Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen is in Greenland to reinforce the EU’s mutually beneficial partnership with the country.
His visit follows the Commission’s proposal to double EU funding for Greenland under the next long-term budget (2028-2034). Under the Commission’s next MFF proposal, Greenland will also be eligible for the proposed Competitiveness Fund, which will channel EU funds towards strategic technologies, including in the decarbonisation domain.
Yesterday, the Commissioner met with the Premier of Greenland, Jens Frederik Nielsen, and the Greenlandic Minister for Business, Raw Materials, Energy, Justice, and Gender Equality Naaja Nathanielsen on how the EU and Greenland can work together to harness the potential of clean energy sources and critical raw materials, and push forward the green transition while creating new economic opportunities for Greenland.
He also exchanged on energy cooperation with the CEO of NunaGreen, the company responsible for expansion of renewable energy in the country, and with Greenland’s national utility company Nukissiorfiit.
He visited the first and largest hydropower project of the country, the Buksefjorden hydroelectric power plant, for which support by the European Investment Bank is under discussion.
Yesterday, Commissioner Jørgensen also discussed EU-Greenland relations with the Head of the Nasiffik Centre for Foreign and Security Policy at the University of Greenland.
Today, he will continue discussions on strengthening cooperation on the green transition with representatives of the Ministry of Business, Raw Materials, Energy, Justice and Gender Equality, including Permanent Secretary Jørgen Hammecken Holm.
Commissioner Jørgensen said:
‘The EU and Greenland have a shared interest in building a stronger partnership together: for our security, our independence and our competitiveness. I am glad to be here and exchange with the authorities and stakeholders to see how we can concretely move things forward. Clean energy, green growth, digitalisation and education are key areas for deeper cooperation. And by untapping the potential of critical raw materials and clean energy sources, we can drive the green transition in a mutually beneficial way for a sustainable economic growth in Greenland.’
More information is available on the dedicated website for the calendars of the members of the College. Audiovisual coverage of the visit is equally available on the EBS portal.