Brussels, 14/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - In Luxembourg on Monday 14 June, the EU's Foreign Affairs Council adopted its conclusions on outermost regions (OR) in which it urges the Commission: - to take the needs and opportunities of OR into account when evaluating EU policies; - to publish a communication setting out a new strategy for OR; - to continue to draw up special measures for OR, encouraging partnership and systematically assessing the impact of the EU on OR, particularly when carrying out impact assessments.
The Council stresses the key role that the natural and cultural heritage of the outermost regions can play in terms of economic development and job creation. It calls for the assets of OR to be developed (which will benefit the whole of the EU) and for initiatives introduced in the OR to be encouraged as they provide clear value-added for Europe, particularly in the fields of research, innovation, renewable energy, biodiversity, fisheries, healthcare, IT, communications, culture, maritime affairs and territorial cooperation.
The Council points out that the EU 2020 strategy with its “three major priorities (developing an economy based on knowledge and innovation; promoting a more resource-efficient, greener and competitive economy; and fostering a high-employment economy delivering social and territorial cohesion) should have to be fully applied to the outermost regions, taking into account the special characteristics and constraints of these reigns as well as the flagship initiatives”. A communication should be adopted “at the appropriate time” setting out a renewed strategy for the outermost regions. (G.B./transl.fl)