Overseas Countries and Territories Association
Overseas Countries and Territories Association is an international organisation founded on November 17, 2000 during the conference of prime ministers of overseas countries and territories in Brussels, Belgium. It includes almost all special member state territories of European Union whose purpose is to improve economic development in overseas countries and territories and cooperation with the European Union. It currently has 22 members. On 25 June 2008, a Cooperation Treaty between the EU and OCTA was signed in Brussels.
Chairmen
Since 2011, the chairmen are chosen annually and their function is to head the organization and elect an Executive Committee. The current and previous chairmen are:- Reuben Meade, Prime Minister of Montserrat
- Kuupik Kleist, Prime Minister of Greenland
- Stéphane Artano, President of the Territorial Council of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Orlando Smith, Prime Minister of British Virgin Islands
- Ivar Asjes, Prime Minister of Curaçao
- Bernard Whiteman, Prime Minister of Curaçao
- Michiel Godfried Eman, Prime Minister of Aruba
- Sharlene Cartwright Robinson, Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands
- Édouard Fritch, President of French Polynesia
OCTA members
Member | Location | Status |
Caribbean | British Overseas Territory | |
Caribbean | Constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands | |
North Atlantic | British Overseas Territory | |
Caribbean | Special municipality of the Netherlands | |
Caribbean | British Overseas Territory | |
Caribbean | British Overseas Territory | |
Caribbean | Constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands | |
South America | British Overseas Territory | |
Pacific Ocean | Overseas collectivity of France | |
Indian Ocean and Antarctica | Overseas territory of France | |
North America and Arctic | Autonomous country in the Kingdom of Denmark | |
Caribbean | British Overseas Territory | |
Pacific Ocean | Special collectivity of France | |
Pacific Ocean | British Overseas Territory | |
Caribbean | Special municipality of the Netherlands | |
Caribbean | Overseas collectivity of France | |
Caribbean | Special municipality of the Netherlands | |
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha | South Atlantic | British Overseas Territory |
North America | Overseas collectivity of France | |
Caribbean | Constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands | |
Caribbean | British Overseas Territory | |
Pacific Ocean | Overseas collectivity of France |
Political dialogue between EU, OCTA, and EU member states
The forum between OCTs, European Union and its member states to which OCTs are linked, has been held annually since 2003 alternating between Brussels and an OCT:- September 2002 – Brussels
- December 2003 – Brussels
- March 2005 – Papeete
- December 2005 – Brussels
- September 2006 – Nuuk
- November 2007 – Brussels
- November 2008 – George Town
- March 2010 – Brussels
- March 2011 – Nouméa
- January 2012 – Brussels
- September 2012 – Ilulissat
- December 2013 – Brussels
- February 2015 – Road Town
- February 2016 – Brussels
- February 2017 – Oranjestad
- February 2018 – Brussels