Michael Matthiessen

Former EU🇪🇺Ambassador to CH🇨🇭& FL🇱🇮/Fmr EU official (Council & EEAS)/Fmr Danish🇩🇰 diplomat (EU&NATO). Convinced European. Views my own. RT≠ endorsement.

[EU Council @EUCouncil]

The EU will continue to stand up for itself against any form of coercion.
At an informal meeting of the members of the European Council, EU leaders discussed:
📌EU-US relations & trade
📌security in the Arctic
📌the Board of Peace
📌EU strategic autonomy
➡️https://t.co/2yMxwNSrJi

[Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen]

This moment of global change is fraught with dangers.

And Europe must be ready to change even faster.

To become more independent. For its own future ↓ https://t.co/LwlxjFLhZX

[Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen]

Europe is working on a package to support Arctic security.

And at the heart of this will be the fundamental principle:

it is for sovereign people to decide their own future.

[Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen]

Arctic security can only be achieved together.

This is why the proposed additional tariffs are a mistake, especially between long-standing allies.

The EU and US have agreed to a trade deal last July.

A deal is a deal.

And when friends shake hands, it must mean something.

[Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen]

Geopolitical shocks can - and must - be an opportunity for Europe.

The seismic shift underway makes it both possible & necessary to build a new European independence.

From security to the economy.
From defence to democracy.

Europe is gathering speed ↓ https://t.co/aLU0vo76Wn

[António Costa @eucopresident]

My consultations with member states on the latest tensions over Greenland reconfirm our strong commitment to the following:

▪️ Unity on the principles of international law, territorial integrity and national sovereignty;

▪️ Unity in support of and solidarity with Denmark and Greenland;

▪️ Recognition of the shared transatlantic interest in peace and security in the Arctic, notably working through NATO;

▪️  Shared assessment that tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and are incompatible with the EU-US trade agreement;

▪️ Readiness to defend ourselves against any form of coercion;

▪️ Readiness to continue engaging constructively with the US on all issues of common interest.

Given the significance of recent developments and in order to further coordinate, I have decided to convene an extraordinary meeting of the European Council in the coming days.

[Denmark MFA 🇩🇰 @DanishMFA]

Joint statement by Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom 👇

[Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz @bundeskanzler]

We stand united and coordinated with Denmark and the people of Greenland. As a member of NATO, we are committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest. Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.

[Roberta Metsola @EP_President]

The European Union supports Denmark and the people of Greenland. We do so united in resolve.

The measures against NATO allies announced today will not help in ensuring security in the Arctic. They risk the opposite, emboldening our joint enemies and those who wish to destroy our common values and way of life. 

Greenland and Denmark have both made clear: Greenland is not for sale and its sovereignty and territorial integrity needs to be respected. No threat of tariffs can or will change that fact.

[Keir Starmer @Keir_Starmer]

Our position on Greenland is very clear – it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes.

We have also made clear that Arctic Security matters for the whole of NATO and allies should all do more together to address the threat from Russia across different parts of the Arctic.

Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong. We will of course be pursuing this directly with the US administration.

[Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen]

Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law.

They are essential for Europe and for the international community as a whole.

We have consistently underlined our shared transatlantic interest in peace and security in the Arctic, including through NATO.

The pre-coordinated Danish exercise, conducted with allies, responds to the need to strengthen Arctic security and poses no threat to anyone.

The EU stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland. Dialogue remains essential, and we are committed to building on the process begun already last week between the Kingdom of Denmark and the US.

Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty.

[António Costa @eucopresident]

Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law. They are essential for Europe and for the international community as a whole.

We have consistently underlined our shared transatlantic interest in peace and security in the Arctic, including through NATO. The pre-coordinated Danish exercise, conducted with allies, responds to the need to strengthen Arctic security and poses no threat to anyone.

The EU stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland. Dialogue remains essential, and we are committed to building on the process begun already last week between the Kingdom of Denmark and the US.

Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty.

[Emmanuel Macron @EmmanuelMacron]

La France est attachée à la souveraineté et à l’indépendance des Nations, en Europe comme ailleurs. Cela préside à nos choix. Cela fonde notre attachement aux Nations unies et à notre Charte.

C’est à ce titre que nous soutenons et continuerons de soutenir l’Ukraine, et que nous avons bâti une coalition des volontaires pour une paix robuste et durable, pour défendre ces principes et notre sécurité.

C’est à ce titre aussi que nous avons décidé de nous joindre à l’exercice décidé par le Danemark au Groenland. Nous l’assumons. Aussi car il en va de la sécurité en Arctique et aux confins de notre Europe.

Aucune intimidation ni menace ne saurait nous influencer, ni en Ukraine, ni au Groenland, ni ailleurs dans le monde lorsque nous sommes confrontés à de telles situations.

Les menaces tarifaires sont inacceptables et n’ont pas leur place dans ce contexte. Les Européens y répondront de façon unie et coordonnée si elles étaient confirmées. Nous saurons faire respecter la souveraineté européenne.

C’est dans cet esprit que je m’entretiendrai avec nos partenaires européens.

[Statsministeriet @Statsmin]

Joint Statement on Greenland
https://t.co/ORMWHpKEJt

[Kaja Kallas @kajakallas]

We continue to stand in solidarity with Denmark and Greenland.

Greenland is an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark. Any changes to that status are for Greenlanders and Danes alone to decide.

We expect all our partners to respect their sovereignty and territorial integrity and to abide by their international commitments, enshrined inter alia in the United Nations Charter and the North Atlantic Treaty.

[António Costa @eucopresident]

Arctic security remains a key priority for the European Union, and one in which we seek to work with allies and partners.

Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law.

These principles are essential not only for the European Union, but for nations around the world.

We stand in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland.

[Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen]

Arctic security remains a key priority for the European Union, and one in which we seek to work with allies and partners.

Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law.

These principles are essential not only for the European Union, but for nations around the world.

We stand in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland.

[Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen]

Dear Mette, I want to praise @eu2025dk for the remarkable work done over the last six months.

Support to Ukraine. Our energy independence from Russia. Defence. Migration. Simplification.

You delivered on all these files.

Thank you for your leadership and commitment, @Statsmin.

[Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen]

We welcome the continued US efforts to bring peace to Ukraine. 

The initial draft of the 28-point plan includes important elements that will be essential for a just and lasting peace.

We believe therefore that the draft is a basis which will require additional work.

We are ready to engage in order to ensure that a future peace is sustainable. We are clear on the principle that borders must not be changed by force.

We are also concerned by the proposed limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces, which would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack. 

We reiterate that the implementation of elements relating to the European Union and relating to NATO would need the consent of EU and NATO members respectively. 

We take this opportunity to underline the strength of our continued support to Ukraine. We will continue to coordinate closely with Ukraine and the US over the coming days.

https://t.co/RWaiTcsUjr

[Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen]

Together with @eucopresident, we have spoken to President @ZelenskyyUA

From day one, Europe has stood with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.

We have been working for a just and sustainable peace with Ukraine and for Ukraine together with our friends and partners.

Today we have discussed the current situation and we are clear that there should be nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.

As next steps, European leaders will meet tomorrow in the margins of G20 and then in Angola at the EU-AU meeting.