Tale
Det talte ord gælder.
Merci beaucoup.
First, I would like to say a deepfelt thanks to you, dear Emmanuel, and to the people of France.
Thank you for your very strong support for Greenland and for Denmark, including your visit to Nuuk last summer.
Thank you for your friendship and thank you for standing up for the fundamental values we share and where we cannot compromise. Democracy, sovereignty, the right of every country to choose its own future. Values pioneered by France more than 200 years ago. And which France still has a key role in shaping all over the world.
***
However, I also want to thank you for the concrete French contributions to the strengthening of Arctic security. The three of us agree that this is a priority and that NATO must play a much stronger role in the Arctic region, in the High North, including in and around Greenland. Something we have been actually requesting for a long time.
But until NATO's Arctic Sentry Mission is in place, participation in the ongoing exercise, as you were just talking about, Arctic Endurance, is very important. It has to be, of course, in close cooperation with all NATO allies. And I would like to underline that the quick and substantial French contribution has been highly appreciated from Greenland and Denmark.
***
Finally, let me emphasize that in a situation where the world order as we have known it is under pressure, it is changing rapidly, maybe it's gone, then we need a stronger Europe than ever. A Europe that is willing and able to stand up for our values and for our principles.
For me, the way forward is quite clear. It is up to us and only up to us Europeans to create a confident and prosperous Europe of tomorrow. We have to be able to defend ourselves. And we need to continue our strong support for Ukraine.
We have to do it more attractive to do business in Europe. And I think there are some lessons learned in the last couple of weeks for Europe if we stand united, if we, of course, do not compromise on our democratic values, and if we send a very clear signal. If somebody is threatening us from outside, we will stand up together, and we will respond. Then we are able to find a way forward.
It is a decisive moment for Europe. And as the last weeks have shown, it works. It simply works when Europe stands firm and united. And therefore, to use the words of one of your most famous music groups: We must work it harder, make it better, do it faster, which makes us stronger. Once again, thank you Emmanuel.