Cyprus presidency closes with launch of landmark EU island and coastal strategies

Local euPaphosTop News Cyprus presidency closes with launch of landmark EU island and coastal strategies Πρόεδρος της Δημοκρατίας – Υψηλού Relevant News Cyprus presidency closes with launch of landmark EU island and coastal strategies 26 June 2026 Forced into marriage at 17, subjected to FGM — and still denied refugee status in Cyprus 26 June 2026 Cyprus rugby: why investment is needed to build on record-breaking start 26 June 2026 newsroom 26 June 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber President Nikos Christodoulides announced two European Commission strategies for islands and coastal communities on Friday at a high-level conference in Paphos, closing the Cyprus EU Presidency’s official events after 181 days. Christodoulides presented the Island Strategy and the Strategy for Resilient, Prosperous and Sustainable Coastal Areas, noting that both had been referenced in the recent conclusions of the European Council. He said the two strategies provided, for the first time, a comprehensive framework for addressing the particular challenges and opportunities facing island and coastal regions across the EU. He cited figures illustrating the scale of the communities involved: 17 million Europeans live on more than 4,000 inhabited EU islands, 95 million live in coastal areas spanning approximately 70,000 kilometres of coastline, and 17 member states have island regions while 22 have coastal areas. Christodoulides described living in island and coastal communities as a privilege, offering unique natural wealth, biodiversity and cultural identity alongside significant development prospects. At the same time, he said, life in these areas brings real daily difficulties. Connectivity, climate change, energy and water security, rising sea levels, coastal erosion and the need to sustain living local communities all posed challenges. For island member states in particular, these challenges directly affect market access, competitiveness, tourism, fishing, aquaculture, water resources, infrastructure and daily life. He cited Cyprus’s marine aquaculture sector, which he said had recorded steady annual growth of between four and five per cent over the past 15 years, and investments of over 150 million euros co-funded through EU Cohesion Policy for the modernisation and digitalisation of the electricity grid. For a state cut off from mainland energy networks like Cyprus, he said, such investments were a basic precondition for the green transition, competitiveness and strategic autonomy. Christodoulides said the Cyprus Presidency had handled issues of major geopolitical significance during its term, including the EU’s new long-term budget, competitiveness, enlargement, and matters affecting citizens’ daily lives such as education, health and labour rights. He described advancing the EU’s strategic autonomy as the presidency’s most significant legacy and said the two strategies presented on Friday were fully aligned with national government priorities. The conference was held at the south-easternmost point of the EU, where the Cyprus Presidency’s official events concluded. Both strategies have been referenced in the recent conclusions of the European Council. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Forced into marriage at 17, subjected to FGM — and still denied refugee status in Cyprus Cyprus rugby: why investment is needed to build on record-breaking start Cyprus gets its first homegrown social media platform Lars Ebert: A compass is only valuable if we start walking Cyprus weather: 37°C inland on Friday with mountain showers possible and fog risk overnight Overnight pharmacies on Thursday, June 25 Man restrained by passengers on Larnaca to Manchester flight dies Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.