The European Parliament calls for greater support for Greenland and doubling the proposed funding for the overseas countries and territories

The European Parliament’s Development Committee calls for strengthening the EU’s relationship with Greenland and the other 12 overseas countries and territories, against the backdrop of increased geopolitical competition. MEPs propose increasing funding for all 13 territories from EUR 999 million to EUR 2.084 billion in the 2028–2034 budget and call for local and Indigenous communities to be consulted before investments in critical raw materials. The amount is not intended exclusively for Greenland and has not yet been definitively approved.

The European Parliament’s Development Committee (DEVE) calls on the Union to strengthen its relationship with Greenland and the other overseas countries and territories associated with the EU, arguing that their geographical position has become increasingly important in a context of geopolitical competition. The report, adopted by 17 votes in favour, two against and two abstentions, proposes increasing funding for all 13 territories from EUR 999 million to EUR 2.084 billion under the European budget for 2028–2034, as well as giving local communities a greater role in decisions concerning infrastructure and critical raw materials.

In brief

1.DEVE adopted the position by 17 votes in favour, two against and two abstentions, following the approval of the ten compromise amendments.

2.MEPs are calling for additional support for Greenland in areas such as resilience, critical infrastructure, connectivity, education, economic diversification and adaptation to climate change.

3.The proposed funding increases from EUR 999 million to EUR 2.084 billion for all 13 overseas countries and territories, not just Greenland.

4.Local and Indigenous communities should be consulted before investments that may affect their land, resources, livelihoods or heritage, including projects involving critical raw materials.

5.The Parliament has a consultative role in this procedure. The text must also go to plenary, where a vote is currently scheduled for November, while the final funding depends on negotiations concerning the EU budget for 2028–2034.

The report concerns the revision of the Decision on the association of overseas countries and territories with the European Union, known by the acronym DOAG. The current framework dates from 2021, and in 2025 the European Commission proposed amending it to adapt it to the Union’s next multiannual financial framework, covering the period 2028–2034.

The 13 overseas countries and territories are constitutionally linked to France, the Netherlands or Denmark and have a status different from that of EU Member States. Six are linked to France, another six to the Netherlands, while Greenland is constitutionally linked to Denmark. Their relationship with the Union aims to promote economic and social development and maintain close economic ties with the European market.

In the new position, MEPs attach particular importance to Greenland. The text calls on the Union to support the territory in the face of threats to its sovereignty and lists among its priorities increasing resilience, protecting critical infrastructure, developing education and skills, diversifying the economy, secure and reliable connectivity, and infrastructure for sustainable tourism.

The argument is linked to Greenland’s strategic position in the Arctic and to international competition surrounding infrastructure, energy and resources. Rapporteur Barry Andrews, who also chairs the DEVE Committee, explicitly placed the vote in the context of threats made by US President Donald Trump against Greenland and argued that the EU must deepen its relations with the island.

However, the Parliament’s position is not limited to Greenland. The report treats the 13 territories as partners located in areas of geostrategic importance in the Caribbean, Indo-Pacific, Arctic, Antarctic and Oceania. MEPs are calling on the Union to take greater account of this dimension when establishing its political, economic and financial relations with them.

The most important financial change proposed by DEVE is a substantial increase in resources for the period 2028–2034. The Commission had proposed EUR 999 million, while Parliamentarians want EUR 2.084 billion, at current prices.

This amount must, however, be carefully delineated. The EUR 2.084 billion represents the Parliament’s proposal for all 13 overseas countries and territories. It is not an allocation of more than EUR 2 billion for Greenland, nor is it an amount that has already been definitively approved in the EU budget.

The report also supports broader access for the territories to other European programmes. Funding for biodiversity and environmental protection, Horizon Europe, the future European Competitiveness Fund and Erasmus+ are mentioned. The idea is that relations with the territories should not depend exclusively on a single budget line, but should enable them to participate more broadly in relevant European programmes.

Critical raw materials are another important element of the text. In the case of mining, extraction or export projects, MEPs call for individuals and communities whose land, resources, economic activities or cultural heritage may be directly or indirectly affected to be involved before investment decisions are made.

This requirement is particularly relevant for Indigenous communities. Parliamentarians want civil society organisations, local groups, young people and representatives of Indigenous peoples to have a stronger role in projects carried out within the framework of relations between the EU and the overseas territories.

Through this approach, Parliament is attempting to combine European interest in critical raw materials with stronger procedural protection for local communities. However, the report does not itself authorise the exploitation of any resources, nor does it identify specific mining projects that would be approved.

MEPs also want stronger parliamentary oversight of relations between the EU and these territories. Parliament should be fully represented in the EU–OCT Forum, which the report says should be held annually, and should receive information on discussions between the Commission, Member States and territories.

Areas in which MEPs are calling for greater transparency include funding, critical infrastructure resilience and maritime security. Parliament is thus seeking to strengthen its oversight capacity over a policy in which formal decision-making belongs to the Council.

This procedural distinction is essential. The OCT association file does not follow the ordinary legislative procedure, in which Parliament and the Council are co-legislators with equal powers. Parliament is consulted and formulates its position, while the final decision is adopted by the Council.

The DEVE vote therefore does not immediately change funding or the status of Greenland or the other territories. The parliamentary committee adopted the position that Parliament is to transmit as part of the procedure. The text must first be examined by the European Parliament plenary, with the vote currently scheduled for 11 November.

However, the committee result shows clear support for a more ambitious financial and political relationship. The ten compromise amendments were adopted, another amendment was rejected, and the final 17–2–2 vote confirmed the committee’s position.

For Greenland, the political message is that Parliament wants relations with the EU to be addressed beyond traditional development policy. Resilience, connectivity, critical infrastructure, climate, research, renewable energy and raw materials are presented as areas linking economic development with the Union’s strategic interests.

For the other 12 territories, the logic is similar, even though local issues differ considerably. Their position in the Caribbean, Pacific, Indian Ocean or Atlantic means that EU policy towards them is increasingly linked to the security of maritime routes, infrastructure resilience, climate change and international competition for resources and influence.

However, the report does not establish how the EUR 2.084 billion will be distributed among the 13 territories. The documentation available for this article does not contain a final breakdown by territory, and this distribution should not be inferred from the political emphasis placed on Greenland.

The next steps will be decisive for the proposal’s financial dimension. Parliament’s position must be confirmed in plenary, while funding for 2028–2034 will depend on broader negotiations on the future multiannual financial framework and on the final decision concerning the association of the OCTs.

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