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The Netherlands

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The Charter for the Kongdom of the Netherlands (in Dutch: Statuut voor het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden; in Papiamentu: Statuut pa e Reino di Hulanda) describes the political relationship between the three different countries that form the Kingdom of the Netherlands: the Netherlands in Europe and the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba in the Caribbean. The different constitutions of these three countries are legally subjected to the Statute.

The Charter states explicitly which elements of lawmaking and policy are to be dealt with on the level of the Kingdom and are thus valid for all three countries. Any matter not explicitly mentioned to be an affair of the Kingdom, is considered to be an affair of the different countries. Responsibility for affairs of the Kingdom rests with the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom. The affairs of the Kingdom are:

• maintenance of the independence and the defense of the Kingdom;
• foreign relations;
• Netherlands nationality;
• regulation of the orders of chivalry, the flag and the coat of arms of the Kingdom;
• regulation of the nationality of vessels and the standards required for the safety and navigation of seagoing vessels flying the flag of the Kingdom, with the exception of sailing ships;
• supervision of the general rules governing the admission and expulsion of Netherlands nationals and aliens;
• extradition.

In addition, the Charter contains provisions on mutual assistance and co-operation between the three countries. All three countries are, as per the Charter, obliged to promote the realisation of human rights and good governance. The Charter can only be amended with the approval of all three countries.

Since 2005, the governments in the three countries within the Kingdom are negotiating a renewal of their relationship. These negotiations are expected to finish sometime in 2008. The probable outcome will be that three of the islands of the Netherlands Antilles, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba will become part of the country of the Netherlands; Curaçao and Sint Maarten are expected to become separate countries within the Kingdom. The Netherlands Antilles will in that case cease to exist as a political entity.

• Website of the Dutch ministry of Internal Affairs
• Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands