Demilitarisation & neutralisation
The demilitarisation of the Aland Islands dates back to the 1856 Treaty of Paris bringing the end to the Crimean War. France, Great Britain and Russia signed the Convention of Demilitarisation of the Islands annexed to the peace treaty. Demilitarisation was broadened to include neutralisation in the 1921 Convention on the Demilitarisation of the Aland Islands. The demilitarised status of Aland was confirmed in the Moscow Treaty between Finland and the Soviet Union from 1940, and in the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty. Finland is supposed to defend the demilitarization and neutralization of the Åland Islands in the event of armed attack. The local population is exempt from the obligation of military service, but it does not apply to those who came to Aland after reaching the age of 12.
Right of Domicile
It is granted to a child under the age of 18 who is a citizen of Finland and resident of Åland provided that the child’s mother or father enjoyed the right. The right of domicile shall be given to citizens of Finland who moved to Åland, have lived there for at least five years and have an adequate knowledge of the Swedish language. Those who have lived outside of Åland for more than five years lose their right of domicile.
Lump sum
The state of Finland levies taxes, customs duties and charges in Åland according to the same rules that apply to other Finnish citizens. The funds raised go to the Finnish exchequer. To finance the responsibilities of society which the province handles on behalf of the state, Åland receives 0.45 per cent of total national income, excluding government loans. In an event of significant change the amount of equalization can be decreased or increased. Then, the Åland Parliament shall apply to the Åland Delegation for an extra allocation.
Legislative division
According to the Autonomy Act the Aland Parliament is competent to pass a law in following areas: education and culture the police service municipal administration and taxation health and medical services social legislation postal service promotion of industry internal communications tenancy and rent regulation radio and television. In these fields the compence of Aland is exclusive. Finnish state law applies on Aland with regard to: constitutional law and amendments customs and the issuance of money courts of justice and criminal law most aspects of civil law banking and corporate legislation land law labour law foreign relations and the border guard service state taxation. Legal acts of special importance to Åland enacted by the State Parliament, including international treaties, shall be consented by the Åland Parliament to be binding for the region.
Åland and its special status
Geography Autonomous regime Institutions of Autonomy Demilitarisation and Neutralisation Economy Åland in International Relations Geography Åland is an archipelago of 6,700 islands and skerries situated in the Baltic Sea, at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia. It occupies a central position between Sweden and Finland, which made it geopolitically attractive in its history. Autonomous Regime Åland is a Swedish-speaking autonomous region within Finland. In 1921 according to the decision of the League of Nations Finland gained sovereignty over the Islands while the Ålanders were guaranteed the preservation of their language, culture and local customs. The Act on the Autonomy of Åland has undergone two complete revisions, in 1951 and 1991. Since 1954 Åland has its own flag, and in 1984 the Åland Post Office started to issue its unique stamps. Legislative autonomyThe division of authority between Finland and its self-governed region is based on the principle that the Ålanders shall have freedom to decide about their internal affairs as long as it does not breach the internal and external security of the state. Read more Economic self-governmentIt is the Åland Parliament who decides upon the distribution of Åland’s budget. The income consist of Åland’s own revenues and the amount […]