Transcript Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Regional Policy
Communication of the Commission
“The Outermost regions: an asset for
Europe”
Prof. Danuta Hübner
Commissioner for Regional Policy
Press Conference, 22nd October 2008, Brussels
Version 4, 22/10
EN
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
EN
Regional Policy
The Outermost regions (OR) at a
glance
Reunion, Martinique,
Guadeloupe, French Guyana
 Canary Islands
 Madeira and Azores
• Total population 3,9 million  0,85% EU’s total population
• Total surface 99.875 km²  2,5% EU’s total surface
• Distance from capital: 2.000 km (Canarias) to 9.400 km (Reunion)
• Convergence Objective: Réunion, Martinique, Guadeloupe,
Guyane and Açores
•Competitiveness & Employment Objective: Canarias and Madeira
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Regional Policy
Handicaps & Challenges
 As recognised by the Treaty (Art. 299 §2):
•Major remoteness
•Insularity
•Size
•Difficult terrain and climate
•Economic dependency on a small
number of economic activities
EN
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Regional Policy
How EU addresses handicaps and challenges
• EU cohesion policy strengthens the
competitiveness of the OR and promote full
integration of OR into their geographic
environment
• EU investment: 7.8 Billion €, 2007-2013.
• “Mainstreaming" OR concerns and priorities:
– Specific treatment in terms of Competition Rules and
Taxation policy
– Specific allocation within the Structural Funds
– Special programmes (POSEI) for the support of
traditional sectors
EN
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
EN
Regional Policy
CHANGE OF APPROACH
Assets and potentials
Unique geographic
position
Renewable energies
Biodiversity
Study laboratories for
climate change effects
Niche products in
agriculture
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Regional Policy
The renewed strategy:
What do we propose in
the present communication?
 Ensuring an optimal use of all existing EU instruments
▪ 7.8M€ of EU investments through several policies
▪ 7th FPRD, long-life learning, training and education
Addressing the new challenges
▪ studies on migration and demography, economic impact of
adaptation to climate change, marine environment etc..
▪ measures to strengthen regional integration, high performance
agricultural and agri-food sectors, start-up for young farmers
Strengthening partnership
▪ participation in on-going actions and EU decision making as well
as thematic ad-hoc task forces (when needed)
▪ “Forum for “Outermost Europe”
EN
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Regional Policy
Conclusions
•The outermost regions are our regions.
•Re-position the seven regions in the EU
setting.
•“Regions of opportunity".
Discussion with Presidents of OR in
Cayenne, Guyane on 27-30 October.
EN
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Regional Policy
More information on the Internet site of DG
REGIO
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/themes/rup_fr.htm
EN