John Bruton
Question:199 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the relationship Greenland has to the EU. [6549/03]
Written Answers - EU-Greenland Relations.
Greenland entered the EU in 1973 as part of Denmark. Following a narrow defeat in a 1982 referendum on EU membership Greenland left the European Community. The Treaty of Withdrawal of 13 March 1984 came into effect on 1 February 1985 and granted Greenland the status of an overseas country and territory. Articles 182-188 and Annex II of the Treaty Establishing the European Community govern this arrangement.
One of the most important applications of Greenland's OCT status is the non reciprocal trade regime, the most generous granted to any Community partner. Under this arrangement Greenland has unlimited duty free access to the EU markets for its fisheries products on condition that the Union is granted satisfactory possibilities for access to Greenland waters.
The Greenland Treaty also emphasises co-operation and development aspects of the Union's relationship with Greenland. A recent Commission Communication, the mid-term review of the Fourth Fisheries Protocol between the EU and Greenland, assesses the overall relationship between the EU and Greenland and puts forward proposals for the further enhancement of the relationship between the EU and Greenland.