Study on the impact of COVID-19 on the Outermost Regions

The study provides a preliminary snapshot of the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the European Union’s outermost regions and puts forward recommendations. The study was carried out in December 2020 - September 2021 and consists of:

• a first early analysis of the impact of the pandemic on key economic sectors, on the society, labour market and healthcare in the outermost regions on the basis of available data so far; considering how the regions’ specificities have influenced the impact of the crisis; 

• an analysis of the measures that the EU, the Member States and the outermost regions have taken to respond to the crisis; and, based on such analysis, recommendations for action to support sustainable recovery, growth and resilience in the outermost regions.

The study is complemented by nine factsheets, one per Outermost Region. Each factsheet presents an overview of the health-related impacts of the pandemic, of the economic repercussions at macroeconomic and sectoral level, and of the main social impacts. It identifies key measures taken to mitigate the consequences of the crisis; looks at future prospects; and puts forward proposals for recovery and resilience-building measures addressing the major issues identified in each region.