THE HAGUE – First the Prime Ministers of Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten must have signed a mutual arrangement before State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Van Huffelen formally withdraws the draft consensus kingdom law for the establishment of the Caribbean Body for Reform and Development (COHO). The State Secretary indicated this in a letter to the Dutch House of Representatives in which she reports on the four-country consultations:
THE HAGUE
– First the Prime Ministers of Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten must have signed a mutual arrangement before State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Van Huffelen formally withdraws the draft consensus kingdom law for the establishment of the Caribbean Body for Reform and Development (COHO). The State Secretary indicated this in a letter to the Dutch House of Representatives in which she reports on the four-country consultations:
On January 12 and 13, I held consultations on Sint Maarten with the Prime Ministers of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten (hereinafter: the countries). The way in which we want to work together within the Kingdom was central to this consultation. The consultations have led to an outline agreement on the way in which we will work together on necessary reforms in the public sector in the countries, as laid down in the Country Packages. The state of affairs regarding a dispute settlement, the implementation of the motion Van Raak et al. – including resolving the democratic deficit and the accessibility of the European elections, in accordance with the Dutch coalition agreement – and the organization of a Kingdom conference were also discussed. In this letter I inform the House about the results of the consultation and the agreements made for the follow-up.
On January 12 and 13, I held consultations on Sint Maarten with the Prime Ministers of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten (hereinafter: the countries). The way in which we want to work together within the Kingdom was central to this consultation. The consultations have led to an outline agreement on the way in which we will work together on necessary reforms in the public sector in the countries, as laid down in the Country Packages. The state of affairs regarding a dispute settlement, the implementation of the motion Van Raak et al. – including resolving the democratic deficit and the accessibility of the European elections, in accordance with the Dutch coalition agreement – and the organization of a Kingdom conference were also discussed. In this letter I inform the House about the results of the consultation and the agreements made for the follow-up.
Reforms
Reforms
During the previous administrative four-country consultations in Aruba in June 2022, which took place in response to the reports of your House and the Parliaments of the countries on the proposal of the consensus kingdom law Caribbean Agency for Reform and Development (COHO), the Prime Ministers and I found that support for this bill was limited, particularly in the countries themselves. The proposal therefore lacks the necessary consensus. At the same time, during this consultation, we noted that we were all satisfied with the way in which we are working together on the reforms in anticipation of that Kingdom Act. The Prime Ministers of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten have therefore indicated that they would like to codify this current working method, in which the Netherlands supports the reforms via a work organization that falls directly under my ministry, into a form-free mutual arrangement on the basis of Article 38, first paragraph, of the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In response, I proposed that Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten themselves come up with a joint proposal for such a mutual arrangement, and that we discuss this during a subsequent administrative four-country consultation.
During the previous administrative four-country consultations in Aruba in June 2022, which took place in response to the reports of your House and the Parliaments of the countries on the proposal of the consensus kingdom law Caribbean Agency for Reform and Development (COHO), the Prime Ministers and I found that support for this bill was limited, particularly in the countries themselves. The proposal therefore lacks the necessary consensus. At the same time, during this consultation, we noted that we were all satisfied with the way in which we are working together on the reforms in anticipation of that Kingdom Act. The Prime Ministers of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten have therefore indicated that they would like to codify this current working method, in which the Netherlands supports the reforms via a work organization that falls directly under my ministry, into a form-free mutual arrangement on the basis of Article 38, first paragraph, of the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In response, I proposed that Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten themselves come up with a joint proposal for such a mutual arrangement, and that we discuss this during a subsequent administrative four-country consultation.
On September 1, I received the proposal from the countries. However, due to primarily agenda-related reasons, the administrative consultation could only take place now, in January 2023. In the meantime, the proposal from the countries has already been discussed at official level, which has led to a number of concrete points for discussion at administrative level.
On September 1, I received the proposal from the countries. However, due to primarily agenda-related reasons, the administrative consultation could only take place now, in January 2023. In the meantime, the proposal from the countries has already been discussed at official level, which has led to a number of concrete points for discussion at administrative level.
I was able to discuss these points in a constructive manner with the ministers-presidents of the countries during the administrative four-country consultations. We have shared our views in an open and honest manner, which has led to an outline agreement on the way in which we will collaborate within the Kingdom on reforms that contribute to the resilience and sustainable development of the countries, to improve the prosperity of their residents. It concerns the reforms as laid down in the Country Packages. Through this arrangement, the countries commit themselves to the implementation of those reforms for several years. The Netherlands is committed to providing support with people and resources. This means that we will continue the cooperation in the way we have done for the past two years. The central point remains that the countries are the owners of their own reforms and that they implement these reforms at the agreed pace. The Temporary Work Organization (TWO) under my ministry will continue to exist and the monitoring and support from the Netherlands will go through this organization.
I was able to discuss these points in a constructive manner with the ministers-presidents of the countries during the administrative four-country consultations. We have shared our views in an open and honest manner, which has led to an outline agreement on the way in which we will collaborate within the Kingdom on reforms that contribute to the resilience and sustainable development of the countries, to improve the prosperity of their residents. It concerns the reforms as laid down in the Country Packages. Through this arrangement, the countries commit themselves to the implementation of those reforms for several years. The Netherlands is committed to providing support with people and resources. This means that we will continue the cooperation in the way we have done for the past two years. The central point remains that the countries are the owners of their own reforms and that they implement these reforms at the agreed pace. The Temporary Work Organization (TWO) under my ministry will continue to exist and the monitoring and support from the Netherlands will go through this organization.
The outline agreement reached will be translated by the official teams in the coming month into adjustments to the mutual arrangement as proposed by the countries. When ready, this regulation will include agreements about the tasks of the actors involved in the implementation of the reforms, the support provided by the Netherlands, the method of reporting on progress and the duration of the collaboration.
The outline agreement reached will be translated by the official teams in the coming month into adjustments to the mutual arrangement as proposed by the countries. When ready, this regulation will include agreements about the tasks of the actors involved in the implementation of the reforms, the support provided by the Netherlands, the method of reporting on progress and the duration of the collaboration.
Agreements on liquidity support and the loans expiring on 10 October 2023 – which the Netherlands has provided to the countries in the context of the corona pandemic – will not form part of the mutual arrangement. We have agreed that consultations on the expiring loans will start in February 2023.
Agreements on liquidity support and the loans expiring on 10 October 2023 – which the Netherlands has provided to the countries in the context of the corona pandemic – will not form part of the mutual arrangement. We have agreed that consultations on the expiring loans will start in February 2023.
We expect to be able to sign the mutual arrangement at the beginning of March. After the regulation has been signed, the proposal of the COHO Kingdom Act will be formally withdrawn.
We expect to be able to sign the mutual arrangement at the beginning of March. After the regulation has been signed, the proposal of the COHO Kingdom Act will be formally withdrawn.
Dispute settlement, motion Van Raak c.s. and Kingdom Conference
Dispute settlement, motion Van Raak c.s. and Kingdom Conference
In addition to cooperation on reforms, I also consulted with the Prime Ministers of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten on a number of other subjects in Sint Maarten. To begin with, the latest state of affairs regarding the dispute settlement procedure was discussed. It is expected that the Parliaments of the countries will soon present a new draft for such a scheme. Governments look forward to learning about this new draft. In addition, ideas were exchanged about the implementation of the motion Van Raak et al., regarding a further interpretation of the responsibilities of the countries and the Kingdom, and about the theme of democratic deficit, which is included in the coalition agreement. The importance of both subjects was widely recognized during the administrative consultations, not only in a legal sense, but also in a socio-political sense. The four countries have therefore expressed their intention to dedicate a Kingdom conference to this. Soon I will discuss with the Prime Ministers when this Kingdom Conference will take place and which topics will be discussed there.
In addition to cooperation on reforms, I also consulted with the Prime Ministers of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten on a number of other subjects in Sint Maarten. To begin with, the latest state of affairs regarding the dispute settlement procedure was discussed. It is expected that the Parliaments of the countries will soon present a new draft for such a scheme. Governments look forward to learning about this new draft. In addition, ideas were exchanged about the implementation of the motion Van Raak et al., regarding a further interpretation of the responsibilities of the countries and the Kingdom, and about the theme of democratic deficit, which is included in the coalition agreement. The importance of both subjects was widely recognized during the administrative consultations, not only in a legal sense, but also in a socio-political sense. The four countries have therefore expressed their intention to dedicate a Kingdom conference to this. Soon I will discuss with the Prime Ministers when this Kingdom Conference will take place and which topics will be discussed there.
https://www.curacaochronicle.com/post/main/withdrawal-of-coho-act-after-mutual-arrangements-have-been-signed/
Comment