The Faroe Islands are witnessing a renewed political push toward greater autonomy, with party leaders engaging in negotiations to expand the archipelago’s foreign policy powers. The move reflects growing dissatisfaction with the limitations of the current Home Rule Act of 1948, which many consider outdated.
Broad consensus on foreign policy authority
At the heart of the debate is the desire among most Faroese parties to gain the right to act independently in the international arena. According to Prime Minister (Lagmand) Aksel V. Johannesen of the Social Democratic party (Javnaðarflokkurin), there is “broad political agreement” on the islands that current arrangements no longer meet the needs of a modern Faroese society.
“It is necessary to change the framework so that we can be three self-governing countries in a strong community,” Johannesen stated, referring to the Kingdom of Denmark, which includes Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands.
The parties in the coalition government declared early in their term that they would initiate talks aimed at securing foreign policy competencies. Since then, three meetings involving leaders of all six Faroese parliamentary parties have been held, with the latest taking place just days before a scheduled joint summit with the Danish and Greenlandic leaders.
WTO, IOC and fisheries at stake
The Faroese government aims to secure independent membership in several international bodies, including the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Johannesen stressed the importance of easing access to free trade agreements, saying that current arrangements force the Faroe Islands to “fight for every single agreement” on their own.
Fishing remains a key issue. Beinir Johannesen, leader of the pro-independence Folkaflokkurin, highlighted conflicts of interest within the Kingdom when it comes to international fisheries organizations. The Faroe Islands, he said, often have different priorities than Greenland or Denmark, and joint memberships make it harder to defend Faroese interests.
No formal proposal yet
Despite the political momentum, a formal proposal for new legal arrangements is not expected during the upcoming summit. Aksel Johannesen has signaled a more gradual approach, citing respect for Denmark and Greenland’s recent diplomatic challenges.
Annika Olsen, of the republican Tjóðveldi party, expressed disappointment over the lack of a concrete plan, but emphasized the need for a modern framework that, like Greenland’s 2009 Self-Government Act, would allow the Faroe Islands to choose full independence through a democratic process.
“We need the right to self-determination. It must be clearly established that it is up to the Faroese people to decide their place in the world,” Olsen said.
Toward a new legal framework
There is increasing support across the political spectrum for replacing the 1948 Home Rule Act with a more modern agreement. With parliamentary elections scheduled for next year, several parties hope to present a unified plan for reform ahead of the vote.
Currently, the Danish and Faroese governments are jointly reviewing the legal possibilities for Faroese membership in international organizations such as the WTO. However, as Beinir Johannesen noted, membership in some bodies like the IOC may remain out of reach, even with expanded foreign policy powers.
Still, there is optimism that a new consensus is forming. As Johannesen concluded, “Some matters are too important for party politics. Our constitutional status is one of them.”
