Greenland–European Union relations Greenland–European Union relations Greenland, an autonomous constituent country of the Kingdom of Denmark (which also includes the countries of Denmark and Faroe Islands) is one of the EU countries’ overseas countries and territories (OCT). Greenland receives funding from the EU for sustainable development and has signed agreements increasing cooperation with the EU. Greenland joined the then European Community in 1973 as a county along with Denmark, but after gaining autonomy with the introduction of home rule within the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland voted to leave in 1982 and left in 1985, to become an OCT. The main reason for leaving
Greenland Representation to the European Union withdrawal. Between 1982 and 1984 the terms were negotiated and on February 1, 1985 Greenland formally withdrew from the European Community. A Treaty on Greenland’s withdrawal from the Community was made – the Greenland Treaty – declaring Greenland as a “special case”. This "special case" provided a fisheries agreement between the parties in which the European Community and later the European Union kept its fishing rights and Greenland kept its financial contribution as before the withdrawal. It also gave Greenland tariff free access of fisheries products to the EU as long as there exists a satisfactory fisheries agreement. Greenland is