Press Release: Beyond fighting poverty – Commission pushes for modernised EU relationship with Overseas Countries and Territories

The European Commission is seeking to redefine the EU - Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) relationship in view of the revision of the Overseas Association Decision. On 1 March, European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs will participate in the annual OCT-EU Forum (Noumea, New Caledonia) to express his support for a new EU-OCT partnership based on the specific situation of these countries. The Commission intends to move this relationship beyond the fight against poverty towards the sustainable development of the OCTs based on a partnership that brings mutual benefits and obligations. On 1 March Commissioner Piebalgs will also meet with Mrs Marie-Luce Penchard, Member of the French government, and Mr Albert Dupuy, the High-Commissioner of New Caledonia (representative of the French government in New Caledonia).

• Primary Source

European Commission: Memo/11/120:Q&A on EU support to Overseas Countries and Territories http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/120&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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