Renew Europe President, Valérie Hayer, will today depart on a four-day mission to Greenland and Iceland after the latest provocations made by US President Donald Trump regarding the arctic island, self-governing territory of EU-Member State Denmark. The Renew Europe President's trip is designed to bolster ties between the EU and these European partners — Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory, and Iceland, an island nation that is actively considering EU membership through a referendum planned for 2027. By engaging with the highest political authorities in both Reykjavik and Nuuk, the Renew Europe President aims to demonstrate Renew Europe's unwavering support for Iceland’s potential EU future and to feed in to the European response to the evolving geopolitical challenges in the Arctic.
President Hayer will be joined by key Renew MEPs, including Urmas Paet, the European Parliament’s standing rapporteur on the Arctic, Morten Løkkegaard, leader of the Venstre delegation, Stine Bosse, leader of Moderaterne delegation and Sigrid Friis, leader of Radikale Venstre delegation. The delegation will engage with political leaders and experts to discuss the future of EU-Arctic cooperation, as well as the EU's role in the region’s economic, environmental, and strategic development.
Ahead of the mission, Renew Europe MEPs released a statement affirming support for a European future for both Greenland and Iceland, advocating for strengthened cooperation in the Arctic.
Valérie Hayer, President of Renew Europe, remarked:
"Greenland and Iceland are not distant partners; they are vital members of our European family. This mission highlights our deep commitment to ensuring that the Arctic remains a region of cooperation, peace, and shared European values. It is imperative that the EU enhances its strategic presence in the Arctic, not only to defend our interests but to safeguard the principles we hold dear alongside the citizens of these regions. With their growing geopolitical importance, Greenland and Iceland are essential allies, and their future must be closely tied to that of Europe."
Strengthening Arctic Ties and Promoting European Values
In Greenland, the delegation's program includes meetings with Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede and the Chair of the Greenlandic Parliament, as well as a visit of key infrastructure in Nuuk and leading businesses. The visit underscores the importance of the Arctic’s natural resources, which are crucial for the development of Greenland and the EU’s sustainability goals. In Iceland, Hayer will meet with proponents of Iceland's 2027 EU referendum, and organise a public event with our Renew Europe party Viðreisn to discuss Iceland’s future role in the European project.
Note to Editors: please read the Renew Europe statement here. |
