Greenland and the European Union

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Greenland

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Greenland

Prime Minister Kuupik Kleist Parliament Political parties Elections: 2005, 2009 Administrative divisions Greenland and the EU See also Politics of Denmark

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Greenland originally joined the European Community with Denmark in 1973, but it changed its status in 1985 to become a European overseas territory after a dispute over fishing rights and a referendum on the issue.^[1] However, because it is one of the Overseas Countries and Territories of the EU member states, the European Union has some effect on it, mostly with trade benefits for goods of Greenlandic origin.

Greenlandic citizens have EU citizenship^[2] , but cannot vote in EU affairs.^{[citation needed]}

There has been some speculation as to whether Greenland may consider rejoining the European Union although this seems highly unlikely to occur anytime soon. On 4 January 2007 the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten quoted the former Danish minister for Greenland, Tom Høyem, as saying "I would not be surprised if Greenland again becomes a member of the EU... The EU needs the Arctic window and Greenland cannot alone manage the gigantic Arctic possibilities".^[3] The debate has been reignited^[4] in light of the 2008–2009 Icelandic financial crisis.

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] See also

• Enlargement of the European Union
• Iceland and the European Union

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