EU Commission Adopts Strategy for Outermost Regions

• The Commission's strategy covers the EU's nine outermost regions, which span three continents.
• The regions include French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion, Saint-Martin, the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands.
• The strategy rests on Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
• A regulatory package accompanying the Communication proposes targeted adaptations to EU legislation.
• The package covers agriculture, forestry, fisheries, migration and taxation.
• The regulatory package will go to the Council for agreement after consultation of the European Parliament.

The European Commission adopted a Communication setting out a new strategic vision for the EU's outermost regions. The strategy covers all nine outermost regions, which extend the EU's presence across three continents.

EU Commission Adopts Strategy for Outermost Regions

Scope of the Regions

The nine regions are French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion, Saint-Martin, the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands. The strategy draws its legal basis from Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. That article allows tailored application of EU laws, adapted access to EU funds and programmes, and other specific measures for these regions.

Strategy Objectives

The new strategy sets four key objectives. One is to harness geostrategic potential and strengthen regional integration. The strategy also aims to strengthen the administrative and technical capacity of the outermost regions.

The Commission is launching a new youth project to empower local young people as active actors for change. The strategy includes a yearly structured dialogue and a dedicated portal.

Regulatory Package

A regulatory package accompanies the Communication, proposing targeted adaptations to EU legislation. Article 349 provides the legal basis for the package. It covers agriculture, forestry, fisheries, migration and taxation.

• The Public Procurement Act allows tailoring of certain procurement rules to the outermost regions' specificities.
• The European Product Act is expected to allow targeted adjustments to product requirements where necessary, proportionate and justified by local conditions.
• The EU Emissions Trading System proposal includes provisions for outermost regions, accounting for geographical constraints and the need to preserve territorial continuity, connectivity and access to essential services.

Funding and Next Steps

The Commission's proposal for the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework establishes new National and Regional Partnership Plans for managing EU funds. France, Portugal and Spain are required to include specific measures for their outermost regions in these Plans. The regulatory package will be submitted to the Council for agreement by Member States after consultation of the European Parliament.

Our outermost regions have strong identities and unique assets and geographical positions that project Europe to the four corners of the world.

— Ursula von der Leyen