OCTA
The OCTs are represented in the Overseas Countries and Territories Association (OCTA). OCTA is registered as a non-profit organization in Belgium and has 13 members. The members are: Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic lands (TAAF), Greenland, New-Caledonia, Saba, Saint-Barthelemy, Sint-Eustatius, Saint-Pierre-and-Miquelon, Sint-Maarten and Wallis and Futuna.
Its highest decision-making authority is the Ministerial Conference which consists of the representatives (Political Heads of Government or delegates) of each member Government. The Ministerial Conference meets annually and sets the political orientations and priorities of the association. It appoints a rotating Chair who heads the organization until the next meeting, and elects an Executive Committee (ExCo) whose task is to manage the daily operations of the association.
Next to the annual Ministerial Conference, the Commission organizes, with the aim of enabling the OCTs to take a full part in the implementation of the EU-OCT Association, a broad-based dialogue to enable the EU, all the OCTs and the Member States to which they are linked to consult each other on the principles, detailed procedures and results of the association. The OCT-EU Forum for dialogue meets annually to bring together OCT authorities, representatives of the Member States and the Commission (as well as Members of the European Parliament, the European Investment Bank or representatives of outermost regions, when appropriate). The Commission chairs the OCT-EU Forum and provides its secretariat.
The OCTs are a significant asset for Europe in their capacity as strategic outposts promoting European standards and values. Aruba believes that the OCTs can help the European Union to play the global role to which it aspires at international level. Situated as they are in the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean, the Atlantic or the Pacific they are directly confronted with the new challenges which Europe itself must face, including the globalisation of trade, new environmental threats, risks in relation to climate change and opportunities for sustainable energy transformation. The OCTs need to be sustainable developed. Given their natural assets and the opportunities for action they provide, the OCTs should form a crucial component of the European Union’s strategies and make an important and innovative contribution to sustainable solutions in international negotiations.
Its highest decision-making authority is the Ministerial Conference which consists of the representatives (Political Heads of Government or delegates) of each member Government. The Ministerial Conference meets annually and sets the political orientations and priorities of the association. It appoints a rotating Chair who heads the organization until the next meeting, and elects an Executive Committee (ExCo) whose task is to manage the daily operations of the association.
Next to the annual Ministerial Conference, the Commission organizes, with the aim of enabling the OCTs to take a full part in the implementation of the EU-OCT Association, a broad-based dialogue to enable the EU, all the OCTs and the Member States to which they are linked to consult each other on the principles, detailed procedures and results of the association. The OCT-EU Forum for dialogue meets annually to bring together OCT authorities, representatives of the Member States and the Commission (as well as Members of the European Parliament, the European Investment Bank or representatives of outermost regions, when appropriate). The Commission chairs the OCT-EU Forum and provides its secretariat.
The OCTs are a significant asset for Europe in their capacity as strategic outposts promoting European standards and values. Aruba believes that the OCTs can help the European Union to play the global role to which it aspires at international level. Situated as they are in the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean, the Atlantic or the Pacific they are directly confronted with the new challenges which Europe itself must face, including the globalisation of trade, new environmental threats, risks in relation to climate change and opportunities for sustainable energy transformation. The OCTs need to be sustainable developed. Given their natural assets and the opportunities for action they provide, the OCTs should form a crucial component of the European Union’s strategies and make an important and innovative contribution to sustainable solutions in international negotiations.
