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DRAFT 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-PA-785248

Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Urmas Paet

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 25 Sept 2026

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The Committee on Foreign Affairs proposes amendments to the Council Decision on the Association of the Overseas Countries and Territories with the European Union. It adds new recitals on the geopolitical value of the OCTs, Greenland, French Guiana and New Caledonia, and amends articles on Greenland support and OCT-EU dialogue.

Committee position. The Committee on Foreign Affairs proposes amendments to the Council Decision, adding recitals on the geopolitical and strategic value of the OCTs, Greenland, French Guiana and New Caledonia, and amending provisions on Greenland support and OCT-EU dialogue.

Key points

  1. Adds a recital noting Parliament's resolution of 26 November 2026 on the EU's diplomatic strategy and geopolitical cooperation in the Arctic.
  2. Adds a recital on the joint communication of 7 June 2023 on a New Agenda for EU relations with Latin America and the Caribbean.
  3. Adds a recital on Parliament's resolution of 8 October 2025 on the EU's political strategy on Latin America.
  4. Adds a recital that the OCTs enhance the Union's geopolitical reach across the Atlantic, Antarctic, Arctic, Caribbean, Indian and Pacific regions.
  5. Adds a recital that all OCTs except one have permanent populations whose inhabitants hold Union citizenship through their Member State nationality.
  6. Adds recitals on Greenland's strategic position, its role in the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom gap, threats to undersea infrastructure and foreign information manipulation, and its unexploited critical raw materials.
  7. Adds a recital that Greenland's right to self-determination and constitutional future should be decided exclusively by the people of Greenland, free from external pressure.
  8. Adds a recital that polling suggests around 60% of Greenlanders favour Union membership, and that membership or candidate status would bring benefits.
  9. Adds a recital on French Guiana as the Union's gateway to South America, home to the Guiana Space Centre, and on potential offshore resources.
  10. Adds a recital on New Caledonia's nickel, cobalt and other critical raw materials and its ongoing self-determination processes.
  11. Adds recitals that the remaining OCTs contribute to the Union's global maritime estate and diversity, and that OCT resources are the sovereign patrimony of their peoples.
  12. Amends Article 3(5)(b) to refer to direct threats to Greenland's sovereignty, and amends Article 14 on the OCTs-EU Forum and trilateral consultations.

Who is affected

  • Overseas Countries and Territories: the amendments shape the association framework and dialogue with the EU.
  • Greenland: the amendments address its sovereignty, resources, self-determination and potential EU membership.
  • French Guiana: the amendments highlight its strategic role and potential offshore resources.
  • New Caledonia: the amendments highlight its critical raw materials and self-determination processes.
  • Member States linked to OCTs: they take part in trilateral consultations and are informed of results.

Figures and deadlines

  • 26 November 2026: date of Parliament's resolution on the Arctic cited in a new recital.
  • 7 June 2023: date of the joint communication on EU-Latin America and Caribbean relations cited in a new recital.
  • 8 October 2025: date of Parliament's resolution on Latin America cited in a new recital.
  • around 60%: polling figure for Greenlanders favouring Union membership.
  • 2018 and 2021: period of three referendums on independence in New Caledonia.
  • every two years: frequency of the OCTs-EU Forum.
  • at least three times a year: minimum frequency of trilateral consultations.