Question 15284 — overseas

Summary

Mr. Sylvain Brial draws the attention of the Minister for Overseas Territories to the consequences of the application of texts concerning respect for competition in overseas territories and in particular those arising from the law on the cost of living, known as the Lurel Il law, which indicates that it is appropriate to consider the size of the market and its requirements to judge a situation of compliance with the law. On a restricted territory like that of the Wallis Islands and Futuna whose population is 11,500 people it is particularly difficult to attract businesses, traders and ensure the supply of the territory. The reasons for this are multiple: The market is too small; The territory is very far from supplies; Wages are low, and therefore consumption; Natural hazards require maintaining large stocks with expiration dates difficult to manage, and a significant immobilization of cash; The risks of loss are considerable given the natural risks. These same risks require specific stocks. Companies therefore have a truly public service mission and considerable social responsibility, particularly with regard to employment. As a result, there is no real room for several operators in the same sector. These must have a substantial financial base and have sufficient logistical means in transport, handling, conservation, especially in refrigerated premises for food. A company present in the territory must invest large sums to take these specificities into account. It has considerable local responsibility, as a provider of taxes for the benefit of local finances, (essential revenue for the territory), as employer. Thus, many economic sectors in the territory are in a monopoly situation. This is the case for food, automobiles, banking, insurance, mobile telephony, gasoline, electricity, air and sea services. These companies should also have sufficient financial strength to inspire the confidence of their own suppliers and obtain sufficiently attractive commercial conditions in order to amortize the additional cost specific to the market. The quantities must also be large enough to save on transport. Under these conditions, he asks him to study the way in which the “competition authority” treats companies present in Wallis and Futuna. By ignoring the specificity of the situation seen from Paris, the entire local economy can be put in danger. If the conditions necessary for the functioning of a private economy are called into question, there is a great risk of having to rely on purely public companies, as is already the case in a certain number of sectors. The MP asks the minister to study with the competition authority the necessary provisions for a fair adaptation to local specificities.

Machine translation from French. The official text remains authoritative.

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