Ultraperipheric area

The ultraperipheric areas ( RUP ) are areas which belong to the European Union but are located very largely apart from the continent of Europe. One should not confuse the ultraperipheric areas with the Pays and overseas territories (OCT) which do not form part of the Community territory although their nationals have the nationality of a Member State of the Union. Moreover the countries and overseas territories do not form part of the space Schengen.

Geography

The ultraperipheric areas are made up:

of the four overseas departments French: the Guyana, the Guadeloupe, the Martinique and the Meeting;
of the Portuguese autonomous regions : the the Azores and Madeira;
of a autonomous community Spanish: the Canary islands.

Economy and demography

They gather 4,2 million inhabitants and represent most of the maritime territory of the European Union what enables him with 25 million km to occupy the first world rank. They also provide to the European Union exotic agricultural produce (rum, cane sugar, bananas, etc). They represent alone nearly 80% of the European biodiversity.

Statute

Their existence is recognized by article 299-2 of the Traité establishing the European Community.

In the long term, if Mayotte becomes a French Département, it will become also a ultraperipheric area. The Finland would be in addition favorable to the entry of the Finnish Lapland in the list, its distance in the extreme North of Europe being close to insularity.

The French insular territories of St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre and Saint Martin's day become respectively communities of overseas within the meaning of article 74 of the French Constitution in consequence of a detachment with the Guadeloupe proceeded by an organic law. Profiting from a considerably widened autonomy, these two territories will remain in the European Union as ultraperipheric areas.

The federation of the Dutch West Indies is dissolved starting from July 1st, 2007: the insular territories of Bonaire, Sheba and Saint-Eustace become common Dutchwomen with particular status. Consequently, the government of the Netherlands will ask for the reclassification of these territories in ultraperipheric areas of the European Union. On the other hand, the Dutch insular territories of Curaçao and Saint Martin's day become respectively States associated with the Crown with the Netherlands, their statute of country and overseas territories does not have thus reason to evolve/move.

The E conference of the presidents of the ultraperipheric areas was held with the Meeting 2 with the September 4th 2005 in the presence of Danuta Hübner. The following one was held in Guadeloupe, in September 2006.

External bond

the ultraperipheric regional policy and areas

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