Classifications used by the EC have been aggregated into the following eight categories;

(1) cliffs, shingle beaches, and associated kelp beds
(2) dune complexes with freshwater wetlands
(3) salt marsh
(4) sand-banks and mudflats
(5) seagrass beds
(6) lagoons
(7) subtidal sediments
(8) open sea pelagic.

Dynamics can be considered to be occurring 'within' and 'between' habitats;

1. Dynamics within (internal) habitats: are often coupled to physical forcing and occur at a number of temporal scales, from weeks (tide), to months (solar seasons) to longer temporal scales such as global weather patterns.
2. Dynamics between habitats: concerned with transitions from one habitat into another, such as a gradual succession or an abrupt change following an incidental disturbance such as a severe storm or earthquake.

For seven major European seas, the possible impact on the eight habitat categories has been reviewed in an aggregate DP-SIR analysis of the complex interplay of foreseen future changes (up to 2050) in major drivers and pressures that would lead to major state changes for the ecosystems along Europe's coast. These drivers were identified as climate change, the increase in built-up area, expansion and intensification of trade, ports and related industry, as well as of fishing, aquaculture and agriculture. Together these would lead to sea level rise and coastal erosion, contamination, eutrophication, and loss of biodiversity, but differently so in the seven seas. Often, when a fixed coastline prevents coastal migration inland, coastal squeeze and erosion will lead to a complete loss of coastal habitats, particularly saltmarshes and dune complexes as has been seen in the Baltic, Black Sea and Mediterranean.

Out of the larger number of ELOISE-funded projects, at least 43 have explicitly contributed to further our understanding of coastal habitat change, mostly focusing on the understanding of natural dynamics (13 projects) or human-induced state changes (23), several others were designed to deliver indicators of habitat state change (13). Notably, these ELOISE projects have increased our understanding of the biogeochemical processes in the near-coastal pelagic, lagoons and mud- and sandflats. This themed overview concludes with specific recommendations for a future European coastal research programme and includes two exemplary cases.