INSULEUR has officially submitted its contribution to the European Commission, advocating for an Atlantic strategy that places island territories, their economies and their specific challenges at the heart of European cooperation.
INSULEUR – Network of Insular Chambers of Commerce of the European Union has formally contributed to the European Commission’s consultation on the Atlantic Maritime and Macro-regional Strategy, reaffirming the importance of ensuring that Atlantic islands are fully recognised and actively involved in shaping the future of the region.
The Network’s position paper, submitted on 16 October 2026 and published on the European Commission’s Have Your Say platform, highlights the need for an inclusive macro-regional framework that addresses the structural challenges of island territories while unlocking new opportunities for sustainable economic development.
INSULEUR welcomes the Commission’s initiative as an important opportunity to strengthen territorial cohesion, improve coordination between European, national and regional policies, and enhance the resilience and competitiveness of Atlantic island economies.
Putting Atlantic islands at the centre of European cooperation
Atlantic islands face permanent structural challenges linked to geographical isolation, limited connectivity, demographic pressures, climate vulnerability and dependence on maritime activities.
INSULEUR stresses that the new macro-regional framework must explicitly recognise these realities and ensure that island territories benefit from improved policy coordination, stronger strategic visibility and better alignment of EU funding instruments.
Beyond addressing existing disadvantages, the strategy offers significant opportunities to support economic diversification, innovation and sustainable development across Atlantic island communities.
Unlocking opportunities for island economies
INSULEUR’s contribution identifies several priority areas where stronger European cooperation can deliver tangible benefits:
- Maritime and transport connectivity: Improving accessibility and strengthening the links that support island businesses and communities.
- Blue economy and innovation: Promoting sustainable maritime activities and new opportunities for economic diversification.
- Climate resilience and energy transition: Supporting island territories in responding to environmental vulnerabilities and accelerating sustainable development.
- SME competitiveness and digitalisation: Ensuring that island enterprises can participate fully in emerging economic opportunities.
- Sustainable tourism: Strengthening the long-term resilience and competitiveness of island destinations.
INSULEUR also highlights the importance of ensuring coherence between the Atlantic strategy and other EU policy initiatives, including the emerging EU Strategy for Islands, the EU Strategy for Coastal Communities and the European Ocean Pact.
Such alignment can contribute to a more integrated European policy framework, ensuring that investments and strategic initiatives deliver meaningful results for island territories.
Ensuring island voices are heard
A central message of INSULEUR’s contribution concerns governance and stakeholder participation.
The Network calls for meaningful involvement of island Chambers of Commerce, local authorities and economic stakeholders throughout the development and implementation of the strategy.
INSULEUR further underlines that smaller island administrations must receive adequate technical assistance, capacity-building support and clear coordination mechanisms to participate effectively in the future macro-regional framework.
Without such measures, administrative constraints could prevent smaller territories from fully benefiting from the opportunities offered by enhanced Atlantic cooperation.
Ensuring equitable participation is therefore essential to building a strategy that responds to the diverse realities of the Atlantic region.
INSULEUR’s continued engagement in EU policymaking
Through this formal contribution to the European Commission’s consultation process, INSULEUR reiterates its commitment to ensuring that the specific characteristics of island territories are systematically reflected in European policy development.
The Network considers the Atlantic Maritime and Macro-regional Strategy a promising opportunity to reinforce cooperation, strengthen territorial cohesion and support the long-term competitiveness of Atlantic islands.
INSULEUR stands ready to contribute actively to the strategy’s development and implementation, ensuring that island priorities remain central to the European agenda.