European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that financial support for Greenland is planned to be doubled and that a new investment package will be prepared.
Ursula von der Leyen stated that the European Commission is developing a new investment package for Greenland and plans to double the financial assistance provided to the island.
Speaking after the EU Leaders’ Summit in Brussels, which focused on “transatlantic relations,” von der Leyen said:
“And for the next long-term EU budget, we have already proposed doubling the financial support provided to Greenland. Therefore, we are currently working on strengthening the EU’s relationship with Greenland, and as part of this, the Commission will soon present a major investment package.
Europe can, for example, strengthen cooperation in the field of defense equipment with a ‘European-built icebreaker.’ The Union already produces its own icebreakers in Finland.”
‘We Will Allocate Part of Our Defense Budget to Arctic Equipment’
Meanwhile, von der Leyen noted that the EU will allocate part of its defense budget to the procurement of equipment for the Arctic.
Von der Leyen said, “In addition to investment, we also aim to deepen cooperation with the United States and all other countries and partners on an important issue such as Arctic security. In particular, by increasing our defense spending, we believe we need to purchase equipment suitable for Arctic conditions, such as a European-built icebreaker.”
‘Denmark and Greenland Have the Full Support of the EU’
European Council President Antonio Costa, for his part, said: “The European Union will play a stronger role in this region as well. In this context, I want to state very clearly that Denmark and Greenland have the full support of the European Union.”