Antje Diertens
THE HAGUE--Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament, Antje Diertens of the Democratic Party D66 wants to know if the Dutch government has already approached the European Union (EU) with regard to the Exceptional Support Fund for the Dutch Caribbean as Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) of the European Union (EU).
Diertens on Wednesday submitted a series of written questions to Minister of Justice and Security Ferd Grapperhaus and Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Kajsa Ollongren after the media reported that the European Parliament had called for the establishment of an emergency fund for the OCTs.
The European Parliament last Friday adopted a comprehensive resolution regarding the COVID-19 response, including the establishment of an Exceptional Support Fund for the OCTs. One of the driving forces behind the resolution is Dutch Member of the European Parliament Samira Rafaela of D66/RENEW EUROPE.
Diertens asked the ministers if they were aware that the European Parliament had adopted the resolution. She wanted to know whether the ministers had already filed a request at the EU on behalf of the Dutch Caribbean countries Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten, and the Caribbean Netherlands islands Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba.
“Do you already know what amount you will apply for at the European emergency fund on behalf of the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom? To what extent can you translate [that into – Ed.] a well-founded request based on the damage that is already known for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom?”
Diertens asked whether the ministers had already mapped out how the allocation of the amounts from the emergency fund could be executed in a proportional manner, and how it would be secured that monies from this emergency fund would be deployed in the right manner.
The Member of Parliament (MP) wanted to know whether a procedure could be started within the shortest possible time for a simple and correct allocation of the funding, considering the urgent needs on the islands.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom should also be able to make use of the European emergency fund. Diertens asked if the ministers were aware of this fact and queried which NGOs would be able to do so. She requested that the ministers keep the Second Chamber informed of the actions taken regarding the EU fund.
