Home Rule in Greenland

Abstract

By Danish Act of 29 November, 1978, Home Rule was established in Greenland within the Unity of the Danish Realm. The Act was prepared by a Danish-Greenlandic Commission.
The Act on Home Rule is discussed with special reference to the historical and political background.
By the establishing of Home Rule, powers which hitherto had been vested in the Danish Government and Parliament were transferred to the Greenlandic authorities. The scope of these powers and their legal characteristics are outlined. Home Rule makes no changes in the international competence or in the relationship between Greenland and the international or interregional organizations.
Greenland's membership of the EEC creates some special problems.
The question of ownership of the natural resources was of great importance in the debate in the Home Rule Commission. The Act contains a solution which seeks to give the Danish Government as well as the Greenlanders equal rights in the decision-making procedure, in the administration, and in the sharing of the revenue.
Furthermore, the financing of the Home Rule system, the language problem, the organizing of fishing and trade are being dealt with.