02/03/2026 - 06/03/2026
Brussels European Ocean Days 2026
VASAB Contributes to the EU Strategy for Coastal Communities
During European Ocean Days 2026, VASAB will take part in a panel discussion at the session “Towards an EU Strategy for Coastal Communities” on 6 March 2026 in Brussels, Belgium.
Organised by the EU DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, the session represents an important step towards developing the future EU Strategy for Coastal Communities in close cooperation with stakeholders. Participants are invited to share best practices, identify key challenges, and explore opportunities to increase support on all governance levels to further unlock the potential of coastal regions.
The session “Towards an EU Strategy for Coastal Communities” on 6 March 2026 will feature two panel discussions:
- The EU approach supporting coastal communities – focusing on key expectations and needs for the future EU Strategy for Coastal Communities.
- Good practices and challenges of coastal communities – showcasing practical experiences, lessons learned, and main challenges faced by coastal territories across Europe. By bringing both macro-regional and national perspectives to the table, VASAB Secretariat will contribute to the discussion by sharing macro-regional experience from the Baltic Sea Region, alongside lessons learned from Finland’s Coastal Strategy will be represented by VASAB CSPD/BSR member from Finland – Mari Pohja-Mykrä.
VASAB looks forward to contributing to the discussion and bringing the Baltic Sea Region perspective into the shaping of this important EU initiative.
About Event
The European Ocean Days (2-6 March 2026) taking place in Brussels, Belgium, is a week-long event with a series of dynamic and interconnected sessions focused on key ocean-related themes, all designed to encourage participants to engage across topics and contribute to a shared vision for the prosperity, competitiveness, security and sustainability of our ocean.
Inspired by the European Ocean Pact, the 3rd edition of the event will bring together industry leaders, startups, investors, policymakers, scientists, SMEs, representatives from fisheries and aquaculture, islands and coastal communities, the Mission Ocean and Waters community, and civil society, including youth voices. Participants will engage in consultations, panel discussions, workshops, and community events to exchange ideas, discuss upcoming challenges, scale up innovative solutions, and jointly pave the way for concrete actions supporting the implementation of the European Ocean Pact.
More information here.
