Not only the United States is looking with interest at Greenland. The European Union has been present on the island for some time and has strengthened its political and economic commitment in recent years. This was recalled today by European Commission spokesperson Arianna Podestà, underlining the strategic importance of the Greenland dossier for Brussels.
The EU office in Nuuk
On 15 March 2024, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen inaugurated a European Union office in Nuuk. «This office – explained Podestà – allows us to work directly with the Greenlandic authorities and society, because it is present in the territory and is operational». A concrete signal, according to the Commission, of the attention that the EU reserves for the partnership with the island.
«We have always invested in this relationship and we naturally continue to pay great attention to this issue – he added -. Greenland is a dossier on which we have been actively working for many years and on which our commitment continues.”
A strategic area for Europe
Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, is at the center of European interests due to the presence of critical raw materials fundamental for the green transition and for the security of EU supplies. For this reason, Brussels has strengthened not only its institutional presence, but also its economic investments.
The funds from 2021 to 2027
In the period 2021-2027, the European Union has allocated a total of 225 million euros to Greenland for sustainable development, education and green growth. In 2024, in conjunction with the opening of the EU representation in Nuuk, two cooperation agreements were also signed for a total value of 94 million euros.
The first program, worth 71.25 million euros, is aimed at improving the Greenlandic education system, strengthening technical and professional training and supporting young people who do not study or work. The second, worth 22.5 million euros, concerns investments in the clean energy, critical raw materials and research supply chains, with the aim of diversifying the local economy and developing strategic sectors such as green hydrogen.
Towards doubling resources
But the European commitment is destined to grow further. In September the Commission proposed to double financial support for Greenland in the EU’s next seven-year budget to more than €530 million.
The European Union is already the second largest contributor to the Greenlandic public budget after Denmark, with annual transfers amounting to 49 million euros: 32 million from the multiannual budget and 17 million from the fisheries agreement with the Arctic island, renewed in December 2024. According to the Commission’s plan, the annual allocation would rise to almost 76 million euros starting from 2028, a real increase of 130% compared to current levels.