. They are essential for maritime trade, tourism, fisheries, renewable energy, cultural heritage and security as many represent EU maritime borders. At the same time, they are increasingly exposed to major pressures: climate change, pollution, unbalanced tourism and demographic decline. The strategy is built around the three strategic objectives of Prosperity, Resilience and Liveability. And it is underpinned by 13 flagship actions. It recognises that coastal territories are highly diverse, from small fishing villages to major port cities. This requires tailored, place-based solutions rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, and this is recognised in the strategy. Prosperity is linked to the economic development of coastal areas. While supporting traditional sectors, such as fisheries, aquaculture and tourism, the strategy aims to encourage the diversification of the sustainable blue economy, including the dual use of fishing vessels, such as for pescatourism, for example, the dual use of vessels for touristic and fishing activities. It also aims to accelerate new business opportunities driven by innovation, digitalisation and offshore renewable energy. Moreover, it promotes emerging blue bioeconomy innovation, including algae-based fertilisers, and supports the development of a blue carbon credit certification methodology. Resilience entails tackling climate change, environmental degradation and security risks. To address climate change, the Strategy maps how coastal areas can be supported to develop climate adaptation strategies. It also proposes to explore, in cooperation with EIB, investment possibilities for coastal adaptation as well as relevant capacity-building support for adaptation projects. To support environment protection, the Strategy promotes co-management partnerships (including fishers) for marine protected areas. As regards security, the strategy promotes: The use of advanced digital capabilities for situational awareness, simulations and scenario planning, and Leveraging on coastal stakeholders – including fishers, port authorities and local maritime actors – who can contribute to maritime situational awareness through the voluntary reporting of anomalous or suspicious activities at sea. Coastal areas need to be attractive to live and work as well as preserve their cultural identity. Housing is a main issue for coastal communities. The upcoming Pan-European Investment Platform for affordable and sustainable housing, launched in partnership with the European Investment Bank, will work towards mobilising funding for social and affordable housing. Moreover, the forthcoming Affordable Housing Act will play a particularly important role in helping coastal communities identify solutions. In parallel, the new European Bauhaus (NEB) Facility and launching the New European Bauhaus Ocean, Coastal and Island Communities Lab can also help enhance living conditions in coastal areas. Now, in terms of implementation, the strategy emphasises stronger coordination between EU, national, regional and local levels, as well as better alignment of EU funding instruments and actors, such as the National Promotional Banks and multilateral financial institutions. The Coastal Communities Strategy and the Islands Strategy will be presented on 26 June in the Island of Cyprus and at the Coastal Community of Paphos, in collaboration with the Cyprus presidency. Thank you! SPEECH/26/1331 Press contacts: Maciej BERESTECKI (+32 2 29 66483) Isabel ARRIAGA-E-CUNHA (+32 2 29 52117) General public inquiries: Europe Direct by phone 00 800 67 89 10 11 or by email Related media Read-out of the College meeting / press conference (with international sign language) by European Commission Executive Vice-President Raffaele FITTO and Commissioner Costas KADIS on the EU islands and coastal communities strategies
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