The Greenland Self-

Government Arrangement
On 21 June 2009, the Act on Greenland
Self-Government (Self-Government Act)
came into force. This self-government
arrangement for Greenland thereby
replaces the Greenland Home Rule
Arrangement that was established in
1979. The Self-Government Act is based
on White Paper No. 1497 that was
drawn up by the Greenlandic-Danish
Self-Government Commission in 2008.
The White Paper is accessible at
www.nanoq.gl.
Together with the Danish Constitution,
the Self-Government Act constitutes
Greenland’s constitutional position in
the Unity of the Realm. Two members of
the Folketing (Danish Parliament) are
elected in Greenland, cf. the Danish
Constitution.
Prior to the entry into force of the Self-
Government Act, a guiding referendum
was held in Greenland on 25 November
2008. Of the votes cast, 75.5 per cent
were for and 23.6 per cent were against
the introduction of self-government.
In the preamble to the Self-Government
Act, it is recognised that the people of
Greenland are a people with right to
self-determination under international
law. Accordingly, the Act is based on an
agreement between the Greenland
Government and the Danish
Government as equal partners.
A principal objective of introducing self-
government has been to facilitate the
transfer of additional authority and thus
responsibility to Greenlandic authorities
in fields where this is constitutionally
possible and based on the principle of
accordance between rights and
obligations.
The Greenland Self-Government
authorities comprise a democratically
elected assembly – Inatsisartut
(Greenland Parliament) – as well as an
administration led by Naalakkersuisut
(Greenland Government). The Self-
Government Act does not contain
specific rules and regulations regarding
the composition, etc. of these bodies,
but has left it up to the Self-
Government authorities to lay down
provisions in this regard. In the Self-
Government Act, the Greenlandic terms
for Parliament and Government are
used.
In the Self-Government Act, the
Greenlandic language is recognised as
the official language in Greenland.
Danish may still be used in official
matters, cf. Greenland Parliament Act
on case handling procedures in public
administration. The question of
educational instruction in Danish is not
governed by the Self-Government Act,
but it is assumed that the Self-
Government authorities must ensure
provision of education in Danish and
other relevant languages that would
enable Greenlandic youth to pursue
further education in Denmark and other
countries.
On 7 October 2009 Denmark submitted
a notification on the Act on Greenland
Self-Government to the Secretary-
General of The United Nations.