THE HAGUE – Curaçao will have to wait until September 15 to learn whether the Netherlands intends to extend the reform cooperation established through the Land Packages, after State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Eric van der Burg declined to reveal the Dutch government’s decision during a parliamentary debate this week.
Van der Burg told the Dutch Parliament’s Committee for Kingdom Relations that the Jetten government has already reached a decision, but he would not disclose it ahead of Prinsjesdag, the annual presentation of the Dutch government’s budget and policy plans.
The issue concerns the Land Packages for Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten, which contain wide-ranging reforms covering government administration, public finances, taxation, education, the business climate and other areas.
The arrangements originated in the financial assistance provided by the Netherlands during the COVID-19 crisis. Since 2021, the three Caribbean countries have been implementing reforms with support from the Temporary Work Organization, or TWO, of the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. The cooperation received a formal legal basis through the Mutual Arrangement for Cooperation on Reforms in April 2023.
An important clarification is that the underlying arrangement does not formally expire at the end of 2026, as suggested in the original report. Dutch government documents state that the current arrangement runs until April 4, 2027 and provides the possibility of extending cooperation with each Caribbean country for another two years.
An independent evaluation completed earlier this year concluded that the cooperation has helped get reforms moving but that structural reforms require more time. The commission recommended extending the arrangement because significant parts of the reform programs remain unfinished.
For Curaçao specifically, the evaluation said greater clarity was needed regarding political and administrative commitment and which reforms should receive priority in the coming period. Aruba was found to have integrated the reforms more closely into its own policy plans, while Sint Maarten continues to face particularly severe limitations in implementation capacity.
In May, Van der Burg informed Parliament that he was discussing the evaluation and the proposed extension with the prime ministers of Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten. At the time, he said Parliament would receive further information after the summer.
The decision expected on September 15 will therefore determine whether the structured reform partnership continues beyond its current expiration date and, potentially, whether its priorities or method of cooperation will be adjusted.
Even if the arrangement is not extended, responsibility for completing and permanently embedding unfinished reforms would remain with the individual Caribbean countries.