The Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) has launched a roadmap on the scope of a new Communication on the outermost regions as key partners in a green, digital and fair recovery.
Roadmap for a new Communication on the outermost regions as key partners in a green, digital and fair recovery
- 12 May 2021
The time has come to update and strengthen the existing strategic partnership with the outermost regions and to adapt it to recent developments and EU priorities with a focus on sustainable, green, digital and fair recovery.
No matter where you are and what your role is – we want to hear what you have to say. Be it from a Member State, regional, local or municipal authority. Or perhaps a non-governmental organisation, professional association, academia or a citizen: share your views about our initiative to adopt a new Communication with and for the outermost regions.
The roadmap is currently open for feedback. Your input is crucial to develop a new strategic approach for and with the outermost regions. Following the publication of this roadmap, DG REGIO will launch a public consultation as well as targeted consultations.
Comments to the roadmap can be made online until 09 June 2021.
We look forward to reading your contributions and comments.
For more information, please contact: REGIO-A1-RUP@ec.europa.eu
Background
The outermost regions – Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Mayotte, Reunion Island, Saint-Martin (France), the Azores, Madeira (Portugal) and the Canary Islands (Spain) – face permanent constraints as recognised in Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
The COVID-19 crisis has further aggravated this situation – the interruption of travelling and tourism was particularly hard for these remote, mostly insular regions, many dependent on tourism. At the same time, the outermost regions harbour unique assets such as for space and astrophysics activities, blue economy, biodiversity, renewable energy sources and sustainable tourism, which can be key drivers for their economic development and for contributing to EU priorities.