(6)

This new Decision should highlight the specificities concerning the cooperation with Greenland, such as the objective to preserve the close and lasting links between the Union, Greenland and Denmark, the acknowledgement of the geostrategic position of Greenland, the importance of policy dialogue between Greenland and the Union, the existence of a Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Union and Greenland and the potential cooperation on Arctic issues. It should respond to the global challenges allowing for the development of a proactive agenda and the pursuit of mutual interests, in particular, the increasing impact of climate change on human activity and the environment, maritime transport, natural resources, including raw materials and fish stocks, as well as research and innovation.

(6)

This new Decision should highlight the specificities concerning the cooperation with Greenland . The Council in 2003 agreed that the future relationship of the Union with Greenland after 2006 would be based on a comprehensive partnership for sustainable development which would include a specific fisheries agreement, negotiated according to the general rules and principles for such agreements. Indeed, the Joint Declaration by the European Union, on the one hand, and the Government of Greenland and the Government of Denmark, on the other, on relations between the European Union and Greenland, signed in Brussels on 19 March 2015, recalled the historical, political, economic and cultural links binding the Union to Greenland and stressed the need to step up relations and cooperation on the basis of mutual interests. The partnership established pursuant to this new decision should thus aim to preserve the close and lasting links between the Union, Greenland and Denmark and should enable global challenges to be overcome by developing a dynamic agenda and seeking mutual interests . The decision should stress the specific characteristics of cooperation with Greenland by acknowledging the geostrategic position of Greenland, the importance of political dialogue between Greenland and the Union, the existence of a Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Union and Greenland and the potential cooperation on Arctic issues. It should , in particular, take account of the increasing impact of climate change on human activity and the environment, maritime transport, natural resources, including raw materials and fish stocks, as well as research and innovation.

(16)

Reflecting the importance of tackling climate change in line with the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, this Programme will contribute to mainstream climate action in the Union’s policies and to the achievement of an overall target of 25 % of the Union’s budget expenditures supporting climate objectives. Actions under this Programme are expected to contribute 20  % of the overall financial envelope of the Programme to climate objectives. Relevant actions will be identified during the Programme's implementation and reassessed in the context of its mid-term evaluation and review processes.

(16)

Reflecting the importance of tackling climate change in line with the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, this Programme will contribute to mainstream climate action in the Union’s policies and to the achievement of an overall target of 25 % of the Union’s budget expenditures supporting climate objectives. Actions under this Programme are expected to contribute 30  % of the overall financial envelope of the Programme to climate objectives. Relevant actions will be identified during the Programme's implementation and reassessed in the context of its mid-term evaluation and review processes.

(18)

The Union and the OCTs recognise the special importance of education and vocational training as a lever for the OCTs’ sustainable development.

(18)

The Union and the OCTs recognise the special importance of education and vocational training as a lever for the OCTs’ sustainable development , in particular in territories where the population’s general level of education is rather low .

(19)

The association between the Union and the OCTs should take into account and contribute to the preservation of the cultural diversity and identity of OCTs.

(19)

The association between the Union and the OCTs should take into account and contribute to the preservation of the cultural diversity and identity of OCTs. It should also pay particular attention to and contribute to promoting and upholding the rights of the OCTs’ indigenous peoples.

(20)

Trade and trade-related cooperation between the Union and the OCTs should contribute to the objective of sustainable economic development, social development and environmental protection.

(20)

Trade and trade-related cooperation between the Union and the OCTs should contribute to the objective of sustainable economic development, social development and environmental protection along with the lines of the Sustainable Development Goals .

(21)

This Decision should provide for more flexible rules of origin, including new possibilities of cumulation of origin. Cumulation should be possible not only with OCTs and Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) countries, but under certain conditions also for products originating in countries with which the Union is applying a free trade agreement as well as for products entering the Union duty-free and quota-free under the Union’s General System of Preferences, also subject to conditions. These conditions are necessary to prevent trade circumvention and ensure the proper functioning of the cumulation arrangements.

(21)

This Decision should provide for more flexible rules of origin, including new possibilities of cumulation of origin. Cumulation should be possible not only with OCTs and Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) countries, but under certain conditions also for products originating in countries with which the Union is applying a free trade agreement as well as for products entering the Union duty-free and quota-free under the Union’s General System of Preferences, also subject to conditions. These conditions are necessary for a trading union which is more robust and capable of preventing trade circumvention and ensure the proper functioning of the cumulation arrangements.

(25)

Cooperation in the area of financial services between the Union and OCTs should contribute to building a safer, sounder, more transparent financial system that is essential to enhance global financial stability and to underpin sustainable growth. Efforts in that area should focus on convergence with internationally agreed standards and approximation of OCTs' legislation with Union acquis on financial services. Adequate attention should be paid to strengthening administrative capacity of OCTs' authorities, including in the area of supervision.

(25)

Cooperation in the area of financial services between the Union and OCTs should seek to tackle tax fraud, tax evasion and tax avoidance in order to contribute to building a safer, sounder, more transparent financial system that is essential to enhance global financial stability and to underpin sustainable growth. Efforts in that area should focus on convergence with internationally agreed standards and approximation of OCTs' legislation with Union acquis on financial services. Adequate attention should be paid to strengthening administrative capacity of OCTs' authorities, including in the area of supervision.

(32)

This Decision should make reference, where required, to [NDICI Regulation] (Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument) for the purpose of the implementation of the cooperation and thus ensuring coherence in the management across instruments.

(a)

to foster and support cooperation with OCTs,

(b)

to support and to cooperate with Greenland in addressing its major challenges as the raising of education level and to contribute to the capacity of the administration of Greenland to formulate and implement national policies.

(b)

to support the OCTs in addressing the major challenges they face, including education for Greenland;

(ba)

to strengthen the resilience of the OCTs by reducing their economic and environmental vulnerability;

(bb)

to improve the competitiveness of the OCTs, including as regards social standards;

(bc)

to promote cooperation between the OCTs and other partners.

(a)

the economic diversification of OCTs' economies, including their further integration in world and regional economies; in the specific case of Greenland, the need to increase the skills of its labour force.

(a)

the sustainable diversification of OCTs' economies, including their further integration in world and regional economies; in the specific case of Greenland, the need to increase the skills of its labour force.

(aa)

the promotion of a high-quality social model;

(e)

the promotion of disaster risk reduction;

(e)

the promotion of disaster risk reduction , taking into account the priorities set out in the Sendai Framework for the period 2015-2030 ;

(ha)

Caribbean and Pacific issues.

(aa)

building the capacity of the OCTs to influence the adoption of regional strategies which take account of their specific characteristics, their potential and their European perspective;

(a)

an OCTs-EU forum for dialogue (the ‘OCT-EU Forum’), shall meet annually to bring together OCTs' authorities, representatives of the Member States and the Commission. Members of the European Parliament, representatives of the EIB, and representatives of the outermost regions shall, where appropriate, be associated with the OCTs-EU Forum;

(a)

an OCTs-EU forum for political dialogue (the ‘OCT-EU Forum’), shall meet annually to bring together OCTs' authorities, representatives of the Member States , the Commission, the Council Presidency and the European Parliament . The association of OCTs (OCTA) , representatives of the EIB, representatives of the outermost regions and representatives of third countries or territories neighbouring OCTs shall, where appropriate, be associated with the OCTs-EU Forum;

(b)

on a regular basis, the Commission, the OCTs and the Member States to which they are linked shall hold trilateral consultations. These consultations shall be organised at least three times a year on the initiative of the Commission or at the request of the OCTs and of the Member States to which they are linked;

(b)

on a regular basis, the Commission, the OCTs and the Member States to which they are linked shall hold trilateral consultations. These consultations shall be organised at least four times a year on the initiative of the Commission or at the request of the OCTs and of the Member States to which they are linked;

(c)

the promotion of sustainable resource use and resource efficiency, and encouragement to the decoupling of economic growth from environmental degradation ; and

(c)

the promotion of sustainable resource use and resource efficiency, with a view to achieving a low carbon economy based on fair transition strategies ; and

(ea)

addressing issues linked to land degradation, including rising sea levels and soil contamination;

(b)

conciliation of economic and social activities such as fisheries and aquaculture, tourism, maritime transports and agriculture with the potential of marine and coastal zones in terms of renewable energy, raw materials, whilst taking into account impacts of climate change and human activities.

(b)

conciliation of economic and social activities such as fisheries and aquaculture, tourism, maritime transports and sustainable agriculture with the potential of marine and coastal zones in terms of renewable energy, raw materials, whilst taking into account impacts of climate change and human activities.

(c)

the development and strengthening of environmental protection;

(c)

the development and strengthening of human rights and social and environmental protection;

(b)

contributing to partners countries' efforts to pursue their commitments on climate change in line with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change;

(b)

contributing to partners countries' efforts to pursue their commitments on climate change in line with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the Sustainable Development Goals ;

(b)

the support to the OCTs in defining and implementing education and vocational training policies.

(b)

the support to the OCTs in defining and implementing education and vocational training policies ; and

(ba)

the support of the participation in and access of the OCTs to the Erasmus+ programme, by fostering and increasing the mobility of its potential beneficiaries from and to the OCTs;

(a)

the facilitation of increased contacts between practitioners of performing arts in areas such as professional exchanges and training including participation in auditions, development of networks and promotion of networking;

(a)

the facilitation of increased contacts between practitioners of fine arts in areas such as professional exchanges and training including participation in auditions, development of networks and promotion of networking through the provision of adequate financial support ;

(aa)

the promotion of OCT artistic productions in the Union;

(da)

Improving knowledge of and the preservation and restoration of OCT tangible and intangible cultural heritage;

(a)

adequate financial resources and appropriate technical assistance aimed at strengthening the OCTs’ capacities to formulate and implement strategic and regulatory frameworks;

(a)

adequate financial resources and appropriate technical assistance under this Decision aimed at strengthening the OCTs’ capacities to formulate and implement strategic and regulatory frameworks;

(b)

long term financing to promote private sector growth;

(b)

long term financing under this Decision to promote private sector growth;

(c)

where appropriate, other Union Programmes may contribute to actions established under this Decision, provided that the contributions do not cover the same costs. This Decision may also contribute to measures established under other Union Programmes, provided that the contributions do not cover the same costs. In such cases, the work programme covering those actions shall establish which set of rules shall be applicable.

(c)

additional financing through other Union Programmes to contribute to actions established under this Decision, provided that the contributions do not cover the same costs. In such cases, the work programme covering those actions shall establish which set of rules shall be applicable.

(a)

‘programmable aid’ means the non-repayable aid allocated to the OCTs in order to finance territorial, regional and intra-regional strategies and priorities set out in programming documents;

(a)

‘programmable aid’ means the non-repayable aid allocated to the OCTs in order to finance territorial, regional and intra-regional strategies and priorities , where appropriate set out in programming documents;

(g)

‘intra-regional allocation’ means an amount — within the regional allocation — allocated for the programmable aid in order to finance intra-regional cooperation strategies and priorities involving at least one OCT and one or more outermost regions referred to in Article 349 TFEU and/or one or more ACP States and/or one or more non-ACP States or territories.

(g)

‘intra-regional allocation’ means an amount — within the regional allocation — allocated for the programmable aid in order to finance intra-regional cooperation strategies and priorities involving the bodies referred to in Article  82 of this Decision.

(a)

be implemented with due regard to the OCTs respective geographical, social and cultural characteristics, as well as their specific potential;

(a)

be implemented with due regard to the OCTs’ respective demographic, geographical, economic and financial, environmental, social and cultural characteristics, as well as their specific potential;

(a)

grants;

(b)

procurement contracts for services, supplies or works;

(c)

budget support;

(d)

contributions to trust funds set up by the Commission, in accordance with Article 234 of the Financial Regulation;

(e)

financial instruments;

(f)

budgetary guarantees;

(g)

blending;

(h)

financial assistance;

(i)

remunerated external experts.

(b)

institutional development, capacity building and integration of environmental aspects;

(b)

institutional development, capacity building and integration of environmental , gender and good governance aspects;

—

a brief presentation of the OCT’s political, economic, social, cultural and environmental context;

—

a brief description of the OCT’s sustainable development strategy (Agenda 2030), identifying the priorities for the OCT and how it intends to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals;

—

the priority areas for Union financing;

—

the specific objectives;

—

the expected results;

—

clear and specific performance indicators;

—

the indicative financial allocations, both overall and per priority area;

—

an indicative timetable.

(a)

action plans, individual measures and support measures for which Union funding does not exceed EUR 10 million;

(b)

technical modifications, provided such modifications do not substantially affect the objectives of the action plan or measure concerned, such as:

(e)

actors of decentralised cooperation and other non-governmental actors from OCTs and from the Union, to enable them to undertake economic, cultural, social and educational projects and programmes in the OCTs in the framework of decentralised cooperation, as referred to in Article 12 of this Decision.

(e)

actors of decentralised cooperation and other non-governmental actors from OCTs and from the Union, to enable them to undertake economic, environmental, cultural, social and educational projects and programmes in the OCTs in the framework of decentralised cooperation, as referred to in Article 12 of this Decision.

(iii)

one or more regional bodies of which OCTs are members;

(iii)

one or more regional bodies or associations of which OCTs are members;

(a)

EUR 159 000 000 in the form of grants for bilateral programmable support for long-term development of OCTs other than Greenland , in particular to finance the initiatives referred to in the programming document. This amount shall be allocated on the basis of the needs and performance of the OCTs in accordance with the following criteria: where appropriate, the programming document shall pay particular attention to actions aimed at strengthening governance and the institutional capacities of the beneficiary OCTs and, where relevant, the likely timetable of the envisaged actions. The allocation of this amount shall take into account the size of the population, the level of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the level of previous allocations and constraints due to the geographical isolation of OCTs as mentioned in Article 9 of this Decision.

(a)

81 % in the form of grants for bilateral programmable support for long-term development of all the OCTs , in particular to finance the initiatives referred to in the programming document.

(b)

EUR 225 000 000 in the form of grant for the bilateral programmable support for long term development of Greenland in particular to finance the initiative referred to in the programming document.

(c)

EUR 81 000 000 shall be allocated to support OCT regional programmes of which EUR 15 000 000 could support intra-regional operations, Greenland being eligible only for the intra-regional operations. This cooperation will be implemented in coordination with Article 7 of this Decision, in particular regarding the areas of mutual interests referred to in Article 5 of this Decision and through consultation via the instances of the EU-OCTs partnership referred to in Article 14 of this Decision. It shall seek coordination with other relevant Union financial programmes and instruments and in particular the outermost regions referred to in Article 349 TFEU.

(c)

12 % shall be allocated to support OCT regional programmes of which EUR  30 000 000 could support intra-regional operations, Greenland being eligible only for the intra-regional operations. This cooperation will be implemented in coordination with Article 7 of this Decision, in particular regarding the areas of mutual interests referred to in Article 5 of this Decision and through consultation via the instances of the EU-OCTs partnership referred to in Article 14 of this Decision. It shall seek coordination with other relevant Union financial programmes and instruments and in particular the outermost regions referred to in Article 349 TFEU.

(d)

EUR 22 000 000 for studies or technical assistance measures for all the OCTs including Greenland, in accordance with Article 78 of this Decision (49).

(d)

3,5  % for studies or technical assistance measures for all the OCTs including Greenland, in accordance with Article 78 of this Decision.

(e)

EUR 13 000 000 to a non-allocated fund for all the OCTs including Greenland to inter alia:

(e)

3,5  % to a non-allocated fund for all the OCTs including Greenland to inter alia:

1.

2.