Tasks and responsibilities

The Faroe Islands Committee is a standing committee that has a very broad agenda. The committee addresses any topic associated with the relationship between the Faroe Islands and Denmark. For example:

• commerce
• environment
• health 
• social affairs

In general, the work of the committee can be subdivided into three primary areas:

• legislation that affects the constitutional relationship between the Faroe Islands and Denmark, e.g. the Devolution Act that transfers authority to the Faroe Islands’ home rule government
• legislation in certain spheres that the Faroe Islands’ home rule government has not yet taken over
• Danish state block grants to the Faroe Islands

The committee monitors Faroese issues, including EU affairs. The Faroe Islands is not an EU Member State but has trade and fisheries agreements with the European Union. For example, the committee also addresses issues related to whaling and fisheries.

The committee’s tasks and responsibilities can be subdivided into two primary areas:

• handling of bills and motions within the committee’s remit
• ongoing parliamentary scrutiny of administration carried out by the ministers of the spheres not yet taken over by the Faroe Islands’ home rule government

Parliamentary scrutiny of how the Danish government administers legislation that applies on the Faroe Islands is one of the Faroe Islands Committee’s primary activities.
In practise, scrutiny is exercised through the standing committee members’ tabling questions to the relevant minister or possibly the Prime Minister.

Study trips 

When the Faroe Island Committee makes a study trip, the Faroe Islands are its principal destination.