politics
EU President to Visit Greenland
On Sunday, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen will welcome the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Nuuk. There, they will sign a joint declaration on a strengthened partnership between the EU and Greenland.
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The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will visit Greenland on 6 and 7 September together with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
At a meeting with Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, they will sign a joint declaration on a strengthened partnership between the EU and Greenland.
"The EU has clearly expressed its support for us in the geopolitical situation, while also accommodating our wish for an even stronger partnership. I am very much looking forward to the coming days and to saying more about the significance of the joint declaration for Greenland," Nielsen (D) says in a press release.
He is referring to US President Donald Trump's repeated demands for American control over Greenland.
"Europe has unequivocally and without hesitation stood together with Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark. It has safeguarded fundamental principles such as sovereignty and territorial integrity. It has demonstrated solidarity and unity. I am very grateful for that," Frederiksen (S) states.
These times oblige us to work closely together.
New investment package
"The visit by the President of the European Commission is proof of the close partnership between the EU and Greenland, which we are now strengthening through a joint declaration and a number of concrete projects that will benefit the Greenlandic people," the Danish PM continues.
The EU opened an office in Greenland in 2024, and last autumn the European Commission proposed more than doubling the support for Greenland in the union's long-term budget for 2028–2034. Specifically, this would increase funding from €225 million to €530 million.
The EU has already invested, for example, €54.7 million in a new fibre-optic cable that will run between Greenland's south and west coasts, and €202 million in education on the island. Further investments include a hydropower project and projects for the extraction of critical raw materials in Greenland.
The European Commission has also announced a new investment package for Greenland, to be presented by President von der Leyen.
In addition, the partnership with Greenland is described as central to the EU's new Arctic strategy, which is to be presented this autumn.
More meetings
In Nuuk, the President of the European Commission and the Danish Prime Minister will also meet the Faroese Prime Minister, Beinir Johannesen.
On Monday 7 September, the heads of government of Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Denmark will also gather for their biannual meeting.
“These times oblige us to work closely together. It is like being three people in the same boat, having to row together and ensure a common direction – that is the structure we have today,” says Nielsen.
“In a rapidly changing world, we must stand closely together with those nearest to us. The community between Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Denmark has enormous strength. Its strength lies in our straightforward and trusting relationship. In our openness about what is difficult. And in the understanding that, although we are different, there is much that binds us together,” Frederiksen maintains.
The following day, a meeting of the Kingdom’s contact committee for foreign, security and defence policy will take place. The heads of government and several ministers will, among other things, discuss the security situation in the North Atlantic and the Arctic.
