Greenland and The Faroe Islands

The Self-Government Arrangements allows the Faroese and the Greenlandic political authorities to transfer political competence and responsibility from the Danish political authorities. The Faroese and Greenlandic authorities administer the tasks taken over from the state, enact legislation in these specific fields and have the economic responsibility for these tasks. The Danish state provides an annual grant to the Faroese and the Greenlandic authorities

The Faroe Islands’ Home Rule was established in 1948 and Greenland’s Home Rule was established in 1979. In 2005, the Faroe Islands’ options for assuming further fields of responsibilities were expanded, and in 2009 a self-government arrangement for Greenland replaced the Greenland Home Rule Arrangement.

The Faroe Islands are not a member of the EU. Greenland joined the EC with Denmark on 1 January 1973, but resigned on 1 January 1985.

Foreign policy matters

According to the Danish Constitution, the authorities of the Kingdom of Denmark have the authority to enter into obligations under international law as well as responsibility for conducting foreign policy.

The Government, the Faroese Government and Naalakkersuisut (the Government of Greenland) share the desire for close, respectful and equal cooperation on matters related to foreign, security and defense policy with particular relevance to the Faroe Islands and Greenland. To promote this common purpose, a political Danish-Faroese-Greenlandic contact committee was established in October 2021. The exchange of classified information is a significant element within the committee.

Useful links

Information on the Faroe Islands Home Rule Arrangement and the Greenland Self-Government Arrangement

Greenland Self-Government authorities:

Inatsisartut (Greenland Parliament) 

Naalakkersuisut (Greenland Government)

Faroes authorities:

Løgtingið (Faroe Islands Parliament)

Føroya Landsstýri (Government of the Faroes)