EU’s Policy towards
the Outermost Regions
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The Outermost Regions of the EU
• 4 French overseas departments: Martinique,
Guadeloupe, Réunion and Guyane
• 2 French overseas collectivities (since TFEU
came into force): St Martin et St Barthélemy
• 1 Spanish autonomous community : Canarias
• 2 Portuguese autonomous regions : Açores and
Madeira
The Outermost regions (OR) at a
glance
• Total population 3,9 million 0,85% of EU’s total population
• Total surface 99.875 km² 2,5% of EU’s total surface
• Distance from capital: 2.000 km (Canarias) to 9.400 km (Réunion)
• Convergence Objective: Réunion, Martinique, Guadeloupe,
Guyane and Açores
•Competitiveness & Employment Objective: Canarias and Madeira
Elaboration of a development strategy
for the OR
Specific OR Article 349 TFEU
handicaps
* Remoteness Specific Measures
* Insularity & Small size (excp Guyane)
* Difficult relief and climate
* Economic dependency
on a small number of products Customs, Trade, Fiscal,
Competition, Agriculture,
Persistence and combination of the handicaps Fishing and Maritime
Policies
Coherence of EU Law
Special legislative
procedure
OR and OCT
Outermost regions and Overseas Countries and territories
• OR ≠ OCT
– OR: european regions → application of
Treaty provisions (Art. 349 and 355.1
TFEU)
– OCT: associated territories → application
of a special association regime
Passerelle Clause
• Article 355.6 TFEU called “passerelle clause”
«The European Council may, on the initiative of the Member State concerned, adopt a
decision amending the status, with regard to the Union, of a Danish, French or
Netherlands country or territory referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2. The European
Council shall act unanimously after consulting the Commission »
• Process of « Ptomisation » for St. Barthelemy (2012)
• Process of « Rupéisation » for Mayotte (2014)
• DG REGIO (OR unit) is the service in charge of the
coordination and monitoring of the technical and political
processes
Evolution of the european strategy
towards the OR
• 2004: definition of a global and coherent
approach for the OR according to 3 strategic
axes:
Reduction of the accessibility deficit and other
constraints
Reinforcement of their competitivity
Improve regional integration within their
geographical zone (Action Plan for the Great
Neighbourhood)
Evolution of the European Strategy
towards the OR
• 2007: « Evolution and outcome of the strategy
towards the OR »
– Balance sheet of the strategy application since 2004
– Short term measures to take advantage of the existing
instruments
– Public consultation on four long term issues:
→ Climate change
→ Demographic evolution
→ Agriculture
→ Maritime Policy
Evolution of the european strategy
towards the OR
2008: « The OR : an asset for Europe »
…a change of paradigme
Unique geographic
Renewable energies
position
Biodiversity
Study laboratories for Niche products in
climate change effects agriculture
Where are we today?
2009-2010: Joint Memorandum OR-MS « A renewed vision
of the european strategy towards outermost regions - The
OR in 2020 »
May 2010: 1st Forum on Outermost Europe
2011: Financial perspectives in June; proposals for new
regulations in October; negociations
2012: New proposals on post-2013 OR strategy
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Development of the strategy through specific
measures adopted in favor of the OR (non-
exhaustive list)
Cohesion Policy:
• Additional specific allocation as a compensation of the additional costs in
the ERDF Frame (35€/inhabitant)
• Intervention rate majorated to 85% independently of the « convergence »
or « regional competitivity and employment » eligibility criteria
Agriculture:
• POSEI (System to support local production, including bananas, and food
supply)
Fisheries:
• Intervention rate of the EFF majorated for the OR
• Special exemption of the framing measures of the European fleet (arrival of
new capacities)
• POSEI « fisheries » (compensation regime of the additional costs under
EAGGF – guarantees)
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Development of the strategy through specific
measures adopted in favor of the OR
Competition:
• State aids with a regional aim : functioning aids neither digressive nor limited in time,
majorated investment aids rates (Art. 107 TFUE)
Tax system and customs :
• Octroi de mer/dock dues (French DOM), AIEM (Arbitrio sobre Importaciones y
Entregas de Mercancías – Canary Islands): indirect tax with a possibility of changing
rate between local and imported products
• Limited Excise Tax for traditional rhum (French DOM) and for rhum, liquors and
eaux-de-vie (made and consumed in Açores and Madeira)
• Temporary suspension of the autonomous rights of the Common Customs Tariff
(importation of some industrial products in Canarias, Madeira and Açores)
Trade Policies:
• The « safety clause » for the OR (bilateral agreements, EPA and generalized tariff
preferences)
Research :
• « Research Potential » initiative: specifically dedicated to convergence regions and
the OR
Instruments of the implementation
of the OR policy
• OR unit/OR Inter-service Group (GIS RUP)
• Inter-service consultations (Commission)
– Communications of the Commission on the OR
– Legislative proposals and other acts
• Partnership with/between EU institutions,
Member States and the OR
• Annual conferences of the OR Presidents
• OR Monitoring Committee
• Bi-annual Forum of Outermost Europe
• Thematic seminars and conferences
Conclusions
•Necessity for the Outermost Regions to prepare for confronting new
challenges
•New strategy to bring diversity, innovation and modernisation to their
economies
•ORs’ specific characteristics should continue to be taken into account
•Adaptation to the OR needs is a concept embeded in the Treaty NOT a
“favour” made to them
More information on the DG REGIO’s website
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/themes/rup_fr.htm
Thank you for your
attention…
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It’s time for your questions
and
a few pictures !
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Açores
Capelinhos Lighthouse Winner Photo
RegioStars Award 2011.
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Madeira
Porto Santo, golden sand
beach
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Canary
Islands
Izaña Atmospheric Observatory, Tenerife
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Martinique
Tourist area
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Guadeloupe
HQE building (High Quality
Environmental standard)
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Guyane
Ariane 5 launches from
Europe's Spaceport
La Reunion
Volcan Piton de la Fournaise
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Saint-Martin
Indigenous birds