Speeches

Madam President, rapporteur, in my opinion, this report on border regions does not overlook the overseas territories. Because yes, we are also border regions. I appreciate this focus on territories that have a particular need for Europe, especially in the very difficult context we are currently experiencing. Adaptation and pragmatism are our two ambitions for border regions, including our overseas departments. Adaptation because we are faced with very specific local realities, and pragmatism in order to act without ideology, as close as possible to the problems we are experiencing. That is why I welcome the prospect set out in your report of developing cross-border cooperation. Of course, we know that, as we are far from the continent, the best development paths are often found in cooperation with regions dependent on third countries located in our geographical area. Our ultramarine history has been built in a relationship of satelliteisation vis-à-vis the centrality of the European continent. We are now aware of the need to break this vicious circle that is holding back the development of border regions, particularly overseas regions. Any move towards a new relationship between margins and centrality is positive. I therefore support your report, Mr President-in-Office.

Mr President, rapporteur, ladies and gentlemen, the European Union has a real wealth that is too little known: its islands, geopolitical wealth, human wealth. It is these islands that make us a global power. But instead of valuing this potential, this specificity and this wealth, the European Union keeps these territories in a sometimes deplorable socio-economic state. I am talking in particular about the French overseas departments. Your report, rapporteur, wants to adapt European software to the specific constraints of our islands. Too often, policies designed for the continent unfairly penalize us, especially at home in air transport. This is a very good ambition, but unfortunately it is not included in the Fit for 55 package, which neglects the interests of our overseas countries. Mr rapporteur, you are like me from a suffering island. You know our sense of humiliation when we are reduced to begging for the simple application of treaties. We have been implementing so-called catch-up policies for decades. But we can no longer be satisfied today for our overseas with catch-up policies that do not work. We must have a new development model specifically adapted to our constraints. Unfortunately, when I read the "Fit for 55" texts, I doubt that the European institutions really share our commitment to the specificities of the islands, especially overseas.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the question is the balance to be maintained between a sustainable supply of our markets and the absolute right of States to control inflows into their territory, both for people and goods. I say it plainly: there is an imperative for the protection of populations in the face of the pandemic that legitimises and justifies these restrictive measures taken sovereignly by States. The absolute fluidity of the internal market, which is already a more than questionable objective in normal times, must disappear in these troubled times: public health before ideology. I would add, as the representative of the five French overseas departments, that restrictions on the movement of goods are our daily reality. Throughout the year, the specific characteristics of these territories, due to their remoteness, insularity and isolation, hinder access to the European market. Although Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides for derogations for all the outermost regions from the application of the customs and trade policies in force, the Union is aware of the need to adapt to reality. It is my turn to ask a supplementary question, Mr President: Will the Commission agree to step aside in the face of states that, much better than it does in times of pandemic, know what the real interests of their populations are?

Madam President, in recent weeks, territories belonging to the European Union, in the West Indies, Guadeloupe and Martinique, have experienced episodes of violent contestation of health policy against a background of social crisis. It is the first territories of the Union that are inflamed because of the vaccination obligation and the health pass. I say this to you in my capacity as Member of the European Parliament for the Overseas Territories: it is a turning point and an important signal of the state of exhaustion of populations, after almost two years of restrictions and deprivations. Faced with what amounts to a leak forward with increasing doses and threats of re-confinement, we feel that in some territories or with certain categories of citizens, the situation can change at any time. I appeal to you: Let us be careful that my fellow Guadeloupeans and Martiniquens are not forerunners of a wider challenge. Let's discuss, respect concerns, adapt the system to local and sectoral realities. This is how we will appease the situation and the citizens of the Union.

Our aim is to benefit from a healthy environment for everyone through access to safe drinking water for all. We want to benefit from a healthy environment. Indeed, thousands of my compatriots from Guadeloupe and Martinique are unable to access it. And what could be healthier and more vital than access to drinking water today in 2021? Commissioner, I am going to ask you a few questions that are vital in the field of health for my Caribbean compatriots. Do you intend to put in place an action plan to help the West Indies develop sanitation networks, develop programmes for access to drinking water for all? Because my Caribbean compatriots should benefit, like all my compatriots in France, from the right to have drinking water in taps. Today, in Guadeloupe and Martinique, we need resources to combat defective piping, sometimes with asbestos. It's been more than 50 years. This is important for the health of the thousands of families who rely on me, as an MEP from overseas, to get this message across to you today. On behalf of territorial fairness, on behalf of Article 168 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and on behalf of the right to a healthy environment, I call on you to act and act swiftly.

Madam President, Minister, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the right to a healthy environment should be a given in 2025 for all my compatriots in the five French overseas departments. Commissioner, I really wanted to raise your awareness of the health issue, which restricts the freedoms of workers, consumers and the health sector, and which is creating tensions in Guadeloupe and Martinique in particular. This goes against the right to a healthy environment that ensures our freedoms and our right to come and go. Only a minority of my Caribbean compatriots are vaccinated today. Understand that my fellow Guadeloupeans and Martiniquens, who have suffered several health scandals such as chlordecone or sargassum, for example, have difficulty today in trusting once again the public word, that of Mr Macron’s government, as the contamination of chlordecone has forever marked thousands of generations in the West Indies. That is why we do not trust the word of Mr Macron's government. Today, we must be free in a healthy environment and not allow our freedoms to be restricted. (The Chair interrupted the speaker)

Mr President, Commissioner, I wanted to address you this evening as an MEP from overseas to talk about the negative social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in the outermost regions, and more specifically in our five departments, namely Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Réunion and Mayotte. The crisis in our territories adds to the economic and social weakness that existed before. Without mentioning the incompetence of the Macron government in France. Ultramarine companies have higher tax and social charges than the metropolis. This creates a double social consequence for our overseas departments. I need you to know. The ultramarine companies have tax and social charges really greater than the metropolis, this creates a double consequence. Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union is not sufficient. We are experiencing a major social crisis as a result of the epidemic, which is increasingly important in our islands due to the geographical and health situation. I will complete this evening's oral question by adding some very simple questions, Commissioner: Will you trigger a social emergency plan to help all my compatriots in the outermost regions of France? Do you intend to implement means to ensure the economic and social recovery of our five overseas departments? In terms of health, will you help us finance investments in the medical field, in particular for the public hospital, which has appropriate human and material needs in the face of today’s and tomorrow’s pandemics? What do you plan to do for the closing companies and the thousands of direct and indirect jobs that are at risk? What solutions will you implement for my compatriots? I call on the European Union to take action as soon as possible to help my compatriots. Mr Schmit, ladies and gentlemen, today time is running out. As an Overseas Member of Parliament, I ask you to take action to help my fellow citizens and our overseas territories economically and socially.