Rigsfællesskabet

Infobox Country
name = Rigsfællesskabet
(Kingdom of Denmark)
linking_name = Rigsfællesskabet


map_caption = World map, showing Rigsfællesskabet in blue
official_languages = Danish, Greenlandic and Faroese
leader_title1 = Head of Rigsfællesskabet
leader_name1 = Queen Margrethe II of Denmark
leader_title2 = Prime Minister of Denmark
leader_name2 = Anders Fogh Rasmussen
leader_title3 = Prime Minister of Greenland
leader_name3 = Hans Enoksen
leader_title4 = Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands
leader_name4 = Jóannes Eidesgaard
area_km2 = 2,210,579
area_sq_mi = 853,509
population_estimate = 5,562,832
population_estimate_year = 2006/2007
population_density_km2 = 0,39
population_density_sq_mi = 0,15

Rigsfællesskabet ( _en. Community of the Realm, officially rendered in English as the "United Kingdom of Denmark" by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs [cite web|url=http://www.denmark.dk/en/menu/AboutDenmark/GovernmentPolitics/TheUnitedKingdomOfDenmark |title=The United Kingdom of Denmark |accessdate=2008-02-11 |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark |format=HTML] ) is a Danish term for the relations between continental Denmark and its two self-governing insular regions, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. Both regions enjoy far-reaching home-rule introduced in 1948 and 1979, respectively. The Constitution of Denmark applies to all three regions, and the home-rule agreement is not enshrined in the constitution. Both the Faroe Islands and Greenland manage most of their own internal affairs, but most foreign relations are undertaken by Denmark exclusively on behalf of all three regions. One of the results of this arrangement is that Denmark is a member of the European Union while both Greenland and the Faroe Islands have opted to remain outside of the EU. The "Rigsfællesskab" should not be confused with a federation or an association like the Commonwealth of Nations. It is one state with two self-governing areas, and as such it can be referred to as a federacy. The Faroe Islands and Greenland are represented with two seats each in the Danish Parliament but Denmark is not represented in the legislative bodies of the two other regions.

Population and area

See also

* Denmark
* Greenland
* Faroe Islands

* Kingdom of the Netherlands: composed of the Netherlands in Western Europe, and the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba in the Caribbean

References

External links

* [http://www.stm.dk/Index/mainstart.asp?o=26&n=2&s=2 Prime Ministry's web page concerning the status of the Faroe Islands and Greenland]
* [http://www.dr.dk/nyheder/htm/baggrund/tema2002/lagtingsvalg%20paa%20faroerne/43.htm DRs background about the Faroe Islands (In Danish)]
* [http://www.dnag.dk/ The North Atlantic Group in the Danish Parliament]