Overseas Countries and Territories Association (OCTA; French: Association des pays et territoires d'outre-mer de l'Union européenne, PTOM[2]) is an international organisation founded on 17 November 2000 during the conference of prime ministers of overseas countries and territories in Brussels, Belgium. It includes almost all special member state territories of European Union whose purpose is to improve economic development in overseas countries and territories and cooperation with the European Union. It currently has 13 members.[3] On 25 June 2008, a Cooperation Treaty between the EU and OCTA was signed in Brussels.[4]
Prior to Brexit, until 31 January 2020, there had been 22 Overseas Countries and Territories associated with the European Union and members of OCTA.[5]
Since 2011, the chairmen are chosen annually and their function is to head the organization and elect an Executive Committee. The current[6] and previous[7] chairmen are:
Political dialogue between EU, OCTA, and EU member states
The forum between OCTs, European Union and its member states to which OCTs are linked, has been held annually since 2003 alternating between Brussels (Belgium) and an OCT:[11]
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