Minister of Kingdom Relations, Mr. Gerlien Croes, is currently in the Netherlands where he has met with members of the Eerste Kamer and the Secretary of State. The primary objective of this visit is to secure guarantees for the continuation of Dutch funding and support for the Landspakket, Governance, and Refinery projects.
During discussions, Minister Croes emphasized Aruba’s priorities and the desire for continued cooperation with the Dutch government. These talks are particularly timely as the new Dutch cabinet prepares its budget for the upcoming year, which must be delivered in August. The Aruban government considers the trajectory established over the past five to six years essential, specifically regarding the Onderlinge Regeling for Landspakket TWO.
Recent evaluations by the Evaluation Commission have been positive, validating the island’s efforts and the success of investments at the Kingdom level. Consequently, the focus is now shifting toward creating a structure that guarantees the continuation of these projects. Additionally, Aruba plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Curaçao, acknowledging the success of Curaçao’s CLOA project. Moving forward, Aruba intends to continue dialogue regarding support for Governance and the Refinery to ensure the necessary capacity and funds are maintained.
