EU Vows Denmark's Territorial Integrity After US Names Special Envoy for Greenland

JAKARTA - The European Union spokesperson said on Monday, maintaining the integrity of Denmark's territory, its sovereignty and its border immunity is "essential" for the bloc, following the developments in the situation regarding Greenland, Denmark's autonomous territory.

Speaking at a midday news conference in Brussels, European Commission spokesman Anouar El Anouni refrained from directly commenting on the United States' move to announce the appointment of a special envoy for Greenland, stressing the EU's long-held position on the issue.

The statement came after US President Donald Trump on Sunday announced the appointment of a special envoy for the autonomous region.

"It is not my job here to comment on the US decision, but what I can say about the EU position is as follows, which has been our long-held position on this issue, that maintaining the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, its sovereignty, and its border immunity is important for the EU," said El Anouni, launching Anadolu (23/12).

Denmark itself announced that it would call the US Ambassador in Copenhagen Kenneth A. Howery to provide an explanation after the Governor of the US State of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, as a special envoy to Greenland.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen described the US move as "completely unacceptable," with the decision to recall the US ambassador made after consulting Greenland's authorities.

The minister emphasized that Denmark wanted a full explanation of why Washington appointed a special envoy for Greenland, even though it already had an ambassador in the country.

Greenland, which was once a Danish colony, gained self-government in 1979 and remains a Danish territory.

In 2009, a referendum approved a Home Rule Act, which gave Greenland greater autonomy while Denmark retained control over foreign policy, defense and security.