The overseas senatorial delegation decided in March 2020 to initiate a study relating to the economic effects of the Covid-19 crisis on overseas economies.. This synthesis work resulted in the formulation of 58 recommendations which summarize the economic issues of the French Overseas Territories at the start of 2021..
The recommendations of the three rapporteurs of the senatorial delegation to the Overseas Territories bring together various expectations expressed by the economic circles of the Overseas Territories, many of which are already known. We note that the first proposal thus relates to the shortening of payment terms for overseas communities., with this time the call “to implement the recommendations of the report of the General Inspection of Administration” on the subject of June 2020 (informative report to download from the website of the Ministry of the Interior). Faced with the consequences of the current crisis, it is requested to extend the aid mechanisms until the end of the crisis. The delegation also endorses the proposal “to cancel the social debts for the year 2020 of companies in the most fragile sectors”. A proposal concerns the extension to all overseas territories of the increase in the professional micro-credit ceiling from 12,000 to 15,000 euros. The announcement was made by the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron at Reunion in October 2019: this has been done since September 1, 2020 for a period of four years.
The Overseas Housing Plan
For the air, on notera, in addition to an emergency support fund specific to regional overseas companies, the proposal not to increase environmental taxation on airline tickets to overseas in the future. Also adjust aid to overseas passengers for remoteness and improve regional air connectivity, proposals from the 2019 Air Transport Conference. On tourism, the delegation takes up the general objectives previously issued in favor of an eco-responsible positioning of Reunion tourism that enhances its biodiversity. Note the proposal to develop the holiday voucher scheme in the French overseas departments and territories to boost domestic demand. Important component, construction and, through him, housing. The delegation brings together proposals from the sector which need not be recalled. Thus "to use unused credits from the single budget line (LBU) to allow the management of additional costs in the construction industry ”. To "derogate from the principle of obtaining a prior building permit for obtaining LBU credits". Eventually include the construction industry among the sectors of "enhanced competitiveness". Reduce publicity obligations and social and fiscal regularity obligations to facilitate procurement. Finally, what this sector is looking forward to: the implementation of the Overseas Housing Plan for Réunion 2019-2022.
Digital free zones
Among the proposals in favor of local production and fishing, to signal a clear position taken to "limit through quotas and control the import of clearance products linked to destocking from France". otherwise, the delegation unsurprisingly calls for the Posei's budget to be maintained and for European aid for overseas agricultural production to be adapted to the context of the crisis.
Make French overseas territories digital free zones : the delegation takes up this proposal. Against the digital divide, if it asks that we facilitate the equipment of overseas territories in high speed, it recommends "strengthening the means and coordinating the actions of digital training associations" and "maintaining local counters overseas so that no administrative process is accessible only by dematerialized means". Which would be one of the missions of the public service houses, while all administrative procedures must be dematerialized in 2022.
The senatorial delegation
Created in 2011, the Senate Delegation overseas is made up of 42 members (the 21 overseas senators and 21 senators designated by the Senate). Two main themes of study were retained by the Senate Delegation to Overseas Territories for its next work : housing and maritime issues.
