A new opportunity is emerging for coastal communities: the European Commission is inviting contributions to help shape the EU Strategy for Coastal Communities. The call will be open for four weeks, until 23 March 2026. To participate, contributors are invited to provide input on:
- The main challenges faced by coastal communities and the policy areas the strategy should prioritise.
- Which existing EU policies and initiatives are working well or falling short, and how the new strategy should complement actions at national, regional and local levels.
- What stakeholders expect from the EU and which concrete measures they would propose to support coastal communities.
This strategy, announced in the European Ocean Pact, aims to promote resilience, economic growth, and to address the specific challenges faced by coastal regions.
The contributions collected will feed into the EU Strategy for Coastal Communities, which aims to strengthen economic competitiveness, enhance resilience and adaptation, and foster inclusive and vibrant communities.
The preparation of the EU Strategy for Coastal Communities will complement the EU Strategy for Islands. The two strategies aim to help coastal regions and islands reach their full potential while preserving their unique identity for future generations. Both initiatives are expected to be adopted by summer 2026.