EU leaders are holding intensive consultations and ongoing dialogue with the United States, after threats to impose tariffs on Greenland, a European Commission spokesman said on Monday.
Speaking at a news conference, spokesman Olof Gill stressed the bloc's priority was "dialogue, not escalation," warning unilateral tariffs would hurt European and U.S. consumers and businesses.
"EU leaders are consulting intensively, and engagement with the US continues at all levels. Sometimes the most responsible form of leadership is restraint, and responsible leadership is the core of President (Ursula) von der Leyen and the EU as a whole," said Gill, as reported by Anadolu (20/1).
"We need to be very wise in approaching the difference between threats and operational reality. Yes, threats have been launched. The EU responded responsibly by refraining, by trying to eliminate the source of the threat and finding better solutions for all parties, to maintain the stability and predictability that have been hard-won provided by the EU-US Joint Statement," he said.
US President Donald Trump is known to have expressed his desire to control Greenland for US national security, highlighting Russia's and China's presence in the Arctic region.
President Trump cited national security and strategic interests in the Arctic as justification for the move.
The desire, which has recently become stronger, has also been strongly opposed by countries in Europe, which are also allies in the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which expressed its support for Denmark regarding its autonomous territory.
Last Saturday, President Trump announced plans to impose additional tariffs of 10 percent starting February 1 on goods from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland.
The tariff will increase to 25 percent in June until an agreement is reached on "the complete and total purchase of Greenland."
EU leaders will gather for an "extraordinary meeting" on Thursday to discuss Trump's plans to impose tariffs, with media reports suggesting EU leaders are preparing concrete response options, including the possible re-activation of up to 93 billion euros ($108 billion) in retaliatory tariffs.
The spokesperson said that although the EU has the necessary instruments to protect its economic interests, including anti-coercion instruments and previously suspended retaliatory tariffs, the bloc is focusing on finding solutions through dialogue.
"We want to ensure that the unity and solidarity of the European Union is maintained as much as possible so that we are in the strongest possible position to achieve the desired results," he said.
Gill added that there are currently no plans for a meeting in Davos between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President Trump as planned. However, he said, "I cannot rule out the possibility that this will happen."
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