Saint-Pierre

Le Tampon

Saint-Louis

Saint-AndréLe Port

Saint-Paul

REUNION ISLAND

✓ A more dynamic and sustainable blue economy with the OCEAN METISS project, aimed at the sustainable use of resources, and the creation of the “Blue Institute” to coordinate and design public policies in blue economy;

✓ Energy transition with the SOLARPLEXUS project to provide electricity, water and communication services to remote sites; the MICRO-MAFATE NETWORK project, to pilot an electric micro-grid to achieve self-sufficiency; and the REACT project, on the decarbonisation of local energy systems;

✓ The promotion of research and innovation through the assessment of the Smart Specialisation Strategy; and the project VALOBIO, to transform discarded fish co-products into liquid organic fertilizer;

✓ Enhanced competitiveness and entrepreneurship by creating the “Financière Région Réunion” fund to support SMEs through a loan and a private equity instrument;

✓ A stronger circular economy, through an action plan with measures to achieve the “zero waste” objective, and by implementing 22 circular economy projects – ranging from design and life duration of products to recycling; plus the REPLACE project, aimed at implementing policies for circular economy.

By encouraging the outermost regions to capitalise on their unique assets, the strategy seeks to support these regions in creating new opportunities, boosting innovation and jobs in sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, climate change and circular economy, and deepening cooperation with neighbour countries. Two years on, the main developments in Reunion Island are:

WHAT DOES THE STRATEGY BRING TO REUNION ISLAND?

Açores

MayotteMartinique

Guadeloupe

Guyane

Canarias

Saint-Martin

La Réunion

Madeira

THE OUTERMOST REGIONS

● Situated in the Indian Ocean, 9000 km away from Paris, the Reunion Island has a population of 850 000 inhabitants.

● The geostrategic position of Reunion Island and its rich biodiversity offer a strong potential. Tourism is an important part of Reunion Island’s economy.

● Tropical bio economy is one of the island’s assets, as well as ecotourism and digital knowledge for the reduction of energy consumption. Fisheries and agriculture are still key to the economy, especially sugar cane.

● The island is affected by a particularly high youth unemployment rate. Low levels of qualification and early school leaving remain a challenge. The economy remains fragile due to lack of basic infrastructures, and high transport costs.

850 000 inhabitants 2 512 km2

▶ The European Regional Development Fund: €940.2 million + €190.3 million (specific allocation)

▶ The European Social Fund: €501.1 million

▶ The Youth Employment Initiative: €42 million

▶ The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: €385.5 million

€131 million under the European Maritime

and Fisheries Fund for the French outermost regions altogether.

€63.2 million under the European cooperation programme for the Indian Ocean

area.

IN ADDITION, A SHARE OF:

EU funding 2014-2020

€2 059 million

The outermost regions benefit from specific or derogating measures, in areas such as regional development, agriculture, fisheries, State aid and taxation, in order to mitigate the impact of their specific constraints and boost economic growth. Reunion Island, in particular, benefits from a specific taxation regime for the consumption in France of locally produced traditional rum as well as from reductions of the dock dues to goods produced locally.

Specificities of other EU policies

WHAT DOES THE EUROPEAN UNION DO FOR REUNION ISLAND?

EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS SUPPORTED BY THE EU IN REUNION ISLAND

Up to €278 million per year of possible funding under POSEI, the

specific agriculture programme for the outermost regions, for the French outermost regions

altogether.

WELLO, a sustainable, affordable and safe solution for transport.

EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDEU funding: €380 879

The Wello project addresses the growing problem of transport in urban areas and provide a sustainable, affordable and safe solution for transport. The prototype vehicle developed, halfway between car and bicycle, has a hybrid engine capable of a speed of 25 km/h for urban and inter-urban travel and it can adapt to the island’s topography. The battery has an autonomy of 60km, extensible up to 100km thanks to the solar panels.

OCÉAN MÉTISS, an innovative methodology for marine spatial planning

EUROPEAN MARITIME AND FISHERIES FUNDEU funding: €963 211

Océan Métiss contributes to the development of the Integrated Maritime Spatial Planning in the South-West Basin of the Indian Ocean Area implementing an innovative methodology for marine spatial planning and sharing international expertise on the theme of the blue economy. Moreover, the project develops skills and training for sea-related trades and ensures the sustainability of structural supports to blue growth.