Statute and governanceFranceThe Saint-Pierre and Miquelon archipelago has been an overseas collectivity (OC) of the French Republic since the revision of the Constitution in 2003. The purpose of this special status is to take the archipelago's unique situation into account. The archipelago is governed by two legislative regimes that combine the laws and regulations of France with those unique to Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. The first regime, that of the legislative identity, dictates the laws and regulations of France that have force of law in the archipelago. The second regime, that of legislative specialty and autonomy, enables Saint-Pierre and Miquelon to pass laws and regulations unique to its territory. This sharing of responsibilities ensures the local government—the Conseil territorial—exclusive jurisdiction in the following sectors:
Moreover, the Conseil territorial can conclude agreements regarding economic, technical, scientific and cultural development, civil security, environment and lastly, the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around the archipelago. Therefore, the archipelago has, for example, the authority on taxing hydrocarbons within the French maritime zone and, since the statutory revision in 2007, can grant exploration or operating licences within the French zone. EuropeThe archipelago has a double tie with Europe: it is associated with the European Union (EU) because it is part of France, and it is also a member of the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT). Although OCTs are associated with the EU, they are not an integral part of the EU: the primary purpose of this association is to more effectively promote economic and social development between OCTs and the European Community (EC). Saint-Pierre and Miquelon benefits from a favourable trading regime with the EU. Firstly, its entrepreneurs are not required to pay duties and taxes on products that they export to Europe and are not subject to quantitative restrictions (this clause is not reciprocal). The clause also applies to Saint-Pierre and Miquelon's commercial partners. Thus, the transfer procedure enables Saint-Pierre and Miquelon's commercial partners to export goods to Europe paying only the duties and taxes imposed by the archipelago. Saint-Pierre and Miquelon's OCT status gives it access to financial development assistance from the European Development Fund (EDF) and loans from the European Investment Bank (EIB). Through EDF assistance, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon built the harbour at Saint-Pierre in 1993, the airport in 1997, and the harbour at Miquelon in 1999. From 2000 to 2007, the archipelago received 12.8 million euros in financial assistance. Saint-Pierre and MiquelonThe archipelago is represented by a deputy in France's Assemblée Nationale, by a senator in the French senate and by an advisor in the Conseil économique et social. Also, a French delegate is permanently established in Saint-Pierre. This delegate—the Préfet—is responsible for public policy, administrative control, compliance with laws and all other activities under the Saint-Pierre and Miquelon Préfecture. The archipelago's inhabitants are also locally represented by the Conseil territorial. It is composed of 19 elected members (four counsellors in Miquelon-Langlade and 15 counsellors in Saint-Pierre). The communes of Saint-Pierre and of Miquelon are each represented by a mayor.
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