College Read-Out — Wednesday, 10 June 2026

Key Points

• The European Commission adopted strategies for EU islands and coastal communities to address unique challenges faced by these regions.
• The EU Emission Trading System review is set for proposal adoption next month, focusing on carbon market improvements.
• The draft budget for 2027 was approved, with Commissioner Serafin presenting it to the Parliament later today.
• The island strategy emphasizes economic development, connectivity, energy transition, and crisis preparedness for over 17 million island residents.
• The coastal communities strategy aims to unify actions addressing challenges and opportunities across 22 coastal states and 95 million people.
• The Commission will collaborate with stakeholders to implement these strategies through cohesion policy and future financial frameworks.

Full Transcript

Transcribed automatically from EbS (Europe by Satellite) · English audio track · AI-generated · May contain errors · Verify before quoting

Opening Statement

Good afternoon and welcome to our college readout and the press conference on the adoption today by the College of the EU Strategy for Islands and the EU Strategy on Coastal Communities. We have the pleasure of having here two presenters, Executive Vice President Fito and Commissioner Cadis. EVP, without further ado, the floor is yours. Thank you.

Commissioner: Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Welcome to the readout of our college meeting. Today we had an orientation debate on the review of the EU Emission Trading System or ETS. This is, as you very well know, the EU's carbon market. The discussion today will feed into the preparation of the Commission proposal for the ETS review due for adoption next month. We also adopted the EU draft budget for 2027. Commissioner Serafin will be in the Parliament later this afternoon presenting it. Please stay tuned to the Commission's audiovisual channels. The spokesperson's service will publish the respective press material then. Lastly, coming to the main topic on this press conference, we adopted two strategies on the EU coastal communities and island strategies. Let me present them to you, together with Commissioner Cadis. First, we can watch the video to present the initiative. Europe's islands are as diverse as the EU itself, from the icy north to the Mediterranean sun. The idea of a united Europe was born on the island of Ventotene. Today, from remote outposts to Ireland, Cyprus and Malta, every island adds its own history, culture, language and traditions to Europe's shared future. But island communities face unique challenges – isolation, limited connectivity, over-tourism, demographic pressure and climate change. That's why the EU is working with islands to build a stronger, more sustainable and better-connected future. For the first time, the European Commission has adopted a dedicated strategy for islands, focused on four priorities – stronger economies, green transition, better quality of life and resilience, embraced by the sea. United in Europe, no island stands alone. 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 coastal territories. Commissioner Cadis, 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 the 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 islands and municipalities, transport costs, housing prices and the cost of providing public services are much higher compared to their mainland. This is what we call the cost of insularity. And it is a cost that millions of EU citizens and business 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 islands' network operators. And we will support the protection of the unique biodiversity found on islands' territories. The third pillar is dedicated to people. We look at communities, demography and the 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 islands' 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 front line of geopolitical challenges, from defence and critical infrastructure to migration management. These strategies address 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 have and island networks all contributed to this work. These 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 1.5 billion euro to support strategic priorities in islands' territories. Looking ahead, the proposal for the next multi-annual financial framework further strengthens this strategy. It explicitly recognizes 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, islands communities, business, and civil society to implement these commitments through cohesion policy, through the future MFF, and through the specific tool 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 and I ask Kostas to take the floor. Thank you.

Commissioner: Good afternoon to all of you. And I would like to start by thanking Vice-President Fito for his leadership and for the collaboration for the development of these important strategies. I would also like to thank all the colleagues and the people from the services that contributed for the development of the Coastal Communities Strategy, which is the first ever dedicated strategy bringing together existing and future Commission actions, addressing the challenges, the opportunities, the specificities facing Europe's coastal areas. This strategy was announced in the context of the European Ocean Pact, and we deliver what we have announced. And as in the case of the island 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 kilometers of coastline in 22 coastal states. They generate about 265 billion euros annually in gross value added and support millions of jobs. They are essential for many sectors of the economy, including maritime trade, tourism, fisheries, aquaculture, renewable energy, cultural heritage, and security. And we should not forget that many of these areas represent the EU maritime borders. At the same time, they are increasingly exposed to major pressures, from climate change to pollution and from unbalanced tourism to demographic decline. The strategy is built around three strategic objectives, the objective of prosperity, resilience and livability. And it is underpinned by 13 flagship actions. It recognizes that coastal territories are highly diverse, ranging from small fishing villages to major port cities. This requires tailored place-based solutions rather than one-size-fits-all approach. And this is recognized in the strategy. Prosperity. 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 pesca tourism, for example, the dual use of vessels for touristic and fishing activities. It also aims to accelerate new business opportunities, driven by innovation, digitalization and offshore renewable energy. And moreover, it promotes emerging blue bioeconomy innovation, including algae-based fertilizers and supports the development of a blue carbon credit certification methodology. Resilience. 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 environmental protection, the strategy promotes co-management partnerships. For example, the participation of local stakeholders, including fishers, in the designation and management of 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. And livability. Coastal areas need to be attractive to live and work, as well as sustainable. As well as preserve their cultural identity. Housing is the main issue in coastal communities. The upcoming Pan-European Investment Platform for Affordable and Sustainable Housing, launched in partnership with the European Investment Bank, will work towards mobilizing funding for social and affordable housing. And moreover, the forthcoming Affordable Housing Act will play a particularly important role in helping coastal communities identify solutions. In parallel, the new European Bauhaus facility and launching the new European Bauhaus Ocean, Coastal and Islands Communities Lab can also help enhance living conditions in coastal areas. Now in terms of implementation, the strategy emphasizes strong coordination between EU, national, regional and local levels, as well as better alignment of EU funding instruments and actors, such as national promotional banks and multilateral financial institutions. So the coastal community strategy and the island strategy will be presented on the 26th of June in the island of Cyprus and the coastal community of Paphos, in collaboration with the Cyprus Presidency. Thank you very much for your attention. Thank you, EVP, very much. Thank you, Commissioner. And we are now opening the floor for your questions on the topic of this press conference. And as always, on college days, let me remind you of the presence of our excellent team of interpreters. So feel free to make use of their expertise to ask your questions in any of the EU official languages. Irini, let's start with you.

Coastal Areas Livability Concerns

Q (Cyprus News Agency): Thank you for the floor. Irini Kostaki for Cyprus News Agency. Commissioner Cadis, as regards the pillar of livability at the coastal areas strategy, do you think that we're doing enough when we are not addressing the economic model that brings over tourism at the center of the problems of young people and families in the areas that cannot find affordable housing? Thank you.

Spokesperson: Yeah, this is a wider problem. And if we are doing enough, then we would not need a strategy and we would not need measures to address unbalanced tourism. Therefore, it is indeed a challenge. And the strategy includes measures to address this challenge. Thank you. Yes, please.

EU Emissions Trading System (ETS)

Q (Carbon Pulse): Emanuela Barberaglio for Carbon Pulse. I have two questions. One is on ETS. If you can say already something about what you're going to discuss today. And the other is on the blue carbon credits. You mentioned if you could explore a little bit more on that. Thank you.

Spokesperson: Today we start, as you know, with this discussion. We had a very important and positive orientation debate. Now we will work in the coming weeks because, as you know, in the agenda we will have the proposal for the 15th of July. And now I cannot say other issues because we started today and we will see in a very close cooperation with all other commissioners. And the climate, the discussion, the contributions were very, very positive and important for this very crucial goal for the 15th of July. Thank you. Thank you. So that was on the question of the orientation debate, on the ETS review. And, Commissioner, on the second question, please.

Spokesperson: Indeed, we are working on a blue carbon credit certification methodology, a new system, which will certify the quantity of CO2 that will be absorbed by the expansion or by the creation of marine or maritime ecosystems. And this can generate income for the local communities and it can be a win-win situation, contributing to the biodiversity of the coastal areas, contributing to limiting the impacts of climate change, but also generating income for coastal communities. We have a plan. Actually, this is a measure that has been included in the European Ocean Pact. And we are working along with the scientific community in developing this new system. Thank you. Yes, please.

EU Oceanography Leadership

Q (Euractiv): Hello. Florent Serviat for Euractiv. The scientific community believes that the Trump administration's dismantling of a vast network of marine sensors is likely to undermine oceanography. In this context, the new EU Ocean Eye initiative may not be enough to make up for this loss of data. So my question is, is the EU going to take over America's role as the world's leader in oceanography? Thank you.

Spokesperson: Yeah, we regret about this new approach of the United States and the developments for dismantling ocean observation equipment and stopping ocean observation activities. These activities are extremely important, not only for preserving and better management of our marine environment, but also for supporting coastal communities. We are talking today about coastal communities with weather forecasts that will support the preparedness and the resilience of coastal communities, especially to deal with extreme weather phenomena. Therefore, I think that the initiative of the European Union, the new initiative, the Ocean Eye, could not be announced at a better timing. And we believe that it will cover, partially, the gap of the gap of the United States' new approach. I just wanted to mention that the European Union and the European Commission is reaching out like-minded countries worldwide, international organizations and philanthropists, in order to secure pledges and to secure the adequate support for boosting and coordinating at international level ocean observation activities, because the ocean is vast and one country or one region cannot deliver alone adequately ocean observation activities. We would like a follow-up to your question. Go ahead.

Q: Yes, thank you. But concretely, do you intend to increase the EU's funding now that the US is stepping down? Is this possible?

Spokesperson: Yes, we have already announced an amount of €95 million – and this is an initial amount – to support the Ocean Eye initiative. We will see what will be the response of the third countries and the philanthropists and the international institutions that will support our initiative and become members of this international alliance. And we will decide, then, next steps in terms of the possibility of further economic support. Thank you, Paola, for the opportunity.

EU Funding for Islands

Q (Kathmerini): Alexandra Boudouri with Kathmerini. Two questions, if I may. One for. The New Island Strategy recognizes, and I think for the first time, the cost of insularity and calls for islands specifically in future EU funding programs. For countries like Greece, where connectivity, water scarcity, housing pressure and energy transition are all concentrated in island regions, can you commit that the next EU budget, the new MFF, will indeed include dedicated funding for islands, rather than expensive funding for islands? Thank you.

Spokesperson: Indeed, it will include dedicated funding for islands, rather than expecting them to compete for resources within broader cohesion programs.

Q: And one question, if I may, to Commissioner Cadis. Good afternoon. The Commission acknowledges that some islands may require a more gradual path to decarbonization in order to preserve maritime connectivity. For Greece's island communities, which depend heavily on ferries and small-scale fisheries, do you support maintaining or expanding ETS or fuel EU maritime flexibilities, but beyond 2030? And how will the Commission ensure that the communities? Thank you.

Spokesperson: Yes, thank you for the question. I would like to start from one point. This is the first time that we present this strategy for islands and this is a clear commitment with the European Commission because you can find this part in the guidelines of the European Commission, in the speech of the President von der Leyen when she presented these guidelines, also in my mission letter. And now we are presenting this strategy. I said before that it was a very intensive work with stakeholders, local authorities. I visited many parts of Europe where this problem is very, very crucial and important. I mentioned before that in the islands live 17 million people. It is a very important part of the Europeans and for the first time we are giving this important opportunity with this strategy because we have a vision. I would like also to focus another important point on the resources because in the 21-27 programmes we have 12.5 billion for islands. This is an important issue and we are working in this way. Also in the mid-term review we used part of these resources because we received some important changes in the five priorities that you know, in particular competitiveness but also housing and energy or water are very crucial priorities for the islands. And now we are working also to give these strategies to the Member States as tools for the next MFF. As you know we have a new structure with a budget where we have this fi

Commissioner: rst fund with the National Regional Partnership Plan and inside the National Regional Partnership Plan we have the resources of cohesion, agriculture, fishing. The approach is integrated because also my cluster goes in this direction. I have the responsibility of cohesion but I have also the coordination of three other commissioners. Why? Because we are working together in the way to create the conditions to have an integrated approach of these different matters and I believe that in the next MFF we put inside also the regulation on this part but we have to work with the Member States and the regions also to underline the importance of these strategies and also to implement this strategy from now until the moment where we will approve this National Regional Partnership Plan. But for us it is very important to underline that this is a clear priority and it is very important also for the suggestion and also for the debate that we had with the European Parliament because also in the REGI Committee we spoke about these issues and in this vision I think I can say that we have all different suggestions. It's a very important synthesis and this is the base to go ahead in the direction that you mentioned. Thank you. And the second question on the decarbonisation of islands, Commissioner.

Spokesperson: I think that the answer was provided before by Vice President Fido. I just wanted to repeat that the Commission will give due attention to the situation of the European islands and consider the potential issues that may affect their competitiveness, connectivity and cost of living as part of the upcoming ETS review which is planned for July and the reviews of the alternative fuel infrastructure regulation later this year followed by that of the fuel EU maritime regulation. And in order to ensure connectivity of certain islands, this legislation allows Member States to request related exemptions for certain islands and in the forthcoming reviews the Commission will assess the island-specific exemptions. I think that at this moment we cannot say more. This is something that will be discussed in the context of the reviews that are upcoming. I see also a few questions online so let me go shortly online before coming back to the room. Andrea Neves. Andrea, can you hear us? Yes, we see you now. Let's see if we can hear. No, we cannot hear you, Andrea. Okay, you can try to fix the audio. In the meantime, we come back here to the room. Yes, please, Elena.

Crisis Preparedness for Islands

Q (Greek Public Broadcaster): Thank you. Elena Apostolidou from Greek Public Broadcaster. What measures and what equipment are planned to strengthen the security and crisis preparedness of island against natural disasters and maritime threats and will there be an official list of the threats? Thank you.

Spokesperson: As you know, several islands are to the border and for migration, for example, is one of the most important issues. This is a part of our communication but also for the preparedness in general because we have several islands that are very close to the Member States and can have an important role in this way. In this strategy, we face this important new role because the goal of this strategy is to, for the first time, I would like to underline this, give a general vision of the perspective and also the needs that we have in the islands. And now we have to implement also on these issues because I believe it is very crucial issues for the future and also for the problems that we had but also for the future because, as you know, I can think, for example, to the islands in the Mediterranean. We have a big problem of this situation and I believe that it is very important to focus on these issues. The strategy, as I said, give this general vision. Now we have to implement the four pillars that I mentioned and that are clear in the strategies. One of these is the points that you said. Thank you. Yes, here in the front.

Youth Employment in Coastal Regions

Q (German newspaper network RND): Thank you. Sven-Christian Scholz with German newspaper network RND. In Germany but also in many other Member States, young people are leaving the islands and coastal regions. And on the other hand, at the same time, companies are having trouble finding employees. So can you be a bit more specific? What ideas do you have in mind to make working in coastal regions more attractive?

Spokesperson: I think that this can be answered through the bottom-up approach and that is why the strategy includes, as a flagship initiative, the creation of community-led cooperation hubs that will contribute to the economic development, the economic diversification, the addressing the challenges of seasonality. And these kind of measures that will be promoted through the strategy, I think that will contribute towards addressing the challenge of attractiveness of the coastal areas to young people. Thank you. Other questions in the room? Yes, please.

Blue Carbon Credits Timeline

Q: I have just a follow-up question on the blue carbon credits. Do you have any timeline in mind and will it be linked to the CICF development?

Spokesperson: Thank you so much. And we can provide details about – there is a time frame and we can provide details on this time frame. The services can provide more clarification on this. I will ask my colleagues to give you all the details. I think that from what will be ready by 2030 because we need a lot of scientific work to support this blue carbon credits system. We will get to you. Feel free then to address any more technical questions to us. We will always be happy to reply to those more technical questions. Now I still have one question online from Maria Psarra.

MFF Funding Assessment

Q (Cyprus Public TV): Hello. Thanks for the floor, Paola. Maria Psarra with Cyprus Public TV. I have two questions. The first is a follow-up to my colleague's question on MFF. I would like to know, Executive Vice-President, if the 12.5 billion that was in the previous MFF are enough, are a lot, are less, are less than needed, how would you characterize this amount of money? And if you could elaborate a little bit for the next MFF, will it be more money and how the new structure of the MFF, as the Commission is proposing it, could influence this priority? And another question in Greek, if I may. Commissioner, I have a practical question. Could you give us three different ways in which Cyprus can benefit from this new proposal and Commission initiative?

Spokesperson: The resources. As I said before, now we are presenting this strategy, but in December we approved the European agenda for the cities, then the strategy for the eastern border regions, now the strategy for islands, then we will work to present a strategy for outermost regions and some weeks ago we launched the strategy for right to stay to face the general issues about also the population and in particular for all different situations in this way. These strategies, as I said before, are fundamental because they can be an important tool for the next MFF, for the next National Regional Partnership Plan. In the current programs of the Commission, we have, as I said, 12.5 billion euro for islands, but I can say that now it is impossible to carry imaginary numbers for the future, for the next MFF, but I think that we have one very important number that includes the majority part of probably all islands, is the pre-allocation in the National Regional Partnership Plan for the less developed regions for 218 billion. I think that this is a clear number that includes all islands in Europe because, as you know, the majority part of islands in the categories of regions are less developed regions and this is an important opportunity also to understand that in the future, in the next MFF, we will have the opportunity to give the right answer to these very important needs that we put in the strategy. Thank you.

I think that all the measures that I presented can be utilized also by Cyprus and I will make – I will present some examples. For the prosperity, we said that we will promote the diversification of the sustainable economy, including the dual use of fishing vessels, such as for pesca tourism. This is an idea that we received from Cyprus, from Greek islands, and other areas of Europe. As it is now the regulatory framework, it is difficult for the fishers to use their – or impossible for the fishers to use their vessels also for touristic activities, which could provide to the fishers an additional income and make them economically sustainable, viable. And this is an example of how the measures of the strategy could support the local economy. Moreover, when we say acceleration of new business opportunities driven by innovation, digitalization, and offshore renewable energy, all these are areas where Cyprus, and not only Cyprus, has developed a lot of activities, and these activities will be boost for the benefit of the island community and will attract new people in the blue economy sectors and make the economy of the island more sustainable. Cyprus has developed its national climate adaptation plan. We are exploring in the strategy ways to support the implementation of the measures that are included in the adaptation plans of the member states. Therefore, every measure under the three pillars that we announced has its – can be adapted and can be utilized to the conditions of the different coastal communities and different member states, including Cyprus.

Spokesperson: Thank you. I don't see more questions in the room, but I still have – let's see if – no. In the meantime, Andrea, I had promised to get back to you, but I think you're no longer online. No, Andrea is no longer online. If no further questions, then thank you very much, EVP Commissioner. Thank you for your participation, our interpreters, and we wish you a very nice afternoon.

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