EA Group adopts Galway Declaration and calls for stronger support for entrepreneurship in coastal regions

Agriculture; Maritime and Consumer policies External Meetings Declan McDonnell Marie-Antoinette Maupertuis

Members of the European Alliance (EA) Group in the European Committee of the Regions met in Galway from 13 to 15 September for an external seminar dedicated to strengthening entrepreneurship in coastal cities and regions while safeguarding their cultural and linguistic heritage. Hosted by Cllr Declan McDonnell, the meeting took place during the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), giving the discussions particular political weight. At the end of the seminar, EA members adopted the Galway Declaration, setting out a clear call for stronger, place‑based support for Europe’s coastal territories.

Galway proved to be more than a venue. As a city shaped by the Atlantic welcoming more than 2.4 million visitors per year, with a vibrant cultural identity and a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem, it offered an ideal setting for the EA Group’s reflections. Participants experienced this immediately through a cultural walk in the historic city centre, where Galway’s maritime heritage, creative industries and bilingual character illustrated how coastal identity can be a driver of innovation and economic resilience.

Opening the seminar, Marie‑Antoinette Maupertuis, President of the EA Group and President of the Corsican Assembly, underlined the strategic importance of coastal regions for Europe’s future: “From the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, coastal regions are engines of identity and innovation. Their culture, traditions and languages are not obstacles to development; they are assets that strengthen entrepreneurship, resilience and territorial branding. With the Galway Declaration, we reaffirm that Europe must support these communities with policies that reflect their specific realities.”

Her message was echoed by Cllr Declan McDonnell, who welcomed EA members to his home city and reflected on Galway’s own experience as a coastal community navigating economic growth and cultural preservation: “Galway has always looked outward while staying true to itself. Our maritime heritage, our traditions and our language are part of our economic strength. Hosting the EA Group here during the Irish EU Presidency was an honour, and an opportunity to show how coastal regions can innovate without losing their identity.”

The seminar explored the pressures facing coastal territories, from climate change and demographic challenges to seasonality and the need for diversified local economies. Participants also discussed the opportunities emerging from the blue economy, sustainable tourism, fisheries and aquaculture, creative sectors and digital innovation. A video message from Commissioner Costas Kadis, responsible for Fisheries and Oceans, provided the EU‑level perspective and highlighted the potential of the recently adopted EU Strategy for Coastal Communities. The keynote address by Minister Noel Grealish, T.D., added the national dimension, reflecting Ireland’s priorities during its EU Presidency.

European and Irish experts contributed to the debate throughout the afternoon, sharing practical insights on regional development, coastal innovation and cultural policy. Their interventions helped frame how coastal cities and regions can diversify their economies, strengthen local business ecosystems and protect the heritage that defines them.

The Galway Declaration, adopted by EA Members, sets out the Group’s political priorities for coastal regions. It calls for targeted support for SMEs and fisheries‑related enterprises, investment in innovation and skills, climate‑resilient business models, and recognition of cultural and linguistic heritage as drivers of economic value. It also stresses the need for multilevel governance, territorial impact assessments, and closer cooperation between coastal cities, rural hinterlands and island communities. The Declaration will now be transmitted to the President of the European Committee of the Regions, the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council.

The meeting concluded with a fact‑finding mission to the Maritime Institute / Foras na Mara, where EA Members explored Ireland’s approach to ocean observation, fisheries management and coastal resilience. Cllr McDonnell expressed his gratitude to all partners who contributed to the organisation of the meeting, including Galway City Council, the Association of Irish Local Government, the Northern & Western Regional Assembly, and the services of the Committee of the Regions.

The Galway meeting sent a clear message: coastal regions are vital for Europe’s future, and the EA Group will continue to champion their interests within the Committee of the Regions and across the wider European Union.