Prime Minister Dick Schoof Meets with Prime Minister Mike Eman
ORANJESTAD — During his working visit to the Netherlands, Prime Minister Mike Eman held talks with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof in The Hague.
The meeting focused on key issues for Aruba, including tourism and the topics raised during Prime Minister Schoof’s recent visit to the island.
“Regarding the Kingdom Act, we are on the right track,” said Prime Minister Schoof. The matter will be further discussed at the upcoming Kingdom Council of Ministers this Friday, where Prime Minister Eman will also be present.
Exchanging views with the Netherlands’ highest-ranking official is vital for Aruba’s priorities in the coming years. Strong relations within the Kingdom foster stability and trust, which in turn encourage investment and strengthen Aruba’s position.
Under the current Kingdom Act, Aruba benefits from a 20 million florin interest rate reduction, secured through an agreement with the Netherlands. Prime Minister Eman also addressed the proposed “investment fund,” envisioned in a broader Kingdom-wide context. Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten would contribute to the fund alongside provisions for the BES islands. This initiative aimed to establish a Dutch investment fund paired with a stability reserve, ensuring that resources are available in the event of crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Eman also met with Frans Timmermans, parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives and GroenLinks-PvdA leader. Acknowledging Mr. Timmermans’ potential role in the next Dutch coalition, Eman shared his vision and outlined several proposals requiring Dutch government support.
He highlighted the opportunity for Wageningen University to play a more active role in Aruba, fostering socio-economic development in balance with nature, an approach that would benefit the entire Caribbean region.