EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that a joint declaration that will strengthen cooperation between the EU, Greenland and Denmark was signed at the joint press conference held with the island's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland.
Von der Leyen stated that the EU will make a total new investment of 200 million euros in Greenland this year and next year, and stated that the package will focus on three strategic areas: "connectivity, clean energy and critical raw materials".
Stating that Greenland's satellite capacity will be increased within the scope of the package, von der Leyen noted that the settlements in the north of the country will have faster internet access immediately, and the remote settlements in the east will have faster internet access as of October.
Von der Leyen pointed out that Greenland has significant potential in the field of hydroelectricity and said that new hydroelectric power plants will be supported and domestic energy production will be increased.
Stating that these investments will strengthen Greenland's energy security and independence, von der Leyen underlined that they will also contribute to the development of clean industries such as renewable hydrogen.
Regarding critical raw material investments, von der Leyen emphasized that the resources in Greenland should provide added value, employment and growth to the country.
Von der Leyen stated that the Malmbjerg molybdenum mine project could become one of Greenland's largest investments and could provide the country with an added value of up to 90 million euros per year.
Stating that the EU will also finance the preparatory work for the Amitsoq graphite project, von der Leyen explained that these investments will develop Greenland's critical raw material sector.
Von der Leyen stated that they propose to more than double the funding provided to Greenland in the EU's next long-term budget to 530 million euros by 2034.
Emphasizing that the investments will include housing, local businesses, sustainable tourism and education programs for young people, von der Leyen noted that the participation of Greenlandic youth in the Erasmus program will be increased.
Von der Leyen said, "The EU is in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland. We will continue this solidarity. Here we want to state very clearly and emphasize again that those who will decide the future of Greenland are the people of Greenland and Denmark, not anyone else." he said.
Stating that territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of borders are the fundamental principles of international law, von der Leyen said, "We are aware that the Arctic region has become one of the points where the tectonic plates of geopolitics collide." he said.
Von der Leyen stated that the developments in the Arctic "directly concern" Europe and that they will announce the new EU Arctic strategy, which envisages a stronger partnership with the region, in the autumn.
"Greenland needs the EU and the EU needs Greenland"
In his speech, Nielsen reminded that they signed a declaration defining relations with the EU in general terms in 2015 and said, "However, when we look at the past 10 years, we see that the world has changed greatly. We are faced with new challenges that we cannot overcome alone." he said.
"Greenland needs the EU and the EU needs Greenland." Nielsen said that the declaration signed today will benefit both parties.
Frederiksen also noted that the Greenland-EU partnership "has been taken to the next level" today.
Stating that everyone is aware of the increasing interest in the Arctic and that Europe "will not remain a bystander", Frederiksen said, "Therefore, we must continue to strengthen our common security, as in the case of Greenland, where 10 allies will participate in the Arctic Shield exercise with land, sea and air elements in the coming days." he said.
Frederiksen answered the question about how US President Donald Trump would react to today's agreements as follows:
"The Kingdom of Denmark is a sovereign state, we are also a member of both the EU and NATO. It is clear that we are under pressure. We are grateful for the support from our European partners and globally."
Greenland, the autonomous region of Denmark, has been the subject of tension between Washington, Copenhagen and Brussels for a while due to US President Donald Trump's statements about controlling the island.
While Trump argues that Greenland is of strategic importance for the security of the USA, the Danish and Greenlandic administrations emphasize that the island is not "for sale". While the EU administration states that decisions regarding the future of Greenland belong to Denmark and the Greenlandic people, it is increasing cooperation with the region in the fields of Arctic security and critical raw materials.
