Chairman of Naalakkersuisut On Wednesday, Jens-Frederik Nielsen (D) signed an agreement with Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard (S) on taking over responsibility for the flag area. It happened in Copenhagen in connection with the chairman's current stay in Denmark.
The new agreement implies that Greenland's Self-Government itself can set rules for Erfalasorput and for the use of foreign flags in the country.
- It is a natural development that we are taking on more and more areas of responsibility. This repatriation is not legally extensive, but has great symbolic significance, as it deals with our Erfalasorput. Going forward, we need to look at a more strategic, prioritized and systematic takeover of our own areas, says Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
Minister: A powerful symbol
Dannebrog is considered a state matter and will therefore continue to be regulated by the Ministry of Justice. Naalakkersuisut and the Ministry of Justice state that the two parties will ensure continued cooperation in the flag area.
The Danish Minister of Justice is also pleased with the new agreement.
- The Greenlandic flag is a strong symbol of identity and self-government, and therefore it is natural that the rules are now taken over by the self-government. At the same time, we have maintained an arrangement that respects the commonwealth when it comes to the use of the Dannebrog and the Faroese flag, Merkið, in Greenland, says Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard.
It appears from a joint statement from the parties that the process started with an inquiry from the then chairman of Naalakkersuisut, Muté B. Egede (IA), in September 2024.
His desire to reclaim the area as much as possible was subsequently maintained by the current Naalakkersuisut under Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
