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Discover how the EU supports your local area
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Lighthouse and fishing port, La Cotinière, île d’Oléron

Charente-Maritime, France

Lighthouse and fishing port, La Cotinière, île d’Oléron
© papinou | Adobe Stock

With its 170 km of beaches, its four islands and its architectural and cultural heritage (Fort Boyard, Francofolies in La Rochelle), Charente-Maritime is very popular with tourists. Its economy also focuses on agriculture (cereals and wine), fisheries and shellfish farming: the department is the biggest shellfish producer in France. Because it is so attractive, Charente-Maritime has a population density higher than the regional average, and its population is also increasing faster, but at the same time the population is ageing considerably, and the unemployment rate is high compared with that in the rest of the region.

Examples of projects and initiatives supported by the EU

Developing a range of hybrid electric aeroplanes

In Médis, VoltAero received EUR 1 million in EU funding to develop their range of hybrid electric aeroplanes with 4 to 10 seats. VoltAero ultimately aims to place 150 planes on the market every year. They are to be used for regional, freight and cargo transport, for medical evacuation and also in pilot schools.

Structuring the organic fruit and vegetable sector

In Royan, the EU has provided EUR 24 700 (57% of the cost) for setting up the economic interest grouping ‘Les Jardins de l’Estuaire’ to structure the organic fruit and vegetable sector in the urban agglomeration of Royan Atlantique, in response to strong demand in the region. The project aims to unite organic market gardeners and to increase production volumes. In Surgères, the EU has provided EUR 287 700 to support the construction of a wood-fired boiler at Pays d’Aunis high school. The goal is for at least 80% of the school’s energy to be supplied by the wood-burner, while limiting the impact from particle emissions.

Renovation of the port of La Cotinière

In Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron, the EU has provided EUR 4.3 million to support the renovation of the port of La Cotinière, in particular to construct fish processing facilities and to install supplementary equipment required for the new fish auction (crate conveyor systems, offloading cranes, crate-washing tunnels, an ice machine, etc.).

Construction of a multimodal interchange

In Saujon, the EU has provided EUR 1.4 million to support the construction of a multimodal interchange at the train station, which was completed in 2022. The interchange aims to improve coordination and connections between different types of transport, in order to encourage the use of public transport and to reduce traffic.

Renovations to make the public library more energy efficient

In Montlieu-la-Garde, the EU has provided EUR 44 800 (60% of the cost) towards renovations to make the public library more energy efficient.

Construction d'une chaufferie à bois dans un lycée

À Surgères, l’Union européenne a financé à hauteur de 287 700 euros la construction d'une chaufferie à bois au lycée du Pays d'Aunis. L'objectif est d'atteindre au minimum un taux de couverture bois de 80 % tout en limitant l'impact en terme de rejet de poussières. 

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