TNAG-0834-FCO40-1042-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Office-seminar-on-the-future-of-Bri-1979 — Page 112

The French Experience

ANNEX 9

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The French territories form an integral part of the Republic and their inhabitants are French citizens. The territories are divided into two categories, the Overseas Departments (ODs) and the Overseas Territories (UTs). The ODS have administrative structures modelled on those in metropolitan France, but have Government Councils which consider the local adaptation of legislative and administrative organisation. The inhabitants are represented in the French parliament and are subject to French law.

The OTs have less uniformity of institutions and conditions than the Departments, but they are also represented in the French Parliament. Administration is by Governor (as opposed to Prefect in ODs) and (mainly) elected Council. There is also an elected

territorial assembly which often has wider powers than the OD Councils and can control, for example, public services and taxation. French metropolitan laws (except for constitutional laws and others designed for the government of the State) will only apply in the OTs if this is expressly stated. The OTs opted in 1958 to remain as such rather than become independent or ODs. The exercise of this option made it easier for the French to terminate altogether supply of information to the UN about their territories under Article 73e, although in fact the supply had ceased some time Lefore this, and they thus escaped much of the anti-colonialist opprobrium which did not reach its peak in the UN until 1960.

French ODs are: Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion and St Pierre et Miquelon.

French OTs are: French Polynesia, Wallis & Futuna Islands, New Caledonia, French Southern & Antarctic Lands.