Treaty amending, with regard to Greenland, the Treaties establishing the European Communities | |
---|---|
Signed | 13 March 1984 |
Location | Brussels |
Effective | 1 February 1985 |
Signatories | 10 |
Depositary | Government of the Italian Republic |
Languages | All 8 official Languages of the European Communities |
Full text | |
Greenland Treaty at Wikisource |
After being a part of the European Communities (EC) for twelve years, Greenland withdrew in 1985. It had joined the EC in 1973 as a county of Denmark, even though a majority in Greenland was against joining. In a consultative referendum in 1982, 53% of the electorate of Greenland voted to withdraw from the Communities. [1] This latter referendum became possible after the introduction of home rule in Greenland in 1979. Following its withdrawal, which was regulated through the Greenland Treaty, the relationship between Greenland and the EC was partly settled through an association under Overseas Countries and territories (OCT) status. [2] In recent years, the Greenlandic withdrawal from the European Communities has marginally been referred to as "Greenxit". [3] [4]
Greenland's colonial status from Denmark officially ended in 1953 through an amendment of the Danish Constitution. [5] Subsequently, Greenland was integrated as a county in the Realm of Denmark and thus became an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark. [6] This status granted Greenlanders the Danish citizenship. At the same time, despite the official end of colonialism, Denmark continued to follow a policy of cultural assimilation [7] including discriminatory practices [8] towards Greenlanders. A prominent example is the ‘birthplace criterion’, which granted non-Greenlandic, but Danish workers higher salaries than local Greenlandic workers. [9] The loss of the traditional culture of Greenland together with the growing dissatisfaction of mainly young Greenlanders ultimately played a decisive role when it came to the question of Greenland's independence movement, both from Denmark and the European Communities. [10]
In the years following its decolonization, Greenland's economy continued to be very dependent on the fishing sector. [11] Denmark was directly involved in the establishment of a real fishing industry including manufacturing of fishing products. [6] Despite various attempts, other sectors of the economy did not develop much during that time.
As a County of the Kingdom of Denmark, the foreign relations of Greenland as well as the governance of the island remained under control of Denmark. [9]
Denmark formally submitted its application to join the European Communities, on 10 August 1961. [12] As a Constituency of Denmark, Greenland was fully integrated in the Danish accession process. When negotiating its accession, the Danish government managed to secure a number of concessions and special conditions for Greenland. These included amongst other provisions a transition period of ten years in order to protect the fishing industry of Greenland. [13] In addition, these concessions directly referred to subject areas that were considered sensitive or problematic for Greenland. On the one hand, Denmark was granted the possibility to restrict the right of establishment in Greenland and on the other hand Greenland received exceptions with regards to fisheries. [14] However, even though Greenlandic fisherman were allocated a fairly high quota corresponding to their actual fishing capacity, there was a strong discontentment with the fishing quotas that were allocated to fishermen from other EC countries, such as Germany. This later developed into one of the main reasons for Greenland's withdrawal from the community.
On 2 October 1972, the Danish government submitted the question of accession to the European Communities to its electorate. The inhabitants of Greenland were also called to the polls.
While at Danish national level, 63.5% of the voters voted in favour of joining the Communities, in Greenland, however, the referendum resulted in a clear rejection of the EC by 70.8% of the voters. The clear rejection of the EC membership by the voters of Greenland was not only interpreted as a clear voice against the European Communities, but also as a strong rejection of the dominance of any foreign power. [15] Nevertheless, despite the clear rejection in Greenland, the island joined the European Communities as part of Denmark on 1 January 1973.
In this regard, the Greenlandic case differed from the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands attained home rule status in 1948, which, according to Danish legislation, allowed them not to be part of the Danish vote on the EC question. The Faroe Islands wished to stay outside the European Communities and, thus, never joined them. [16]
Denmark's accession to the European Communities on 1 January 1973 [17] also entailed the access to Community funds, which were substantial for Greenland. In addition to investments in infrastructure projects, a considerable amount of Community funding including from the European Investment Bank went into areas unrelated to fisheries, such as education, enterprises or projects in the field of energy resources. [6] [11] In comparison with other EC regions in need, Greenland received by large the biggest amount per capita, of which some of the amounts were compensation for EC fishing rights in Greenland waters and loans. [18]
Finally, with its accession to the Communities, Denmark reserved one of its seats in the European Parliament to a person from Greenland, and allowed an observer from Greenland to accompany the Danish Council member. [18]
Despite these concessions and positive rights granted to Greenland, there remained a strong opposition in Greenland against the EC membership. It was characterized by a sentiment that its entry into the European Communities was forced by a majority of Danish voters and at the same time by a strong reluctance vis-à-vis the Community due to its fishery policy and general perception of the EC being too far away and not attentive towards Greenland's concerns and desires. [19]
Until the 1970s Greenland was solely governed by the Danish state. The decolonization process was administered through top-down decisions, which were agreed in the capital and implemented in Greenland by a small Danish bourgeoisie. The Danish State retained control over economic as well as social policy questions. It was only in the 1970s, that a real Greenlandic young elite arose. This elite, frustrated about the Danish domination, [20] was at the same time critical and outspoken against the Danish governance, and gradually took up political leadership. [21] During this period, an increased ethnic consciousness on the one hand and a political awareness of their country on the other hand emerged among the Greenlanders. This led to a political awakening through which the Greenlandic population became more determined about shaping the future of their own society. [15]
The first EC referendum in 1972 constituted a key moment and turning point in the political history of Greenland. As a reaction towards the strongly voiced criticism over the Danish dominance, a Home-Rule Committee consisting of only Greenlandic members was set up in 1973 with the mission to propose preliminary guidelines for a possible system of home rule for Greenland. The concrete formulation of a home rule system was subsequently addressed by a Danish-Greenland Home-Rule Commission in 1975. [22]
These political developments in the early 1970s also resulted in the creation of the first political parties in Greenland. [25] Within a short time, a diverse party landscape has emerged. The Siumut party (meaning “Forward”) was the first and since the very beginning most powerful party. Founded in 1975, it strongly advocated for self-governance, the introduction of home rule and the withdrawal from the European Communities. [26] The second party to enter the political scene shortly thereafter was Atassut (“the Connecting Link”), which also favoured home rule for Greenland but opted for a unified approach towards Denmark and preferred to maintain the status quo, i.e. to remain in the Kingdom of Denmark. The third, but by far smallest political party at that time, was Inuit Ataqatigiit (“Human/Inuit Brotherhood”). It followed the most radical line of national self-determination and called for complete independence on Greenland. [25] [26] [27] [28]
Ultimately, on 17 January 1979, the Home Rule Act was submitted to Greenlandic voters and adopted with a majority of 70.1% of the votes cast. Home rule, which was consequently introduced on 1 May 1979, set the basis for the future autonomy of Greenland over a vast number of topics including economic and social development as well as the establishment of own political structures including the Inatsisartut , a legislative assembly, and the Naalakkersuisut , a home rule government. [29] [30] At the first elections of the Inatsisartut and Naalakkersuisut in 1979, Siumut won a majority in both the legislative and executive of Greenland. [6] [31]
While home rule implied that Greenland still remained part of the Danish Kingdom, it gave the right to Greenland to renegotiate its relationship with the European Communities. [32]
The introduction of Home Rule in 1979, the rise of Siumut as the dominating party of Greenland following an anti-EC narrative, as well as the imminent end of the 10 years transition period as EC member gave a new impetus to the question over Greenland's remaining or possible withdrawal from the European Communities. [33] In Spring 1981, the Greenlandic Inatsisartut unanimously agreed to hold a second, consultative referendum on the Community question in February 1982. [13]
For Siumut, which strongly campaigned in favour of withdrawing from the EC, exit was seen as a natural and important first step after the introduction of home rule for Greenland to shape its future. Siumut was supported by Inuit Ataqatigiit. Both argued that the EC membership constituted a threat to Greenland's political and cultural identity and they demanded that control over the Greenlandic fishing industry be regained from the EC bodies. [33]
Atassut on the other hand also called for an end of the exploitation of Greenland's fisheries by the European Communities, but was against Greenland leaving the EC. The party suggested to renegotiate with the Community its membership provisions on fishing and argued that only a close cooperation with the countries of the European Communities allows Greenland to successfully complete its process of modernization. Atassut strongly emphasized in its arguments for remain the financial losses a withdrawal from the European Communities would bring about, as this would ultimately end the large EC funding. [33]
Overall, the campaign surrounding the second EC referendum in 1981 and early 1982 was not only lengthy and expensive, but also unusually harsh and bitter by Greenlandic standards, which was echoed in an atmosphere of anger and disappointment among Greenlanders. [33] The arguments used by both supporters and opponents were mainly economic. The leavers called for an independent fisheries policy, whereas the remainers recalled the importance of the EC funding for the development of the Greenlandic economy. [13]
The referendum on Greenland's staying in or withdrawal from the European Communities took place on 23 February 1982. Although under the Danish Constitution only a consultative referendum was possible, [34] the Danish government has made it clear prior to the vote cast that they would accept a withdrawal vote as a binding negotiating mandate vis-à-vis the EC. [35]
At this second EC referendum within ten years, 52% of the Greenlandic electorate voted for a withdrawal from the European Communities. The turnout at this vote cast was historically high with 74.9%. [33]
Various reasons were put forward after the vote to explain the result. First and foremost, the general aversion of the population to the EC played a crucial role. The EC were seen as far-away, supranational institutions, which not only showed little consideration of Greenland's interests but in some instances actively overruled them - giving echoes of colonial times. Other causes put forward include the sensitivity among the Greenlandic population over issues concerning fisheries and the independent control over their raw materials, which were both considered to be threatened through the EC membership. Finally, the introduction of home rule less than three years before the referendum and, linked to this, the increased perception of political ownership in Greenland are additional reasons which can explain the outcome of the 1982 vote. [36]
However, as compared to the 1972 referendum, the results of the 1982 vote show that despite these factors, the popularity of the European Communities had nonetheless risen considerably in the 10 years of membership. While in 1972 more than 70% were against EC membership, in 1982 the majority shrank to 52%. [33]
Overall, according to scholars such as Johanson and Lehmann Sørensen, the outcome of the referendum revealed that Greenlanders were ready to pay the price of withdrawal, which implied not only the loss of the financial support coming from the Communities as a member but in the long run might also result in a "slower pace of development". [31]
Regarding the reactions to the 1982 referendum, the Danish government declared its full support in the negotiations over Greenland's withdrawal. [35] However, it also made clear that the Danish treasury would not give any kind of compensation payments for the loss of EC subsidies. [37]
Already one year before the referendum vote on a possible Greenlandic withdrawal from the European Communities, the question of the options for future EU-Greenland relations was discussed in Greenland. The options on the table included on the one hand a status similar to the one of the Faroe Islands and on the other hand OCT status. [38] OCT status was a special arrangement, created under the Rome Treaty (Articles 131–136) [39] in 1957 for overseas countries and territories of EC member states. In August 1981, the government of Greenland, the Naalakkersuisut, declared that it would opt for an OCT status. This guaranteed a “certain degree of economic integration into the common market” and most importantly “tariff-free access to the Common Market for export of fish and fish products”. [38] Additionally, through the OCT status the territories and countries concerned could benefit from the special financial aids and loans granted through the European Development Fund and the European Investment Bank. Overall, in terms of capital and trade, the OCT status was thus considered more advantageous for Greenland than Faroe Status. [38]
Since the Danish government had already declared before the Greenland referendum that it would accept the result as a definitive outcome, the Greenlandic government's request to launch its EC withdrawal negotiations was mainly a formality. However, on the basis of the EC treaties, it was still the Government of Denmark which was officially leading the negotiations for the withdrawal and not the Greenlandic government itself. [40] [35] In May 1982, the Danish government submitted to the Council a proposal in form of a draft treaty which was envisaged to amend the Rome Treaty in order for Greenland to exit the Communities and to obtain OCT status. [41] However, it is important to emphasize that at that time there was no treaty provision for withdrawal from the European Communities. [42] Without the willingness of the member states of the Community to react to the “withdrawal notice” and to engage in negotiations, the whole withdrawal process could potentially have been abandoned at that point. [35] However, in February 1983, the Commission responded with a favourable opinion [41] on Greenland's withdrawal from the EC and its request of OCT status “with certain specific provisions”. [43] Whereas, it is put forward that the EC “had hardly any other choice than to agree to negotiations”, the position regarding future EU-Greenland relations and most particularly OCT status was not uncontroversial at the time. [44]
When the Irish Commissioner, Richard Burke, visited a number of EC capitals in the end of 1982 and early 1983, in order to draft the Commission's opinion, [41] he “met widespread opposition against granting favourable OCT status to a withdrawing EC member”. [45] The main arguments voiced by EC member states against a beneficial OCT status without major commitments from the side of Greenland were that this would set a precedent for regions in other member states to request home rule or even autonomy and subsequently a withdrawal from the EC. Also the European Commission was relatively reluctant to create a precedent arguing that “exit should not benefit a country voluntarily asking to leave”. [13] The Danish government's counter-argument was that “Greenland should not benefit but should also not be punished for leaving”. [13] Furthermore, it also argued that Greenland should enjoy more leeway given the vital strategic role it assumed during the Cold War by hosting US bases. [13] Ultimately, it was recognised that the culture, geographic location, economic structure and many other features of Greenland were so distinct from other EC member states, that the 'precedent argument' did not apply. [46]
Regarding the position of Greenland on the withdrawal negotiations, it was emphasized that EC fishermen should not have unconditional access to Greenland fishing waters, but that they had to pay for licenses. Further, but less controversial, requests concerned the rights of establishment, underground resources and “Inuit circumpolar co-operation”. [45]
The final revision of the treaty and thereby the withdrawal conditions for Greenland from the European Communities were decided by the Council in Brussels on 13 March 1984. The so-called “Greenland Treaty” [47] comprised the following provisions:
Article 1 | Removal of Greenland from the Coal and Steel Agreements (ECSC) |
Article 2-4 | Definition of Greenland as an overseas territory associated with the EEC (OCT status) |
Article 5 | Removal of Greenland from EURATOM |
Article 6-7 | Provisions on ratification, entry into force and depository of the treaty |
The Additional Protocol on special arrangements for Greenland, [47] which was attached to the Greenland Treaty, included the following articles:
Article 1 | Exemptions of Greenland from export duties regarding fishery products under certain conditions |
Article 2 | Transition arrangements regarding rights of establishment and financial assistance |
Article 3 | Adding of Greenland to the list of OCTs |
Overall, the treaty granted Greenland to keep its financial contribution and fishing rights and to enjoy tariff free access of fishing products to the EU, provided that a satisfactory agreement was found on fisheries. [48] [49] The Treaty arranged for the exit of Greenland and amended earlier treaties of the European Communities. As such, it is an integral part of the constitutional basis of the European Union. [50] [51]
On 13 March 1984, the ten member states of the European Communities signed the Greenland Treaty. Following the ratification of the Treaty by the national parliaments of all EC member states, except for Greece, which ratified it by a joint decision of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and National Economy and Finance, [52] the Greenland Treaty entered into force on 1 February 1985, which also marks the formal date of withdrawal of Greenland from the European Communities. [47]
Three decades after Greenland's withdrawal from the European Communities, a minority of Greenlandic politicians and business leaders recently suggested that a re-entry of Greenland into the European Union should be considered. This could above all help to diversify Greenland's economy outside the fisheries sector. [53] Apart from a few isolated voices, this proposal has not been followed through in Greenlandic politics at the moment.
Iceland applied for membership of the EU in 2009, and hoped for an exception to the Common Fisheries Policy, which was not given[ citation needed ]. Such an exception could have changed the opinion in Greenland,[ citation needed ] if given to them.
Greenland is a North American island autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is the larger of two autonomous territories within the Kingdom, the other being the Faroe Islands; the citizens of both territories are full citizens of Denmark. As Greenland is one of the Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union, citizens of Greenland are European Union citizens. The capital and largest city of Greenland is Nuuk. Greenland lies between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. It is the world's largest island, and is the location of the northernmost point of land in the world – Kaffeklubben Island off the northern coast is the world's northernmost undisputed point of land, and Cape Morris Jesup on the mainland was thought to be so until the 1960s.
This is a demography of the population of Greenland including population density, ethnicity, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
The history of Greenland is a history of life under extreme Arctic conditions: currently, an ice sheet covers about eighty percent of the island, restricting human activity largely to the coasts. The first humans are thought to have arrived in Greenland around 2500 BCE. Their descendants apparently died out and were succeeded by several other groups migrating from continental North America. There has been no evidence discovered that Greenland was known to Norsemen until the ninth century CE, when Norse Icelandic explorers settled on its southwestern coast. The ancestors of the Greenlandic Inuit who live there today appear to have migrated there later, around the year 1200, from northwestern Greenland.
Nuuk is the capital of and most populous city in Greenland, an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark. Nuuk is the seat of government and the territory's largest cultural and economic center. The major cities from other countries closest to the capital are Iqaluit and St. John's in Canada and Reykjavík in Iceland. Nuuk contains a third of Greenland's population and its tallest building. Nuuk is also the seat of government for the Sermersooq municipality. In January 2024, it had a population of 19,872. Nuuk is considered a modernized city after the policy began in 1950.
Siumut is a political party in Greenland in the social democratic tradition. Since the establishment of home rule in 1979, it has been the dominant party in Greenland. Siumut is led by Erik Jensen, who beat the then-incumbent Prime Minister Kim Kielsen in a tight leadership contest in late 2020.
Skræling is the name the Norse Greenlanders used for the peoples they encountered in North America. In surviving sources, it is first applied to the Thule people, the proto-Inuit group with whom the Norse coexisted in Greenland after about the 13th century. In the sagas, it is also used for the peoples of the region known as Vinland whom the Norse encountered and fought during their expeditions there in the early 11th century.
Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark is one of the EU members’ overseas countries and territories (OCT) associated to the European Union. Greenland receives funding from the EU for sustainable development and has signed agreements increasing cooperation with the EU.
The Danish Realm, officially the Kingdom of Denmark, or simply Denmark, is a sovereign state and refers to the area over which the monarch of Denmark is head of state. It consists of metropolitan Denmark—the kingdom's territory in continental Europe and sometimes called "Denmark proper" —and the realm's two autonomous regions: the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic and Greenland in North America. The relationship between the three parts of the Kingdom is also known as The unity of the Realm.
A non-binding referendum on Greenland's autonomy was held on 25 November 2008 to support or oppose the Greenland Self-Government Act. It was passed with 75% approval and a 72% turnout. The non-binding referendum was on expanded home rule in 30 areas, including police, courts, and the coast guard; gave Greenland a say in foreign policy; provided a more definite split of future oil revenue; and made the Greenlandic language the sole official language.
A referendum on continued membership of the European Communities (EC) was held in Greenland on 23 February 1982.
The Greenlandic Inuit are the indigenous and most populous ethnic group in Greenland. Most speak Greenlandic and consider themselves ethnically Greenlandic. People of Greenland are both citizens of Denmark and citizens of the European Union.
Dr. Hinrich Johannes Rink was a Danish geologist, one of the pioneers of glaciology, and the first accurate describer of the inland ice of Greenland. Rink, who first came to Greenland in 1848, spent 16 winters and 22 summers in the Arctic region, and became notable for Greenland's development. Becoming a Greenlandic scholar and administrator, he served as Royal Inspector of South Greenland and went on to become Director of the Royal Greenland Trading Department. With "Forstanderskaber", Rink introduced the first steps towards Greelandic home rule.
Greenlandic independence is a political ambition of some political parties, advocacy groups, and individuals of Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, to become an independent sovereign state.
The Greenland Provincial Council was the provincial government of Greenland between 1950, when it was formed from the union of the earlier North and South Greenland Provincial Councils, and 1 May 1979, when it was replaced by the Greenland Home Rule Government and its Parliament.
Danish Greenlanders are ethnic Danes residing in Greenland and their descendants.
Greenlandic people in Denmark are residents of Denmark with Greenlandic or Greenlandic Inuit heritage. According to StatBank Greenland, as of 2020, there were 16,780 people born in Greenland living in Denmark, a figure representing almost one third of the population of Greenland. According to a 2007 Danish government report, there were 18,563 Greenlandic people living in Denmark. The exact number is difficult to calculate because of the lack of differentiation between Greenlandic and Danish heritage in Danish government records and also due to the fact that the way in which people identify themselves is not always a reflection of their birthplace. As of 2018, there were 2,507 Greenlanders enrolled in education in Denmark.
The County of Greenland was an amt (county) of Denmark, comprising Greenland and its associated islands, before home rule was granted to Greenland.
Elisabeth Johansen was a Greenlandic midwife and politician. She was the first certified midwife in the country, as well as the first woman to attain a political office in Greenland. She was the first women appointed Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog.
The Greenland Representation to the European Union in Brussels is the official representative office of Greenland to the European Union. The Greenland Representation to the European Union was established in 1992 in connection to the Royal Danish Embassy in Belgium. Greenland Representation to the European Union is located together with The Royal Danish Embassy, and the Mission of the Faroes to the European Union.
Human rights in the Kingdom of Denmark are protected by the state's Constitution of the Realm (Danmarks Riges Grundlov); applying equally in Denmark proper, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, and through the ratification of international human rights treaties. Denmark has held a significant role in the adoption of both the European Convention on Human Rights and in the establishment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). In 1987, the Kingdom Parliament (Folketinget) established a national human rights institution, the Danish Centre of Human Rights, now the Danish Institute for Human Rights.
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ignored (help)Greenlandic fishermen were allocated as much of the total allowable catch as they were able to catch.