In Brussels, on 13 March 1984, the ten member states of the European Communities sign the Treaty amending, with regard to Greenland, the Treaties establishing the European Communities (the Greenland Treaty). The depositary is the Government of the Italian Republic; the languages are the eight official languages of the Communities. The Treaty enters into force on 1 February 1985.

The preamble records Denmark’s proposal to revise the Treaties so that they cease to apply to Greenland and to introduce new arrangements reflecting Greenland’s special features and close lasting links with the Community, notably development needs. Part Four of the EEC Treaty on overseas countries and territories (OCT) is treated as an appropriate framework, with additional specific provisions for Greenland.

Article 1 adds to the ECSC Treaty that it “shall not apply to Greenland.” Article 5 makes the same statement for Euratom. Under the EEC Treaty, Articles 2–4 add Denmark among the states in Article 131; insert Article 136a applying Articles 131–136 to Greenland subject to the Protocol on special arrangements; repeal Protocol 4 on Greenland annexed to the 1972 Act of Accession; and add Greenland to Annex IV.

The annexed Protocol governs fisheries and trade relations after withdrawal. Context: Greenland had joined the EC in 1973 as part of Denmark although the 1972 local referendum rejected accession; after home rule (1979), a 1982 consultative referendum gave 53% for withdrawal.

From 1 February 1985 Greenland left the Communities and moved to associated OCT status. Signatories included ministers such as Uffe Ellemann-Jensen (Denmark), Hans-Dietrich Genscher (FRG), Giulio Andreotti (Italy) and Geoffrey Howe (United Kingdom).

The Brussels Treaty of 13 March 1984 remains the instrument that formalised Greenland’s withdrawal from the European Communities—a precedent later dubbed “Greenxit.”

Image: Nuuk, Greenland; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Withdrawal of Greenland from the European Communities. Treaty text: Treaty amending, with regard to Greenland, the Treaties establishing the European Communities (Brussels, 13 March 1984).