Coastal communities strategy

What the EU is doing

The EU Coastal Communities Strategy is an initiative to support the economic, social, and environmental resilience of Europe’s coastal regions, which face unique challenges like climate change, unbalanced tourism, and demographic decline.

The new strategy works alongside the EU Islands Strategy ensuring coastal and island communities get tailored help for their unique challenges.

Press release: Commission presents first-ever EU strategies for islands and coastal communities

EU strategy for islands - COM/2026/520

Factsheet: EU strategy for islands

EU strategy on resilient, prosperous and liveable coastal communities - COM/2026/530

Factsheet: EU strategy on resilient and thriving coastal communities

Quinta do Lorde village on the coast of Madeira island (Portugal)
©Alexandre ROSA/stock.adobe.com

EU coastal communities

70,000 km of coastline

95 million people live in coastal regions

22 EU countries have a coastline

(all except Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Luxembourg, and Slovakia)

Objectives

Boost prosperity

grow a competitive, sustainable, blue economy (offshore wind, pescatourism, bioeconomy) and create better jobs

Build resilience

help coastal areas control pollution and adapt to climate change, and economic shocks (e.g., through the OceanEye initiative)

Improve liveability

keep coastal towns affordable, inclusive, and attractive by protecting culture, housing, and local identity

Timeline

23 February - 23 March 2026
Call for evidence
EU coastal communities strategy

Key actions

empowering coastal communities to shape maritime spatial planning through the new Ocean Act
supporting local-led projects (e.g. blue bioeconomy clusters)
introducing blue carbon credits (paying communities for ocean conservation)
tackling housing shortages with an Affordable Housing Act
strengthening climate adaptation with EU funding and risk assessments