It was in Réunion, a year and a half ago, that President Louis Mussington outlined the local issues to Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for the Cohesion policy, regional development and cities whose outermost regions (ORs). The European official had promised to visit them on the ground. A promise kept on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 November, during a tour that also took him to Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana.
After visiting the Collège 900 in La Savane on Friday, Raffaele Fitto explored the Concordia media library, the Galisbay port, and the seawater desalination plant on Saturday. Following this last stop, he praised it as a “very positive experience,” which “demonstrates concretely how European funds can be used.” He also reiterated the European Commission's role in Saint-Martin, “remote, certainly, but still in Europe,” and its commitment to continuing this support. “It is important to know the situation on the ground before making decisions,” he emphasized, assuring everyone that “this first visit would not be the last.”
The next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034 was at the heart of the discussions. “We are in the middle of the debate,” explained the Vice-President, referring to the European Commission’s desire to simplify the mechanisms and offer greater flexibility to Member States. The future programming should “be based on 27 national and regional partnership plans,” taking “into account the specific characteristics of European territories, particularly those of islands and outermost regions.”
Towards a more territorially based European management
During discussions with Raffaele Fitto, Louis Mussington raised the prospect of a delegated management authority in Saint-Martin: “For me, this is a significant step forward.” Until now, European funds have been managed by the French government from Guadeloupe. The proposed plan would involve the Saint-Martin prefecture and the Collectivity in managing European funding. “We will have control over the financing of projects in the territory, both private and public,” the president hopes. He sees this as a better consideration of local realities and an opportunity to have more influence on the next operational program.
