At the same time, despite the official end of colonialism, Denmark continued to follow a policy of cultural assimilation[7] including discriminatory practices[8] towards Greenlanders.

These included amongst other provisions a transition period of ten years in order to protect the fishing industry of Greenland.

The decolonization process was administered through top-down decisions, which were agreed in the capital and implemented in Greenland by a small Danish bourgeoisie.

[25][26][27][28] Ultimately, on 17 January 1979, the Home Rule Act was submitted to Greenlandic voters and adopted with a majority of 70.1% of the votes cast.

[33] In Spring 1981, the Greenlandic Inatsisartut unanimously agreed to hold a second, consultative referendum on the Community question in February 1982.

[13] For Siumut, which strongly campaigned in favour of withdrawing from the EC, exit was seen as a natural and important first step after the introduction of home rule for Greenland to shape its future.

Atassut strongly emphasized in its arguments for remain the financial losses a withdrawal from the European Communities would bring about, as this would ultimately end the large EC funding.

The leavers called for an independent fisheries policy, whereas the remainers recalled the importance of the EC funding for the development of the Greenlandic economy.

The EC were seen as far-away, supranational institutions, which not only showed little consideration of Greenland's interests but in some instances actively overruled them - giving echoes of colonial times.

Other causes put forward include the sensitivity among the Greenlandic population over issues concerning fisheries and the independent control over their raw materials, which were both considered to be threatened through the EC membership.

Finally, the introduction of home rule less than three years before the referendum and, linked to this, the increased perception of political ownership in Greenland are additional reasons which can explain the outcome of the 1982 vote.

[36] However, as compared to the 1972 referendum, the results of the 1982 vote show that despite these factors, the popularity of the European Communities had nonetheless risen considerably in the 10 years of membership.

[33] Overall, according to scholars such as Johanson and Lehmann Sørensen, the outcome of the referendum revealed that Greenlanders were ready to pay the price of withdrawal, which implied not only the loss of the financial support coming from the Communities as a member but in the long run might also result in a "slower pace of development".

[31] Regarding the reactions to the 1982 referendum, the Danish government declared its full support in the negotiations over Greenland's withdrawal.

[35] However, it also made clear that the Danish treasury would not give any kind of compensation payments for the loss of EC subsidies.

[38] OCT status was a special arrangement, created under the Rome Treaty (Articles 131–136)[39] in 1957 for overseas countries and territories of EC member states.

[35] However, in February 1983, the Commission responded with a favourable opinion[41] on Greenland's withdrawal from the EC and its request of OCT status “with certain specific provisions”.

[43] Whereas, it is put forward that the EC “had hardly any other choice than to agree to negotiations”, the position regarding future EU-Greenland relations and most particularly OCT status was not uncontroversial at the time.

Also the European Commission was relatively reluctant to create a precedent arguing that “exit should not benefit a country voluntarily asking to leave”.

[13] Furthermore, it also argued that Greenland should enjoy more leeway given the vital strategic role it assumed during the Cold War by hosting US bases.

[13] Ultimately, it was recognised that the culture, geographic location, economic structure and many other features of Greenland were so distinct from other EC member states, that the 'precedent argument' did not apply.

[45] The final revision of the treaty and thereby the withdrawal conditions for Greenland from the European Communities were decided by the Council in Brussels on 13 March 1984.

Following the ratification of the Treaty by the national parliaments of all EC member states, except for Greece, which ratified it by a joint decision of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and National Economy and Finance,[52] the Greenland Treaty entered into force on 1 February 1985, which also marks the formal date of withdrawal of Greenland from the European Communities.