WILLEMSTAD – A government delegation from Curaçao will participate in the 21st Annual Forum between the European Union and its Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), which will take place from April 9 to 14, 2026, in Aruba.
The Curaçao delegation will be led by Minister of Health, Environment and Nature Tyron Boekhoudt and will also take part in the Ministerial Conference of the Overseas Countries and Territories Association.
The annual forum serves as the highest platform for political and technical dialogue between the European Commission, the EU member states with OCTs—Denmark, France, and the Netherlands—and the 13 overseas countries and territories, including Curaçao, Aruba, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, and others.
Curaçao’s interests in Brussels will also be represented by Eduard Braam, who was appointed last year as policy advisor. His role focuses on securing European-funded projects and programs for the island, and his participation is expected to help advance Curaçao’s priority initiatives at a high level.
During the first two days of the forum, April 9 and 10, technical trilateral meetings will be held between each OCT, its corresponding EU member state, and the European Commission. These discussions will focus on the allocation and programming of EU development funds for both territorial and regional projects. Curaçao is currently involved in three such programs, including those under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) and the Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2021–2027.
On April 11, the OCTA Ministerial Conference will take place under the presidency of Mike Eman. The conference will review administrative and financial performance, discuss the future direction of the association, and address negotiations on a new OCT framework for the period 2028–2034.
The proposed new framework is expected to significantly increase available funding—from approximately €500 million under the current arrangement to nearly €1 billion. It would also expand financing opportunities for OCTs and improve access to European investment mechanisms. However, the proposal includes a reduction in the frequency of formal dialogue, including fewer annual forums and trilateral meetings.
Additional activities during the week include a site visit to an EU-funded project in Aruba and a meeting at the University of Aruba. Delegations will also meet with Eric van der Burg, as well as with European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela.
The main forum will take place on April 13, followed by an investment conference on April 13 and 14. The conference aims to translate discussions into concrete investment projects for each OCT.
For Curaçao, four priority projects have been identified in close cooperation between the public and private sectors. These include expanding connectivity through the Blue NAP initiative, developing an additional wind farm with Aqualectra, upgrading port infrastructure at Koningsplein through Curinde, and establishing a regional humanitarian and crisis logistics center.
The investment conference is also part of the EU’s broader “Global Gateway Strategy,” launched in 2021, which seeks to strengthen Europe’s global presence through €300 billion in investments in areas such as energy, digital connectivity, and infrastructure.
Given the importance of the conference, Curaçao will be represented not only by a four-member government delegation but also by a larger group of more than ten participants, primarily from the private sector, who will attend the investment sessions in Aruba.