KRALENDIJK – Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba can rely on the legislative and executive capacity of the Netherlands in the event of a closer relationship with the European Union. But even then, sufficient local capacity will remain necessary to implement European rules, funds and oversight in practice.
This is stated in a new study by the University of Curaçao on the choice between the current OCT status and a possible status as an outermost region, UPG. The report was commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.
The three public bodies currently hold the status of Overseas Country and Territory. As a result, European law applies only to a limited extent. A UPG status would mean that European law would in principle apply in full, with the possibility of exceptions.
A fundamental difference
According to the researchers, the position of the BES islands differs fundamentally from that of Aruba. Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba are part of the Dutch constitutional order. This means they can fall back on the central government for complex legislation, the implementation of European law and the use of European funds.
This embeddedness can make a transition to UPG status more feasible. However, the researchers warn that The Hague cannot replace local executive capacity. European rules and financial flows must ultimately be translated into projects, oversight and policy on the islands themselves.
Vulnerabilities on the BES Islands
The considerations also touch on vulnerabilities on the BES islands. The report highlights the strong dependence on imports, high cost of living, limited economic scale and an ageing population. By 2050, the study projects a dependency ratio of nearly 70 percent on Bonaire and Saba. On Sint Eustatius, the projection rises to 83 percent.
A UPG status could provide access to more European funding and stricter social standards. At the same time, the status brings obligations, including those relating to European law, oversight and the free movement of persons. The researchers therefore argue that it must be assessed whether the islands can bear those obligations financially and organisationally.
The report does not express a preference for retaining OCT status or transitioning to UPG. According to the authors, the choice must be made on an island-by-island basis and depends on the desired balance between European integration, local policy space and administrative feasibility.
