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Ursula: 200M EU investment to Greenland

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Brussels 08.09.2026 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a partnership deal with Greenland ‌worth €200 million, which she said highlighted the strategic importance of the Arctic island for the bloc. (Image: courtesy Rod Long)
“Greenland can count on the EU. That was my ⁠message during my last visit. Today, I am back to deliver the real results of our close cooperation. With a new EU-Greenland Partnership package, worth €200 million,” said von der Leyen.


“Greenland is not part of the European Union and yet @vonderleyen, during her trip there, just wrote an additional check for 200,000,000 €. Given that France’s net contribution is 17%, that’s 34,000,000 € that the French just paid…Remind me, how many filtering hoods for our firefighters can we buy with such a sum of money?” the post reads.

During her visit to the capital Nuuk Ursula von der Leyen offered 200 million euros in support over the next two years to help Greenland tackle climate change, boost internet connections and improve hydropower plants, fisheries and education.

The EU has increased its focus on Greenland since President Trump declared that the United States should take control of the island for security reasons. His persistent claims raised sovereignty concerns and pushback from Danish leaders and caused tensions among NATO allies.

“Greenland’s future is for the people of Greenland and Denmark to decide. No one else,” von der Leyen said. “Territorial integrity, sovereignty, the inviolability of borders. These are fundamental principles of international law.”

Funds are also earmarked for better housing, support to small businesses and sustainable tourism. Von der Leyen also said that she wants to double EU budget support to Greenland to around half a billion euros ($580 million) from 2028.

“Greenland can count on the EU,” she said, after signing an EU-Greenland declaration with Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

Nielsen described the 27-nation EU as “a loyal and trusted friend,” notably at a time when the island faces “new challenges that we cannot tackle alone.”

“Through these challenging times, your support to us is unfailing,” he said. “You have stood by us and continue to stand by us. We feel it and are deeply grateful.”

Greenland is a semiautonomous territory of Denmark.

The Trump administration also leaned on Denmark. “We have been under pressure,” Frederiksen told reporters. “It has been very clear, and we are very thankful for the great support we have received from our European partners but, by the way, also globally.”

As a gesture Denmark and seven of its European allies sent a small group of military personnel to the island in January, publicly for military exercises focused on strengthening Arctic security, but with the intention of showing support for Greenland’s sovereignty.

In response, Trump threatened to slap new tariffs on them all: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. They condemned the move as undermining trans-Atlantic relations, and Trump eventually backed down after NATO agreed to boost security in the Arctic region.

Von der Leyen’s visit came as 11 NATO countries began military exercises in Greenland on Monday involving around 400 military personnel, including special forces troops trained to operate in Arctic conditions from Canada, Denmark and Finland. No U.S. troops are taking part in the Arctic Shield drills, which run Sept. 7-18.

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