The EU has increased funding for outermost regions under cohesion, agriculture and fisheries policies for 2021–2027. Cohesion policy remains central in raising living standards, improving essential services and connectivity, and helping people stay in their home regions. Agriculture is supported through the POSEI programme and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, which help farmers, processing, value‑added activities and sustainable rural development. EMFAF funding helps fisheries and aquaculture businesses to cope with extra operating costs and supports a sustainable blue economy.
However, some outermost regions face structural weaknesses in administrative and technical capacity, which can slow down project preparation and implementation. There is also a need to promote synergies between different sources of funding and facilitate effective implementation.
These challenges are key to be addressed in light of the next 2028–2034 multiannual financial framework.
Reinforce administrative and technical capacity
To maximise the impact of EU funds in the outermost regions, robust cooperation at all governance levels is crucial, alongside developing expertise tailored to each region’s unique needs. Structural weaknesses in some outermost regions need to be addressed, particularly in administrative and technical capacity.
To address the specific financing, administrative and technical needs of the outermost regions, it is essential to foster continuous dialogue and collaboration, enabling the exchange of best practices and innovative solutions to effectively programme and implement EU funds.
- launch an improved advisory tool for outermost regions to offer additional support and follow-up recommendations.
- promote the opportunities offered by the existing tools and develop tailored measures to build capacity at managing authority level.
- promote the participation of smaller organisations from the outermost regions under different competitive programmes.
The Commission also encourages the outermost regions and their Member States to:
- devote adequate resources and expertise to effectively implement EU programmes and funds at both regional and national levels.
- pursue interplay between EU, national and regional funds and programmes and make full use of existing EU tools to increase the regions’ administrative and technical capacity under the 2021-2027 programming period.
The 2028–2034 multiannual financial framework
Support for the outermost regions is spread across several EU funds, with limited coordination. Under the Commission’s proposal for the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, the outermost regions and their Member States will have more responsibility and flexibility over setting their own objectives, milestones, targets and outputs for the implementation of EU funds.
The National and Regional Partnership Plans will allow for measures in areas such as food security, housing, transport and digital connectivity, energy, water, waste management, employment, education and skills, social inclusion, migration, climate change, environmental protection, healthcare and economic development, including the blue economy.
The Commission’s proposal for a European Competitiveness Fund includes the objective of untapping their potential as geostrategic outposts, including by supporting their SMEs, as they are the main business fabric of these regions. The interconnected nature of funding under the future Global Europe Regulation, Interreg, the Decision on Overseas Association including Greenland, and the National Regional and Partnership Plans will be strengthened from the beginning of the programming period.
- develop tailored measures and organise dedicated workshops to share information on available opportunities under the different EU programmes in the 2028-34 MFF.
- assess the National and Regional Partnership Plans to ensure they take adequate account of the specific needs of the outermost regions, including the need to build administrative capacity.
- assess the existence of market failures in terms of accessing finance in the outermost regions and promote tailored financial products.
The Commission also encourages the outermost regions and their Member States to:
- ensure that the outermost regions can fully benefit from the National and Regional Partnership Plans, identifying their key priorities for reform and investment.
- strengthen administrative capacity in the outermost regions and ensure there is sufficient human and financial resources and expertise for the implementation of EU funds.
- take advantage of technical assistance and consider the use of financial instruments to leverage additional private resources.