Four countries aim to prepare new Kingdom Conference in Sint Maarten in November

THE HAGUE — The Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten are aiming to hold an initial meeting in Sint Maarten in November to prepare for a new Kingdom Conference. The prime ministers of the three Caribbean countries have already discussed the plan with State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Eric van der Burg.

The November meeting is not yet intended to be the full conference. Its agenda, format and possible involvement of parliamentarians have not yet been decided.

A Kingdom Conference is intended as a forum where the four countries of the Kingdom jointly determine and discuss common issues.

The initiative follows the latest Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultation, or IPKO, where cooperation within the Kingdom was the central theme. Topics included personal-data protection and the so-called democratic deficit within the Kingdom.

According to Van der Burg, significant differences remain between the four countries in the field of data protection, and work is continuing toward greater harmonisation.

Research into the democratic deficit is also ongoing, with the Dutch Government awaiting the final report of an expert group.

The November meeting is therefore primarily a new attempt to establish a more structural dialogue among the four countries. Only after that meeting is it expected to become clearer which issues will be placed on the agenda and what role the parliaments will play.