Act on Greenland Self-Government

(Act No. 473 of June 12, 2009)

“We Margrethe The Second, by God’s Grace Queen of Denmark, hereby announce that:

The Danish Parliament has passed the following Act, which We have ratified by giving Our assent:

Recognising that the people of Greenland is a people pursuant to international law with the right of self-determination, the Act is based on a wish to foster equality and mutual respect in the partnership between Denmark and Greenland. Accordingly, the Act is based on an agreement between Naalakkersuisut [Greenland Government] and the Danish Government as equal partners .

1. The Greenland Self-Government authorities shall exercise legislative and executive power in the fields of responsibility taken over. Courts of law that are established by the Self-Government authorities shall exercise judicial power in Greenland in all fields of responsibility. Accordingly, the legislative power shall lie with Inatsisartut [Greenland Parliament], the executive power with Naalakkersuisut, and the judicial power with the courts of law….

4. Naalakkersuisut and the Government may agree that fields of responsibility which exclusively concern Greenland affairs, and which are not referred to in the Schedule, may be assumed by the Greenland Self-Government authorities….

Foreign Affairs (Chapter 4)

11. (1) Naalakkersuisut may act in international affairs as laid down in this Chapter and in agreements with the Government.

(2) The Government and Naalakkersuisut shall cooperate in international affairs as laid down in this Chapter with a view to safeguarding the interests of Greenland as well as the general interests of the Kingdom of Denmark.

(3) The powers granted to Naalakkersuisut in this Chapter shall not limit the Danish authorities’ constitutional responsibility and powers in international affairs, as foreign and security policy matters are affairs of the Realm.

12. (1) Naalakkersuisut may, on behalf of the Realm, negotiate and conclude agreements under international law with foreign states and international organisations, including administrative agreements which exclusively concern Greenland and entirely relate to fields of responsibility taken over.

(2) Agreements under international law which exclusively concern Greenland and the Faroe Islands and entirely relate to fields of responsibility taken over may, subject to decision by Naalakkersuisut as well as the Faroe Islands Landsstyre [Government of the Faroes], be negotiated and concluded jointly on behalf of the Realm by Naalakkersuisut and the Faroe Islands Landsstyre.

(3) Agreements under international law concluded pursuant to subsection (1) or subsection (2) may be terminated according to the same provisions.

(4) Agreements under international law affecting the defence and security policy as well as agreements under international law which are to apply to Denmark, or which are negotiated within an international organisation of which the Kingdom of Denmark is a member shall be negotiated and concluded according to the rules laid down in section 13.

(5) Naalakkersuisut shall inform the Government of negotiations under consideration before these are initiated and of the development of the negotiations before agreements under international law are concluded or terminated. A more detailed framework for the cooperation in accordance with this provision shall be determined after negotiation between Naalakkersuisut and the Government.

(6) Agreements under international law pursuant to subsection (1) shall be concluded on behalf of the Realm by Naalakkersuisut under the designation of:

a) The Kingdom of Denmark in respect of Greenland where the agreement appears as concluded between states.

b) Naalakkersuisut where the agreement appears as concluded between governments or between administrative authorities. In that case, reference shall be made in the preamble of the agreement to the present Act as specified pursuant to subsection (8).

(7) Agreements under international law pursuant to subsection (2) shall be concluded jointly on behalf of the Realm by Naalakkersuisut and the Faroe Islands Landsstyre under the designation of the Kingdom of Denmark in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

(8) More detailed rules for the use of designations referred to in subsections (6) and (7) as well as other similar designations may be determined in accordance with subsection (5).

13. (1) The Government shall inform Naalakkersuisut before negotiations are initiated regarding agreements under international law which are of particular importance to Greenland. Subject to request by Naalakkersuisut, an agreement may be concluded with the Minister concerned who shall lay down detailed cooperation rules within the framework of this provision, including a detailed determination of criteria for when agreements shall be deemed to be of particular importance to Greenland.

(2) In matters which exclusively concern Greenland, the Government may authorise Naalakkersuisut to conduct the negotiations, with the cooperation of the Foreign Service.

(3) Agreements where Denmark and Greenland have been jointly involved in the negotiations shall be signed by the Government, to the widest extent possible, together with Naalakkersuisut.

(4) Agreements under international law which are of particular importance to Greenland must, before they are concluded or terminated, be submitted to Naalakkersuisut for comments. If the Government deems it necessary to conclude the agreement without the consent of Naalakkersuisut, this shall, to the widest extent possible, have no effect for Greenland.

14. Where international organisations allow entities other than states and associations of states to attain membership in their own name, the Government may, subject to request by Naalakkersuisut, decide to submit or support such an application from Greenland where this is consistent with the constitutional status of Greenland.

15. As requested by Naalakkersuisut, representatives of Naalakkersuisut shall be appointed to the diplomatic missions of the Kingdom of Denmark to attend to Greenland interests within fields of responsibility that have been entirely assumed by the Self-Government authorities. The Government may determine that expenditure to this end shall be borne by Naalakkersuisut.

Dispute Resolution (Chapter 6)

19. (1) Should any question of doubt arise between the Greenland Self-Government authorities and the central authorities of the Realm concerning the Self-Government authorities’ responsibility in relation to the central authorities, the Government or Naalakkersuisut may decide to lay the question before a board consisting of two members nominated by the Danish Government, two members nominated by Naalakkersuisut, and three judges of the Supreme Court nominated by its President, one of whom shall be nominated as chairman.

(2) If the four members nominated by the Government and Naalakkersuisut reach agreement, the question shall be considered settled. If these four fail to reach agreement, the question shall be decided by the three Supreme Court judges.

(3) The board may decide to suspend the enactment or decision which has been placed before the board until such time as the board’s decision is taken.

20. Greenlandic shall be the official language in Greenland.

Greenland’s access to Independence

21. (1) Decision regarding Greenland’s independence shall be taken by the people of Greenland.

(2) If decision is taken pursuant to subsection (1), negotiations shall commence between the Government and Naalakkersuisut with a view to the introduction of independence for Greenland.

(3) An agreement between Naalakkersuisut and the Government regarding the introduction of independence for Greenland shall be included with the consent of Inatsisartut and shall be endorsed by a referendum in Greenland. The agreement shall, furthermore, be concluded with the consent of the Folketing.

(4) Independence for Greenland shall imply that Greenland assumes sovereignty over the Greenland territory.”

Greenland receives an annual subsidy of £400 million from Denmark. Its Premier, Kim Kielsen, ticked off U.S. President Donald Trump ( The Hindu , August 22).