EU and Greenland to sign partnership declaration during von der Leyen visit
The European Union and Greenland will sign a joint declaration on a strengthened partnership when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrives in Nuuk on Sunday, Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq reported Tuesday, citing a press release from Naalakkersuisut.
Von der Leyen travels to the Greenlandic capital alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, opening several days of meetings that will also bring together the leaders of Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
In the press release, Naalakkersuisut Chairman Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the EU had been unambiguous about backing Greenland in the current geopolitical climate while also meeting Greenlandic requests for a deeper relationship.
It is von der Leyen’s second visit to Nuuk. In March 2024 she opened the European Commission’s office in the city and signed cooperation agreements worth close to 94 million euros. The Commission has since proposed more than doubling its support for Greenland, to 530 million euros over seven years beginning in 2028, and has floated an additional package of more than 150 million euros, Euractiv has reported. Neither has been confirmed as part of what will be signed Sunday.
On Monday, Nuuk hosts the semi-annual rigsmøde bringing together Frederiksen, Nielsen and Faroese Prime Minister Beinir Johannesen to discuss shared political and economic interests across the Kingdom of Denmark. Nielsen, quoted by Sermitsiaq, likened the arrangement to three people in the same boat who have to row together to hold a common direction.
The leaders reconvene Tuesday in the Contact Committee on Foreign, Security and Defence Policy, expected to focus on the security situation in the North Atlantic and the Arctic. Naalakkersuisoq for Foreign Affairs, Business and Mineral Resources Múte B. Egede and Naalakkersuisoq for Finance Aqqaluaq B. Egede will take part alongside the Danish, Faroese and Greenlandic foreign, justice and defence ministers.
