The European Commission has presented, for the first time, two dedicated strategies to support EU islands and coastal communities, introducing a coordinated European approach to unlock their long-term potential. The initiatives take a holistic approach, covering key areas such as economy, connectivity, energy, environment, demography and security, to turn challenges into opportunities and strengthen resilience and quality of life. It is focused on the main priorities of:
Economic development and innovation, supporting entrepreneurship, diversification and digitalisation;
Energy and environment, promoting renewable energy, decarbonisation and biodiversity protection;
Communities and demography, improving services, housing, education and social inclusion;
Security and preparedness, strengthening resilience to climate-related risks and other threats.
By promoting coordinated action, investment and locally-led solutions, the strategies can help Black Sea stakeholders address shared challenges such as climate change, pollution and economic development, while creating new opportunities for sustainable growth.
Find out more information here: Commission presents first-ever EU strategies for islands and coastal communities