What should the EU do? A perspective from OCTA

30 July 2010. While linked to the EU but not part of it, OCTs (Overseas Countries and Territories) only represent an infinitesimal part of EU initiatives. Until recently the rich biodiversity, and vulnerability of OCTs to climate change was not acknowledged and the urgency to act in these territories was not targeted or addressed in EU policies. The consensus on the vulnerability to climate change, already acknowledged in the case of small island states, has led to a new dialogue between OCTs and the EU.

Sectors such as energy, waste management, and forests were included in the EU Associative Decision of the Treaty (2001), yet this does not constitute an integrated approach to environmental matters. In addition, the administrative separation between the EU’s relationship with OCTs and EU external relations does not lead to a sound consideration of environmental issues which go beyond administrative boundaries and necessitate local as well as regional solutions.

A comprehensive approach is necessary given the EU commitments to the protection of biodiversity and climate change at the European and global level. The Review of the Associative Decision that is under way is an opportunity to look more closely at the issues of climate change and biodiversity in OCTs and enhance the relationship between the EU and these entities. With the Outermost Regions, who share a lot of similarities with OCTs, EU Overseas Entities (OEs) constitute a group of islands and mainland territories scattered across the globe, home to far more biodiversity than the European continent itself.

Solidarity with OEs should focus on solutions beyond the concept of their geographical remoteness (and therefore burden and costs) and instead should focus on valuing natural assets and a partnership approach – with clear objectives supported with the relevant expertise and tools, (noting that protected areas and ecological networks already exist in some OEs).

With a partner like the EU, the modification of some established tools to meet the specificities of the OEs now seems possible. Yet to be able to address these challenges effectively, there is a need to bring together EU action on areas such as research, climate change, biodiversity, entrepreneurship and educational programmes for example. In addition to a better integration of the OEs in EU programmes, it is also necessary to go beyond the status classification to create links between the OEs and the EU or potential regional partnerships with EU support.

• Read more on OCTs on Overseas Countries and Territories Association (OCTA) website

Photo: Bermuda © Konrad Glogowski