WILLEMSTAD - EUROPE DIRECT in Curaçao, the information center about the European Union, is a fact. This center, an initiative of the Curaçao Chamber of Commerce and the Caribbean Taxation and Europe Shop Foundation (CBE), was launched on Sunday 9 May - Europe Day - during an official virtual opening. The establishment of EUROPE DIRECT CURAÇAO is financially supported by the European Commission, the executive committee of the European Union.
The launch of Europe Direct Curaçao was opened by the director of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr John Jacobs. Speakers for the event were: MEP Samira Rafaela, Member of the Council of State of the Kingdom of Paul Comenencia and Head of the Representation of the European Commission in the Netherlands, Didier Herbert. The moderator of the session was Germaine Rekwest, chairman of the CBE and also affiliated with the University of Curaçao (UoC).
Those looking for information about the European Union usually do not know where to start. The European Commission has therefore set up an information network. This network has long been active throughout the EU under the name of Europe Direct, but not yet in the Caribbean region. The opening session attracted more than 60 registered participants.
Didier Herbert “The topics that Curaçao's Europe Direct wants to talk about really appeal to us: sustainable energy, digitization and civil rights, to name a few. The fact that schools and entrepreneurs are target groups is also a plus. And the enormous network that Europe Direct Curaçao has is very well. Ultimately, this is new, because there was no Eurodirect center in this important region yet.”
MEP Samira Rafaela: “I often hear from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom that the EU feels far away, I can imagine that, because it is physically far away, but since the beginning of the Union the islands of the Caribbean are of the Kingdom are part of the European cooperation. And that's why I keep repeating that. And that's how it feels to me too. I have always said, when I am in the European Parliament, I speak on behalf of the entire Kingdom.” And “all citizens on Curaçao, but also the other autonomous countries and islands, have the right to equal access to information, so I welcome initiatives like this very much, and let's see what we can achieve very concretely.”
Paul Comenencia “(…) the fact is that the Curaçao Chamber of Commerce has a long, impressive track record as an independent, professional, reliable service provider and cooperation partner (also for European projects), which always operates with the public interest in mind, free from political parties or individual commercial interests. Fortunately, you have such a good partner in Curaçao, because the task facing Europe Direct Curaçao is not small, I also say to the Chamber of Commerce. There is a lot of work to be done to increase the information position, the factual knowledge of citizens and companies about Europe and to subsequently involve more citizens and companies in the discussion about Curaçao and the EU” and “There an important assignment for Europe Direct Curaçao to improve the information position, the factual knowledge of citizens and companies regarding the different dimensions of the relationship with Europe and to motivate many more people and companies to become more involved in public and political discussions and decision-making about the future of Curaçao in relation to of the European Union.
Again, no small feat. So I wish the Chamber of Commerce and their partner organization the Stichting Caribische Belasting- en Europawinkel the best of luck. You have already made a good start. And since a good start is half done, there is every reason for optimism about the sequel.”
Germaine Rekwest “The idea that we have with Europe Direct Curaçao in mind is that we organize events and each time raise a theme or a cluster of themes and thereby enter into dialogue with the Curaçao citizens, the entrepreneurs but also the government”
The opening of Europe Direct Curaçao on May 9, 2021 can be viewed via the website: www.europedirectcuracao.com.