Brussels, 23/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - The outermost regions (OR) of the EU suffer a number of handicaps such as remoteness, their insular nature, their small surface area and very limited economic activity. Although they have enjoyed the support of “metropolitan” Europe for a long while, the European Commission considers in a communication adopted on Wednesday 22 October that it is now time to take things further by developing the rich potential of the OR. In other words, these regions should be made an asset for Europe. The outermost regions should no longer be seen as a problem and one should focus on their development potential, said Danuta Hübner, European Regional Policy Commissioner, presenting the communication to the press. She went on to say that Europe must “rediscover its 'hidden treasures', the outermost regions! (…) They have unique characteristics that can be to the benefit of the EU as a whole”.
The OR have many assets for the EU. They hold key geostrategic positions in relation to the Union's maritime dimension and neighbourhood policy. Because of their geographical and geomorphological features, they are the ideal location for experimentation in a number of fields such as climate change. Their biodiversity and their exceptional marine ecosystems allow great potential for innovation in the areas of pharmaceuticals and agronomy. They also grow high-quality farm produce such as tea, wine, rum, cheese, fruit, flowers and ornamental plants.
On the basis of the above, the Commission considers it fitting to ensure optimal use of the €7.8 billion in Community investment available for these regions (under the ERDF, ESF, EAFRD, EFF and POSEI) over the period 2007-2013. It is also necessary to seize the opportunities provided by all Community programmes (including the 7th framework programme for research and development and the programme for life-long learning). According to the Commission, it is also necessary to answer the new challenges linked to climate change, demographic change and migratory flows. In this context, it recommends: - launching a number of studies in order to increase knowledge and understanding of the specific impact that some phenomena such as migration and demography, climate change, the disappearance of biodiversity and the marine environment have on the economic and social cohesion of the OR; - encouraging implementation of an integrated policy for the management of risks in coastal areas (flooding, coastal erosion, vulnerability of people and property); - strengthening regional integration (for example setting up short distance maritime links); - providing aid to start-up and investment for young farmers; - and helping to promote the high results reputation of agricultural and agri-food sectors. The Commission considers, moreover, that it is appropriate to strengthen the partnership between the European Union, the OR and their member states. Commissioner Hübner above all suggests that a “Forum for Outermost Europe” be organised every two years in order to improve dialogue and raise awareness of the specific characteristics of the OR.
In order to uphold its new strategy, the Commission recalls in a press release that many projects supported by the EU bear witness to the ORs' ability to specialise in cutting-edge sectors and implement pilot projects that can benefit the Union as a whole. These include, in particular, innovative projects in the fields of energy (the multi-purpose power station contributing to electricity production in Madeira and the GERRI project aimed at achieving energy self-sufficiency for Réunion), agriculture and food (the Martinique Agriculture and Environment Centre), oceanography (the Oceanography and Fisheries Centre of the University of the Azores), astrophysics (the Canary Islands Astrophysics Institute) or the environment (the SEAS project in French Guiana, which aims to monitor the Amazonian environment by satellite).
The EU has seven outermost regions: the archipelago of the Canary Islands which is part of Spain, the archipelago of the Azores and of Madeira that are part of Portugal and the French overseas departments (Martinique, Guadeloupe, Guyana and Réunion). ORs are an integral part of the Union as set out in Article 299 (2) of the EC Treaty and Community law is therefore fully applicable to them but with exemptions on a case by case basis depending on their structural disadvantages (such as State aid, agriculture, fisheries, taxation). The text of the communication may be consulted at:
http: //eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM: 2008: 0642: FIN: EN: PDF (O.L./trans jl)