Implementing the strategic approach towards the Outermost Regions

The European Union (EU) counts nine outermost regions, which are geographically very distant from the European continent. These are French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Reunion Island and Saint-Martin (France), Azores and Madeira (Portugal), and the Canary Islands (Spain).

Enshrining outermost regions’ concerns across policies and legislative proposals:

Results since adoption of the Outermost Regions Communication of May 2022 (Plus earlier in 2022, the EMFAF 2022-23 work programme of 26/1, the Transition Pathways for Tourism Communication of 3/2 (and the OR strategy itself))

Date	Title & Reference	Key information
As of May 2022
04/05/2022	Call for proposals to empower youth in the OR published Overview 2022CE160AT013	COM launched early May 2022 a call for proposals - worth EUR 1 million - to help empower youth in outermost regions. In the context of the 2022 European Year of Youth, this two-year project will support actions by young people aged 15-24. The aim is to mobilise youth to develop actions tailored to their regions to improve quality of life, development and growth.
18/05/2022	EU Solar Energy Strategy COM(2022) 221 final	The Communication recognises the need for better direct public support, multi-stakeholder approaches and innovative financing models to facilitate access to solar energy for the energy poor and vulnerable. This issue deserves particular attention in the most remote regions, i.e. the EU outermost regions, which enjoy a large untapped solar energy potential.
23/05/2022	2022 European Semester Spring Package 2022 European Semester: Country Reports Recommendations on the 2022 National Reform Programmes Spain SWD(2022) 610 France SWD(2022) 612 Portugal SWD(2022) 623	OR exhaustively mentioned in Country Reports for France, Portugal and Spain – notably - Disparities with national averages; - Key socio-economic indicators in GDP, unemployment and youth unemployment in the outermost regions; - Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; - Low scores in regional competitiveness index and research and innovation expenditure; - Impact of the tourism sector (more specifically for the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Azores); - Specific challenges and foreseen investments in the Recovery and Resilience Plan of Portugal for the Azores and Madeira (e.g. renewables, energy storage solutions, transmission and distribution grids, lifelong learning).
22/06/2022	Proposal for a Regulation on nature restoration COM(2022) 304 final	Legally binding targets for nature restoration will apply to every Member State, which will be required to set up national restoration plans. OR are explicitly targeted: relevant Member States will have to provide for specific measures to support their ORs and include a dedicated section setting out tailored restoration measures in these regions (recital 64, article 12 g, and in the financial statement, article 1.5.1).
22/06/2022	Proposal for a Regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products COM(2022) 305 final	Provides for legally binding targets at EU level. Member States are to set national reduction targets through national action plans. Acknowledges the need to allow relevant Member States to take into account the specific needs of the ORs as regards the use of plant protection products and the need for measures tailored to specific climatic conditions and crops due to OR constraints and high exposure to climate change (recital 13, art 5 (7), art 8).
24/06/2022	Setting the course for a sustainable blue planet - Joint Communication on the EU’s International Ocean Governance JOIN(2022) 28	EU commits to paying specific attention to the needs of its outermost regions in terms of maritime security challenges and threats, given their high exposure to these threats (that include cyber and hybrid attacks, the growing impacts of climate change, environmental degradation)
30/06/2022	Proposal for a Council Recommendation on Pathways to School Success COM(2022) 316 final SWD(2022) 176 final	The initiative proposes a set of policy measures and actions to support learners, school leaders, teachers, trainers and other educational staff. The Staff Working Document draws attention to the high rate of early leaving from education and training in the outermost regions. It also stresses the need for developing policies to address the specific needs of particular groups, such as learners living in OR.
25/08/2022	Erasmus+ - Annual Work Programme Overview C(2022) 6002 final	The work programme ensures equal opportunities by reaching out further to people with fewer opportunities, such as people living in the EU Outermost Regions. It draws attention to the high early school leaving rates in the Outermost Regions and will put a special focus on participation and active citizenship of young people living in remote or outermost regions
19/09/2022	Proposal for a Regulation – Single Market Emergency Instrument COM(2022) 459 final	Proposal for a Regulation to set up a crisis governance framework to preserve the free movement of goods, services and persons and the availability of essential goods and services in the event of future emergencies. Recognises in explanatory memorandum: - Some EU regions are disproportionally vulnerable and exposed to supply chain disruptions, in particular the EU outermost regions - Commission may recommend Member States to distribute strategic reserves in a targeted way, including in geographical areas particularly vulnerable to such disruptions such as the EU outermost regions - Article 8 – For ad hoc alerts for early warning, Member States have to take account of impact on specific geographical areas particularly vulnerable or exposed to supply chain disruptions including the EU outermost regions.
12/10/2022	Second set of calls under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital Programme Overview calls for proposals CEF-DIG-2022-GATEWAYS-WORKS CEF-DIG-2022-5GCORRIDORS-STUDIES	The calls draw attention to the specific connectivity needs of the outermost regions in the deployment of high capacity and high-performing digital networks and backbone networks, including 5G systems. Actions in the outermost regions benefit from a higher co-financing rates of up to 70% and a project’s contribution to territorial accessibility will be evaluated as part of the award criteria.
12/10/2022	Proposal for a Decision on a European Year of Skills 2023 COM(2022) 526 final	The proposal highlights the importance of the regional dimension and in particular the skills challenges faced by remote regions such as the outermost regions where access to the labour market and upskilling and reskilling opportunities are limited.
13/10/2022	Call for proposal under the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) Overview EMFAF-2023-PIA-FLAGSHIP-5-OR	The call "Regional Flagship Projects supporting the sustainable blue economy in EU sea basins" includes a specific strand dedicated to the outermost regions on "Promotion of sustainable maritime and coastal tourism in the outermost regions" with a dedicated budget of 1 million euros. The project consortium must be composed of at least 2 independent entities from 2 different outermost regions. The cofinancing rate is 85%. The deadline for applications is 31 January 2023.
21/11/2022	Commission Implementing Decision on the 2023 Work Programme of the “EU4Health Programme” and Annex C(2022) 8510 final wp2023_annex_en.pdf (europa.eu)	The annual work programme sets the objectives and actions for the implementation of the “EU4Health” programme. In pursuing those actions, the reduction of inequalities in the provision of healthcare, in particular in rural and remote areas, including in the outermost regions, for the purposes of achieving inclusive growth and a gender sensitive approach will be considered where relevant. The improvement of national public health wastewater surveillance capacities is mentioned as a matter of particular importance, in line with the needs pointed out in the Commission communication about a new strategy for the OR (COM(2022) 198 final).
15/12/2022	Call “ Capacity Building - Strand 2b” under the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument	The “Capacity Building-Strand 2b” call under the I3 Instrument aims to increase the capacity of regional innovation ecosystems in less developed regions and outermost regions to participate in EU value chains. Due consideration will be given to projects promoting the participation of outermost regions during the evaluation of project proposals. The deadline for applications is 16 March 2023.
2023
16/03/2023	Commission services’ paper on the Trade Sustainability Impact Assessment in support of the deepening of the interim Economic Partnership Agreement EU and ESA5	The report of the sustainability impact assessment between the EU and the five Eastern and Southern African countries - Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Zimbabwe highlights the specific situation of the outermost regions – in particular Réunion and Mayotte – to be taken into account, in particular as regards agricultural production (in particular sugar and also other products), fisheries and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) conditions.
17/03/2023	New Guidelines for State aid in the fishery and aquaculture sector COM (2023/C 107/01)	The revised Fisheries Guidelines introduce new categories of aid, such as aid for fleet and cessation measures (in line with the EMFAF). As regards aid for the renewal of the fishing fleet in the outermost regions, the guidelines: provide for a streamlined procedure and legal security, with more time to implement state aid schemes; keep the same requirements as the previous guidelines as regards the provision of data to prove the balance capacity/resources introduce aid for investments in equipment that contributes to increasing safety of fishing vessels, including equipment enabling vessels to extend their fishing zones for small-scale coastal fishing.
17/01/2023	Harnessing talent in Europe’s regions Communications COM(2023) 32 final	This initiative draws attention to the challenge of a shrinking workforce and a low and stagnating share of persons with tertiary education in some regions such as the outermost regions. It further emphasises that remote regions, including the outermost regions, face the most acute challenges in re- and upskilling opportunities. The Communication also points to Guadeloupe and Martinique as examples of regions facing outwards migration of young and skilled people.
06/02/2023	Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) instrument Work Programme 2023-2024	Projects supported under Strand 2b (capacity building for the development of value chains in less developed regions) should contribute to an exchange of experience and good practice between more developed regions and less developed regions. Within this strand in particular, projects can offer an added value when promoting the participation of EU outermost regions, and due consideration will be given to such added value during the evaluation of I3 project proposals.
08/02/2023	Communication on EU Disaster Resilience Goals: Acting together to deal with future emergencies COM(2023) 61 final	The Communication sets the EU disaster resilience goals that lead EU Civil Protection policy. They have been developed in cooperation with Member States and have been adopted in the form of a Recommendation addressed to civil protection authorities. Through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, the EU provides a collective response to populations affected by a disaster, inside and outside the EU. The outermost regions are expressly mentioned.
10/03/2023	European Union Space Strategy for Security and Defence JOIN(2023) 9 final	The Communication announces - A future EU Space Law to provide a framework to enhance the level of resilience of space systems and services in the EU and ensure coordination between Member States, including in remote strategic ground infrastructure locations such as the EU outermost regions; - the development of standardised interfaces between satellites and responsive launch systems for future satellites’ interoperability and highlights the need to exploit outermost regions of interest for autonomous access to space.
10/05/2023 FINAL ADOPTION	Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Regulation (EU) 2023/956	As part of the “Fit for 55” package, the CBAM applies to some goods imported into the customs territory of the Union from third countries. It applies carbon costs equivalent to those borne under the EU ETS, resulting in a carbon price that is equivalent for imports and domestic products. The Commission will carry before January 2028 an assessment of the impact of the CBAM on the economic, social and territorial cohesion. This assessment is to consider the special characteristics and constraints of the OR.
15/05/2023	Inception report of ex-post evaluation of EU- Southern African Development Community (SADC) Economic Partnership Agreement	Economic Partnership Agreement to be concluded in spring 2024. The impacts of EU-Southern African Development Community on outermost regions are considered with a dedicated analysis.
24/05/2023	European Semester Spring Package Communication COM(2023)600 final Country report France SWD(2023) 610 final Country report Portugal SWD(2023) 622 final Country report Spain SWD(2023) 609 final	The chapeau communication refers to “significant regional disparities in access to education, research and innovation and mobility, further accentuated in rural and outermost areas and in extremely remote areas such as the outermost regions where access to essential and social support services remains a challenge”. The country reports of France, Portugal and Spain mention OR challenges in particularly in employment, economic and social performance and regarding regional disparities Country report France: enduring divide France’s metropolitan and OR OR low labour productivity and low regional innovation performance in outermost regions OR higher rate of early school leaving marked differences between the five regions with strong innovation performance (e.g. Île-de-France) and the five OR categorised as emerging innovators the unemployment rate is highest in the outermost regions (particularly Mayotte with 27.8%) Country report Portugal: construction of housing solutions for the most vulnerable groups underway in the Azores and Madeira online courses and digital manuals are currently being deployed in Azores and Madeira as part of the RRP investment in renewables and storage solutions and revamping the electricity grid in OR challenges remain in OR water management, in governance, water rehabilitation and water efficiency regional disparities regarding the rate of students leaving education and training early (20% in the Azores) in 2021, the lowest PT employment rates in Azores and Madeira (69% and 70%). Highest unemployment rate in Algarve (8.2%), Madeira (7.9%) and Azores (7.2%). the level of competitiveness is significantly lower in Madeira and the Azores Country report Spain: R&D expenditure among the lowest in Canarias (0.5%) Unemployment rates exceeded 20% in Canarias more than one third of the population in Canarias were at risk of poverty or social exclusion immigration poses particular challenge in Canarias and is placing their social services under pressure
01/06/2023	SWD Regional Trends for Growth and Convergence in the European Union	The SWD draws attention to differences between the OR and other EU regions such as OR’s lower GDP levels, demographic challenges, higher unemployment rates, disparities in urban wastewater treatment and greenhouse gas emissions.
07/06/2023	New Agenda for EU-Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) JOIN(2023) 17 final	Reflects the European Union presence in LAC through its four EU outermost regions as an asset to this partnership. Envisages, as a key action, to strengthen cooperation between LAC and the EU outermost regions in areas of common interest.
18/06/2023	Erasmus+ 2024 annual work programme C(2023) 6157	The WP gives particular consideration to EU outermost regions in several key areas, like youth, school education, and inclusivity. It specifically refers to the outermost regions with regard to supporting people with fewer opportunities, fostering active citizenship and employability of young people, and tackling early school leaving. It recognizes the outermost regions’ role in strengthening ties between Erasmus+ participating countries and other countries.
20/06/2023	SWD on the evaluation of the Impact of the implementation of part IV (Trade Pillar) of the EU-Central America Association Agreement	Contains a section dedicated to the OR. The document admits that the overall impact on the OR cannot be fully assessed with the data from the evaluation. However, evidence shows that the OR’s trade in bananas and specialty sugar is particularly sensitive to a combination of economic factors, including Central America exports to the EU. The documents indicated that further assessment would be needed to ascertain the possible impact of the Association Agreement on OR trade in bananas and speciality sugar.
05/07/2023	Proposal for a targeted revision of the Waste Framework Directive COM(2023) 420 final	Recital 7 provides that “Importance should also be given to regional circular solutions, including public-private partnerships and citizen engagement as well adaptation to specific regional needs such as outermost regions or islands”. Recital 24 provides that “Considering the environmental impact and the loss of materials due to used and waste textiles not being separately collected (…), the collection network of used and waste textiles, textile-related and footwear products should cover the whole territory of Member States including the outermost regions”
05/07/2023	Proposal for a Regulation on plants produced by new genomic techniques NGT COM(2023) 411 final	The proposal establishes a more flexible legal framework and stresses the potential of some NGT plants to address current challenges in the agri-food system, while ensuring a high level of protection of human health and of the environment. The explanatory memorandum mentions NGT’s potential to support the special needs in Outermost Regions.
26/09/2023	2023 CEF Transport Calls for proposals	Call for proposals under the General and Cohesion envelopes, with a total indicative budget of EUR 7 billion. Outermost regions benefit from higher co-funding rates (70% non-Cohesion Member States - France and Spain, and 85% in Cohesion Member States – Portugal).
27/09/2023	First report on the State of the Digital Decade	The report recommends to the concerned Member States to complement private investment to close connectivity gaps of their outermost regions and provide opportunities to acquire digital skills for people in rural areas and outermost regions. The country report for France stresses the importance of continuing recent efforts of fibre roll-out in France’s outermost regions.
04/10/2023	Revision *of the “de minimis” regulation for the fishery and aquaculture sector* Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2391	Includes a provision (Article 1(4)) for the ORs, whereby certain operations excluded from the scope of the regulation will exceptionally be allowed in the ORs, to facilitate the renewal and modernisation of small vessels and address safety concerns. This will allow Member States to use State aid exclusively in their ORs to support the purchase, modernisation or construction of fishing vessels of an overall length of less than 12 metres. The amended regulation increases the threshold per company over three years from €30,000 to €40,000.
31/10/2023	Call for proposals under the BEST scheme – “BESTLIFE2030 ( Call description and application details)	The BESTLIFE2030 programme aims to support projects in the field of conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the ORs and OCTs. The programme sets up a funding facility with grants up to €100,000 and a 95% co-financing rate. Amount of the call is EUR 5.8 million. Projects under this call will last between 18 and 36 months. Concept notes can be submitted until 8 January 2024.
24/10/2023	COM on delivering on Off-shore renewable energy COM(2023) 668 final	The Communication follows up on the EU strategy on offshore renewable energy and reiterates the Commission’s commitment to supporting coastal regions, the EU outermost regions, and islands to tap into their vast offshore renewable energy potential.
04/10/2023	Staff Working Document (SWD) Evaluation of the impact of the Trade Agreement between the EU and Colombia, Ecuador and Peru	In the EU, the negative impacts on the sugar and banana sectors of the outermost regions were mentioned in the report, resulting from increased exports from the Andean partner countries to the EU.
15/11/2023	Call “ Capacity Building in Less Developed Regions - Strand 2b” under the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument (Call information)	The “Capacity Building-Strand 2b” call under the I3 Instrument aims to build capacity in less developed regions to develop and strengthen their regional innovation ecosystems and value chains through coordinated and interlinked investments in several regions. Due consideration will be given to projects promoting the participation of outermost regions during the evaluation of project proposals. There are two cut-off dates for submitting applications: 5 February 2024 and 14 November 2024.
21/11/2023	2024 European Semester: Proposal for a Joint Employment Report COM(2023) 904 final	The report highlights regional differences with regard to youth unemployment and young people neither in employment or in education and training (NEET) with high levels in the EU outermost regions (p.11). It draws attention to geographical factors such as living in remote regions like the outermost regions as potential barriers to essential services (p.18). The country analysis for Spain highlights high youth unemployment rates in the Canary Islands (p.157) while the country analysis for France states that the outermost regions perform considerably worse than metropolitan France across all domains of the Social Scoreboard, in particular on youth unemployment and NEET rates (p.158). The country analysis for Portugal cautions that disparities between mainland Portugal and its outermost regions are growing in particular as regards people at risk of poverty or social exclusion (p.170).
5/12/2023	Commission Implementing Decision on the 2024 Work Programme of the “EU4Health Programme” and Annex C(2023) 8524 final	The annual work programme sets the objectives and actions for the implementation of the “EU4Health” programme. The 2024 work programme recalls that in pursuing those actions, the reduction of inequalities in the provision of healthcare, in particular in rural and remote areas, including in the outermost regions, will be considered.One of the priority actions for 2024 concerns the support to the development of sustainable, forward-looking national and Union stockpiling strategies. The specific needs of EU Outermost Regions due to their remoteness will be considered
13/12/2023	*Revision of the general de minimis* aid regulation** C(2023) 9700 final	The amended general de minimis Regulation exempts small amounts of aid – up to €300.000 over three years - since they are deemed to have no impact on competition and trade in the Single Market. It includes a recital (15) that refers to the marginal effect on trade that some aids granted to beneficiaries in outermost regions could have. Such aids should be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
13/12/2023	*Revision of the de minimis* aid regulation for services of general economic interest (SGEI)** C(2023) 9701 final	The amended de minimis regulation for services of general economic interest (SGEI) exempts amounts of aid – up to €750.000 over three years - since they are deemed to have no impact on competition and trade in the Single Market. It includes a recital (19) that refers to the marginal effect on trade that some aids granted to beneficiaries in outermost regions could have. Such aids should be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

In the current Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027, the European Commission has enshrined the specificities of the outermost regions in many EU funds and programmes across a wide range of policies. Some examples below.

Cohesion Policy

The outermost regions benefit from an increased specific additional allocation of EUR 1.514 billion to offset additional costs that result from their permanent restraints. These regions benefit from the highest co-financing rate of 85% independently of their GDP.
Taking into account their permanent constraints, these regions benefit from additional flexibilities under the European Regional Development Fund including the possibility to investment in airports and make productive investments in enterprises irrespective of size.
With a budget of EUR 280 million, a dedicated strand of the European territorial cooperation goal (‘Interreg’) supports outermost regions in their integration in the parts of the world where they are located.
The REACT-EU programme (Recovery Assistance for Cohesion and the Territories of Europe) reserves a dedicated additional amount of EUR 146.43 million to these regions, in addition to shares of the national allocations of their Member States.

Maritime and Fisheries Policy (EMFAF)

The outermost regions benefit from an earmarked budget of EUR 315 million both for the compensation of their additional costs (up to 60-70% of the earmarked envelope) and for investment. EU funding for compensation is 100%. Funding aims to help develop a sustainable maritime economy and support small-scale coastal fishers.
Public aid intensity in the outermost regions is set at 85%, (only 15% of own financing needs to be provided by beneficiaries).
Higher rates of financing up to 100% are possible for small-scale coastal fishing, the collection of scientific data and biodiversity and ecosystem protection measures.

Agricultural and Biodiversity Policy

The outermost regions benefit from a special agricultural programme dedicated to the outermost regions – the POSEI programme. With a budget of EUR 4.571 billion for 2021-2027 period, POSEI supports local production, marketing of local products as well as supply of essential products to the outermost regions.
In addition, the outermost regions benefit from higher support for actions in rural development – 85% for outermost regions that fall in the category of “less developed regions” and 80% for other outermost regions. These actions support biodiversity in agriculture and forestry and promote the economic development of rural areas.
The environment and climate action programme LIFE (overall budget of EUR 5.4 billion), pays special attention to the outermost regions in all its components: biodiversity, ecosystems services, circular economy, climate change and energy, and gives bonus points to projects in outermost regions. The programme includes a grant scheme for small projects for protecting biodiversity and ecosystems in the outermost regions co-financed at 95%.
The Single Market Programme component on phytosanitary programmes is open to these regions to address pest control.

Transport, Energy and Digitalisation

The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) supports transport, energy and digital infrastructure projects in the outermost regions with an increased co-financing rate of 70% (in contrast to the regular co-financing rate of 30-50%.)
The Digital Europe programme seeks to contribute to greater connectivity and better digital skills in the outermost regions. European Digital Innovation Hubs – single-entry access points to the latest digital capacities including high performance computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and other innovative technologies – will help the outermost regions participate in the Digital Single Market.
The InvestEU programme – providing an EU guarantee of EUR 26.2 billion to mobilise public and private investment within the EU – envisages that Member States can transfer part of their shared management resources to this new instrument in vulnerable and isolated regions such as the outermost regions in order to access more easily the guarantee provided by the EU budget.

Education, Research and Space

The Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes seek to step up the outermost regions’ participation and foster exchanges and cooperation with third countries.
The research programme Horizon Europe covers important topics for the outermost regions such as renewable energy, combating climate change, tropical diseases, biodiversity and the blue economy. With a budget of EUR 2.8 billion, its 'Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence’ strand is open to the outermost regions to help them build on their assets and develop their full research potential.
The Space programme includes the Azores, the Canary Islands and Madeira in the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) – Europe’s satellite-based augmentation system to improve the performance of navigation satellite systems such as Galileo or the Global Positioning System (GPS). In addition, the Space programme can support adaptations to space ground infrastructure as well as satellite launching systems.

Migration

The new Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and the Internal Security Fund provides Member States with resources to help their regions manage migration sustainably and address situations of migratory pressure – which some outermost regions have been facing.

For more information:

Selected specific provisions for the outermost regions in EU funds and Programmes

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Name of programme / calls	Deadline	Description
Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital	20 February 2024	Third set of calls for proposals This set of calls includes 5G coverage along transport corridors (€100 million); 5G and Edge Cloud for Smart Communities (€51 million); and backbone connectivity for Digital Global Gateways (€90 million). CEF Digital can support backbone connections, mainly via submarine cables, to improve the performance and resilience of connectivity networks in outermost regions, and between the EU and third countries.
Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Transport	30 January 2024	EUR 7 billion call for projects on transport infrastructure (studies and works) that will contribute to a sustainable, smart, and resilient trans-European transport network. The calls cover multiple areas: maritime and inland ports, inland waterways, road safety, safe and secure mobility, infrastructure resilience, railways, rail-road terminals, multimodal logistics platforms, multimodal passenger hubs, and smart interoperable applications for transport. Specific reference is made to outermost regions in the call on maritime ports, which points out that studies and / or works on maritime ports can be funded to improve “connectivity of remote, insular or outermost regions.”
Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Energy	9 January 2024	Call for Preparatory Studies - Cross-border renewable energy projects This call supports EU Member States and private project promoters in selecting the best projects’ concepts and setting up a cooperation agreement. Once a project is included in the list of cross-border renewable energy projects, it can access further financing opportunities for studies and works within CEF Energy.
Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Energy	6 February 2024	3rd Call for Cross-Border Renewable Energy (CB RES) projects – Application process for CB RES status For a project on cooperation between Member States to become a Cross-Border Renewable Energy project and to be eligible under CEF, it should fulfil the criteria in Part IV of the Annex to the CEF Regulation. These criteria refer to the existence of a cooperation arrangement, as well as cost savings and potential overall net benefits that the project would provide. Such projects do not necessarily entail a physical link between the cooperating Member States and can be located on the territory of one or more of the Member States involved. All the technologies under article 2 of the Renewable Energy Directive are eligible.
Creative Europe	31 May 2024	Culture Moves Europe: Individual Mobility Action 2 targets artists and cultural professionals working in music, literature, architecture, cultural heritage, design and fashion design, visual arts and performing arts. It supports artists and cultural professionals in carrying out a project with a partner of their choice in another Creative Europe country. The call is open to individuals and groups of up to 5 people, to implement projects of 7 to 60 days for individuals and 7 to 21 days for groups. The grant contributes to travel and subsistence costs and offers l top-ups for persons travelling from or to an outermost region.
Creative Europe	16 January 2024	Culture Moves Europe: Call for Residency hosts The second call for residency hosts provides financial support to organisations and artists registered as legal entities working in the sectors of music, literature, architecture, cultural heritage, design and fashion design, visual arts, and performing arts. Legal entities can be non-profit organisations, non-governmental organisations, public bodies, foundations, companies, or self-employed persons etc.
Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL)	23 January 2024	Data Space for Tourism This call – worth €8 million in grants - aims to create a European tourism data space to facilitate data-sharing and promote data access among tourism businesses, destinations and public authorities. This will help tourist destinations understand better what tourists are looking for and tailor their offerings accordingly, or predict when tourists are likely to come. Activities should focus on the real-world deployment of data space building blocks. This includes for example developing enabling technologies and underlying structural components to design, implement and operate a robust data space, as well as the required elements for data governance, cooperation readiness and setting of standards.
Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL)	23 January 2024	Data Space for Cultural Heritage This action - worth €4 million in grants - will continue the deployment of an operational data space for cultural heritage. The objective is to make more high-quality content available, particularly in 3D, foster reuse of digitised cultural resources and provide opportunities for the community to offer enriched services, using advanced technologies. Successful projects are expected to produce frameworks, tools, technologies, storage, open-source software and processing capacities for making advanced 3D and XR data available in the data space; provide at least one new 3D and XR scenario available for re-use, including for scientific research, preservation and restoration purposes, re-use by the cultural and creative sector and other domains such as education; make high-quality 3D and XR content and documentation available in the data space; and offer training for cultural heritage institutions in making use of these technologies.
Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL)	21 March 2024 Specialised education programmes in key capacity areas – Advanced digital skills analysis Specialised education programmes in key capacity areas Cybersecurity Skills Academy	One call (€30 million) will help design and deliver education programmes in advanced digital skills for developers and users of advanced digital technologies. These will be created by consortia of education, business, and research organisations. An additional action (€2 million) will help analyse the advanced digital skills needs in Europe in the key digital areas and strategic sectors. Another call (€10 million) aims to launch the Cybersecurity Skills Academy. This will fund the implementation of new trainings and the scale-up of successful ones with a special focus on the needs of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and public administration.
Erasmus+	6 February 2024	European Universities - Development of deep institutional transnational cooperation The ‘European Universities’ initiative is part of the ‘Partnerships for Excellence’ support. This initiative aims to trigger and deepen institutional cooperation between higher education institutions. It aims to encourage bottom-up alliances of universities across Europe, which will enable students to combine studies in several countries. This call will provide support for applicants wishing to establish deep institutional transnational cooperation in a ‘European Universities’ alliance.
Erasmus+	6 February 2024	European Universities - Community of practice This call will provide support for applicants to set-up a Community of Practice of European Universities alliances. The set-up of a Community of Practice of European Universities will help in sharing best practices and experiences within the community of European Universities alliances, as well as for the benefit of the wider higher education sector.
Erasmus+	25 January 2024 28 January 2025 27 January 2026 26 January 2027	Erasmus Charter for Higher Education This call aims at accrediting recognised Higher Education Institutions, which have operational capacity to take part in Erasmus+ Programme’s activities, such as learning mobility of individuals and/or cooperation for innovation and good practices.
LIFE “BESTLIFE2030” scheme for the autumn most regions	8 January 2024	The first call of the BESTLIFE2030 programme launched on 31 October 2023. Projects will be funded up to a maximum of €100,000, with a 95% co-financing rate, and will last between 18 and 36 months. The BESTLIFE2030 programme aims to support projects in the field of conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the outermost regions and associated OCTs. The programme also aims to prevent the degradation of resources and adapt to the challenges posed by climate change. This initiative will set up a funding facility to help applicants implement projects that have an impact on the ground.
INTERREGIONAL INNOVATION INVESTMENTS (I3) INSTRUMENT	15 February 2024 14 November 2024	Capacity Building - Strand 2b call: The objective of the call is to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems in less developed regions and build their capacity to develop business cases for interregional innovation projects.
ADVISORY TOOL	12 January 2024	On-demand advisory tool to help outermost regions shape their own regional development plans; reforms and investment agendas; enable synergies between opportunities under EU funds and programmes; and improve administrative capacity. For more information about the type of services proposed, please refer to the catalogue of services on the website.
Teaming for Excellence (HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-01-01-two-stage): 2nd stage	7 March 2024	The action for a single Centre of excellence to be modernised or created, relevant at national level, in a chosen scientific domain.
Excellence Hubs (HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-07-01)	7 March 2024	The aim is to foster innovation excellence in place based (local/regional) innovation ecosystems, improve science business linkages, regional dimension of widening, bottom-up approach.
ERA Chairs (HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-TALENTS-01-01) -Lump Sum	7 March 2024	The aim is to increase in number of R&I talents moving to host organisations in Widening countries and the research excellence of the institution in the specific field covered by the ERA Chair holder.
ERA Talents (HORIZON-WIDERA-TALENTS-03-01) - Lump Sum	26 September 2024	This call aims to boost interoperability of careers and employability of research and innovation talents across sectors, focused on Widening countries. Projects are expected to contribute to: Strengthened human capital base of Widening countries in R&I, with more entrepreneurial and better-trained researchers, innovators and other R&I talents; A more balanced talent circulation, both geographical and cross-sectoral; Boosted R&I capacity and R&I support capacity, as well as contribution to increased excellence of the research-performing organisation in Widening countries; A more structured and impactful collaboration between academia and businesses; Increased set of research, entrepreneurial and other transferable skills and competences; Improved employability and sustainable career prospects within academia, industry and beyond.
Hop on facility (HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-06-01)	26 September 2024	The aim of the call is to mobilise excellence in the Widening countries at system level, to increase visibility of the participants from the Widening countries, to improve knowledge circulation, and to reduce lack of participation in specific thematic domains. Contributes to achieving the Inclusiveness ambition of the future ERA policy by involving research institutions from Widening countries in Horizon Europe Pillar 2 actions.
Programme level collaboration between national R&I policy-makers HORIZON-WIDERA-2024-ERA-01-01)	12 March 2024	The aim of the call is to support programme level collaboration among MS. The objective is to provide the possibility for MS, Associated Countries and civil society organisations such as foundations, to maintain existing and establish new collaborations on priorities of their choice and extending it also to the domain of EU missions. Successful proposals should align national and regional research funding programmes on agreed priorities that are common to the countries participating in the action and, where appropriate, implement joint calls for transnational R&I projects as well as other joint calls or other joint activities.
Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility (HORIZON-CL5-2024-D3-01)	16 January 2024	An open call worth EUR 246 million for projects in sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply. This includes activities in the areas of renewable energy; energy system, grids and storage; as well as Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS).

On-going projects

Name	Description	Duration
Advisory Tool for the EU Outermost Regions	This tool provides tailored advisory services on demand, to help individual outermost regions develop regional development plans, and achieve synergies between opportunities under EU funds and programmes. It targets a wide range of stakeholders and provides advisory services from a catalogue of services. The eligible stakeholders include regional public authorities, organisations responsible for or involved in the funding and/or implementation of a policy or programme/fund of a region, regional business organisations, Universities, research centres, companies (including SMEs), and other economic operators.	The call is open until end February 2024. Applications are assessed on a rolling basis. Advisory services to be rendered until November 2024.
#YOUTH4OUTERMOSTREGIONS – Fostering a new generation of young changemakers for inclusive and sustainable growth	The project aims to empower and mobilise youth in the outermost regions through the award of small grants for actions by young people in the outermost regions. The project aims to support 70 "mini actions" of up to 12 months with funding of €5,000 to €10,000. The call for actions will be open between February and May 2024, with first actions starting in September 2024. The proposed actions – no topic predefined- should encourage young people to become active in their local communities and in shaping solutions to improve the quality of life of citizens and promote local/regional development.	1 November 2023 – 31 October 2025 (24 months)
7 thematic virtual workshops for the EU Outermost Regions	These workshops aim to help the outermost regions seize important EU funding opportunities. Each of the seven workshops address one of the following programmes: Connecting Europe Facility; Digital Europe Programme; LIFE Programme; Erasmus+; Horizon Europe; Creative Europe Programme; and Single Market Programme. The workshops aim to help outermost regions’ stakeholders in applying for funding under key EU programmes; thus contributing to increase the quantity and quality of applications by outermost regions’ stakeholders; and ultimately, the number of EU funded projects benefitting stakeholders in these regions.	Six thematic workshops in 2022- 2023. The last workshop will take place in February 2024
Study on living conditions and access to basic needs	The aim of this study is to obtain an overview of people’s access to adequate housing; safe drinking water and sanitation; electricity, cooling and heating; and internet and telephone networks in the outermost regions. The study identifies trends over time, provides an analysis of the state of play in accessing a selection of basic needs in each outermost region, and presents recommendations to close the gaps with mainland Europe.	Study will be available in February 2024

Closed projects

Name	Description	Duration
Archipel.eu	Archipel.eu was a European Union co-funded pilot project providing funding opportunities for artists and cultural organisations from the EU Outermost Regions as well as from the Overseas Countries and Territories. In this context, four calls for proposals were launched offering grants up to €20 000 with a 90% co-financing rate as follows: Fund for the Safeguarding and Promotion of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Outermost Regions and the Overseas Countries and Territories – aiming at safeguarding and promoting the intangible cultural heritage, folk arts and practices, and ancestral cultures of the ORs and OCTs. The Collection - Archipel.eu Special Edition – aiming at supporting the dissemination of exhibitions, shows and artistic proposals across the ORs and the OCTs, as well as in continental Europe. Cultural Networking and Cooperation - aiming at supporting the dissemination of exhibitions, shows and artistic proposals across the ORs and the OCTs, as well as in continental Europe. Archipel.eu Mobility Fund - aiming at improving communication between the ORs, the OCTs and the EU to encourage mobility, exchange and cooperation between culture professionals. 250 applications were received, and 51 projects were selected for funding.	Project ended in 2023
Programme of exchanges in the EU Outermost Regions on climate adaptation	This project brought together stakeholders from the outermost regions and their neighbouring third countries to exchange good practices and common solutions on climate adaptation through ten workshops between autumn 2022 and summer 2023. The project also provided evidence-based analysis of existing initiatives on climate change adaptation.	A compendium of good practices and solutions for climate change adaptation in the Outermost Regions of the EU was published on 7 November 2023 A video on this project is available here
Transforming economies in EU outermost regions: fostering learning and making the most of global interconnectedness	The project aimed to provide an overview of outermost regions’ potential for participation in global value chain , identified the main relevant value chains (blue economy, renewable energy, innovation, cultural and creative sectors, agrifood) and presented trends in these value chains, taking into account the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on such chains.	Studies were published in 2023
COVID study	This study presented a preliminary snapshot of the effects of COVID-19 in the Outermost Regions. It provided an analysis of the health, economic and social impacts of the crises on these regions, highlighted action taken, and put forward recommendations for recovery and resilience-building measures.	Study was published end of 2021.

The European Commission has published a compendium of good practices and solutions on climate change adaptation in the EU’s Outermost Regions and their neighbouring countries. This document results from a programme of ten workshops organised by the Commission (Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy) from September 2022 to June 2023 to promote the exchange of good practices and solutions to common adaptation challenges between the Outermost Regions and their neighbouring countries and territories. The compendium presents a set of innovative and effective good practice projects on adaptation to climate change to inspire and facilitate cooperation between the outermost regions and their neighbours in addressing their common challenges.

The Outermost Regions are highly exposed to the negative effects of climate change and the Commission is committed to supporting these regions in addressing this major challenge. This is why the Communication on Outermost Regions adopted in 2022 stresses the importance of climate adaptation and cooperation within the same geographic basin, which is also underlined by the EU Adaptation Strategy of 2021. It is in this context that the Commission organised the programme of workshops between the Outermost Regions and their neighbouring countries and territories and supported the preparation of the compendium.

This compilation sets out the context of the impacts of climate change on the Outermost Regions on biodiversity, coastal resilience or various key economic sectors (such as tourism, agriculture, etc.); presents eleven solutions and practices for each of the challenges identified; and presents a series of conclusions.

Compendium of good practices and solutions for climate change adaptation in the Outermost Regions of the EU

English

(3,3 MB - PDF)

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Executive Summary

English

(166 KB - PDF)

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español

(342 KB - PDF)
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français

(340 KB - PDF)
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portuguese

(257 KB - PDF)
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Name of programme / calls	Application process / Open calls	Description
Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Energy	Yearly calls for Cross-border renewable projects (CB RES status). 3rd Call for Cross-Border Renewable Energy (CB RES) projects is open until 6 February 2024. For a project to become a CB RES project, it should fulfil the criteria set out in Part IV of the Annex to the CEF Regulation, e.g. existence of cooperation arrangement, as well as cost savings and potential overall net benefits that the project would provide. CB RES projects do not necessarily entail a physical link between the cooperating Member States and can be located on the territory of one or more of the Member States involved. Renewable energy technologies listed under article 2 of the RED II Directive are eligible. CB RES status is not related to the status of Projects of Common Interest (PCI). An open Call for Preparatory Studies supports EU Member States and private project promoters in selecting the best project concept and setting up the cooperation agreement (before projects are possibly included in the CB RES list of projects). The deadline is on 9 January 2024. List of contact points in Member States for CEF Cross-border Renewable Energy	CEF Energy is an envelope of CEF that supports the implementation of the Regulation on Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E), a policy framework focused on linking the energy infrastructure of EU countries. Budget: €5.84 billion, out of which 15% should be allocated to cross-border renewable energy projects (which may be increased to 20% should that threshold be reached). Higher co-financing rates for projects involving the ORs (70% for works).
Innovation Fund	There are regular calls for project proposals throughout the duration of the Innovation Fund (between 2020 and 2030). Project promoters can apply via the EU Funding and Tenders portal.	The EU fund for climate policy, with a focus on energy and industry. It aims to bring to the market solutions to decarbonise European industry and support its transition to climate neutrality while fostering its competitiveness. Budget: €40 billion (2020-2030) The Fund supports up to 60% (regular grants) and up to 100% (competitive bidding) of the costs calculated according to the methodology indicated in each call for proposals (usually covering capital and operational costs minus revenues over the first ten years of operation).
Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)	(Managed at national level) Link for more information about the French plan. Link for more information about the Portuguese plan. Link for more information about the Spanish plan.	The RRF is a temporary instrument and supports Member States, to implement ambitious reforms and investments that e.g. make their economies and societies more sustainable, resilient and prepared for the green and digital transitions. The RRF is also crucial for implementing the REPowerEU plan.
Horizon Europe	An open call worth EUR 246 million for projects in sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply. This includes activities in the areas of renewable energy; energy system, grids and storage; as well as Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS). The deadline is 16 January 2024. All funding information and details on how to apply are on the Funding and Tenders portal Link for more information about the Cluster.	Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation.
Life	All LIFE calls for proposals, including LIFE Clean energy transition, are published on CINEA's website as well as the European Commission’s Funding & Tenders porta l.	The LIFE Programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action.
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)	(Managed at national/regional level) All regions and Member States need to concentrate at least 30% of their allocation to Policy Objective 2 and more developed regions or MSs need to dedicate at least 85% of their allocation to PO1* and PO2. * Policy objective 1 = a more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity.	The ERDF is designed to strengthen economic, social and territorial cohesion in the European Union.
European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)		The EAFRD finances the EU's contribution to rural development programmes (RDPs).