XIVth Conference of Presidents of the Outermost Regions of the European Union
- from: 27.10.2008
- to: 30.10.2008
- In: Cayenne
This conference brings together the seven presidents of the Outermost European regions - Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands - representatives of the European Commission and the three Member States concerned, i.e. France, Spain and Portugal, as well as members of the European Parliament. Danuta Hübner, European Commissioner for regional policy will be present and governors of Para and Amapá (Brazil) as well as the Minister for planning, development and cooperation of Surinam will be associated to this meeting.
The Conference of Presidents of the Outermost Regions was set up in 1995 in response to the desire of the seven Outermost regions to get their special nature known in the context of community development.
Four French regions (Guadeloupe, Guiana, Martinique and Reunion), two Portuguese regions (the Azores and Madeira) and the Spanish region of the Canary Islands all occupy a special position in Europe. Although they are an integral part of the European Union, these regions are situated in geographic zones far from the European continent. They benefit from the status of 'Outermost region', recognised by Article 299 (2) of the EC Treaty. The implementation of this article is the basis of the European strategy on the Outermost regions, developed over several years on the principle of partnership between the European Commission, the regions, and the three Member States concerned i.e. France, Spain and Portugal.
The present conference, the XIVth, which is being held this year at Cayenne (French Guiana) from 27 to 30 October 2008 is strategic for the Outermost regions, since the European Commission, in its communication of 12 September 2007 entitled "Strategy for the Outermost Regions: Achievements and Future Prospects", reopened discussions on the future European strategy on the Outermost regions. New proposals and guidelines to deepen and renew this strategy are expected by the end of October in a new European Commission communication.
In the follow-up to the public consultation further to the communication of September 2007, to which all the stakeholders contributed, and to the European Conference of 14 and 15 May 2008 in Brussels, this XIVth Conference of Presidents of the Outermost Regions provides the occasion to continue the dialogue and consider the strategy's future, the issues and the challenges the Outermost regions are facing.
All the partners will be brought together in this Conference: the seven Presidents of the Outermost regions, the European Commission, the Presidency of the Council of the EU, Members of the European Parliament and the three Member States concerned, i.e. France, Spain and Portugal. Representatives from the coming Czech and Swedish presidencies will also take part.
This conference is organised by the Regional Council of French Guiana, which has been president of the Conference since October 2007. This meeting will revolve around three key axes:
o The working session of the Presidents of the Outermost Regions;
o The thematic session on the regional inclusion of the Outermost regions;
o The Far reaching neighbourhood policy extended to the governors of Para and Amapá, Brazil, and the Minister for planning, development and Cooperation of Surinam, as well as the partners session on strategy relative to the Outermost regions.
- Updated: 26.11.2008
