A Constructive Dialogue with Europe

After the Ministerial Conference of the Overseas Countries and Territories Association of the European Union (OCTA) in the middle of last week, New Caledonia participated on December 11 in the 18th EU-OCT Forum. This forum for dialogue brings together the European Union's Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs - 13 in number since Brexit), the Member States to which they are linked and the European Union (EU). Organized alternately in Brussels or in an OCT, these two events, which had brought the partners together in French Polynesia in 2019, were held this year by videoconference.

Towards a Modernized Partnership

A few days after his election as head of OCTA, New Caledonia intervened at the end of the session, at around 6:30 on Friday morning. Delivered by the head of the Regional Cooperation and External Relations Department (SCRRE), François Behue, on behalf of President Santa, and in the presence of the head of the EU office for the Pacific OCTs, Pierre-Henri Hellepute, it was an opportunity to outline the priorities of the New Caledonian mandate for the coming year. "This moment should be a new beginning for the partnership between the EU and the members of the OCTA, who have just agreed on the imminent launch of work on their 2021-2027 strategy," stressed the SCRRE Head. Subject to the finalization of negotiations, from January 1, 2021 the EU-OCT relationship will indeed be framed by a new Overseas Association Decision. This OAD, which will include Greenland, provides a budget of 500 million euros for the OCTs, for the period 2021-2027.

Converging Objectives

"Taking into account the mutual interests of the EU and our territories, the mandate of the OCTA presidency will focus its current efforts on economic recovery in the OCTs," announced the representative of New Caledonia. A point of view aligned with the position of the European Commissioner in charge of international partnerships. Jutta Urpilainen has indeed confirmed that she shares "the vision of a greener, more inclusive and more sustainable future that will enable us to face the economic, social and environmental challenges we are facing. Our cooperation over the period 2021-2027 will focus on building resilience in the OCTs, building on our shared priorities: the Green Pact, digitalization, growth, jobs and education."

The priority sectors of the next territorial and regional envelopes, which will be determined precisely in 2021, will therefore be in line with the guidelines defined by the European Commission.