The junior French minister in charge of overseas territories, Yves Jego, says the signatories of the 1998 Noumea Accord on New Caledonia's autonomy will meet for follow-up talks in Paris on December the 8th.
In an interview with New Caledonia's daily newspaper, Mr Jego has confirmed that the meeting will be chaired by the prime minister Francois Fillon.
Under the terms of the 1998 Noumea accord, there is a phased and irreversible transfer of powers from Paris, with a vote on self-determination to be held between 2014 and 2018.
However, there are growing calls among anti-independence politicians to reframe the process as to avoid a possible vote on independence.
Since the signing of the accord ten years ago, the political landscape has changed, with the signatories having altered their character.
In the interview, Mr Jego declined to say whether the French government would meet the request of the northern province to help fund the Koniambo nickel project in the north.
He says next year will see fresh consideration of how France will assist the territory's development.
