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OPINION (COM(2025)0599 – C100248/2025 – 2025/0264(CNS))

On the Council Decision amending Decision (EU) 2021/1764 on the Association of the Overseas Countries and Territories with the European Union including relations between the European Union on the one hand, and Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark on the other

AFET-AD-785248

Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Urmas Paet

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The Committee on Foreign Affairs proposes amendments to the Council Decision on the Association of the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) with the European Union, including Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark. The amendments add new recitals describing the strategic value of the OCTs and Greenland, including critical raw materials, maritime zones, space infrastructure and Arctic security. They also amend articles on Greenland support, the OCTs-EU Forum, trilateral consultations, environmental protection, regional cooperation, regional funding priorities and allocation criteria.

Committee position. The Committee on Foreign Affairs submits amendments to the Committee on Development, adding recitals on the strategic value of OCTs and Greenland and amending articles on Greenland support, the OCTs-EU Forum, consultations, environmental protection, regional cooperation and funding criteria.

Key points

  1. Adds recitals noting Parliament resolutions on Arctic diplomatic strategy and Latin America, and a joint communication on EU-Latin America and Caribbean relations.
  2. Calls for increased funding for Greenland under the Programme given its growing geopolitical significance.
  3. Amends recital 5 so implementation actively contributes to the Global Gateway strategy, reinforcing the Union's capacity to project economic and strategic influence.
  4. Adds recitals recognising OCTs as strategic anchors, contributors to the Union's global reach, and partners exposed to third-country influence and migration spillovers.
  5. Adds recitals on French Guiana's space centre and New Caledonia's nickel, cobalt and critical raw materials as assets for strategic autonomy.
  6. Amends recital 7 so the European Competitiveness Fund leverages OCTs as geostrategic outposts and promotes port, maritime logistics and intermodal investment.
  7. Adds a recital stressing OCTs' critical raw materials and renewable energy are their sovereign patrimony, and Union objectives must not compromise their sovereignty or environment.
  8. Adds recitals on Greenland's Arctic position, the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom gap, undersea infrastructure security, counter-FIMI measures, and its critical raw materials and space potential.
  9. Adds recitals supporting Greenland's sovereignty and self-determination, a stronger Arctic governance voice, access to Iris and Galileo, and pre-accession benefits if it gains candidate status.
  10. Amends Article 3(5)(b) to include addressing direct threats to Greenland's sovereignty and supporting economic governance, infrastructure and strategic resource management.
  11. Amends Article 14 so the OCTs-EU Forum meets every year, includes the European Parliament, and trilateral consultations cover funding, critical infrastructure, maritime security and regional integration.
  12. Amends Article 5 on environmental protection in Arctic environments and regional cooperation in Arctic, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, Atlantic and Pacific areas, and adds funding priorities and allocation criteria.

Who is affected

  • Overseas Countries and Territories, including Greenland, French Guiana, New Caledonia, Saint Pierre-et-Miquelon, Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.
  • Greenland: increased funding, stronger Arctic voice, access to Iris and Galileo, and possible pre-accession benefits.
  • Member States linked to OCTs and the European Parliament: informed of trilateral consultation results and included in the OCTs-EU Forum.
  • The Commission: organises trilateral consultations and implements regional allocation priorities.

Figures and deadlines

  • 26 November 2025: date Parliament adopted a resolution on the EU's Arctic diplomatic strategy.
  • 7 June 2023: date the Commission and High Representative adopted a joint communication on EU-Latin America and Caribbean relations.
  • 8 October 2025: date Parliament adopted a resolution on the EU's political strategy on Latin America.
  • Every year: frequency of the OCTs-EU Forum under the amended Article 14(1)(a).
  • At least three times a year: frequency of trilateral consultations under the amended Article 14(1)(b).