WILLEMSTAD – The EU Desk Curaçao, part of the Ministry of Economic Development (MEO), has successfully concluded EU Funds Week 2025, reinforcing Curaçao’s position as one of the most active and forward-leading Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) participating in the European Union’s horizontal funding programs.
These EU programs provide direct, competitive funding for skills development, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, cultural cooperation, youth mobility, sustainability and innovation.
From 17 to 21 November 2025, more than 200 participants from government institutions, the private sector, NGOs, universities and the creative industries explored funding opportunities available to Curaçao under programs such as Erasmus+, Creative Europe, the European Solidarity Corps, CERV, the Internal Security Fund, the Justice Programme, LIFE, Digital Europe and Horizon Europe.
A key moment of the week was the presentation of the new EU report “Participation of OCTs in EU Programmes 2021–2024.” According to the report, Curaçao has shown strong annual growth, securing more than €2.5 million (approximately 5 million Canadian dollars) in EU funding across 66 projects involving 37 beneficiaries — the highest participation rate ever recorded for the island. This rise is attributed to strengthened institutional capacity, increased private-sector engagement and expanding partnerships within Europe.
The opening forum of EU Funds Week included contributions from the EU Delegation in Barbados, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), and consultants from Europe and Curaçao. Their involvement highlights the growing confidence of European institutions in Curaçao’s potential and the strategic value of the OCT framework for entrepreneurship, trade, export financing and innovation.
Site visits to Boca Sami, the Curaçao Sea Aquarium and the Kaya Kaya district showcased Curaçao’s competitive strengths in the blue economy and creative industries — sectors that align closely with EU funding priorities.
The report also underscores the increasing role of the EU Desk Curaçao as an essential partner in project guidance and development. The Desk will now oversee the next phase of engagement, which includes five new project applications for 2026, expansion of international partner networks and the creation of a National Skills Strategy Roadmap 2026–2030, in collaboration with relevant ministries.
“Curaçao is excelling in the EU’s horizontal programs,” the EU Desk stated. “We are transforming cooperation into competitive funding — benefiting our youth, innovators, entrepreneurs and our future. Everyone can participate.”
With the next major EU funding cycle (2028–2034) approaching, Curaçao is well positioned to further expand its participation. Until then, the current programs — active until the end of 2027 — continue to offer significant opportunities for sustainable development, competitiveness and resilience.