Joint Declaration by the European Union, on the one hand, and the Government of Greenland and the Government of Denmark, on the other, on relations between the European Union and Greenland

The European Union, on the one hand, and the Government of Greenland and the Government of Denmark, on the other, (hereinafter 'the Sides')  

• guided by the will to enhance the close historical, political, economic and cultural ties between them,  

• recalling the close and lasting links between the Sides as framed by the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union1 Part IV, based on respect, mutual interest and shared values, including democracy and human rights, as well as the strict observance of international law, including respect for the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and each sides' obligations under relevant bilateral, regional, and international treaties and agreements, 

• welcoming a continued extension of the relations between the Sides since the signature of the Joint Declaration in 2015, including with the establishment of a European Commission Office in Greenland in 2024, 

• noting that the Act on Greenland Self-Government of 21 June 2009 frames the status of Greenland within the Kingdom of Denmark, vesting the Government of Greenland with the authority to assume new legislative and executive responsibility and, Kalaallit, the people of Greenland, the authority to decide its future in line with the principles of self-determination,  

• noting the close linguistic, cultural and historical ties between Kalaallit – the people of Greenland - with other Inuit of the Arctic region, 

• considering that Greenland and Denmark acknowledge that strong relationship with the European Union has had a positive effect on economic development and well-being of the Greenlandic society, and considering the desire expressed by the people of Greenland to further strengthen their relations with the EU as a way to promote their values, freedom and interests, 

• considering, as stipulated in Part IV of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, that Greenland is one of the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) associated with the European Union, and that there is a potential for an even closer relationship, 

• recalling that the citizens of Greenland, as citizens of the Kingdom of Denmark, have EU citizenship and reaffirming the mutual interest in developing fully the benefits coming from the relationship with the EU, 

• noting that fisheries remain a central pillar of Greenland's economy, and a key area of cooperation with the European Union based on the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU, Greenland and Denmark2 and its Implementing Protocol3,  

• recognising education, training and employability as levers for the sustainable development of Greenland, 

• recognising that the climate and the geographic and demographic features of Greenland present unique challenges for securing a robust and effective infrastructure development, 

• affirming the importance to further strengthen their economic relations, grounded in respect, shared values, rule of law, compatible regulatory approaches, as well as high environmental, social and governance standards, 

• recognising the mutual benefits of deepening cross-sectoral cooperation and investments, including through strengthened linkages along respective value chains, closer engagement between economic operators, and the development of opportunities for their private sectors, contributing to sustainable growth, digital transformation, and long-term prosperity for their societies, and helping create closer links between their citizens, 

• considering that the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding establishing a Strategic Partnership on Sustainable Raw Material Value Chains of November 2023 is of mutual interest and a priority for both Sides, due to the role raw materials can play in the diversification of the Greenlandic economy and the role that Greenland can play as a potential supplier of raw materials for the EU in a secured, sustainable and undistorted manner based on free trade principles,  

• recognising the particular exposure of Greenland to the impacts of climate change, which further amplifies risks in the Arctic and beyond; and reaffirming our joint commitment to the Paris Agreement to fight climate change and perform a just energy transition, 

• considering the strategic position of Greenland in the Arctic and the role that close relations between the Sides can play in addressing common global challenges such as climate change, to strengthen the resilience and sustainable development of Greenland, 

envisage to further strengthen their relations and cooperation based on shared interests and values, to the mutual benefit of their peoples, and to endow their mutual relations with a long-term perspective.  

COMMON OBJECTIVES OF COOPERATION   

The Sides state their intention to continue, expand, and further strengthen the relations and cooperation between the EU and Greenland in areas of mutual interest, including in the following areas:  

• Education and training, including by fostering a robust education sector, empowered youth, and a skilled workforce. 

• Infrastructure development and construction, including, inter alia, ports, airports, housing, as well as public service, education and care facilities.  

• Ocean governance, the blue economy, including the sustainable use, management and conservation of the marine environment and its resources, notably fisheries, by means of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.  

• Natural resources, including the sustainable and responsible development of raw materials value chains structured around high environmental, social and governance standards and contributing to industrial cooperation, long-term value creation and secure supply chains. 

• Safe and sustainable low-carbon energy production and technologies, as well as energy security, including the development of solutions for production, storage, distribution, and use of save and sustainable low-carbon energy solutions suitable for the Arctic and system resilience. 

• Connectivity including secure, resilient, and smart submarine cables, satellite and backbone infrastructures and related services, as well as digital governance, capacities and regulatory aspects. 

• Sustainable tourism, including through improving enabling conditions, local value creation and infrastructure development. 

• Culture, through support to creative industries including film, music, media, translation of Greenlandic and European literature and the protection of cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible. 

• Trade and business engagement notably in relation to investment facilitation, business climate, economic diversification and economic security.  

• Climate action, environment, water and waste, including to preserve biodiversity and ecosystems in general and foster a sustainable bioeconomy and the transition to a circular and low-carbon economy, also in the context of international environmental and related agreements. 

• Research and innovation in key areas of joint interest, such as environment and climate, connectivity, critical technologies including space data, artificial intelligence and language technologies, and natural resources. 

• The social and food sectors, including fostering the mobility of workforce, social protection systems and decent work for all, in full respect of the internationally recognised core labour standards, food safety and food security.  

• Civil protection, disaster resilience and crisis preparedness and prevention, including strengthening anticipation and response capacities, situational awareness as well as population preparedness. 

• Resilience, including countering hybrid threats, foreign information manipulation and interference, cooperation on cybersecurity and secure communication, and the protection of critical infrastructures and entities. 

• Human rights, labour and environmental standards, notably gender equality, the rights of the child and the rights of persons with disabilities. 

• Cooperation on Arctic issues, including on environmental, social and economic issues and resilience, to support the inclusive and sustainable development of Greenland to the benefit of its people and future generations. 

DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COOPERATION 

Based on the existing partnership framework, as provided for in Part IV of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the Council Decision on the Overseas Association, including Greenland4, and the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement, which represent an appropriate framework for the partnership and its continuous development, the Sides will enhance their dialogue and seek closer cooperation on the issues of common interest defined above, including by:  

• Further strengthening their common investment agenda 

• Intensifying people-to-people exchanges, notably for students and researchers  

• Enhancing regular high-level dialogues on issues of common interests 

The Sides share the conviction that their partnership will continue to benefit from the mutual knowledge and understanding acquired through their dialogue, people to people exchanges and long-standing cooperation.   

This Declaration is not intended to create any legal or financial obligations under domestic or international law.