THE BOTTOM, Saba – Saba has called for improved access to European Union funding and programs during the recent OCT–EU Conference held in Aruba from April 9–14.
The island, represented by Commissioner Eviton Heyliger and a small delegation of officials, used the meeting to highlight challenges faced by small islands, including high costs, limited capacity, and vulnerability to climate change.
A key topic was the future EU–OCT partnership for 2028–2034, which could see funding increase to €999 million. Saba stressed that access to these funds must be simplified, as current programs are often complex and resource-intensive.
Opportunities
The conference also emphasized regional cooperation under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, focusing on areas such as connectivity, renewable energy, disaster management, and waste. For Saba, this opens opportunities to work more closely with neighboring islands.
In addition, progress was shared on EU-supported projects on the island, including renewable energy, biosecurity, and disaster preparedness initiatives.
