Oral conclusions drawn by President António Costa following the informal meeting of the members of the European Council of 22 January 2026 00:40 President of the European[...]

The European Union and the United States have long been partners and allies. We have built a transatlantic community forged by history, anchored in common values, and dedicated to the prosperity and security of our peoples.

We believe that relationships between partners and allies should be managed in a cordial and respectful way.

Europe and the United States have a shared interest in the security of the Arctic region, notably working through NATO. The European Union will also play a stronger role in this region.

In this context, I want to be very clear: the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland have the full support of the European Union. Only the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.

This is a reflection of our firm commitment to the principles of international law, territorial integrity and national sovereignty, which are essential for Europe and for the international community as a whole. These principles will continue to guide our action.

Against this backdrop, yesterday's announcement that there will be no new US tariffs on Europe is positive. The imposition of additional tariffs would have been incompatible with the EU-US trade deal. Our focus must now be on moving forward on the implementation of that deal. The goal remains the effective stabilization of the trade relations between the European Union and the US.

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. It has the power and the tools to do so and will do so if and when necessary.

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.

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 UN Charter.

We are ready to work together with the US 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 UN Security Council Resolution 2803.

Let me conclude by recalling that the European Union is focused on delivering an ambitious agenda for our citizens: on defense, on competitiveness, on building a more strategically autonomous Europe.

That is why the next Leaders' meeting, on the 12th of February, will be a strategic brainstorming dedicated to strengthening the Single Market in a new geoeconomic context.