EconomicAffairs Policy Advisor Courtney Hassell of the Public Entity Saba attended a Kingdom workshop on Bonaire on April 18, 19 and 20 about European Union (EU) funding.
The workshop was organizedandfundedbytheMinistryfortheInteriorandKingdom Relations (BZK) and was officiallyopenedon Tuesday, April 18 by State SecretaryforKingdom Relations andDigitalization Alexandra van Huffelen and Caribbean Netherlands Special EnvoyforEU funds, United Nations (UN) funds andeconomic relations with Latin America Edison Rijna.
The aim of the workshop was for partners in theKingdomtojointlyworktowards a more intensive collaboration in order to make betteruse of EU funding. The accessibilityand complex procedures of EU funding are often a challenging factor fortheislandswhich have limitedcapacities.
Invitedtothe workshop wereallsix Dutch Caribbean islands.Representativesof theindividualislandsgave a presentationabouttheongoingprojects on theirisland, thechallengesthatthey face andtheambitionsthatthey have withregardsto EU-fundedprojects.
The Ministry of BZK gave a presentationaboutitsroleandwhatitcan do fortheislandsin their relations withthe EU. A workshop was held todeterminetheopportunitiesof theKingdomthe EU andtodefinethe joint goals as EU CountriesandTerritoriesOverseas (OCTs).
Furthermore, therewerepresentationsbythe European CommitteeabouttheIntraregional Program andaboutstrategiccommunication, and a presentation of the Dutch Government Enterprise Agency (RVO) abouttheopportunitiesthat RVO offers fortheislandswithregardtothe EU. On the last day, Thursday, April 20, a plan of approach was draftedwith concrete agreementsandtimelineshowtheKingdomwilljoinforcestosubmit EU fundingrequests.
Participantsvisitedseveralprojects on Bonaire thatwerefinancedthroughthe 9thand 10thEconomic Development Fund (EDF) of the EU, includingthe newGalileo Sensor Station. At the end of thethree-day event, participantsvisitedthe Greenpeace shipArctic Sunrise whichcameto Bonaire toraise awareness forclimate change.
According toHassell, the workshop EU funding was veryvaluable. “It was greatto meet therepresentatives of theother Dutch OCTsandlearn more aboutthechallenges we face and common interests we share. Together, we have decided on areaswhere we canincreaseourcollaborationand I look forward toworking on the next steps together.”