Following a first reading agreement with the European Parliament, the Council adopted regulations laying down specific measures for agriculture in the outermost regions of the EU and in the smaller Aegean islands. Among other things, a specific provision has been added to the regulation allowing a one-off payment of €40 millions in 2013 in order to allow the sector of banana production in outermost regions to adapt to the reduction of banana tariffs following the latest trade agreements.

The Council adopted two regulations that provide agricultural measures that are intended to remedy the difficulties caused by the remoteness of the specific territories. In particular, it adopted regulations laying down specific measures for agriculture in the outermost regions of the EU and in the smaller Aegean islands following a first reading agreement with the European Parliament. In June 2012, the European Commission presented a new action plan to support jobs and growth in the European outermost regions.

The new text underscores the central role played by the Programmes of options specifically relating to the remoteness and insularity (POSEI programmes) which include the two fundamental elements: the specific supply arrangements due to the remoteness and the specific measures to assist local agricultural production. A specific provision has been added to the regulation allowing a one-off payment of €40 millions in 2013 in order to allow the sector of banana production in outermost regions to adapt to the reduction of banana tariffs following the latest trade agreements.

In one case, it covers the following outermost regions: Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Réunion, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin, the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands. In the other case it covers the smaller Aegean Islands, i.e. any Greek islands in the Aegean Sea except the islands of Crete and Evia, facing difficulties due to their small size, their small population, their remoteness and the lack of transport lines.