THE NETHERLANDS - In line with a proposal submitted by the Member of Parliament (MP) of Sint Maarten, Mrs. Sarah A. Wescot-Williams, President of Parliament, the Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultation (IPKO) dedicated the entire day on Saturday, June 6, 2026, to a central theme that allowed for more extensive and in-depth discussions alongside the other topics on the IPKO agenda. This edition’s central theme is “Cooperation within the IPKO and in the Kingdom.”
The day commenced with a panel discussion on the theme from various perspectives, including governance, history, reforms, justice, and energy transition. The panel consisted of Mr. Paul Comenencia, Mrs. Maria van der Sluijs-Plantz, Mr. Bote ter Steege, and Mr. Roban van Herk. The discussion was moderated by Prof. Wouter Veenendaal.
Following the panel discussion, delegates were divided into several groups to discuss their positive and negative experiences regarding cooperation within the Kingdom. Discussions focused on four policy areas: (1) Governance and Finance, (2) Rule of Law and Security, (3) Foreign Policy and Defense, and (4) Education and Development.
These sessions were facilitated by professional discussion leaders in a private setting. The groups also explored what the countries need from one another in the future to strengthen cooperation and how elected representatives can contribute to achieving this objective. The group discussions were followed by a plenary debriefing on the outcomes of the second part of the sessions.
The day concluded with an informal discussion with the State Secretary for Kingdom Relations, Mr. Eric van der Burg, on cooperation within the Kingdom and what is necessary to foster cooperation in accordance with the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
While the State Secretary is not formally accountable to the IPKO, he was invited, as part of the new format introduced during this edition of the IPKO, to participate in an informal discussion with delegates of the Parliaments of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, and the Netherlands.
Members of the Panel.
