On Wednesday 8 October, at the European Parliament, the Prime Minister of Greenland, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, stressed the importance of the partnership between his country and the European Union, particularly in the current international context.
“The EU has been a stable, reliable and important partner for Greenland for more than 40 years. (...) Our relationship has gradually grown and expanded throughout the years, and most recently with the EU Office opening in Greenland, which has been a great tool for cooperation”, said Mr Nielsen.
The Prime Minister highlighted the potential for cooperation in mining. “Taking the current security situation in the world into account and the green transition, there is however a need to move faster”, he said. He added that: “The critical minerals of Greenland have the potential to shift global and security balances. But action needs to be taken fast. Greenland is ready to move with the EU, to hasten the pace.”
Mr Nielsen also outlined the development of EU-Greenland cooperation on trade, particularly in the fisheries sector, and in renewable energies, digital technology, education and sustainable tourism.
The Greenlandic leader warned of the rapid changes taking place in the Arctic as a result of climate change, and called on the EU to review its ban on seal products.
For her part, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, welcomed a “strategic partner” with whom the EU is working “side by side to strengthen stability across the Arctic, to counter hybrid threats, and to tackle growing security risks”, she said.
See Mr Nielsen’s speech: https://aeur.eu/f/iu7 (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)