Ahead of snap elections, Greenland’s independence ambitions could open a window for closer co-operation with the EU

• Main Author: Gad, Ulrik Pram
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: London School of Economics and Political Science 2014
• Subjects: JN Political institutions (Europe); JZ International relations; Greenland
• Online Access: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/71666/; http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/71666/1/blogs.lse.ac.uk-Ahead%20of%20snap%20elections%20Greenlands%20independence%20ambitions%20could%20open%20a%20window%20for%20closer%20co-operation.pdf; http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/

Greenland will hold elections on 28 November following an expenses scandal involving Prime Minister Aleqa Hammond, which led to the collapse of the government. Ulrik Pram Gad writes that while there is strong support within Greenland for establishing independence from Denmark, the recent political turmoil has undermined plans to use investment in extractive industries such as mining as the basis for an independent economy. He argues that the situation could present an opportunity for the EU to engage in closer bilateral co-operation with the country, particularly given Greenland’s natural resources and renewable energy potential.