Russian-Danish Students Conference in Copenhagen. November – December 2018. Bjørnø Irina
to the plan of the legislators, the powers of group A transferred to the Faroes at once; however, if the latter were not able to finance all expenses for the adoption and implementation of a particular sphere, then they were transferred to the authorities of the Faroe Islands later to their application. Among the issues mentioned there were the following:
– organization of elections to the Parliament of the Faroe Islands;
– organization of work of the Parliament of the Faroe Islands;
– the formation and organization of the work of the government of the Faroe Islands;
– the functioning of the service in the bodies of autonomy;
– organization of municipal government;
– organization of public works;
– fire and rescue services;
– local development planning;
– housing policy and registration of property rights;
– organization of health care;
– social insurance, social assistance and guardianship;
– labour organization;
– local taxation and budgeting;
– education, including higher education;
– organization of archival, museum, library business;
– protection of the natural and architectural environment;
– a system of transport and communications, including postal and telephone communication;
– all issues of agriculture and forestry, hunting and fishing, veterinary affairs;
– use of toxic items, explosives and weapons;
– organization and licensing of the sphere of trade, production and services.
Issues of category B included areas that could be delegated to the authorities of the Faroe Islands in whole or in part only after the relevant consent of the Government of Denmark. In fact, all the public issues on which during the negotiations in 1948 the delegation of the Faroe Islands did not find their consent with the state authorities and entered the list B. At the time of the adoption of the Act of Autonomy of the Faroe Islands, they were:
– church affairs;
– police;
– radio communication;
– aviation communication;
– use of subsoil and other natural resources;
– land fund;
– Immigration and customs control.
Currently, all issues from this list are under the authority of the autonomy, although the transfer was of a lengthy nature. In particular, the use of subsoil and other natural resources transferred to the Faroe Islands only in 1992. Calling for this numerous conflicts between the central government and autonomous bodies, and the issue of immigration control – in 2005 [6].
Located in the Northeast Atlantic, the Faroe Islands comprise 18 small islands, characterized by steep cliffs, tall mountains, narrow fjords – and a population of 50.000.
The Faroese language derives from Old Norse, which was spoken by the Norsemen who settled the islands 1200 years ago.
Through the centuries, the Faroese have defied the harsh nature and living conditions. Enduring today is a nation in which the living standard is one of the highest in the world. A highly industrial economy mainly based on fisheries and aquaculture continues to flourish, while a Nordic welfare model ensures everyone the opportunity to explore his or her own potential. Faroese maritime expertise is widely renowned and the Faroe Islands export seafood to all six continents.
Centuries of relative isolation have resulted in the preservation of ancient traditions that to this day shape life in the Faroe Islands. The unique mixture of traditional and modern culture characterizes the Faroese society, constituting a strong sense of local community and an active outlook as a globalized Nordic nation [10]. Of great importance to them is the realization of their identity, which is realizing through the recognition and preservation of Faroese language, as the main tool in understanding this identity.
In the institutional model of the Faroese autonomy, the principle of separation of powers is laid. The executive functions are concentrated in the government, to which all the administrative autonomy bodies subordinated. The Government of the Faroe Islands consists of a Prime Minister and at least two ministers. The Prime Minister determines the number of ministers and their functional orientation.
The prime minister is the key person in the political mechanism for the autonomy of the Faroe Islands. The Prime Minister is appointed by the Parliament.
The result of the broad competence of the Faroe Islands in various spheres of public life was the formation of its financial autonomy. In accordance with the current legislation, the Faroes have their own currency, customs, tax and excise territory. This allows them not only to form own customs tariff and carry out independent taxation as well as the collection of excises, but also to issue own currency – Faroese krone, which is equated to the Danish krone.
The main source of income for the Faroe Islands is the tax and value added tax. In addition, a significant portion of the budget generated by licenses granted to foreign companies to fish in the economic zone of the Faroe Islands. In order to attract foreign investment, unlike Denmark, there is no property tax on the islands. In 2010, the budget of the Faroe Islands was about $ 600 million.
The main link representing the central government of Denmark at the level of autonomy is the institution of the High Commissioner of the Royal Power. It obeys the Prime Minister of Denmark and performs almost exclusively an observational function. In particular, it participates in a meeting of the Faroese Parliament with the right to speak, is involved in negotiations between the governments of the Faroe Islands and Denmark and informs the Government of Denmark about the adoption by the Parliament of the Faroe Islands of laws and government acts. The High Commissioner also provides elections to the Danish Parliament and nationwide referendums in the Faroe Islands, participates in arranging visits to the Faroe Islands of the royal family, members of the Danish parliament and government, and prepares annual reports on the situation in the autonomy.
According to the Act on the Self-Government of the Faroe Islands, the responsibility for international relations lies with the central government of Denmark. International treaties concluded by Denmark without reservation for the Faroe Islands, automatically extend their effect to the Faroe Islands. What often becomes another reason for separatist sentiment? In particular, the signing of Denmark in 1994. The World Trade Organization Agreement provides that the Faeroes, as an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark, enjoy the rights and responsibilities that apply to Denmark as a whole. As a result, the norms of the WTO agreement incorporated into the domestic legislation of the Faroe Islands. On the other hand, the Danish government, when signing relevant international agreements, may provide for reservations about the Faroe Islands. Thus, upon Denmark’s accession to the European Union in 1973, the relevant accession agreement contained a special warning on the Faroe Islands, which were the result of a referendum held in 1972 on the Faeroes. Because of this, the Faroese autonomy is not part of the EU and is not covered by it, for example, the EU quota system for fishing. Faroes independently conclude agreements on fishing quotas within their exclusive economic zone [9].
Under such conditions, the basic guarantees of the existence of the autonomy of the Faroe Islands are in the political sphere. The political and legal regime of the Kingdom of Denmark, based on the principles of separation of powers, the division of issues of local and national importance, democracy, political and ideological diversity, the completeness and guarantee of basic human rights and freedoms, the independence