Ursula von der Leyen visits Bakkafrost HQ
EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen was given a first-hand look at how the fish farming industry operates in the Faroes when she visited the islands this week.
She was a guest of Bakkafrost, the Faroes’ largest fish farming company, when she toured its Glyvrar headquarters and talked to its CEO Regin Jacobsen.
The Commissioner was in the Faroes to agree a new framework for cooperation between that country and the European Union.
Accompanied by Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, von der Leyen held talks with a Faroese delegation headed by Prime Minister Aksel V. Johannesen.
Johannesen said: “The effort to enhance relations between the Faroe Islands and the EU has been ongoing for several years but today is the start of a new era in our collaboration.”
He added: “The changing global context makes it increasingly important to align closely with like-minded partners. The MoU will serve as a foundation for enhancing our cooperation with the EU.”
During her visit, President von der Leyen had the opportunity to tour Bakkafrost’s state-of-the-art facilities and witness firsthand the company’s commitment to sustainable salmon farming.
Regin Jacobsen, CEO of Bakkafrost, said afterwards: “We’re proud to showcase our dedication to sustainable aquaculture practices for such a distinguished guest. President von der Leyen’s visit highlights the critical role that aquaculture plays in ensuring food security, economic growth, and environmental sustainability in the European Union and beyond, says t.
Johannesen and Ursula von der Leyen later signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a milestone in Faroe Islands-EU relations.
The document aims to establish a framework for the partnership, focusing on areas such as green transition, energy, climate change, digitalisation and the Arctic, in addition to existing areas of cooperation on trade, fisheries and research.
The  focus will now be on the implementation of the agreement. Johannesen and von der Leyen said the agreement marks the beginning of a new chapter in Faroe Islands-EU relations, promising closer co-operation for the benefit of both the Faroe Islands and the EU.
