For the purposes of this Regulation:
‘outermost regions’ means the regions referred to in Article 299(2) of the Treaty, each of the French overseas departments being considered as a separate outermost region;
‘competent authorities’ means the authorities appointed to implement this Regulation by the Member State of which the outermost region concerned is part;
‘programme’ means the overall programme referred to in Article 24 of Regulation (EC) No 247/2006.