No. 2, june 2013 NAP-NEWS BRUSSELS K a l a a l l i t N u n a a t a Sinniisoqafia Bruxelles-imi Greenland- developing New Government in Policy Dialogue WTO-panel hearing in EU relations Greenland Meeting in Nuuk Genève Greenland Representation in See the new members of the EU-Greenland cooperation and WTO-panel hearing 29th - Brussels is hosting a seminar Cabinet implementation of the 30th April 2013 on EU-Seal on June 28th educational programme Products Page 2 Page 4 Page 9 Page 10 European Seafood Exposition in Brusels 2013 From left: CFO Henrik Krogh, Chairman Henrik Leth, Director Anders Brøns from Polar Seafood and Greenland Representation !Greenland Representation • Rue d’Arlon 73 • 1040, Brussels !1 No. 2, june 2013 NAP-NEWS Greenland - developing EU relations June 28 2013 in Brusels With Greenland's new Minister for Fisheries, Hunting and Agriculture, Mr Karl Lyberth as the front figure, Greenland Representation in Brussels will host a seminar titled "Greenland, - developing EU relations" on June 28th, which will be followed by a reception in relation to Greenland's National Day on June 21st. It is expected that around 95 people will participate. Karl Lyberth will open the seminar with an introduction on his view on new opportunities for growth and how to create new jobs for the benefit of a sustainable economic development in Greenland. For the occasion, the Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki, accepted the invitation to come and deliver the keynote speech at the seminar. She will talk about the EU as a key player in the partnership with Greenland. In addition to this high-profile feature, there will also be presentations from the chairman of Mr. Karl Lyberth, Minister for Fisheries, the Polar Seafood group and Greenland Employers' Association, Henrik Leth, with a Hunting & Agriculture. description of how Greenland adapts to globalization and the fishing export. After the break Rector at the University of Greenland, Ilisimatusarfik, Tine Pars, will give a speech on education and how we create a culture of education in building our Nation. Dr. Ulrik Pram Gad, Centre for Advanced Security Theory, University of Copenhagen will talk about Greenland in the margins of Europe, human resources and sovereignty games. The seminar closes with a presentation of the Deputy Director-General, Geographic Coordination and Overseas Countries and Territories, of the Commission, Mr. Marcus Cornaro. He will brief the assembly on EU's response to education in the wider context of Greenland development. Afterwards there will be time for a panel discussion with the speakers, where participants have the opportunity to ask questions and give comments. The seminar ends around 1 PM and Head of Representation Lida Skifte Lennert will conclude the seminar. CEO of Royal Greenland, Mikael Thinghuus, will give a presentation of the company and its products, which will launch the reception to mark the National Day of Greenland on June 21st. At the reception the participants will Maria Damanaki, EU Commissioner on Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, in front of the mountain “Sermitsiaq” have the opportunity to taste the fresh in Nuuk, Greenland. Greenlandic commodities in the form of tasty shrimps and halibut. !Greenland Representation • Rue d’Arlon 73 • 1040, Brussels !2 No. 2, june 2013 NAP-NEWS European Seafood Exposition 2013 Tuesday April 23rd Greenland Representation attended the European Seafood Exposition, which is the largest Seafood Exposition in Europe. Around 1600 companies from 70 different countries participated in this huge exposition. Many Greenlandic companies were also represented this year and Polar Seafood attended as well. At the exhibition Greenland Representation had a small meeting with the Chairman Henrik Leth, Director Anders Brøns and CFO Henrik Krogh. Polar Seafood informed about their products of shrimp, halibut, smoked salmon and cod as well as their capacity and trawlers. It was exciting to get a glimpse of an industry where quality, time and economy is essential to make it all work. After the meeting with Polar Seafood time was spent walking around the many halls looking at the different products from around the world. There were simply all kinds of fish, shellfish and equipment. From sushi to big fish, shrimps, squids, giant lobsters, crabs and much more. In short, there was everything, both fresh fish and prepared samples. Stalls from the Faroe Islands and Iceland in the North Atlantic to North America and South America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and many countries from EU – virtually The spirit was high as CFO Henrik Krogh and Chairman for Polar Seafood rd th Henrik Leth informed the representation about Polar Seafood activities. the whole world was gathered in Brussels on April 23 -24 , 2013. Conveniently located in Brussels, the annual European Seafood Exhibition is the worlds largest seafood trade fair. The fair features over 1,600 exhibiting companies from over 70 countries. Attendees include thousands of seafood buyers and senior-level decision makers from retail, foodservice and other business categories. It was truly impressive! Greenland Representation had the opportunity to visit Royal Greenland’s location, which was very popular as well. !Greenland Representation • Rue d’Arlon 73 • 1040, Brussels !3 No. 2, june 2013 NAP-NEWS New Government in Greenland On March 12, 2013 the ordinary election to the Greenland Parliament Inatsisartut took place. During the evening both in Nuuk and here in Brussels, the results of the election was clear; Greenland was about to get a new government. The results showed that the head of Siumut party, Mrs. Aleqa Hammond, was to become the first female Premier of Greenland. Inatsisartut has 31 members; Siumut holds 14 mandates, IA received 11 mandates and Demokraterne, Atassut and Partii Inuit were each given two mandates. Inatsisartut appoints the Premier of Greenland, who will then appoint his/her cabinet of ministers. The new government consists of eight members, six from Siumut, one from Atassut and one from Partii Inuit. The coalition agreement for Naalakkersuisut was signed on March 26th, 2013. It is important for the new government to create transparency, global awareness and not least, the process of the people's democratic participation and responsibility be ensured in the best possible way. The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for coordinating the entire government's international efforts. In addition to the Department of Foreign Affairs a large part of the international efforts lies within the individual ministries. Naalakkersuisut 2013 The Premier and Minister for Minister for Fisheries, Foreign Affairs Hunting & Agriculture Aleqa Hammond (Siumut) Karl Lyberth (Siumut) Minister for Health & Minister for Industry & Infrastructure Minerals Deputy-Premier Jens-Erik Kirkegaard (Siumut) Steen Lynge (Atassut) Minister for Housing, Nature, Minister for Family and Environment & Nordic Cooperation Legal & Justice Department Miiti Lynge (Partii Inuit) Martha Lund Olsen (Siumut) Minister for Finance & Minister for Education, Church, Domestic Affairs Culture & Gender Equality Vittus Qujaukitsoq (Siumut) Nick Nielsen (Siumut) !Greenland Representation • Rue d’Arlon 73 • 1040, Brussels !4 No. 2, june 2013 NAP-NEWS European elections 2014 In the EU, the atmosphere is already affected by elections and the politicians are in the process of positioning themselves for the upcoming election, which takes place in the spring of 2014. After the Lisbon Treaty in 2009 the European Parliament became just as powerful as the two other strong institutions in the EU; the Commission and the Council. The European Parliament has thus become much stronger due to the Treaty and the Union will grow with Croatia's membership from Jule 1st, 2013. In 2014, the European Parliament elections take place, and the Commission Finn 80 years invites more people to vote. The Former head of Greenland Representation in Brussels, Finn Commission's approach is to ask the national political parties to make it clear to Lynge, turned 80 years on April 22. the European voters to which European group the parties belong to. It can help The charismatic politician has throughout his long life been widely voters with linking national policy around thanks to his numerous functions. Already during his training for programs with the European ones. becoming a Catholic priest, he was in France, Rome and the United States. At a later time he chose to step out of the priesthood and raise a Under the new rules, the Parliament has family. the responsibility to choose the new President of the Commission, which will In 1979 he was elected as Greenland's first and only representative in the be chosen by the EU countries' heads of European Community Parliament, where he worked until 1984 - the year government, who meets in the European before Greenland left the EC. It was with Greenland’s withdrawal from Council. If the selected candidate cannot the EC in mind, that Finn Lynge headed for Brussels. gain a majority of votes in the European Parliament, the European Council has to nominate a new candidate within one After his time as a Community parliamentarian he served as a senior month. adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Copenhagen before he returned to Brussels as head of Greenland Representation from 1993 to "The European Parliament is the only EU 1995. institution directly elected by democratic elections every five years. The European In addition, Finn Lynge has held positions in Greenland Self-