EU to announce major investment package in Greenland during von der Leyen visit
Brussels plans increased funding for minerals, satellites and renewables in Greenland during Ursula von der Leyen's visit to Nuuk.
On Monday, 7 September 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will unveil a major package of EU investments in Greenland aimed at strengthening ties with the Danish autonomous territory and countering recent U.S. pressure over the island.
Von der Leyen arrives in Nuuk for a two-day visit and is expected to present plans that increase European funding for critical minerals, satellite communications and renewable energy projects on the island. "The financial package will be substantial," she said in Nuuk over the weekend.
Geopolitics and access to Arctic resources
EU officials say the measures are intended both to deepen political links and to secure access to strategically important resources as Arctic ice melts and new sea routes and deposits become more accessible. The announcement follows a period of intensified diplomatic attention on the region.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the prime minister of Greenland, said his country wants to deepen close cooperation and maintain a good partnership with the European Union. Reykjavik-based and Brussels-based interlocutors have been working to broaden the sectors eligible for European financing.
The move also comes after U.S. President Donald Trump this year called for greater American control over Greenland, arguing Denmark could not defend the island. Copenhagen and Nuuk rejected those demands, but Trump reiterated his position in July during the NATO summit in Turkey.
Greenland left the European Union in 1985, yet Brussels has provided financial support for decades, mainly funding fisheries access and education. The new package will not only increase funds but extend support to additional sectors, EU representatives say.
Photo: press material from the event
