This Decision establishes an association of the overseas countries and territories (OCTs) with the Union (the ‘association’), which constitutes a partnership, based on Article 198 TFEU, to support the OCTs’ sustainable development as well as to promote the values and standards of the Union in the wider world.
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)
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)
PART ONE GENERAL PROVISIONS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF THE OVERSEAS COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES WITH THE UNION
Chapter 1 General provisions
Article 1 Purpose
1.
2.
The partners to the association are the Union, the OCTs and the Member States to which they are linked.
Article 2 Territorial application
The association shall apply to the OCTs listed in Annex II to the TFEU.
Article 3 Objectives, principles and values
1.
The association between the Union and the OCTs shall be based on objectives, principles and values shared by the OCTs, the Member States to which they are linked and the Union.
2.
The association shall pursue the overall objectives laid down in Article 199 TFEU, by the enhancement of the OCTs’s competitiveness, the strengthening of the OCTs’ resilience, the reduction of their economic and environmental vulnerability and the promotion of cooperation between them and other partners.
3.
In pursuing those objectives, the association shall respect the fundamental principles of liberty, democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, the rule of law, good governance and sustainable development, all of which are common to the OCTs and the Member States to which they are linked.
4.
There shall be no discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation in the areas of cooperation referred to in this Decision.
5.
The partners recognise each other’s rights to determine their sustainable development policies and priorities, to establish their own levels of domestic environmental and labour protection, and to adopt or modify accordingly the relevant laws and policies, consistently with commitment to the internationally recognised standards and agreements. In doing so, they shall strive to ensure high levels of environmental and labour protection.
6.
In implementing this Decision, the partners shall be guided by the principles of transparency, subsidiarity and the need for efficiency and shall equally address the three pillars of OCTs’ sustainable development: economic development, social development and environmental protection.