The Malta Sociological Association welcomes the European Commission's initiative to develop a dedicated Strategy for Coastal Communities under the European Ocean Pact. We consider this a timely and necessary step, particularly in light of the multiple and overlapping pressures facing coastal regions, including climate change, biodiversity loss, housing pressures, and overtourism. From a sociological perspective, coastal communities should not be treated merely as sites of economic activity within the blue economy, but as lived social spaces characterised by identity, heritage, power relations, and everyday practices. In this regard, policy frameworks must move beyond technocratic and growth-oriented approaches to incorporate Social Impact Assessment (SIA) as a central pillar of governance. The Malta Sociological Association stands ready to contribute further to this process through research, stakeholder engagement, and policy dialogue. The attached file refers for our full feedback: "Malta Sociological Association (MSA) Response to EU Public Consultation on the Strategy for Coastal Communities (2026)".
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