The European Union and the Principle of Self-determination of peoples: Territories with Special Status in the European Union and Pending Cases of Decolonization

Abstract

The European Union gives special status to a number of countries and territories that maintain particular political and administrative ties with several of its Member States. Despite the diversity of these entities, it is possible to identify two main trends in them. On the one hand, the ones that want to pursuit political and administrative assimilation with their metropolises, and, on the other hand, the others that would like a greater autonomy or even independence from the states on which they depend. The present paper will examine these trends and processes. The First Part will focus on the current legal basis for outermost regions and overseas countries and territories in the EU law and in the Member States' domestic law. The Second Part will examine how the special situations of these entities have led, in some cases, to their assimilation with the state on which they depend, in others, to a greater autonomy, and, in still others, to independence.