GUE/NGL to Greenland

GUE/NGL delegation to Greenland, August 27-31

To explore the fundamental issues and challenges facing the people of Greenland, a delegation from the GUE/NGL group in the European Parliament is visiting the country this week to meet with political representatives, NGOs and local experts for discussion on four key themes: climate change, militarisation, independence and indigenous rights.

The delegation MEPs are Soren Sondergaard from Denmark, Jens Holm from Sweden, Roberto Musacchio and Vittorio Agnoletto from Italy, Tobias Pflueger from Germany and Jiri Mastalka from the Czech Republic. They are in Greenland from August 27-31.

The principal issues for the GUE/NGL delegation are:
 
– Climate change: climate change is causing the arctic ice cap to melt, which is dramatically changing the living conditions in Greenland as well as in the world as a whole due to increased water levels and the potential risk of a reversal of the Gulf Stream.
 
– Geopolitical: Greenland plays an essential role in the United States’ missile shield system due to the location of a strategic American military base near Thule in the north of Greenland.
 
– Independence: Greenland is in the middle of a difficult process towards independence and one of the important issues involved is to ensure that independence from Denmark does not lead to a situation where Greenland becomes subjugated to the USA or the EU.
 
– Indigenous people: Greenland plays an important role in relation to Inuit cooperation (in Greenland, Canada, Russia, etc) and in the global fight to ensure and safeguard the rights of indigenous people.

For further information contact David Lundy: 0032485505812