WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao Parliament is preparing for an important debate on whether to extend the country's reform cooperation agreement with the Netherlands, as the existing arrangement approaches its expiration in April 2027 and questions remain about the government's commitment to completing several long-term reforms.
The issue was discussed on Thursday, October 15, during a meeting between Curaçao's Council of Ministers, led by Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas, and Dutch State Secretary for the Interior and Kingdom Relations Eric van der Burg.
The government confirmed that Parliament will meet with Pisas on Thursday, October 22, to discuss the future of the Mutual Arrangement for Cooperation on Reforms, known in Dutch as the Onderlinge Regeling Samenwerking bij Hervormingen.
The agreement provides the legal framework for cooperation between Curaçao and the Netherlands in implementing reforms under the Landspakket, or Country Package.
These reforms originated in agreements reached in 2020, when the Netherlands provided financial assistance to Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten during the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The reform agenda covers several areas, including public financial management, taxation, government administration, economic development, the labor market, social security, healthcare and education.
Although implementation began in 2021, the current cooperation arrangement formally entered into force in April 2023 for a period of four years.
Under its provisions, the agreement can be extended for periods of up to two years, but such an extension requires the approval of the parliaments of the Caribbean countries concerned.
The approaching deadline has become particularly important following an independent evaluation published in April 2026.
The evaluation committee concluded that cooperation between the Netherlands and the Caribbean countries had helped initiate reforms that previously struggled to get underway.
However, it also found that structural reforms require more time than the existing agreement allows.
For Curaçao, the committee identified a specific concern: the need for greater clarity regarding the government's administrative and political commitment and which reforms should receive priority.
This finding places additional importance on the upcoming parliamentary debate, which will provide an opportunity to examine not only whether the agreement should continue, but also what the country expects to accomplish during any extension.
The Netherlands has already indicated its willingness to continue supporting the reform process.
In its 2027 Kingdom Relations budget, the Dutch government states that the remaining funds allocated to the Landspakketten could be used to support a two-year extension of the existing arrangement.
However, this would require parliamentary approval, and the available resources would be directed toward selected priority reforms rather than automatically continuing every existing project.
The Dutch government also emphasizes that Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten remain responsible for implementing their own reforms.
The Temporary Work Organization, known as TWO, provides technical assistance, expertise and financial support, but the participating countries are expected to take ownership of the changes.
Local media previously reported that Pisas intended to make a decision on the continuation of the agreement after reviewing the independent evaluation and discussing its conclusions with Parliament.
The October 22 meeting therefore represents an important stage in determining Curaçao's position.
The government's October 15 statement did not indicate whether the Council of Ministers has already agreed to support an extension or whether it intends to propose changes to the existing cooperation framework.
For Curaçao, the decision will have consequences beyond the formal relationship with the Netherlands.
Several reform projects concern the functioning of government institutions and public services, meaning that delays or changes in financing could affect efforts to modernize administration and strengthen the country's economic resilience.
With fewer than six months remaining before the agreement expires, the government and Parliament must determine whether the existing cooperation will continue and which reforms should take priority in the years ahead.