EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the leaders of Greenland and the Faroe Islands held political meetings in Greenland on September 7 and 8, with security policy dominating the agenda.
According to reporting by DR, the semi-annual Realm Meeting was held Monday between Greenland’s leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Frederiksen and Faroese Prime Minister Beinir Johannesen. Von der Leyen visited Greenland on Sunday and Monday. DR’s reporter in Greenland, Cecilie Kallestrup, said this was the first Realm Meeting on Greenlandic soil since the latest crisis with the United States.
Speaking to the press after Monday’s meeting, Frederiksen said security policy took up by far the most time. She said the situation had affected all of Greenlandic society, the Danish realm, Europe and the wider world. The talks follow repeated statements by U.S. President Donald Trump expressing a wish for control over Greenland.
Reconciliation commission moves closer
Nielsen said Greenland wants a dedicated reconciliation commission anchored in Greenland, with inspiration drawn from other countries. He said the most important thing is that the work begins quickly, so past events can be examined.
Frederiksen said the Danish government received the proposal positively. She described Danish and Greenlandic shared history as having both good sides and very dark chapters. The Danish government has already launched a historical review, and Frederiksen has issued apologies in the coil case and in the case of the experiment children.
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EU package of 200 million euros
Von der Leyen spent two days in Greenland and presented 200 million euros, about 1.5 billion kroner, for investments including better internet and better housing. Reuters reported the partnership package was announced on September 7. Per Reuters, the money is to be invested in 2026 and 2027 across digital connectivity, sustainable mining, energy, tourism, education, fisheries and housing.
Nielsen said stronger cooperation with the EU is a natural development that Greenland has matured over many years. He added that membership is not on the table. Greenland was part of the European Community when Denmark joined in 1973, but left in 1985 following a referendum in 1982.
On Tuesday, the meetings continued in the Foreign, Security and Defense Policy Contact Committee. DR reports that the security situation in the North Atlantic and the Arctic is on the agenda. A notice from the Prime Minister’s Office said the meetings would take place in Nuuk on September 7 and 8.
Besides the three government leaders, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Justice Minister Nicolai Vammen and Defense Minister Jeppe Bruus are taking part, along with their Greenlandic and Faroese counterparts. Kallestrup said the political marathon in Greenland is not over yet.
