The European Commission intends to mobilise an additional €200 million for Greenland from the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), including €150 million from the instrument’s ‘budgetary flexibility cushion’ (€50 million for 2026 and €100 million for 2027) (see other news).
“We proposed to mobilise €150 million from the cushion to set up a €200 million package in support of Greenland”, Myriam Ferran, Deputy Director General of the European Commission’s International Partnerships DG, explained to MEPs on Thursday 5 February. The other 50 million will come from an internal redeployment of NDICI funds.
In particular, the funds should focus on projects to access critical raw materials that would be exploited and explored in a “very sustainable” way. “So far, we have identified two projects on manganese and graphite”, explained Mrs Ferran.
The funds should also be used for renewable energies and digital, in terms of security and connectivity. Sustainable tourism as a means of sustainable development for the island is also highlighted. Finally, as the island has a “limited” administration, the Commission intends to create a monitoring unit to strengthen Greenland’s administrative capacities.
Mrs Ferran explained that the funds will not be transferred directly to the government, apart from administrative support, but to projects, using the European Investment Bank among others. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)