Greenland’s Prime Minister: Equality in Nordic Cooperation is a Matter of Political Will

In March, the Nordic governments appointed a commission to revise the Helsinki Treaty, the ‘constitution’ of Nordic cooperation. 

Specifically, the commission was tasked with drawing up a proposal for a new treaty text so that Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Åland can participate on equal terms in the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers.

The commission was due to present its proposal in time for it to be considered during the Nordic Council session in Helsinki this week, but failed to meet the deadline.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen (D) is frustrated that the update to the Helsinki Treaty is taking so long. Members of the Nordic Council recommended renewing the treaty back in 2024.

"There is nothing in constitutional law preventing Greenland from participating in the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers as a party to the treaty. Equality in Nordic cooperation therefore depends on political will from all the countries in this room," he says from the podium in Helsinki.

"Since the commission apparently cannot arrive at a solution, it must be replaced by a more political process. If there is no willingness to continue the work towards full equality, I cannot guarantee that there is political support in Greenland for us to remain in the Nordic Council of Ministers," Nielsen maintains.

Wants a clear answer

A solution must be found before the end of the year, Nielsen stresses. The Faroese Prime Minister Beinir Johannesen (Fólkaflokkurin) is also calling for swift progress.

"We support the commission completing its work and presenting its final report, but the process must be concluded, preferably this year," Johannesen says, continuing:

"At some point, the analyses have been written, the arguments are known, the legal issue has been clarified, and then we politicians are left with the part of the work that we cannot delegate to lawyers, civil servants or commissions."

"So let me put the question as clearly as I can: Do you want to amend the Helsinki Treaty so that the Faroe Islands can participate as an equal country in Nordic cooperation? We can deal with a yes; we can also deal with a no. What is becoming increasingly difficult to deal with is not receiving a clear answer."

"The question is political, but also legal"

One reason why the process of updating the Helsinki Treaty has taken so long is that Åland's role is legally more complicated to assess than that of the Faroe Islands and Greenland, and that work on reforming the Autonomy Act for Åland has stalled.

"Finland understands the concerns of Greenland and the Faroe Islands in the current world situation, as well as their hopes and objectives. We want to find a solution that strengthens their position and is fair to Åland. We will continue to work purposefully and find a final solution as soon as possible," says Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (National Coalition Party).

"The question is, of course, political, but it is also legal. There is political will. The legal challenges are primarily linked to the Finnish Constitution and Åland's long-standing status, and the commission's task is to find solutions to these challenges. It can be said aloud: where there is a will, there is also a way," Orpo underlines.  

Solution-oriented

Iceland has long been very positive about fulfilling Greenland and the Faroe Islands' wish to act as independent countries in formal Nordic cooperation.

Speaking from the podium in Helsinki, Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir (Social Democratic Alliance) expresses understanding for Greenlandic and Faroese frustration:

"I fully understand that there is dissatisfaction that this has taken so long. Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Åland are in different positions in their relations with Denmark and Finland. I believe we can find a solution that meets the needs of Greenlanders and Faroese people, while also respecting the situation in which Åland and Finland find themselves. Iceland will push for this, and I strongly believe that we can settle this matter within a few months."

Norway is also prepared to find a solution, says Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Labor).

“We have a commission carrying out work. I am listening to my friends from the Faroe Islands and Greenland, whom I regard as an integral part of the Nordic region. I acknowledge the Icelandic Prime Minister’s point that this is a difficult issue, with certain questions relating to Åland, the constitution and Finland. We must therefore find a solution on that basis,” he maintains. 

In 2027, Norway will assume the presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers with a program entitled ‘Standing together in the face of uncertainty'.