Euronews reported that a draft European Union Arctic strategy proposes a new Greenland-to-EU submarine cable to improve network resilience, but gives no project budget or construction timetable.
The outlet said the draft also envisions a later connection reaching Japan and South Korea through Greenland and Canada. It presents better access for Arctic communities and additional routes for European data traffic as potential benefits.
The EU has identified money for other work in Greenland, but neither of its relevant announcements earmarks funding for the proposed direct link. For the separate Aasiaat–Qaqortoq cable, the Commission says Tusass obtained €54.7 million through the Connecting Europe Facility; the project also includes landing stations. The Commission also announced a €200 million package for investment in and with Greenland in 2026 and 2027. It covers several areas, including cable and satellite connectivity.
Greenland already has international submarine cable service. Tusass says Greenland Connect runs from Newfoundland through Nuuk and Qaqortoq to Iceland, while Greenland Connect North links Nuuk with Aasiaat through Maniitsoq and Sisimiut. The proposal described by Euronews would add a direct connection to the EU.
Self-governing Greenland belongs to the Kingdom of Denmark. It is associated with the EU as an Overseas Country and Territory but lies outside the bloc.
The Commission estimates that undersea communications lines carry 99% of internet traffic between continents and warns that hybrid attacks on them could interrupt essential services. EU High Representative and European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas said at the Sept. 14 European Arctic Summit that the new strategy would put security “at its core.”
An Arctic route to Asia was under consideration before this reported draft. In 2024, the European Health and Digital Executive Agency described a northern link to Japan as a possible alternative and said routes west of Greenland or over the North Pole were being studied.
The Commission said at an Oct. 19 briefing that its College of Commissioners was scheduled to adopt the updated Arctic strategy on Oct. 20.
