Greenland rejects EU membership despite billion-kroner investment offer

A 1.5 billion-kroner investment offer from the European Union has not changed Greenland’s position on membership. After two days of talks with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Greenland’s leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the territory still wants a partnership with the EU, not accession.

“Greenland stands in the same place as it did years ago, when we had a partnership with the EU,” Nielsen said. “We want to build on that and make it more strategic and stronger. But membership is not on the table.”

Instead, Greenland, Denmark and the EU signed a new joint declaration on Monday. It expands on their 2015 agreement and adds critical raw materials, energy and digital communications to the areas covered by cooperation. Von der Leyen said the EU would invest 200 million euros in those new areas over the next two years.

“

Greenland stands in the same place as it did years ago, when we had a partnership with the EU. We want to build on that and make it more strategic and stronger. But membership is not on the table.

Nielsen called the investment “a huge opportunity” and said Greenland welcomed the EU’s willingness to broaden its involvement. Greenland wants to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on fishing, he said, while building greater economic strength for the future.

Asked whether Iceland’s recent rejection of EU membership negotiations could make Greenland less willing to put the question to its population, Nielsen said Greenland’s position remained unchanged. Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she would not interfere in Greenland’s decision, but argued that Greenland had long wanted closer ties with the EU and that the bloc had a strong interest in strengthening its links there.

“

It is a huge opportunity for us, and we are happy that the EU wants to take responsibility for broadening the cooperation.