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<\/p>\nThe European Commission adopted a Communication setting out a new strategic vision for the EU’s outermost regions – French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, R\u00e9union, Saint-Martin (France), the Azores, Madeira (Portugal), and the Canary Islands (Spain). From the Atlantic to the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and South America, the outermost regions are a unique part of the EU: rich in biodiversity, innovation, culture and of strategic importance, embodying Europe’s global presence, maritime strength and diversity.<\/p>\n
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President\u00a0von der Leyen\u00a0<\/strong>said:<\/p>\n “Our outermost regions have strong identities and unique assets and geographical positions that project Europe to the four corners of the world. But their local realities and specific constraints need to be better taken into account. That is the essence of the strategy and regulatory package that we are presenting today. We are adapting our rules to unleash the potential of these regions and make their uniqueness a strength for them and for all of Europe.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The new strategy underlines the Commission’s strong and lasting commitment to ensure that the outermost regions can fully realise their potential, with stronger support, greater resilience and fairer opportunities for their people.<\/p>\n The Communication is accompanied by a\u00a0regulatory package<\/strong>\u00a0proposing targeted adaptations to EU legislation to better reflect the outermost regions’ unique realities and constraints. The proposals are tailored to the needs of the regions concerned and cover areas such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, migration, and taxation. The regulatory package is intended as a first step in a continuous process, and the Commission will keep working across policy areas to ensure that the specific constraints of the outermost regions are taken into account more systematically in EU legislation and policies.<\/p>\n Addressing the outermost regions’ challenges and unlocking their opportunities<\/strong><\/p>\n The new strategy sets out an ambitious approach across EU policies to support these regions, boost their socio-economic development and help their citizens make the most of their regions’ unique strengths and geostrategic importance. It is built around four key objectives:<\/p>\n Alongside the targeted measures included in the regulatory package, work will continue to make EU support more responsive to the needs of the outermost regions and more coherent overall. For instance, the\u00a0Commission’s proposal to review the EU Emissions Trading System\u00a0includes several important provisions for these regions, taking account of their geographical constraints and the need to preserve territorial continuity, connectivity and access to essential services.<\/p>\n The Commission’s proposed\u00a0Public Procurement Act\u00a0will also allow for the tailoring of certain procurement rules to the outermost regions’ specificities. Likewise, the forthcoming European Product Act is expected to allow targeted adjustments to product requirements where these are necessary, proportionate and justified by local conditions, in line with EU primary law. Further work on EU sectoral legislation relevant to the outermost regions will provide additional opportunities to identify, assess and, where necessary, address issues affecting these regions.<\/p>\n\n
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