Portuguese MEPs Sérgio Gonçalves and André Franqueira Rodrigues (S&D) have asked the European Commission to ensure that its forthcoming right to stay strategy addresses the specific challenges of the EU's outermost regions, where structural constraints drive emigration, particularly among young people. In a written parliamentary question submitted on 27 May 2026, the MEPs press the Commission on how it will create synergies between the right to stay strategy and the renewed strategy for outermost regions, and whether the former will include legislative measures, dedicated funding, or specific actions on youth employment, skills, housing, transport, and digital connectivity.
The question highlights that in most outermost regions, the rate of young people not in employment, education, or training exceeds the EU average of 11%, reaching over 30% in the worst-affected areas. The MEPs argue that permanent constraints in employment, education, housing, services, and connectivity limit opportunities and fuel emigration, making the right to stay strategy particularly relevant for these territories.
Concrete asks and expected follow-up The question contains three concrete requests: first, how the Commission will develop synergies between the two strategies and monitor outermost regions' specific constraints; second, whether the right to stay strategy will include legislative measures, regulatory adaptations, or dedicated funding instruments; and third, whether it will include specific measures for outermost regions on youth employment, skills, essential services, housing, transport, and digital connectivity.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. The answer will signal whether the executive intends to tailor its flagship demographic policy to the EU's most remote territories, and whether it plans to back political commitments with binding instruments or new funding.
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