The President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, visited Greenland on Sunday and Monday together with the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. In connection with the visit, a new joint declaration was signed, which includes, among other things, additional EU investments of 200 million euros.
President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, landing on Sunday just after midday in Nuuk, where she was received by the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the chairman of Naalakkersuisut Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
After a sailing trip to Qoornoq in Nuup Kangerlua and a tour of the Defense inspection ship Thetis in the harbor of Nuuk, the parties signed a new joint declaration on Monday morning, which focuses on expanding cooperation between the EU and Greenland in several areas.
Improved internet in outlying areas
One of the focus areas is digital infrastructure, where the EU will contribute five million euros, Denmark with two million euros and Greenland with the last two million euros – a total of nine million euros to create faster internet for the satellite areas in Greenland.
In addition to the investment in digital infrastructure via Tusass, the EU will also invest further in critical minerals.
– The investment must ensure development, jobs in Greenland and more value in the country, said Ursula von der Leyen during Monday’s press conference.
Green energy and education
In addition, the EU is ready to invest in green energy supply with the aim of ensuring an independent and sustainable energy supply in Greenland. Finally, there is a desire from the EU to invest in the field of education.
– And it is the best investment. It must ensure that the young people get the opportunity for education abroad via Erasmus plus, and thus ensure a high level of education in the country, said the commission chairman, after which she concluded by saying that the EU stands behind Greenland and that the EU supports Greenland’s desire to decide on its own future.
According to Jens-Frederik Nielsen, closer cooperation with the EU will benefit the country’s citizens.
– We shape the future of our own country, we govern our own country with the citizens at the centre, but in cooperation with others. We have signed a renewed cooperation agreement. And that will benefit the entire population of Greenland, said Jens-Frederik Nielsen, among others, who has subsequently stated that membership of the EU is not on the table.
40 years of partnership
Greenland has had a partnership with the EU for 40 years. The partnership has primarily been focused around fishing and education, but has in recent years been expanded to also include tourism, infrastructure and critical minerals.
The extra 200 million euros comes on top of the existing money that the EU has already allocated to Greenland, which consists of 225 million euros in the period from 2021-27 under the auspices of the partnership agreement for the overseas countries and territories (OCT) and fisheries agreement 2025-2030, which annually contributes 17.3 million euros, corresponding to just over 129 million kroner.
