The aim of the new strategy for the outermost regions (ORs) of European Union countries, to be adopted next spring by the European Commission, is to “reshape our strategic partnership with these territories in order to align it more closely with our common political priorities and with the emerging challenges linked to the current geopolitical context”, stated Raffaele Fitto, European Commission Executive Vice-President for Cohesion, on Tuesday 18 November in Brussels.
Speaking at the High-Level Outermost Regions Forum, Mr Fitto said that the ORs contribute to the EU’s success thanks to their vast maritime economic zones and strategic shipping lines and trade routes. These regions extend the EU’s presence in important geostrategic areas and strengthen Europe’s position as a global player.
The Commissioner assured that the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the EU will place an emphasis on integrated, more flexible and simplified approaches, while respecting the fundamental principles of cohesion policy: shared management, multi-level governance and partnership. All of this will take account of the “specific situation of each outermost region”, he added.
In future ‘national and regional partnership plans’ (see EUROPE 13754/13), the Member States will have to include specific measures to meet the particular needs of the outermost regions (food security, housing, sustainable transport, water and waste management, energy, employment, migration, climate resilience, access to healthcare, digital connectivity, etc.), added Mr Fitto.
OR ‘Omnibus’. In 2026, the Commission will propose a regulatory simplification package to adapt certain sectoral legislation, reduce constraints and remove obstacles to the development of the ORs.
A call for evidence (https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/15713-Strategy-for-the-EUs-outermost-regions_en ) has been published for local stakeholders to share their experiences and data on policy simplification measures for the ORs.
The French authorities have already prepared a list of measures to simplify the rules affecting the outermost regions. According to the entourage of the French Minister Delegate for Europe, Benjamin Haddad, the French contribution to an OR ‘omnibus’ project includes:
(1) a list of 32 measures aimed at adapting existing legislation to improve competitiveness, facilitate trade relations with the immediate environment and support the ecological transition in various sectors (agriculture, fisheries, customs, State aid, innovation, energy).
A key measure suggests the creation of a mechanism for adapting health and consumer protection rules and CE marking conditions to facilitate the movement of food and non-food products.
(2) the introduction, for future legislative texts, of an ‘outermost regions reflex’ from the moment impact studies are drawn up, in order to systematically examine the effect on the overseas territories of any new measure envisaged.
The importance of taking account of the ORs when negotiating trade agreements that apply to their immediate regional environment is also emphasised.
Fishing fleet. During the Forum, Costas Kadis, European Commissioner for Fisheries, acknowledged in his speech (https://aeur.eu/f/jim ) that the fishing fleets of the outermost regions are ageing, with some boats posing safety problems.
The Commission, with the advice of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF), is revising the guidelines used to assess fleet balance. The last revision dates back to 2024. The new guidelines take account of the best available scientific data and the specific characteristics of the fleets of the outermost regions and their fishing opportunities.
POSEI. For his part, the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, pointed out that the recent agreement on the ‘omnibus’ proposal for agriculture provides for the possibility of additional transfers from certain parts of the CAP envelope to the ‘Programme of options specifically relating to remoteness and insularity’ (POSEI) in 2027, “in order to respond to the particular situation of the outermost regions” (see EUROPE 13750/16).
For the next EU budget, the Commission plans to retain the current POSEI programme instruments. These measures will become mandatory in the new MFF through the national and regional partnership plans. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur with Mathieu Bion)