STORY: U.S. threats of new tariffs over Greenland are "simply wrong," said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen while addressing the parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday (January 21).

Von der Leyen insisted that Greenland's future is for its people to decide, warning that coercive measures undermine both sovereignty and international law. She also called for greater EU independence and unity, outlining plans for a significant investment in Greenland to support its economy and infrastructure.

European Council President, Antonio Costa echoed her concerns, stating that further tariffs would damage transatlantic relations and violate existing agreements. He stressed the need for constructive engagement with the U.S., but made clear the EU would defend its interests against any form of coercion.

Costa concluded, "We cannot accept violations of international law anywhere, whether in Ukraine, Greenland, Latin America, Africa, or in Gaza."

The U.S. has threatened tariffs on six EU countries and others on Saturday (January 17), aiming to pressure the EU to allow American access to Greenland, but enforcing such tariffs is complicated due to the free movement of goods within the EU and shared rules of origin.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: EU COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, AND EU COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANTONIO COSTA, ADDRESSING LAWMAKERS IN EU PARLIAMENT

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

EDITORS NOTE: REFILING TO CHANGE SOUNDBITE ORDER AND START WITH HEADLINE QUOTE

SHOWS: STRASBOURG, FRANCE (JANUARY 21, 2026) (EUROPEAN UNION - Access All)

1. EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, REACHING LECTERN IN EU PARLIAMENT

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING (OVERLAID ON SHOTS OF VON DER LEYEN SPEAKING):

"The threat of additional tariffs for security reasons is simply wrong."

3.(SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING (OVERLAID ON SHOT OF VON DER LEYEN SPEAKING):

"We now live in a world defined by raw power, whether economic or military, technological or geopolitical. And while many of us may not like it, we must deal with the world as it is now."

4. VON DER LEYEN SPEAKING AT LECTERN

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING (OVERLAID ON SHOTS OF VON DER LEYEN SPEAKING AND OFFICIALS LISTENING):

"We are at a crossroads. Europe prefers dialogue and solutions, but we are fully prepared to act, if necessary, with unity, urgency, and determination."

6. VON DER LEYEN SPEAKING AT LECTERN

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING (SOUNDBITE ENDING OVER SHOT OF PARLIAMENT MEMBERS APPLAUDING):

"Greenland is not just a territory in a key region of the world map and a land rich in critical raw materials. A strategic outpost on emerging global sea routes. It's all of these things. But above all, Greenland is home to a free and sovereign people. It is a nation with its sovereignty and its right to territorial integrity. And the future of Greenland is only for the Greenlanders to decide."

8. VARIOUS OF AUDIENCE APPLAUDING

9. VON DER LEYEN SPEAKING AT LECTERN

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING (OVERLAID ON SHOTS OF VON DER LEYEN SPEAKING):

"We need our own strategic approach. This is why we're working on a package to support Arctic security. The first pillar will be a massive European investment surge in Greenland. In particular, to further support the local economy and infrastructure."

11. VON DER LEYEN SPEAKING AT LECTERN

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANTONIO COSTA, SAYING (OVERLAID ON SHOTS OF COSTA SPEAKING / OTHER OFFICIALS):

"Third, we recognize that there is a shared transatlantic interest in peace and security in the Arctic, notably working through NATO. Fourth, further tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and are incompatible with the EU-US agreement. Fifth, we stand ready to defend ourselves, our member states, our citizens, our companies against any form of coercion."

13. COSTA SPEAKING AT LECTERN

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANTONIO COSTA, SAYING (OVERLAID ON SHOTS OF COSTA SPEAKING):

"We want to continue engaging constructively with the United States, of course, on all issues of common interest, and there are many, since we are partners and allies and share a transatlantic community."

15. COSTA SPEAKING AT LECTERN

16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANTONIO COSTA, SAYING (OVERLAID ON SHOTS OF COSTA SPEAKING):

"We cannot accept that the law of the strongest prevails over the rights of the weakest. Because international rules are not optional. An alliance cannot just boil down to a sequence of transactions. We cannot accept violations of international law anywhere, whether in Ukraine, Greenland, Latin America, Africa, or in Gaza."

17. VARIOUS OF PARLIAMENT MEMBERS APPLAUDING

18. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLY