Нидерланды добиваются расширения доступа к фондам ЕС для Кюрасао и других заморских территорий

THE HAGUE – The Netherlands is pressing for Curaçao and the other Dutch Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) to receive broader and easier access to European Union funding as negotiations continue over the EU’s next long-term budget for 2028–2034. In a letter to the Dutch Parliament, the government outlined its negotiating position on the proposed revision of the EU’s Overseas Association Decision and the new Multiannual Financial Framework. The Netherlands says the strategic importance of the OCTs and the European Union’s presence through these territories, particularly in the Caribbean, should be given greater weight. A central Dutch objective is to make it easier for territories such as Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten to participate in the EU’s so-called horizontal funding programs. The Netherlands wants application and reporting procedures that are better adapted to the relatively small administrations of the islands. The Dutch government is also advocating separate funding calls for Sub-National Island Jurisdictions and is coordinating its position with the OCTs and like-minded EU member states, including France and Denmark. One potentially important breakthrough has already been achieved in negotiations concerning Global Europe. According to the letter, partly as a result of Dutch efforts, the Council’s negotiating position now calls for OCTs to gain access to financing for regional and transregional projects from all geographical funding envelopes within Global Europe. Under the European Commission’s original proposal, OCTs could benefit only from the fund’s global envelope, which represents approximately 6 percent of Global Europe resources. The government cautions, however, that the change is not yet final. Negotiations over the entire EU budget package remain underway, and no individual element is guaranteed until agreement is reached on the complete Multiannual Financial Framework. Negotiations are expected to continue at least through the end of 2026 and possibly into 2027. The European Parliament is expected to vote on its non-binding opinion concerning the OCT decision in September. Final approval of the Overseas Association Decision requires unanimity in the Council of the European Union. The Netherlands is also pushing to preserve the territorial envelopes that provide funding specifically allocated to individual OCTs. At the same time, the Dutch government acknowledges that access to European funding on paper does not necessarily mean the islands can effectively use it. Limited administrative capacity can make participation in major EU initiatives such as Global Gateway difficult in practice. The government therefore wants additional support for project development and other measures that could help the territories make better use of funding opportunities that are already available under the current EU budget. The negotiations could have significant implications for Curaçao after 2027, particularly if easier access to European programs allows the island to compete for financing beyond funds specifically reserved for the OCTs.