Corrigendum to Council Decision 2013/755/EU of 25 November 2013 on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Union (‘Overseas Association Decision’) (Decision first published in the Official Journal of the European Union L 344 of 19 December 2013.)

Corrigenda to the Decision relate to the following:

Preparation, appraisal and approval of the Programming Document:

·        Article 84(6): this should read: ‘The OCTs authorities and the Commission shall be jointly responsible for approving the programming document. The Commission shall approve the programming document following the procedure provided for in Article 87.’

Union financial Assistance 11th EDF (allocation between the various instruments):

·        Annex II, Article 1(1)(c) should read: ‘EUR 8,5 million to studies or technical assistance measures in accordance with Article 81 of this Decision, and to an overall evaluation of the Decision to be made four years before it expires, at the latest.’

List of products and working or processing operations which confer originating status.

Annex VI, Appendix II, Harmonised System Heading ex 0307, ‘Description of product’ should read: ‘Molluscs, whether in shell or not, dried, salted or in brine; aquatic invertebrates other than crustaceans and molluscs, dried, salted or in brine; flours, meals and pellets of aquatic invertebrates other than crustaceans, fit for human consumption’.

PURPOSE: to modernise the Council Decision on the association of the overseas countries and territories (OCT) with the European Union in order to promote the social and economic development of the OCTs and to establish closer economic relations between the latter and the EU.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: OCTs have been associated to the European Union since the entry into force in 1958 of the Treaty of Rome. Since the adoption in 2001 of the current Overseas Association Decision, the regional and international environments in which OCTs operate has changed considerably. New political priorities have emerged at European and international level, (such as environment, climate change, sustainable management of natural resources) as well as change in global trade patterns.

The OCTs continue to face economic and social problems and/or struggle to found their economies on a sustainable basis.

·        The main challenge that OCTs face consists in putting their economies and societies on a sustainable development path by increasing their competitiveness, reducing their vulnerability, increasing environmental resilience, and cooperating with their neighbours and integrating in the regional and/or world economies, where this is possible.

·        For the Union, the challenge resides in supporting the OCTs with the accomplishment of these goals and of the purpose of the association, via a framework that is adapted to OCT needs, realities, particularities and diversity. Coherence with the Europe 2020 strategy should be sought as far as its smart growth and sustainable priorities are concerned, promoting support to research,  innovation as well as to information and communication technologies (ICT) and sustainable growth capacities as catalysts for socioeconomic development.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: three policy options were examined in detail:

·        Policy option 1: status quo - renewal of the current Overseas Association Decision without any changes;

·        Policy option 2: modernisation of the Overseas Association Decision and alignment with EU policy framework;

·        Policy option 3: several partnership agreements concluded entailing a diversification of EU-OCT relations.

Policy option 2 was chosen, since it would:

·        enhance  an EU-OCT cooperation based  on the mutual interests the stakeholders identified throughout the consultation process;

·        promote a more efficient cooperation through a more focus and coordinated action between the Union, the OCTs and their Member States;

·        support the OCTs to address sensitive issues undermining their sustainable development, such as climate change, which they cannot tackle alone;

·        offer to  the OCTs a modernised trade  regime with the Union that would 1) entail improved rules and origins and 2) guarantee a treatment for trade in services and establishment that would not be less favourable than the one given by the Union to other third partners, which is not the case under the current framework;

·        better reflect the notion of mutual interests than it is currently the case;

·        allow the integration of Union policy agenda priorities in the relations between the Union and the OCTs and enhance the EU added value as a global partner in emerging global issues.

LEGAL BASIS: Article 203 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.

CONTENT : the objectives of the proposal for a Council decision on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Union consist of:

·        supporting the promotion of EU values and standards in the wider world;

·        establishing a more reciprocal relationship between EU and OCTs based on mutual interests;

·        enhancing OCTs' competitiveness;

·        strengthening OCTs' resilience and reduce their economic and environmental vulnerabilities;

·        promoting cooperation of OCTs with third partners;

·        integrating EU policy agenda priorities;

·        taking into account changes in global trade patterns and EU  trade agreements with third partners.

These objectives will be attained particularly through promoting and supporting:

·        the economic and social development of the OCTs ;

·        the OCTs' capacities to define and implement policies, strategies, action plans and measures in the areas chosen for cooperation between the parties;

·        coordinated cooperation in the field of environment, climate change and disaster risk reduction, in support of the OCTs' sustainable development;

·        sustainable resource use and resource efficiency;

·        a process decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation;

·        excellence and industrial competitiveness within OCTs, through cooperation between the European Union and OCTs in the field of science, technology, including  information and communication technologies, research and innovation;

·        the provision of high quality education and decent work in the OCTs and regions where they are located;

·        the strengthening of OCTs' capacity for surveillance, detection and response to outbreaks of communicable diseases;

·        the preservation of the cultural diversity and identity of OCTs;

·        effective integration  in the regional and world economies and the development of trade in goods and services;

·        OCT capacities to formulate and implement policies necessary for the development of their trade in goods and services;

·        creating a  favourable investment climate  to support their social and economic development;

·        the OCTs' export and trading capacities.

The approach towards cooperation with the OCTs contained in the Commission's legislative proposal respects the principles of partnership, complementarity and subsidiarity. It proposes that the Union financial assistance to OCTs be based on programming documents, for which the competent OCT authorities and the Commission would be jointly responsible and which would define the cooperation strategies between the Union and the OCTs. These cooperation strategies would be based on the development objectives, strategies and priorities adopted by the competent OCT authorities. Activities would be decided upon in close consultation between the Commission, the OCTs and their Member States, in full respect of the respective institutional, legal and financial powers of each of the partners.

Without prejudice to the Commission's powers, the OCT authorities would have primary responsibility for implementing the operations agreed upon under the cooperation strategy.

The Commission would be responsible for establishing the general rules and conditions regarding these programmes and projects.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: in the Commission Communication on "Preparation of the multiannual financial framework regarding the financing of Union cooperation for African, Caribbean and Pacific States and Overseas Countries and Territories for the 2014-2020 period (11th European Development Fund)", an amount of EUR 343.4 million is envisaged for cooperation with the OCTs.

This amount shall be allocated according to a Council Decision to be taken before 31 December 2013 for implementing the Association with the OCTs, of which EUR 338.4 million to finance territorial and regional programmes, and EUR 5 million in the form of an allocation to the EIB to finance interest subsidies and technical assistance in accordance with the Overseas Association Decision.

The European Parliament adopted by 582 votes to 24 with 63 abstentions, in the framework of a special legislative procedure (Parliament consultation), a legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council decision on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Union (‘Overseas Association Decision’).

Parliament approves the commission’s proposal whilst making the following amendments:

Objectives: in order to ensure that the objectives of the association of the overseas countries and territories (OCTs) with the Union are met, Parliament calls for the identity and geographical position of each OCT to be taken into account, together with its political, economic and social situation. It also calls for priority to be given to cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as the promotion of green growth and green jobs in all green-growth industries.

OCTs should also be able to participate in Union horizontal programmes, such as the Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE).

Promotion of the association: Members consider that the Union and the OCTs endeavour to make the association and the shared benefits accruing from it known among their citizens, in particular by promoting the development of links and cooperation between the social partners. The Union shall ensure effective OCT participation in information and communication programmes, with particular reference to the 'Europe Direct' information centres, in order to bring Europe closer to its citizens in the OCTs.

Regional cooperation: the Union shall also involve the OCTs in its political dialogue with OCT neighbours, and shall inform them of the agendas and resolutions or recommendations of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

Members consider it crucial that the members of parliament representing OCTs at national and Union level must be involved in the process in order to ensure that it is as democratic as possible.

Sustainable management: in the context of the association, Members insist that cooperation in the field of sustainable management and conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services may concern aid to SMEs engaged in sustainable economic activities, particularly in the research, farming, crafts and tourism sectors. In the field of integrated coastal zone management may concern conciliation of economic and social activities such as agriculture, maritime and air transports, industry, mining activities and regional planning with the potential of marine and coastal zones in terms of renewable energy, raw materials, whilst taking into account impacts of climate change and land pollution from human and animal activities.

The resolution also underlines the need to strengthen the coordination and cooperation of the Commission and the OCTs in order to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing effectively by supporting local systems of monitoring.

When it comes to investing in road infrastructure, Members state that the emphasis should be on improving public transport and sustainable forms of road transport.

Areas of cooperation: in the context of the association, cooperation and dialogue should also:

• strengthen the ties between young people living in the OCTs and the Union, among others by promoting educational and initial, vocational or continuing training, learning exchanges and mobility of OCT youth and by fostering intercultural learning and mutual understanding between young people;
• ensure that young people are actively engaged on the labour market in order to avoid youth unemployment;
• boost job creation, particularly in SMEs, by promoting ambitious social standards. The dialogue shall encourage all innovative measures which protect the environment and the health of workers and citizens, aimed at enabling job creation in areas where OCTs have an asset such as biodiversity, mineral resources and new technology;
• ensure the training of a qualified workforce to meet labour market needs;
• cooperate in order to exchange best practices for active labour market policies, a strong social dialogue, labour standards and social protection in order to safeguard the rights of workers.

Parliament wishes to introduce provisions in the association decision including: (i) the free movement of workers between OCTs and EU Member States; (ii) the establishment of social dialogue and the development of social democracy; (iii) cooperation in the area of health and safety at work.

The resolution stresses that emphasis should be placed on the economic impact, particularly in terms of tourism, of exploiting the potential of heritage sites in a sustainable way.

Negotiation of trade agreements with third countries: when negotiating a trade agreement with a third country, the Union shall strive to provide for the extension of the tariff preferences granted to Union products to products originating in OCTs. Where trade agreements currently being negotiated with third countries risk endangering the traditional trade sectors characteristic of OCTs, the Commission shall carry out prior impact assessments of the potential consequences.  When completed, those prior impact assessments shall be forwarded by the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the governmental and local authorities of the OCTs before the conclusion of the international agreements in question.

Technical assistance: Parliament recommends that the Commission organise at least once a year, preferably in connection with the EU-OCT Forum, a technical meeting of regional authorising officers and authorising officers by delegation with a view to strengthening the institutionalised technical dialogue and streamlining the programming and implementation of funds. The Commission shall ensure that the programming rules take account of the OCTs' limited human and administrative resources and their institutional ties with the Member State to which they are linked. In this connection, the programming document shall be the subject of an exchange of views between the OCT, the Member State concerned and the Commission. Parliament should be informed of decisions adopted by the Commission.

Breakdown between different instruments: Parliament calls for a 5% increase in overall EDF funding (from EUR 343.4 million to EUR 360.57 million). It proposes that an additional EUR 2 million should be allocated to technical assistance (EUR 10 million instead of EUR 8 million).

Members would like to see the funds allocated to support regional cooperation and integration increased from EUR 105 million to EUR 120.17 million.

Derogations: Members call for derogations to be granted to OCTs in respect of fisheries products within the limit of an annual quota of 2 500 tonnes for fisheries products which require automatic derogations: frozen fillets of cod; salted and dried, but not smoked, cod; salted, but not dried or smoked, cod; frozen fillets of halibut, lemon sole, plaice; crab; frozen meat of scallops.

Implementation: although it does not play a co-legislative role in connection with Council decisions of this kind, Parliament considers that it has the right to be informed of the adoption of delegated acts by the Commission, of any objections to such acts formulated by the Council and of any Council decision to revoke the delegation of powers.

The European Parliament adopted by 582 votes to 24 with 63 abstentions, in the framework of a special legislative procedure (Parliament consultation), a legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council decision on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Union (‘Overseas Association Decision’).

Parliament approves the commission’s proposal whilst making the following amendments:

Objectives: in order to ensure that the objectives of the association of the overseas countries and territories (OCTs) with the Union are met, Parliament calls for the identity and geographical position of each OCT to be taken into account, together with its political, economic and social situation. It also calls for priority to be given to cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as the promotion of green growth and green jobs in all green-growth industries.

OCTs should also be able to participate in Union horizontal programmes, such as the Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE).

Promotion of the association: Members consider that the Union and the OCTs endeavour to make the association and the shared benefits accruing from it known among their citizens, in particular by promoting the development of links and cooperation between the social partners. The Union shall ensure effective OCT participation in information and communication programmes, with particular reference to the 'Europe Direct' information centres, in order to bring Europe closer to its citizens in the OCTs.

Regional cooperation: the Union shall also involve the OCTs in its political dialogue with OCT neighbours, and shall inform them of the agendas and resolutions or recommendations of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

Members consider it crucial that the members of parliament representing OCTs at national and Union level must be involved in the process in order to ensure that it is as democratic as possible.

Sustainable management: in the context of the association, Members insist that cooperation in the field of sustainable management and conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services may concern aid to SMEs engaged in sustainable economic activities, particularly in the research, farming, crafts and tourism sectors. In the field of integrated coastal zone management may concern conciliation of economic and social activities such as agriculture, maritime and air transports, industry, mining activities and regional planning with the potential of marine and coastal zones in terms of renewable energy, raw materials, whilst taking into account impacts of climate change and land pollution from human and animal activities.

The resolution also underlines the need to strengthen the coordination and cooperation of the Commission and the OCTs in order to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing effectively by supporting local systems of monitoring.

When it comes to investing in road infrastructure, Members state that the emphasis should be on improving public transport and sustainable forms of road transport.

Areas of cooperation: in the context of the association, cooperation and dialogue should also:

• strengthen the ties between young people living in the OCTs and the Union, among others by promoting educational and initial, vocational or continuing training, learning exchanges and mobility of OCT youth and by fostering intercultural learning and mutual understanding between young people;
• ensure that young people are actively engaged on the labour market in order to avoid youth unemployment;
• boost job creation, particularly in SMEs, by promoting ambitious social standards. The dialogue shall encourage all innovative measures which protect the environment and the health of workers and citizens, aimed at enabling job creation in areas where OCTs have an asset such as biodiversity, mineral resources and new technology;
• ensure the training of a qualified workforce to meet labour market needs;
• cooperate in order to exchange best practices for active labour market policies, a strong social dialogue, labour standards and social protection in order to safeguard the rights of workers.

Parliament wishes to introduce provisions in the association decision including: (i) the free movement of workers between OCTs and EU Member States; (ii) the establishment of social dialogue and the development of social democracy; (iii) cooperation in the area of health and safety at work.

The resolution stresses that emphasis should be placed on the economic impact, particularly in terms of tourism, of exploiting the potential of heritage sites in a sustainable way.

Negotiation of trade agreements with third countries: when negotiating a trade agreement with a third country, the Union shall strive to provide for the extension of the tariff preferences granted to Union products to products originating in OCTs. Where trade agreements currently being negotiated with third countries risk endangering the traditional trade sectors characteristic of OCTs, the Commission shall carry out prior impact assessments of the potential consequences.  When completed, those prior impact assessments shall be forwarded by the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the governmental and local authorities of the OCTs before the conclusion of the international agreements in question.

Technical assistance: Parliament recommends that the Commission organise at least once a year, preferably in connection with the EU-OCT Forum, a technical meeting of regional authorising officers and authorising officers by delegation with a view to strengthening the institutionalised technical dialogue and streamlining the programming and implementation of funds. The Commission shall ensure that the programming rules take account of the OCTs' limited human and administrative resources and their institutional ties with the Member State to which they are linked. In this connection, the programming document shall be the subject of an exchange of views between the OCT, the Member State concerned and the Commission. Parliament should be informed of decisions adopted by the Commission.

Breakdown between different instruments: Parliament calls for a 5% increase in overall EDF funding (from EUR 343.4 million to EUR 360.57 million). It proposes that an additional EUR 2 million should be allocated to technical assistance (EUR 10 million instead of EUR 8 million).

Members would like to see the funds allocated to support regional cooperation and integration increased from EUR 105 million to EUR 120.17 million.

Derogations: Members call for derogations to be granted to OCTs in respect of fisheries products within the limit of an annual quota of 2 500 tonnes for fisheries products which require automatic derogations: frozen fillets of cod; salted and dried, but not smoked, cod; salted, but not dried or smoked, cod; frozen fillets of halibut, lemon sole, plaice; crab; frozen meat of scallops.

Implementation: although it does not play a co-legislative role in connection with Council decisions of this kind, Parliament considers that it has the right to be informed of the adoption of delegated acts by the Commission, of any objections to such acts formulated by the Council and of any Council decision to revoke the delegation of powers.

The Committee on Development adopted, in the framework of a special legislative procedure (Parliament consultation), a report drafted by Patrice TIROLIEN (S&D, FR) on the proposal for a Council decision on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Union (‘Overseas Association Decision’).

The committee proposes to amend the Commission proposal as follows:

Objectives: in order to ensure that the objectives of the association of the overseas countries and territories (OCTs) with the Union are met, Member calls for the identity and geographical position of each OCT to be taken into account, together with its political, economic and social situation. They also call for priority to be given to cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as the promotion of green growth and green jobs in all green-growth industries.

Promotion of the association: with an aim to strengthen the relations between themselves, the Union shall ensure effective OCT participation in information and communication programmes, with particular reference to the 'Europe Direct' information centres, in order to bring Europe closer to its citizens in the OCTs.

Regional cooperation: the Union shall also involve the OCTs in its political dialogue with OCT neighbours, and shall inform them of the agendas and resolutions or recommendations of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

Members consider it crucial that the members of parliament representing OCTs at national and Union level must be involved in the process in order to ensure that it is as democratic as possible.

To fulfill the objective of strengthening regional cooperation and promoting OCTs as outposts of the EU in their respective regions, action should be taken to facilitate access by ORs and neighbouring ACP and non-ACP States to the annual OCT-EU Forum, where appropriate.

Sustainable management: in the context of the association, Members insist that cooperation in the field of sustainable management and conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services may concern aid to SMEs engaged in sustainable economic activities, particularly in the research, farming, crafts and tourism sectors. In the field of integrated coastal zone management may concern conciliation of economic and social activities such as agriculture, maritime and air transports, industry, mining activities and regional planning with the potential of marine and coastal zones in terms of renewable energy, raw materials, whilst taking into account impacts of climate change and land pollution from human and animal activities.

The report underlines the need to strengthen the coordination and cooperation of the Commission and the OCTs associated with the EU thus needs to be strengthened in order to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing effectively.

When it comes to investing in road infrastructure, Members state that the emphasis should be on improving public transport and sustainable forms of road transport.

Areas of cooperation: in the context of the association, cooperation and dialogue should also:

• strengthen the ties between young people living in the OCTs and the Union, among others by promoting educational and initial, vocational or continuing training, learning exchanges and mobility of OCT youth and by fostering intercultural learning and mutual understanding between young people;
• ensure that young people are actively engaged on the labour market in order to avoid youth unemployment;
• boost job creation, particularly in SMEs, by promoting ambitious social standards. The dialogue shall encourage all innovative measures which protect the environment and the health of workers and citizens, aimed at enabling job creation in areas where OCTs have an asset;
• cooperate in order to exchange best practices for active labour market policies, a strong social dialogue, labour standards and social protection in order to safeguard the rights of workers.

The association decision should include provisions on: (i) the free movement of workers between OCTs and EU Member States; (ii) the establishment of social dialogue and the development of social democracy; (iii) cooperation in the area of health and safety at work.

The report stresses that emphasis should be placed on the economic impact, particularly in terms of tourism, of exploiting the potential of heritage sites in a sustainable way.

Negotiation of trade agreements with third countries: when negotiating a trade agreement with a third country, the Union shall strive to provide for the extension of the tariff preferences granted to Union products to products originating in OCTs. Where trade agreements currently being negotiated with third countries risk endangering the traditional trade sectors characteristic of OCTs, the Commission shall carry out prior impact assessments of the potential consequences.  When completed, those prior impact assessments shall be forwarded by the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the governmental and local authorities of the OCTs before the conclusion of the international agreements in question.

Technical assistance: the Commission shall organise at least once a year, preferably in connection with the EU-OCT Forum, a technical meeting of regional authorising officers and authorising officers by delegation with a view to strengthening the institutionalised technical dialogue and streamlining the programming and implementation of funds. The Commission shall ensure that the programming rules take account of the OCTs' limited human and administrative resources and their institutional ties with the Member State to which they are linked. In this connection, the programming document shall be the subject of an exchange of views between the OCT, the Member State concerned and the Commission. Parliament should be informed of decisions adopted by the Commission.

Breakdown between different instruments: in line with Parliament’s mandate in respect of the financial framework, Members call for a 5% increase in overall EDF funding is requested (from EUR 343.4 million to EUR 360.57 million). They propose that an additional EUR 2 million should be allocated to technical assistance (EUR 10 million instead of EUR 8 million).

Members would like to see the funds allocated to support regional cooperation and integration increased from EUR 105 million to EUR 120.17 million.

Derogations: Members call for derogations to be granted to OCTs in respect of fisheries products within the limit of an annual quota of 2 500 tonnes for fisheries products which require automatic derogations: frozen fillets of cod; salted and dried, but not smoked, cod; salted, but not dried or smoked, cod; frozen fillets of halibut, lemon sole, plaice; crab; frozen meat of scallops.

Implementation: although it does not play a co-legislative role in connection with Council decisions of this kind, Members consider that Parliament has the right to be informed of the adoption of delegated acts by the Commission, of any objections to such acts formulated by the Council and of any Council decision to revoke the delegation of powers.

PURPOSE: to modernise the Council Decision on the association of the overseas countries and territories (OCT) with the European Union in order to promote the social and economic development of the OCTs and to establish closer economic relations between the latter and the EU.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: OCTs have been associated to the European Union since the entry into force in 1958 of the Treaty of Rome. Since the adoption in 2001 of the current Overseas Association Decision, the regional and international environments in which OCTs operate has changed considerably. New political priorities have emerged at European and international level, (such as environment, climate change, sustainable management of natural resources) as well as change in global trade patterns.

The OCTs continue to face economic and social problems and/or struggle to found their economies on a sustainable basis.

·        The main challenge that OCTs face consists in putting their economies and societies on a sustainable development path by increasing their competitiveness, reducing their vulnerability, increasing environmental resilience, and cooperating with their neighbours and integrating in the regional and/or world economies, where this is possible.

·        For the Union, the challenge resides in supporting the OCTs with the accomplishment of these goals and of the purpose of the association, via a framework that is adapted to OCT needs, realities, particularities and diversity. Coherence with the Europe 2020 strategy should be sought as far as its smart growth and sustainable priorities are concerned, promoting support to research,  innovation as well as to information and communication technologies (ICT) and sustainable growth capacities as catalysts for socioeconomic development.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: three policy options were examined in detail:

·        Policy option 1: status quo - renewal of the current Overseas Association Decision without any changes;

·        Policy option 2: modernisation of the Overseas Association Decision and alignment with EU policy framework;

·        Policy option 3: several partnership agreements concluded entailing a diversification of EU-OCT relations.

Policy option 2 was chosen, since it would:

·        enhance  an EU-OCT cooperation based  on the mutual interests the stakeholders identified throughout the consultation process;

·        promote a more efficient cooperation through a more focus and coordinated action between the Union, the OCTs and their Member States;

·        support the OCTs to address sensitive issues undermining their sustainable development, such as climate change, which they cannot tackle alone;

·        offer to  the OCTs a modernised trade  regime with the Union that would 1) entail improved rules and origins and 2) guarantee a treatment for trade in services and establishment that would not be less favourable than the one given by the Union to other third partners, which is not the case under the current framework;

·        better reflect the notion of mutual interests than it is currently the case;

·        allow the integration of Union policy agenda priorities in the relations between the Union and the OCTs and enhance the EU added value as a global partner in emerging global issues.

LEGAL BASIS: Article 203 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.

CONTENT : the objectives of the proposal for a Council decision on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Union consist of:

·        supporting the promotion of EU values and standards in the wider world;

·        establishing a more reciprocal relationship between EU and OCTs based on mutual interests;

·        enhancing OCTs' competitiveness;

·        strengthening OCTs' resilience and reduce their economic and environmental vulnerabilities;

·        promoting cooperation of OCTs with third partners;

·        integrating EU policy agenda priorities;

·        taking into account changes in global trade patterns and EU  trade agreements with third partners.

These objectives will be attained particularly through promoting and supporting:

·        the economic and social development of the OCTs ;

·        the OCTs' capacities to define and implement policies, strategies, action plans and measures in the areas chosen for cooperation between the parties;

·        coordinated cooperation in the field of environment, climate change and disaster risk reduction, in support of the OCTs' sustainable development;

·        sustainable resource use and resource efficiency;

·        a process decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation;

·        excellence and industrial competitiveness within OCTs, through cooperation between the European Union and OCTs in the field of science, technology, including  information and communication technologies, research and innovation;

·        the provision of high quality education and decent work in the OCTs and regions where they are located;

·        the strengthening of OCTs' capacity for surveillance, detection and response to outbreaks of communicable diseases;

·        the preservation of the cultural diversity and identity of OCTs;

·        effective integration  in the regional and world economies and the development of trade in goods and services;

·        OCT capacities to formulate and implement policies necessary for the development of their trade in goods and services;

·        creating a  favourable investment climate  to support their social and economic development;

·        the OCTs' export and trading capacities.

The approach towards cooperation with the OCTs contained in the Commission's legislative proposal respects the principles of partnership, complementarity and subsidiarity. It proposes that the Union financial assistance to OCTs be based on programming documents, for which the competent OCT authorities and the Commission would be jointly responsible and which would define the cooperation strategies between the Union and the OCTs. These cooperation strategies would be based on the development objectives, strategies and priorities adopted by the competent OCT authorities. Activities would be decided upon in close consultation between the Commission, the OCTs and their Member States, in full respect of the respective institutional, legal and financial powers of each of the partners.

Without prejudice to the Commission's powers, the OCT authorities would have primary responsibility for implementing the operations agreed upon under the cooperation strategy.

The Commission would be responsible for establishing the general rules and conditions regarding these programmes and projects.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: in the Commission Communication on "Preparation of the multiannual financial framework regarding the financing of Union cooperation for African, Caribbean and Pacific States and Overseas Countries and Territories for the 2014-2020 period (11th European Development Fund)", an amount of EUR 343.4 million is envisaged for cooperation with the OCTs.

This amount shall be allocated according to a Council Decision to be taken before 31 December 2013 for implementing the Association with the OCTs, of which EUR 338.4 million to finance territorial and regional programmes, and EUR 5 million in the form of an allocation to the EIB to finance interest subsidies and technical assistance in accordance with the Overseas Association Decision.