BRUSSELS - The European Commission (EC) sees the haggling over the establishment of the Caribbean Body for Reform and Development (COHO) as an internal matter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. That – not surprising – response has been received by the Curaçao Parliamentarian Michelangelo Martines (KEM) to his appeal to 'Brussels' to intervene in the matter.

Head Sylvie Millot of the EC's Directorate-General for International Partnerships Overseas Countries and Territories, writes to Martines that the Coho Act is “first and foremost a sovereign internal affair of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and its four constituent countries”. “The European Commission does not have the competence to intervene in internal affairs of its Member States and can't act therefore as party in the ongoing legislative deliberation.”

Friday is the deadline for the four parliaments to submit their comments and questions about the draft Consensus Kingdom Act. Then the governments of the four countries have to agree on the answer.