EU high-level conference on islands and coastal communities to be held in Paphos

The Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union will host a high-level conference titled “Strengthening EU Islands and Coastal Communities” in Paphos on June 25-26, 2026. The event will take place at the Elysium Hotel and includes a guided tour of local co-funded projects on the evening of June 25. Formal sessions commence on June 26 at 09:30 with an opening address by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides. The summit will feature the unveiling of the European Commission’s new strategies for islands and coastal areas, presented by Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto and Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis. Participants include Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela, EU commissioners, and various government ministers. The strategies aim to address challenges for 17 million island residents and 95 million coastal dwellers across the EU. Key focuses include economic development, energy security, climate resilience, and the promotion of a sustainable blue economy.