Von der Leyen to sign joint EU-Greenland declaration during visit to island

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will sign a joint EU-Greenland declaration during her upcoming visit to Greenland.

According to Report's European bureau, European Commission Chief Spokesperson Paula Pinho said at a briefing in Brussels that during her visit, scheduled for September 6-7, von der Leyen will meet with the prime ministers of Greenland, Denmark and the Faroe Islands, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Mette Frederiksen and Aksel Johannesen.

"This visit underscores Europe's commitment to the Arctic, its security and cooperation, a key priority for the European Union," she said.

The European Commission president will be accompanied by European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Sikela and the Special Adviser for EU-Arctic relations.

Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and has the status of an Overseas Country and Territory associated with the EU. In recent years, the EU has strengthened its presence in the region, including through the opening of a permanent office in Greenland's capital, Nuuk, in 2024.

The visit comes amid heightened attention to Arctic security and the issue of Greenland's sovereignty. It is also noteworthy that the European Commission president will travel to Greenland shortly after Iceland's referendum on resuming negotiations on EU membership.