Octa Overseas Countries And Territories Association

The Overseas Countries and Territories Association (OCTA) assembles the governments of the 13 Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union (OCTs), these are French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Saint Barthelemy, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna (linked to France); Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Sint Eustatius, Saba and Sint Maarten (linked to The Netherlands) and Greenland (linked to Denmark). Created in 2003, OCTA provides a forum to develop effective working relationships with the EU and support the collective interests of its Members in several areas of co-operation of the EU-OCT association. These include: economic and trade co-operation; trade development; climate change and environmental issues; human and social development; cultural and social and regional co-operation and integration. Its highest decision-making organ is the Ministerial Conference which consists of the representatives (Heads of Government or delegates) of each member Government. The Ministerial Conference meets annually and sets the political orientations and priorities of the association.