The European Union (EU) is a collaboration of 27 countries, including the Kingdom of the Netherlands, aiming for peace, stability and prosperity through shared values, policies, and legislation. When a country is a member of the EU, it gains access to funds and programs for economic development, sustainability, and other policy areas. Although the Kingdom of the Netherlands currently makes limited use of these opportunities for the islands, there are opportunities for the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom to get access to these funds. Especially if we jointly address this to the EU from both the islands and the Netherlands.
An essential part of this collaboration are the so-called ‘horizontal funds’ of the European Union. These funds provide financial support and technical assistance to projects in various areas, including regional sustainable development, climate challenges, connectivity, employment, education, and innovation. The horizontal funds align with the strategic programs of the European Union, including the Green Deals and the Global Gateway.
Frequently, companies, government NVs, and foundations on the islands have direct access to the EU’s horizontal funds. The eligibility criteria and accessing entities vary for each fund. It is crucial to thoroughly review the specific fund to determine whether there is alignment with the organization’s objectives. For companies, government NVs, or NGOs seeking EUR 50k or more, it is advisable to explore potential EU funds, considering that the application process for these funds can be intricate.
Interested in gaining insights into crafting a proposal for the EU and understanding key considerations? Check out the following three informative videos that will walk you through the initial stages of the process.
The Cabinet of the Special Envoy provides support for organizations on the BES-islands in applying for funds. To assist you as effectively as possible, we kindly request you to send an email to specialenvoy@rijksdienstcn.com. In the email, please provide the following two things:
A maximum of 2 pages in which you explain why you need the fund; what is your plan?
Based on your research into possible funds, please indicate which funds you believe could be suitable for your project. Click here for an overview of all European funds that the BES-islands can access
This section presents the main horizontal European Union programmes accessible to Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius. Per program you can read about the specific requirements. These vary from program to program.
Archipel.EU is an European Union co-funded pilot project and provides funding opportunities for artists and cultural organisations from the Outermost Regions of the European Union and from the Overseas Countries and Territories.
Asylum Migration and Integration Fund has a specific focus on early-integration measures, with a possibility for higher than standard co-financing rate for local and regional authorities, and civil society.
BEST 2.0 is a voluntary scheme for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Territories of European overseas – aims to support
The objective of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme is to protect and promote rights and values as enshrined in the EU Treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is a key EU funding instrument to promote growth, jobs and competitiveness through targeted infrastructure investment at European level.
The WORTH Partnership Project supports creative sector SMEs to collaborate transnationally with a view to develop innovative design-driven products by stimulating exchange and partnership between creatives,
The Creative Europe programme safeguards and promotes Europe’s cultural and linguistic diversity, the product of centuries of cross-cultural interaction, influences and migration.
Digital Europe Programme is the first EU programme that aims to accelerate the recovery and drive the digital transformation of Europe.
Erasmus+ is the European funding program that provides grants for a wide range of actions and activities in the field of education,
A Solidarity Project is a non-profit solidarity activity initiated, developed and implemented by young people themselves for a period from 2 to 12 months.
The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) is Europe’s main instrument for investing in people. The ESF+ will continue to provide an important contribution to the EU’s employment, social, education and skills policies, including structural reforms in these areas.
A Solidarity Project is a non-profit solidarity activity initiated, developed and implemented by young people themselves for a period from 2 to 12 months.
Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation.It tackles climate change, helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
More information Calls for proposal Application status: Open (22 calls) Budget: €40 billion Fund duration 2020 – 2030 Grant size N/A How to access Calls for proposals Theme Climate policy Type of support Grant Innovation Fund The Innovation Fund is one of the world’s largest funding programmes forthe deployment of
European Territorial Cooperation (ETC), also known as Interreg Europe, is a key component of the European Union that promotes policy cohesion by providing a framework
The InvestEU programme was established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is uniquely suited to provide long-term funding to companies while also supporting Union policies in the aftermath of a severe economic and social crisis.
The LIFE Programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action.
The MOVE-ON project aims to advance MAES methodology implementation in European ORs and OCTs. The project also intends to create and strengthen the scientific and technical MAES community in those territories, tackling the bottom-up approach initiated in MOVE project and demonstrating the benefits of ecosystems conditions assessments and their services
The New European Bauhaus supports a movement of sustainable communities, inclusive dialogues, and purposeful activities. The role of partners is to help build and inspire these communities.
The Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) Resilience, Sustainable Energy and Marine Biodiversity Programme (RESEMBID) supports the sustainable human development efforts of the 12 Caribbean OCTs, namely: Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, and Saint-Barthélemy.
More information Calls for proposal Application status: Open (5 calls) Budget: €4.2 Billion Fund duration 2021 – 2027 Grant size N/A How to access Call for Proposal Theme access international markets Type of support Grants Single Market Programme The Single Market Programme (SMP) covers the single market,competitiveness of enterprises, including
TAIEX is the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange instrument of the European Commission. TAIEX supports public administrations with regard to the approximation, application and enforcement of EU legislation as well as facilitating the sharing of EU best practices.
