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Greenland reopens the European debate. Yesterday, the Parliament in Nuuk decided to explore the possibility of joining the European Union. This is a distant prospect, but one that signals a strategic shift. At the same time, the head of government, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, met with Ursula von der Leyen in Copenhagen. The President of the Commission expressed her support for strengthening cooperation with this autonomous territory of Denmark.

Donald Trump's return to the White House has accelerated this readjustment. The former US president, who had proposed "buying" the island in 2019, is now threatening annexation. This prospect is considered alarming by many Greenlandic officials, prompting a reassessment of the relationship with Brussels. In this context, the European Commission has stepped up its efforts: after opening a permanent office in Nuuk in 2024, it announced that it would double its financial aid, which could reach €76 million per year from 2028.

Historically, the archipelago has had a complex relationship with Europe. A Danish province at the time, it voted overwhelmingly against joining the EEC in 1972, before leaving the Community in 1985, three years after gaining autonomy. Since then, ties have been structured around fishing, education, and green growth projects, with Brussels remaining the second largest contributor to Greenland's budget after Copenhagen.

But formal reintegration into the EU seems difficult. As Greenland is not an independent state, its possible accession would have to go through Denmark, which local officials firmly reject. Above all, the island refuses to cede its sovereignty over fishing, a vital sector accounting for more than 90% of its exports. Nevertheless, rising tensions with Washington have put Europe back at the heart of Greenland's strategic thinking. On October 8, Jens-Frederik Nielsen will address the European Parliament, while in Nuuk, an amendment is being prepared to give Europe a greater role in the country's security and defense doctrine. Le Monde

IN SHORT

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