MEPs to assess impacts of sargassum and dock dues in French Caribbean islands
From 26 to 28 May, a Petitions Committee delegation will visit Guadeloupe and Saint Martin to examine the challenges posed by sargassum seaweed and by the dock dues system.
A delegation of ten MEPs, led by committee Chair Bogdan Rzońca, will carry out a three-day fact-finding visit in response to petitions concerning the management of sargassum influxes and the dock dues tax system in the French outermost regions.
During the visit, the delegation will meet the petitioners, public authorities, researchers, representatives of local businesses, professional organisations, consumer associations and tourism professionals, as well as environmental and civil society organisations.
To assess the environmental and socio-economic impact of sargassum seaweed strandings, MEPs will visit affected coastal sites in Guadeloupe accompanied by experts and local authority representatives. They will also learn about pilot projects designed to treat, process and valorise sargassum as a resource.
Members will also examine the functioning of the “octroi de mer” dock dues fiscal regime and its impact on the island’s economic activity, competitiveness and cost of living. The programme includes a visit to the Port of Jarry (Guadeloupe), where members will hold discussions with port and customs authorities and observe how the “octroi de mer” is applied in practice.
Members of the delegation:
Bogdan Rzońca (ECR, Poland) – Chair
Paulo Cunha (EPP, Portugal)
Gheorghe Falcă (EPP, Romania)
Sebastian Kruis (PfE, Netherlands)
Eugen Tomac (Renew, Romania)
Kosma Zlotowski (ECR, Poland)
Accompanying members:
Idoia Mendia (S&D, Spain)
Rody Tolassy (PfE, France)
Virginie Joron (PfE, France)
André Rougé (PfE, France)
Press conference
On Thursday 28 May at 13.30 (local time), Chair Bogdan Rzońca will hold a press conference on the outcome of the mission at the Hotel Fleur d’Épée (49 route du Bas du Fort, Le Gosier 97190, Guadeloupe). To attend the press conference, registration is mandatory and should be made with Cheida André, press officer at the European Parliament Office in Paris (France).
Email: cheida.andre@europarl.europa.eu
Phone number: (+33) 631 59 84 35
Contacts:
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Cheida ANDRÉ
Press Officer in France