1 EUs Policy towards the Outermost Regions The Outermost Regions of the EU 4 French overseas departments: Martinique, Guadeloupe, Runion and Guyane 4 French overseas departments: Martinique, Guadeloupe, Runion and Guyane 2 French overseas collectivities (since TFEU came into force) : St Martin et St Barthlemy 2 French overseas collectivities (since TFEU came into force) : St Martin et St Barthlemy 1 Spanish autonomous community : Canarias 1 Spanish autonomous community : Canarias 2 Portuguese autonomous regions : Aores and Madeira 2 Portuguese autonomous regions : Aores and Madeira The Outermost regions (OR) at a glance Total population 3,9 million 0,85% of EUs total population Total surface km 2,5% of EUs total surface Distance from capital: km (Canarias) to km (Runion) Convergence Objective: Runion, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Guyane and Aores Competitiveness & Employment Objective: Canarias and Madeira Elaboration of a development strategy for the OR Specific OR handicaps Specific OR handicaps Article 349 TFEU Specific Measures * Remoteness * Insularity & Small size (excp Guyane) * Difficult relief and climate * Economic dependency on a small number of products Persistence and combination of the handicaps * Remoteness * Insularity & Small size (excp Guyane) * Difficult relief and climate * Economic dependency on a small number of products Persistence and combination of the handicaps Customs, Trade, Fiscal, Competition, Agriculture, Fishing and Maritime Policies Special legislative procedure Coherence of EU Law OR and OCT Outermost regions and Overseas Countries and territories OR OCT OR OCT OR: european regions application of Treaty provisions (Art. 349 and TFEU) OCT: associated territories application of a special association regime Passerelle Clause Article TFEU called passerelle clause Article 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 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 Ptomisation for St. Barthelemy (2012) Process of Rupisation for Mayotte (2014) Process of Rupisation for Mayotte (2014) DG REGIO (OR unit) is the service in charge of the coordination and monitoring of the technical and political processes 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 Biodiversity Renewable energies Study laboratories for climate change effects Niche products in agriculture Unique geographic position 2008: The OR : an asset for Europe a change of paradigme 10 Where are we today? : Joint Memorandum OR-MS A renewed vision of the european strategy towards outermost regions - The OR in 2020 May 2010: 1 st Forum on Outermost Europe 2011: Financial perspectives in June; proposals for new regulations in October; negociations 2012: New proposals on post-2013 OR strategy 11 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) 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 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) POSEI (System to support local production, including bananas, and food supply) Fisheries: Intervention rate of the EFF majorated for the OR Intervention rate of the EFF majorated for the OR Special exemption of the framing measures of the European fleet (arrival of new capacities) 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) POSEI fisheries (compensation regime of the additional costs under EAGGF guarantees) Competition: State aids with a regional aim : functioning aids neither digressive nor limited in time, majorated investment aids rates (Art. 107 TFUE) 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 Mercancas Canary Islands): indirect tax with a possibility of changing rate between local and imported products Octroi de mer/dock dues (French DOM), AIEM (Arbitrio sobre Importaciones y Entregas de Mercancas 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 Aores and Madeira) Limited Excise Tax for traditional rhum (French DOM) and for rhum, liquors and eaux-de-vie (made and consumed in Aores and Madeira) Temporary suspension of the autonomous rights of the Common Customs Tariff (importation of some industrial products in Canarias, Madeira and Aores) Temporary suspension of the autonomous rights of the Common Customs Tariff (importation of some industrial products in Canarias, Madeira and Aores) Trade Policies: The safety clause for the OR (bilateral agreements, EPA and generalized tariff preferences) 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 Research Potential initiative: specifically dedicated to convergence regions and the OR Development of the strategy through specific measures adopted in favor of 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 REGIOs website 16 Thank you for your attention 17 Its time for your questions and a few pictures ! 18 Aores Capelinhos Lighthouse Winner Photo RegioStars Award 2011. 19 Madeira Porto Santo, golden sand beach 20 Canary Islands Izaa Atmospheric Observatory, Tenerife 21 Martinique Tourist area 22 Guadeloupe HQE building (High Quality Environmental standard) Guyane Ariane 5 launches from Europe's Spaceport 24 La Reunion Volcan Piton de la Fournaise Saint-Martin Indigenous birds