Aruba, despite its small size and limited natural resources, has built a reputation for a high standard of living and strong human development. To safeguard these achievements and embrace future opportunities, the country is strengthening its economy by addressing structural challenges such as exposure to global shocks, social pressures and environmental risks.
As part of its post-COVID-19 recovery, Aruba is placing digitalisation at the heart of its sustainable development strategy. In partnership with the European Union and aligned with the Global Gateway strategy, the country is strengthening its institutions and advancing e-governance to create a more resilient and efficient economy.
The EU has also supported Aruba’s growth in technology and innovation by enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, while also contributing to environmental protection through investments in biodiversity restoration and eco-friendly mobility solutions.
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RESEMBID
The RESEMBID Programme supports sustainable development in the Caribbean OCTs, focusing on green energy, marine biodiversity, resilience, and the COVID-19 response. In Aruba, the programme enhances early warning systems and prioritises the restoration of marine ecosystems, particularly through the protection and rehabilitation of mangroves and coral reefs. These efforts are key to fostering a healthier, more resilient coastal environment.
GO Programme
To reduce environmental impact and drive sustainable development, Aruba is prioritising the shift to eco-mobility. The GO Facility supports this transition by promoting electric vehicles, enhancing public transport systems, building infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, and integrating renewable energy solutions across the mobility network.
Erasmus+
Through the University of Aruba, students and staff have the opportunity to take part in enriching exchanges across Europe, building both skills and intercultural competencies. Students from diverse fields, including Law, Tourism, Business and Social Work, can study abroad or gain hands-on experience through internships and traineeships, while faculty members can engage in partner visits, job shadowing, training, teaching assignments and collaborative research projects.
Our priorities
The current framework of EU cooperation with Aruba is set in the Decision on the Overseas Association including Greenland (DOAG) of 2021, which aims to support the government in its efforts to promote sustainable development.
For the 2021-2027 period, the priority in on the digital sector (EUR 14.2 million), with a focus on improving the resilience and governance of the island through digitalisation via the E-Government roadmap. Since 2018, the E-government agenda is a major policy priority for Aruba.
Digital accessibility of government services is aligned to the DOAG’s goals and objectives and is one of the top priorities of the EU, linked to the EU strategy shaping Europe’s digital future. Developing digital networks and infrastructures is aligned to the objectives of the Green Deal on achieving climate-neutrality and enhancing circular economy as well as to the Global Gateway investment priority on digital, making the EU an exclusive partner of Aruba.
Our impact
The EU contributed to the new science faculty at the University of Aruba through SISSTEM: Sustainable Island Solutions through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. It provides students with three important new learning opportunities:
- a Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) bachelor programme,
- a master programme in ‘sustainability’,
- and a PhD research and innovation programmes.
The partnership with one of the best universities of Europe, the Catholic University of Leuven, is also hugely beneficial. This is enabling Aruba to play an increased role not only nationally, but also regionally, serving as a beacon of science throughout the Caribbean region and beyond, and attracting foreign students.
Our programmes
Cooperation with Aruba is channelled mainly through territorial cooperation programmes (which focused on higher education in the previous programming period, and on digitalisation for 2021-27).
In addition, Aruba benefits from regional cooperation through the Caribbean regional programme, RESEMBID (EUR 42.67 million) on resilience, sustainable energy and marine biodiversity and from the 2021-2027 Caribbean regional programme (EUR 21 million) on the sustainable management of Caribbean OCT’s natural capital. For the period 2021-2027 the regional Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) for Caribbean OCTs, adopted in November 2022, focuses on strategic themes of intervention of biodiversity, water management and food security. Caribbean OCTs can also participate in the Caribbean INTERREG programme for 2021-2027.
Aruba benefits from the Green Overseas-GO thematic programme (EUR 17.8 million) on sustainable energy and enhanced resilience to climate change, which consists of technical assistance, studies, pilot projects and trainings for beneficiaries individually and in thematic clusters.
Aruba is eligible for the DOAG’s dedicated intra-regional envelop for all OCTs and for the period 2021-2027 (EUR 15 million). Intraregional cooperation is a vital aspect of the EU's approach to OCTs, promoting closer ties and collaboration notably with neighbouring countries, outermost regions, and regional organisations through pilot actions.
OCTs, including Aruba, can also take part in other EU funding programmes, such as TAIEX/Twinning, InvestEU, LIFE, Horizon Europe, and Erasmus+. Along with other Dutch OCTs, Aruba has become increasingly successful in Erasmus+ with an increased number of projects (33 projects during the period 2014-2020). OCTs can also benefit from the thematic part and rapid response actions of the NDICI as well from the Humanitarian Aid Instrument.
Finally, youth from Aruba are participating in the OCT-Youth Network which aims to increase the ties between young people living in OCTs and the European Union and enhance the knowledge and involvement of young people in EU-OCT partnership.
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