In areas of State competence, the authorities of the Republic may empower the President of the General Council of the Overseas Departments to negotiate and sign agreements with one or more States or territories located, as the case may be, in the Caribbean or on the American continent neighbouring the Caribbean, in the Indian Ocean area or on the continents neighbouring the Indian Ocean, or with regional bodies in the corresponding areas, including regional bodies dependent on the specialised agencies of the United Nations.
In the event that the provisions of the above paragraph are not applied, the President of the General Council or his representative may be associated, or participate within the French delegation, in the negotiation of agreements of the same nature.
The President of the General Council may be asked by the authorities of the Republic to represent them in regional bodies falling within the categories mentioned in the first paragraph of this article. The authorities of the Republic shall provide him with the necessary instructions and powers.