Mining graphite in Greenland should make the EU more competitive and less dependent on foreign powers.
The EU will mine graphite in Greenland, thereby ensuring Europe’s access to critical raw materials.
This was announced by the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Stéphane Séjourné, in Brussels on Wednesday.
The project is one of 13 projects for the extraction of raw materials that the EU will launch outside the union’s borders.
The projects are intended to make the EU more competitive and less dependent on foreign powers.
The remaining projects will take place in Canada, Kazakhstan, Norway, Serbia, Ukraine, Zambia, Brazil, Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the French overseas territory of New Caledonia.
The EU enters the fray
According to the European Commission, investments totaling 5.5 billion euros are necessary to launch the projects. This corresponds to 41 billion kroner.
Ten of the projects deal with the extraction of raw materials necessary for the production of electronic vehicles and the production and storage of batteries.
According to Stéphane Séjourné, the projects should contribute to Europe’s economic security while creating jobs in the countries where the projects will be carried out.
– Europe needs raw materials to succeed in our industrial and climate ambitions. The EU needs stable, secure and diversified supply chains, he says, according to a press release.
Greenland is not part of the EU, but has close ties to the union. In 2024, the EU opened its first office in Nuuk.
The proposal finds support in the European Parliament.
SF’s Villy Søvndal, who represents the Greens in the EU Parliament, believes that the project will strengthen Greenland’s economy.
– I hope that this will be the first step towards a series of partnerships that will benefit both parties. It will be crucial for Greenland’s continued development and the EU’s strategic autonomy in the future, says Søvndal.
The Moderates’ Stine Bosse, who represents the Renew group in the European Parliament, is also happy with the project.
– Greenland is close to my heart, and I know how many times they have said no to, for example, Chinese mineral extraction, so I am happy that the EU is now entering the fight, says Stine Bosse.
/ritzau/