What did Ursula von der Leyen say about who should decide Greenland's future?

Von der Leyen said that Greenland's future should be decided only by the people of Greenland and Denmark, not by anyone else. She made the remarks during a press conference in Nuuk with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

What new EU investment did Ursula von der Leyen announce for Greenland?

She announced 200 million euros in new EU investments for Greenland for this year and the next. The funding is part of the EU-Greenland Partnership Package and is meant to support concrete projects on the island.

What projects are covered by the EU-Greenland Partnership Package?

The package centers on connectivity, clean energy and critical raw materials. It also includes work to improve Greenland's satellite capabilities, which is expected to help provide better internet access in the island's northern and eastern regions.

EU chief says only Greenland and Denmark can decide Greenland's future

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Summary

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said in Nuuk on Monday that only Denmark and Greenland should decide Greenland's future. She announced 200 million euros in new EU investments for the island and unveiled the EU-Greenland Partnership Package. The package focuses on connectivity, clean energy and critical raw materials, including better satellite capabilities for internet access in northern and eastern Greenland.

Key Facts

Von der Leyen said the EU-Greenland Partnership Package focuses on connectivity, clean energy and critical raw materials.
She said the new package includes 200 million euros in investments for Greenland for this year and the next.
The package comes on top of the doubling of direct EU aid to Greenland.
The new projects include improving Greenland's satellite capabilities to provide better internet access in the northern and eastern parts of the island.

By AFP

Published Sep 7, 2026 10:17 pm KST

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, center, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, right, and Greenland's head of government Jens -Frederik Nielsen visit the company Eutelsat Oneweb in Nuuk, Greenland, Monday (local time). AP-Yonhap

NUUK — Only Denmark and Greenland should decide on the future of the Arctic territory, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Monday as she announced the bloc was pledging 200 million euros ($232 million) for investments in the island.

Following a two-day visit to Nuuk, the capital of the Danish autonomous territory, von der Leyen stressed that "Greenland's future is for the people of Greenland and Denmark to decide, no one else."

U.S. President Donald Trump insisted earlier this year that Washington needed to control Greenland for national security reasons, though he ultimately ruled out annexing it by force.

"Territorial integrity sovereignty, the inviolability of borders, these are fundamental principles of international law," von der Leyen told a press conference alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic counterpart Jens-Frederik Nielsen

The EU chief also announced the "EU-Greenland Partnership Package," focusing on three strategic priorities: connectivity, clean energy and critical raw materials.

"This is 200 million euros of new investments for Greenland for this year and the next," the EU chief said.

The new package, which comes on top of the doubling of direct EU aid to Greenland, is intended to support the development of concrete projects.

These include improving the island's satellite capabilities, which will allow better internet access in the northern and eastern parts.

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