Overseas departments and territories of France

The overseas territories, French La France d' Outre -Mer ( Overseas France '), are parts of French territory outside Europe. Essentially, it involves former French colonies. A total of approximately 2.65 million people ( January 2010).

Management

In French Overseas Territories are formally called la France d' outre- mer. Until the constitutional reform of March 23, 2003, the official name was départements d' outre- mer - Territoires d' outre- mer or les départements d'outre - mer et Territoires (DOM -TOM ), which is still used in colloquial language. The overseas territories are divided into DOM -ROM, COM, CSG and TAAF.

The responsible Ministère de l' Outre -mer ( Overseas Department ) has been around since 1894, when it was founded as a direct successor to the Colonial Office in France, in 1710 as the Bureau of the Colonies. It was temporarily united with other ministries or only a minister or state secretary post, since 2012 it is again independent.

All Overseas Territories are independent of the division into départements d' outre- mer and collectivités d' outre- mer, French territory. They are, if inhabited, represented in both chambers of the French Parliament and the European Parliament. In European elections all overseas territories together form a constituency in which three members of the European Parliament are elected. After 2004, all three seats were gone to people from Reunion, a seat for the Overseas Territories in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans is reserved for the 2009 European election ever.

Only the French Southern and Antarctic Lands and French Polynesia have own official flags, flags of other areas are unofficial.

Départements et régions d' outre- mer (DOM -ROM)

The départements and régions d' outre- mer have the same status as the regions and départements in mainland France. This is laid down in Article 73 of the French Constitution. The areas are part of the territory of the European Union, but are not Schengen area; they have the euro as their currency.

DOM -ROM:

  • French Guiana
  • Guadeloupe
  • Martinique
  • Mayotte
  • Reunion

In a referendum on 29 March 2009, the inhabitants of Mayotte majority advocated that Mayotte is to have the skills of the Overseas Departments and Overseas Regions under Article 73. This Mayotte on 31 March 2011, the 101st department of France.

Collectivité d' outre- mer (COM)

The Collectivités d' outre- mer have with each of them have a very different status. Generally, however, they have autonomy. Thus, French laws are not automatically and only after an explicit definition valid. Nevertheless, they are mainly foreign and defense policy depends on France. Until 2004 (TOM = Territoire d'outre -mer) and overseas country was divided into overseas territory (POM = Pays d' outre- mer).

COM ( these areas are part of the territory of the European Union, however, are non-Schengen area, Currency: Euro ):

  • Saint -Martin (since February 22, 2007 on its own, the French part of the island of Saint Martin).

COM ( these areas are not part of the territory of the European Union, Currency: Euro ):

  • Saint Barthélemy ( the EU on its own, since January 1, 2012 Associate since February 22, 2007 area )
  • Saint- Pierre and Miquelon

To 31 March 2011, Mayotte in the Indian Ocean belonged to this group.

COM ( these areas are not part of the territory of the European Union, Currency: CFP Franc ):

  • Wallis and Futuna
  • French Polynesia (POM )

Sui generis collectivity (CSG )

New Caledonia has a special in Articles 76 and 77 of the Constitution and is a sui generis collectivity with the CFP franc as its currency.

Terres et australes antarctiques françaises ( TAAF)

The French Southern and Antarctic Territories have their own administration in Saint -Pierre on Réunion. Legally, the TAAF an overseas territory with special status. The territory comprises the islands of Amsterdam and St. Paul, the Crozet Islands, Kerguelen and the location on the Antarctic continent Adelieland whose membership is, however, not recognized under international law to the territory due to the Antarctic Treaty. Since 21 February 2007, the Iles Éparses belong to the field. The area is uninhabited except for eight permanently manned stations with changing crews.

The TAAF are not part of the European Union.

Clipperton Island

Clipperton is owned by the state of France. The island has no permanent residents and may be entered only in special cases, for reasons of nature protection anyway.

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