Ursula von der Leyen

I just cannot put into words images I witnessed that day.

Geopolitical shocks can and must serve as an opportunity for Europe.

And in my view, the seismic change we are going through today is an opportunity, in fact, a necessity to build a new form of European independence.

Of course, nostalgia is part of our human story, but nostalgia will not bring back the old order.

And playing for time and hoping for things to revert soon will not fix the structural dependencies we have.

So my point is, if this change is permanent, then Europe must change permanently too.

It is time to seize this opportunity and build a new, independent Europe.

Let me put this in words you might understand.

Mr. President, talk off.

We are creating a market of 700 million people and a GDP of almost 20% of the global GDP is being traded here.

This is phenomenal.

And this agreement sends a very strong message to the world.

It reflects a clear and deliberate choice.

We choose fair trade over tariffs.

We choose a productive, long-term partnership over isolation.

And above all, we intend to deliver real and tangible benefits to our people and our businesses.

And for me, it's important that the Greenlanders know, and they know this by the deeds, not only by the words, that we respect the wishes of the Greenlanders and their interests, and that they can count on us.

Greenland belongs to its people.

So it's up to Denmark and Greenland and only to them to decide on matters that are concerning Denmark and Greenland.

That's point number one.