News item | 27-02-2024 | 13:21
State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen of Kingdom Relations and Digitalization will participate in the high-level meeting of the Forum for Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) on Thursday, February 29 in Brussels.
The OCT Forum is held annually and this year is from February 26 to 29. Participants are countries and overseas territories (OCTs) affiliated with one of the Member States of the European Union, representatives of those EU Member States and members of the European Parliament. The six islands in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom all have OCT status. They are therefore present in Brussels with their own delegations, as well as the special EU envoy for Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius. In addition to the Netherlands, the member states France and Denmark are also present with their OCTs. There are a total of 13 (island) countries that have the status of OCTs.
The aim of the Forum is to bring together all involved countries and areas. The importance of further cooperation between the overseas territories and the EU is central. It is about promoting initiatives that benefit all partners. Initiatives must contribute to sustainable development, especially of the small island states.
State Secretary Van Huffelen will give a speech during the high-level meeting. She will discuss the strategic importance of the OCTs for the EU, the importance of cooperation and of making EU funds more accessible to the Caribbean islands. She will draw attention to topics that are important for the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom. Such as food security, connectivity via water, air, and digital, but also climate change and energy transition.
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