RELATIONS WITH THE EU
The European Union and Curaçao
Located in the Caribbean Sea, north off Venezuela, with an area of 444 km², Curaçao is the largest Dutch Overseas Territory. Its population is 142,180 and the capital is Willemstad. Within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Curaçao has country status alongside the Netherlands, Aruba and Sint-Maarten. Tourism, oil refining, and international finance are the mainstays of Curaçao's small economy which has close links with neighbouring countries. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper agricultural development.
Projects of the EU with Curaçao
Cooperation 2014-20
Under the 11th EDF Curaçao has been granted an indicative amount of €16.9 million for the period 2014-2020. It is proposed to focus support on renewable energy, with the purpose of reducing Curacao's vulnerability to external shocks and dependence on fossil fuels.
Cooperation 2008-13
Curaçao was allocated €11.25 million under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) from an overall allocation of €24 million, originally earmarked for Netherlands Antilles, which was dissolved as an entity in 2010. The funding is improving urban infrastructure in socially deprived areas of Curaçao, a continuation of a project started under the 9th EDF.
At the same time, Curaçao is a beneficiary of the EDF-OCT Caribbean regional envelope of €40 million, which will focus on developing sustainable energy and marine biodiversity in the Caribbean. Curaçao is also one of the beneficiaries of a €15 million programme under the 10th EDF regional envelope for the Caribbean OCTs which focuses on stimulating the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The programme is enhancing economic competitiveness and lessening social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities.