The European Commission published a Communication that proposes a renewed strategy for eight regions: the four French overseas departments, the overseas Collectivity of St Martin; the Portuguese autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira and the Spanish Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands. The Commission highlighted that the aim is to support the outermost regions realise their potential above all through diversification and modernisation of their economies.

"The outermost regions of the European Union: towards a partnership for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth" Commission's Communication unveils a plan to support jobs and growth in the outermost regions. The four French overseas departments, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion and Martinique, the overseas Collectivity of St Martin; the Portuguese autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira and the Spanish Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands will be supported for this action plan. In 2010, for example, the Court of Auditors underlined inefficiencies in the system of specific measures for agriculture in outermost regions.

The Commission therefore proposes concrete measures in several relevant fields and policies in order to increase competitiveness through investment and innovation, reduce the isolation of the out with support for transport, energy and ICT links, create stronger relationships in trade and other activities with their geographical neighbourhoods, reinforce efforts to improve skills, reducing early school leaving, increasing tertiary education graduates, fighting poverty reduction, improving access to healthcare and improved social inclusion.

According to the European Commission, this means developing new practices in traditional sectors like agriculture or fisheries and exploiting the potential for developing new products arising from their biodiversity and marine ecosystems, as well as developing their potential as centre for climate and space research, astrophysics and renewable energy. The Commission also stressed that it will be engaged to mitigate their permanent constraints, to ensure their full integration in the single market, and their improved integration in their geographical neighbourhoods.