MEPs on the regional development committee (REGI) called on the European Commission to grant full derogated status to the outermost regions under the terms of article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). They made this appeal in an own initiative report adopted by a large majority (23 votes for, 2 against) on Tuesday 30 May.
The rapporteur for the text, Younous Omarjee (GUE/NGL, France) explained to EUROPE that “This report now seeks to obtain full implementation of article 349 as authorised by the Court of Justice and as demanded by the memorandum of the Presidents of the outermost regions”. The MEP said that it is now necessary to include an amended derogation for trade agreements, “because if this is not the case, it will be the efforts made to promote regional development that will be rendered more fragile by these agreements”.
The MEPs fully support the conclusions of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) of December 2015 demanding genuine application of the derogated status for the outermost regions as stipulated in article 349 of the TFEU. On this basis, they are also calling on the European Commission to draw up a common global long-term strategy underpinned by specific legislative packages adapted to the needs of each outermost region. They are also urging the Commission to carry out trade impact studies with third countries in the outermost regions.
These are the demands contained within the Memorandum of the Presidents of the Outermost Regions presented to the European Commission earlier in the year (see EUROPE 11763).
The text will be put to a vote during the July plenary session. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)