The outermost regions: an asset for Europe

Globalisation, climate change, demographic trends and migratory flows, and the sustainable management of natural resources such as marine resources and agricultural products are just some of the challenges facing Europe as a whole.The European Commission, aware that the outermost regions (OR) are particularly vulnerable and exposed to these challenges and in order to gather input for its reflections on the development of the European strategy for these regions, launched a wide-ranging consultation in September 2007 with the European institutions, the Member States, the outermost regions, socio-professional groups, research centres and universities, and organised an interinstitutional and partnership conference on 14 and 15 May 2008 in Brussels.