Rigsfællesskabet
Encyclopedia
Rigsfællesskabet is a semi-official Danish
term for the relations between continental Denmark
and its two self-governing insular
regions, the Faroe Islands
and Greenland
, which collectively make up the Kingdom of Denmark
.
, introduced in 1948 and 1979 respectively. Greenland's powers of self-government were increased in 2009, through the Greenland Self-Rule Act, while the Faroe Islands have gradually taken control of more and more areas according to their Home Rule Act. The Constitution of Denmark
of 1953 is that of a unitary state
and applies to all three regions, and the home rule and self-rule agreements are not enshrined in the constitution. Both the Faroe Islands and Greenland manage most of their own internal affairs. They may also conclude international agreements on behalf of the Danish realm, if these concern only their own part of the realm. One of the results of this arrangement is that Denmark is a member of the European Union
while both Greenland and the Faroe Islands have opted to remain outside of the EU. The relations should not be confused with a federation
or an association like the Commonwealth of Nations
. It is one state with two self-governing areas, and as such it can be referred to as a federacy
. The Faroe Islands and Greenland are represented with two seats each in the Folketing, the Danish parliament.
were undertaken by Denmark exclusively on behalf of all three regions, but more recently, both regions have increased their role in the foreign policy. The Faroe Islands
and Greenland
have become more autonomous players and they have joint influence on foreign policy issues that relate to their national interests, such as geopolitical topics and commercial fishing. However, the regions still are, in an international-community context, under Danish administration, where The Faroe Islands and Greenland have joined the different Danish delegations at the table of the international community.
The Faroe Islands and Greenland have membership in the Nordic Council
. They have become more integrated with the European Union
, but neither country is a member. Greenland had to follow Denmark into the EU in 1973, but opted to leave in 1985 after Greenlandic home rule was introduced in 1979, this being the only country to ever leave the EU. Greenland and the Faroes are only semi-members in the United Nations
, NATO, OECD and the World Trade Organization
, because Denmark represents the Rigsfællesskab. Denmark have in the last years increased the involvement of the Faroese and Greenlandic governments in international affairs, for example Greenland was included in the process of a new treaty between Denmark and the US regarding the Thule Air Base
in northwest Greenland.
Danish language
Danish is a North Germanic language spoken by around six million people, principally in the country of Denmark. It is also spoken by 50,000 Germans of Danish ethnicity in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where it holds the status of minority language...
term for the relations between continental Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and its two self-governing insular
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
regions, the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
and Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
, which collectively make up the Kingdom of Denmark
Kingdom of Denmark
The Kingdom of Denmark or the Danish Realm , is a constitutional monarchy and sovereign state consisting of Denmark proper in northern Europe and two autonomous constituent countries, the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic and Greenland in North America. Denmark is the hegemonial part, where the...
.
Legal status
Both the Faroe Islands and Greenland enjoy far-reaching home ruleHome rule
Home rule is the power of a constituent part of a state to exercise such of the state's powers of governance within its own administrative area that have been devolved to it by the central government....
, introduced in 1948 and 1979 respectively. Greenland's powers of self-government were increased in 2009, through the Greenland Self-Rule Act, while the Faroe Islands have gradually taken control of more and more areas according to their Home Rule Act. The Constitution of Denmark
Constitution of Denmark
The Constitutional Act of Denmark is the Kingdom of Denmark's constitution, or fundamental law. Originally verified in 1849, the last revision was signed on 5 June 1953 as "the existing law, for all to unswerving comply with, the Constitutional Act of Denmark".-Idea and structure:The main...
of 1953 is that of a unitary state
Unitary state
A unitary state is a state governed as one single unit in which the central government is supreme and any administrative divisions exercise only powers that their central government chooses to delegate...
and applies to all three regions, and the home rule and self-rule agreements are not enshrined in the constitution. Both the Faroe Islands and Greenland manage most of their own internal affairs. They may also conclude international agreements on behalf of the Danish realm, if these concern only their own part of the realm. One of the results of this arrangement is that Denmark is a member of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
while both Greenland and the Faroe Islands have opted to remain outside of the EU. The relations should not be confused with a federation
Federation
A federation , also known as a federal state, is a type of sovereign state characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central government...
or an association like the Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
. It is one state with two self-governing areas, and as such it can be referred to as a federacy
Federacy
A federacy is a form of government where one or several substate units enjoy considerably more independence than the majority of the substate units. To some extent, such an arrangement can be considered as similar to asymmetric federalism.-Description:...
. The Faroe Islands and Greenland are represented with two seats each in the Folketing, the Danish parliament.
The international community
Previously, most foreign relationsForeign relations of Denmark
Danish foreign policy is based on its identity as a sovereign nation in Europe. As such its primary foreign policy focus is on its relations with other nations as a sovereign independent nation. Denmark has long had good relations with other nations....
were undertaken by Denmark exclusively on behalf of all three regions, but more recently, both regions have increased their role in the foreign policy. The Faroe Islands
Politics of the Faroe Islands
Politics of the Faroe Islands takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency, whereby the Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. The Faroe Islands are politically associated with the Kingdom of Denmark, but...
and Greenland
Politics of Greenland
Politics of Greenland takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic Danish dependency, whereby the Prime Minister is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Greenland is a self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979. Executive power...
have become more autonomous players and they have joint influence on foreign policy issues that relate to their national interests, such as geopolitical topics and commercial fishing. However, the regions still are, in an international-community context, under Danish administration, where The Faroe Islands and Greenland have joined the different Danish delegations at the table of the international community.
The Faroe Islands and Greenland have membership in the Nordic Council
Nordic Council
The Nordic Council is a geo-political, inter-parliamentary forum for co-operation between the Nordic countries. It was established following World War II and its first concrete result was the introduction in 1952 of a common labour market and free movement across borders without passports for the...
. They have become more integrated with the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, but neither country is a member. Greenland had to follow Denmark into the EU in 1973, but opted to leave in 1985 after Greenlandic home rule was introduced in 1979, this being the only country to ever leave the EU. Greenland and the Faroes are only semi-members in the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, NATO, OECD and the World Trade Organization
World Trade Organization
The World Trade Organization is an organization that intends to supervise and liberalize international trade. The organization officially commenced on January 1, 1995 under the Marrakech Agreement, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade , which commenced in 1948...
, because Denmark represents the Rigsfællesskab. Denmark have in the last years increased the involvement of the Faroese and Greenlandic governments in international affairs, for example Greenland was included in the process of a new treaty between Denmark and the US regarding the Thule Air Base
Thule Air Base
Thule Air Base or Thule Air Base/Pituffik Airport , is the United States Air Force's northernmost base, located north of the Arctic Circle and from the North Pole on the northwest side of the island of Greenland. It is approximately east of the North Magnetic Pole.-Overview:Thule Air Base is the...
in northwest Greenland.
Population and area
| Country | Population | % | Area (km²) | % | Density (Pop per km²) |
 Denmark |
5,519,441 | 98,1% | 43,094 | 1,98% | 128 |
 Faroe Islands |
49,006 | 0,9% | 1,399 | 0,06% | 34 |
 Greenland |
57,564 | 1,0% | 2,175,600 | 97,96% | 0.026 |
See also
- DenmarkDenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
- GreenlandGreenlandGreenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
- Faroe IslandsFaroe IslandsThe Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
- Kingdom of IcelandKingdom of IcelandThe Kingdom of Iceland was a constitutional monarchy lasting from 1 December 1918 until 17 June 1944, when the republic was proclaimed.- Origins in Danish rule :...
, a part of the Danish state with home rule 1874-1918, and an independent state in personal unionPersonal unionA personal union is the combination by which two or more different states have the same monarch while their boundaries, their laws and their interests remain distinct. It should not be confused with a federation which is internationally considered a single state...
with Denmark 1918-1944