Brussels, 04/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Spanish Presidency is proposing to create a "permanent forum" of the outermost regions to allow these seven regions to discuss their status within the European Union, especially as regards enlargement. The Spanish Secretary of State for European Affairs, Ramon de Miguel, put this proposal forward at the meeting on the future of remote regions organised on Monday in Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain). The aim of the forum would be to "hold joint discussion on all the subjects that directly concern these regions: new technologies, research, the environment, the impact of association agreements with neighbouring countries and the macroeconomic situation of outlying regions" in order to "fuel the general debate on the place of these regions within the reform of Regional Policy", explained the Spanish Presidency on Monday evening, although it did not give any details regarding the organisation of this Forum or the response of the regions concerned. In his speech, Ramon de Miguel insisted on the fact that it was essential to continue adopting specific measures in favour of these regions, even after enlargement, "given that the condition of being outlying is a permanent one and calls for constant structural support, independently of the economic indicators that measure the wealth of these regions". On the basis of Article 299.2 of the Treaty of Amsterdam, the Commission has already proposed several exemption measures (for fisheries and excise in particular) for these outermost regions.
The presidents of the seven European outermost regions (Canary Islands, Azores, Madeira, Guyana, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Reunion) took part at the meeting, as well as the Spanish Minister for Public Administration, Jesus Posada. Contrary to what was foreseen, Commissioner Barnier did not take part at the meeting.