Photo by Visit Greenland on Unsplash
The EU has inaugurated its new office in Nuuk, underlining what it says is “Europe’s concrete presence in Greenland and in the wider Arctic region.”
It was opened by President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minister of Greenland Múte Bourup Egede and the Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen.
von der Leyen signed two cooperation agreements totalling almost €94 million, under Global Gateway, the EU investment strategy for the world.
These, she said, will bring investments in education and skills on the island and support the clean energy transition.
von der Leyen said: “Our new office in Nuuk marks the beginning of a new era of the EU-Greenland partnership, with Europe’s concrete presence in Greenland and in the wider Arctic region.”
“With our two new agreements, we will invest in clean energy, critical raw materials and skills in Greenland. New jobs in Greenland, better security of supply for Europe; we can both benefit from greater cooperation in these areas.”
The opening of an EU Office in Nuuk is part of the EU arctic strategy
The EU says it will “facilitate collaboration between the EU and the government, the private sector and civil society, promote EU public and private investments in Greenland and deepen cooperation across a variety of fields, including education, renewable energy, critical raw materials and biodiversity protection.”
The €71.25 million Education programme will further improve the quality of Greenland’s education sector to empower the youth and provide the Greenland workforce with the skills needed for strategic economic sectors, according to the EU.
The focus of this cooperation agreement is on vocational and technical education, innovative skills in primary education, and helping young Greenlanders who are not in education or employment to find their way back into schooling or work.
The €22.5 million Green Growth programme, the second cooperation agreement signed, will invest in energy and critical raw materials value chains, environmental preservation, and research, to help diversify Greenland’s economy and develop strategic industries like clean hydrogen.
Greenland’s status as an EU Overseas Country and Territory (OCT) underlines its unique relationship with the EU.
In the period 2021-2027, Greenland benefits from €225 million from the EU in support of sustainable development, education and green growth sectors, including the €94 million signed today.
A commission spokesman said von der Leyen’s visit “highlights the EU’s commitment to invest in a sustainable, prosperous, and peaceful Arctic region.”
The Global Gateway strategy is the EU’s offer to partner countries in support of their resilience and sustainable development.
Across the world, Global Gateway aims to mobilise €300 billion in investments between 2021 and 2027 with a mix of grants, concessional loans and guarantees to de-risk private sector investments.
