Special Member State Territories and The European Union - Overseas Countries and Territories

Overseas Countries and Territories

The overseas countries and territories (OCT) are twenty one territories that have a special relationship with one of the member states of the EU: twelve with the United Kingdom, six with France, two with the Netherlands and one with Denmark. They are listed in Annex II acc. to Article 198 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and were invited to form association agreements with the EU and may opt in to EU provisions on freedom of movement for workers (Article 202 (ex Article 186)) and freedom of establishment (Article 199(5) (ex Article 183(5))). They are not subject to the EU's common external tariff (Article 200(1) (ex Article 184(1))) but may claim customs on goods imported from the EU on a non-discriminatory basis (Article 200(3) and 200(5) (ex Article 184(3) and (5))). They are not part of the EU, and EU law applies to them only insofar is necessary to implement the association agreements.