Established bilateral border control cooperation between France and the Netherlands at two airports on the divided island of Saint Martin.
Key Facts
- Signed
- 17 May 1994
- Parties
- Kingdom of the Netherlands and French Republic
- Airports covered
- Princess Juliana International Airport; L'Espérance Airport
- French territory at signing
- Saint-Martin, part of Guadeloupe
- Dutch territory at signing
- Sint Maarten, part of the Netherlands Antilles
- Implementation
- Delayed several years by Sint Maarten government
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The island of Saint Martin is divided between French and Dutch jurisdictions, each with its own airport. The shared island geography created a need for coordinated person-control procedures, as travellers could potentially bypass border checks by moving between the two sides.
On 17 May 1994, France and the Netherlands signed a treaty specifically aimed at improving and coordinating border controls for persons entering Saint Martin through Princess Juliana International Airport on the Dutch side and L'Espérance Airport on the French side.
The treaty provided a legal framework for joint border management on the island, though practical implementation was delayed for several years due to resistance or inaction by the government of Sint Maarten, limiting the treaty's immediate effectiveness.
Political Outcome
Bilateral agreement to coordinate border controls at both airports on the divided island of Saint Martin; implementation delayed by Sint Maarten authorities.