EU Coastal Communities

European coastal communities – islands, ports and fishing communities – play a vital role in the blue economy, but their characteristics, governance models and the challenges they face remain insufficiently documented. Existing European support mechanisms are themselves still poorly evaluated in terms of their effectiveness and accessibility. This study aims to fill these gaps, within a context of increasing political attention to these territories.

Its conclusions and recommendations will guide the Commission in developing a strengthened approach to help these communities adapt to climate change and diversify their local economies. The study is structured around three objectives: to better characterise EU coastal communities and identify data gaps; to analyse the role of different local governance approaches in strengthening their economic resilience; and to evaluate existing support mechanisms with a view to improving them.

The study draws on six European case studies with contrasting profiles, united by a common objective: to strengthen the environmental and economic resilience of these communities. They cover: the development of fishing tourism in Galicia (Spain), economic diversification in Burgas (Bulgaria), maritime innovation in the Brest region (France), a nature-based solution in the Netherlands (Sand Motor), the balance between economy and environment on the island of Vis (Croatia), and the management of civil-military issues in Gdynia/Gdansk (Poland).

Within the consortium, SML is responsible for coordinating all the case studies and directly ensures the completion of the Pays de Brest case study. This operational involvement is underpinned by our expertise in maritime and coastal issues across the various European sea basins, particularly with regard to governance.