STORY: European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday (January 23) that the EU was successful in being 'firm but non-escalatory' with the US, referring to President Donald Trump backing down on threats to acquire Greenland.

She also said the European Commission will soon propose a substantive investment package for Greenland, the semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.

EU leaders heaved a sigh of relief over Donald Trump's U-turn on Greenland as they met for an emergency summit in Brussels late on Thursday (January 22). The leaders said they want an EU-U.S. trade deal to be back on track after the European Parliament suspended its ratification in protest over U.S. pressure to acquire Greenland.

While saying they want to work on strengthening the transatlantic cooperation, the EU leaders warned that they were ready to act if Trump was to threaten them again.

The Thursday evening summit was convened after the U.S. threatened steep tariffs, and possibly even military action in Greenland, before pulling back from those threats, saying a deal over the Arctic island was in sight. But Trump's threats badly shook Europe's confidence in its partner, EU officials and leaders said.

The emergency summit, convened to reassess the EU-U.S. relationship, did not take any concrete decision.

Most leaders said the relationship with the United States remained key for the EU and it was one they were ready to work hard to maintain - while expecting hard work, and respect, from Washington as well.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: EU COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN AND EU COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANTONIO COSTA HOLDING A PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER EU LEADERS EMERGENCY MEETING ON U.S. RELATIONS OVER GREENLAND DISPUTE

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (JANUARY 23, 2026) (EUROPEAN UNION - Access all)

1. EU COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, AND EU COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANTONIO COSTA, ARRIVING FOR PRESSER

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

"We have collectively underinvested in the Arctic and Arctic security, so now it's high time to step up and to build on what we have already achieved."

3. PRESS CONFERENCE ONGOING

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

"Beyond investment, we also intend to deepen cooperation with the United States and all partners on the important topic of Arctic security. In particular, we believe we should use our defence spending surge on Arctic-ready equipment, a European icebreaker, for example, and we should strengthen our security and defence arrangements with partners in the region."

5. PRESS CONFERENCE ONGOING

6. JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTION

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING: (SOUNDBITE STARTS ON A WIDE SHOT)

"Let me complement that. It was very clear in the discussion that we were successful in withstanding by being firm but non-escalatory, and most importantly, very united. But there was also a discussion on the clarity with which we know that we have to work more and more for an independent Europe."

8. PRESS CONFERENCE ONGOING

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANTONIO COSTA, SAYING:

"Yesterday's announcement that there will be no new United States tariffs on Europe is positive. The imposition of additional tariffs would have been incompatible with the trade deal between the European Union and the United States."

10. JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTION

11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANTONIO COSTA, SAYING:

"The goal remains the effective stabilisation of the trade relations between the European Union and the United States. At the same time, the European Union will continue to stand up for its interests. and will defend itself, its Member States, its citizens, and its companies against any form of coercion. And it has the power and the tools to do so, and will do so if and when necessary."

12. PRESS CONFERENCE ONGOING

13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANTONIO COSTA, SAYING:

"Looking ahead, we remain ready to continue engaging constructively with the United States on all issues of common interest, including on creating the conditions for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine."

14. JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTION

15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANTONIO COSTA, SAYING:

"We have serious doubts about a number of elements in the Charter of the Board of Peace related to its scope, its governance and its compatibility with the United Nations Charter. We are ready to work together with the United States on the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Plan for Gaza, with a Board of Peace carrying out its mission as a transitional administration in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803."

16. PRESS CONFERENCE ONGOING

17. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

"And there is a clear interest that we ensure that the benefits of this important agreement (the Mercosur trade deal) apply as soon as possible. We have not taken a decision yet. What is the procedure? A decision would only be needed at a stage when one country of Mercosur or more countries of Mercosur have completed their procedures and are basically ready."

18. PRESS CONFERENCE ENDING