{"id":17524,"date":"2009-08-26T13:16:26","date_gmt":"2009-08-26T13:16:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peace.ax\/2009\/08\/and-and-its-special-status-en\/"},"modified":"2009-08-26T13:16:26","modified_gmt":"2009-08-26T13:16:26","slug":"and-and-its-special-status-en","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peace.ax\/en\/and-and-its-special-status-en\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00c5land and its special status"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" alignright size-full wp-image-15552\" src=\"https:\/\/peace.ax\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/borgen.jpg\" alt=\"Sjalvstyrelsegarden\" align=\"right\" height=\"171\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"5\" width=\"229\" \/><a href=\"#Geography\"><strong>Geography<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#Autonomous%20regime\"><strong>Autonomous regime<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#Institutions%20of%20autonomy\"><strong>Institutions of Autonomy<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#Dem&amp;neut\"><strong>Demilitarisation and Neutralisation<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#Economy\"><strong>Economy<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#%C3%85lad%20in%20international%20relations\"><strong>\u00c5land in International Relations<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2>Geography<a name=\"Geography\" title=\"Geography\"><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>\u00c5land 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.<\/p>\n<h2>Autonomous Regime<a name=\"Autonomous regime\" title=\"Autonomous regime\"><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>\u00c5land 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 \u00c5landers were guaranteed the preservation of their language, culture and local customs. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.lagtinget.ax\/text.con?iPage=59&amp;m=228\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Act on the Autonomy of \u00c5land<\/a> has undergone two complete revisions, in 1951 and 1991. Since 1954 \u00c5land has its own flag, and in 1984 the \u00c5land Post Office started to issue its unique stamps.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Legislative autonomy<\/strong><br \/>The division of authority between <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/web.eduskunta.fi\/Resource.phx\/parliament\/index.htx\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Finland<\/a> and its self-governed region is based on the principle that the \u00c5landers shall have freedom to decide about their internal affairs as long as it does not breach the internal and external security of the state.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=340&amp;Itemid=21\">Read more<br \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Economic self-government<\/strong><br \/>It is the \u00c5land Parliament who decides upon the distribution of \u00c5land\u2019s budget. The income consist of \u00c5land\u2019s own revenues and the amount of equalisation transferred from the national government. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" alignleft size-full wp-image-15554\" src=\"https:\/\/peace.ax\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/kokar72.jpg\" alt=\"kokar\" align=\"left\" height=\"137\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"5\" width=\"246\" \/><strong>Cultural autonomy<\/strong><br \/>Finland is a bilingual state. Of the two official languages, Finnish is spoken by 93% of the country&#8217;s 5 million inhabitants. The other official language, Swedish, is spoken by around 6% of the population. However, Swedish is the only official language on \u00c5land, which means that it is used in State, regional and municipal administration as well as official correspondence. Moreover, Swedish is the language of tuition in publicly funded schools.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=247&amp;Itemid=21\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Right of domicile<\/strong><\/a> <br \/>The right of domicile in \u00c5land can be described as a form of regional citizenship.<br \/>The right of domicile is required in order to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>vote and stand for the elections to the \u00c5land Parliament, the municipal councils and municipal administration<\/li>\n<li>acquire and hold real property on \u00c5land<\/li>\n<li>maintain business on \u00c5land.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It is however possible to buy real property or establish a business upon decision of the government of \u00c5land without having fulfilled all the requirements of the right of domicile.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=342&amp;Itemid=21\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><a name=\"Institutions of autonomy\" title=\"Institutions of autonomy\"><\/a>Institutions of Autonomy<\/h2>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.lagtinget.ax\/start.con\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Lagtinget<\/strong><\/a> <br \/>The Parliament of \u00c5land known as \u2018\u2019Lagtinget\u2019\u2019 exercises legislative power in the Islands. It consists of 30 members elected by direct and secret elections for five years. There is a system of proportional representation on \u00c5land. Lagtinget enacts regional legislation in sectors that fall within the terms of autonomy. It also appoints the Government of \u00c5land.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" alignleft size-full wp-image-15556\" src=\"https:\/\/peace.ax\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/parliament72.jpg\" alt=\"\u00c5landParliament\" align=\"left\" height=\"110\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"5\" width=\"168\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.government.ax\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Landskapsregeringen<\/strong><\/a> <br \/>The executive power on \u00c5land is held by the \u00c5land Government, \u2018\u2019Landskapsregeringen\u2019\u2019. The Government is entitled to act, provided it enjoys the confidence of the Aland Parliament. In other words, its political composition and agenda shall be approved by the majority of votes. However a minority government is also possible. Through the vote of no confidence the \u00c5land Parliament can force&nbsp; either the entire government or a single member to resign. A chairman is assisted by four to six members and administration consisted of civil servants and six main departments.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.presidentti.fi\/en\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>The President of Republic<\/strong><\/a> <br \/>The President of Finland exercises legislative control over legal acts passed by the Aland Parliament. \u00c5land\u2019s law must be approved by the head of state. The President is entitled to use the right of veto only in two cases:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>if the \u00c5land Parliament exceeded its legislative competencies<\/li>\n<li>if the bill presents a threat to Finland\u2019s internal or external security.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The President can relate to the opinion of the \u00c5land Delegation or the Supreme Court of Finland.<br \/>Furthermore, the President appoints the Governor of Aland and has a duty to ratify a decision on extra budgetary allocations made by the \u00c5land Delegation.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.laaninhallitus.fi\/lh\/home.nsf\/pages\/indexeng\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>The Governor<\/strong><\/a> <br \/>The Governor represents the state of Finland on \u00c5land. He or she is appointed by the President of Republic on the condition that the speaker of the \u00c5land Parliament agreed. Otherwise, the President chooses the Governor from five candidates nominated by the \u00c5land Parliament.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.om.fi\/uploads\/54begu60narbnv_1.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>The \u00c5land Delegation<\/strong><\/a> <br \/>The \u00c5land Delegation is a joint organ of \u00c5land and the state of Finland. Half of its members is appointed by the Finnish Government and half by the \u00c5land Parliament. It delivers opinion to the Council of State, the \u00c5land Government and the courts. It also manage financial matters between the state and \u00c5land, such as: equalization, extraordinary grants and tax retribution.<\/p>\n<h2><a name=\"Dem&amp;neut\" title=\"Dem&amp;neut\"><\/a>Demilitarisation and Neutralisation<\/h2>\n<p>The \u00c5land Islands provide a rare example of combined <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kultur.ax\/kulturstiftelsen\/traktater\/eng_fr\/ram_right-enfr.htm\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">status in international relations<\/a>. It is not only a demilitarised but also a neutralised zone. Demlitarisation refers to the prohibition against creating and maintaining any military installations or operational bases, and deploying or stationing military forces in a certain territory. Neutralisation is defined as exclusion of a particular territory from the theatre of war in case of an armed conflict.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=343&amp;Itemid=21\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" alignright size-full wp-image-15558\" src=\"https:\/\/peace.ax\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/segelbat.jpg\" alt=\"segelbat\" align=\"right\" height=\"160\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"5\" width=\"228\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><a name=\"Economy\" title=\"Economy\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.asub.ax\/files\/lsiff09En.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Economy<\/a><\/h2>\n<p>In 2008 the GNP per capita in \u00c5land was assessed at 36, 419 Euro. Shipping and maritime industry account for nearly half of the income. In 2008 the unemployment was estimated to be 2,1 per cent and the rate of inflation 4,2 %.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=341&amp;Itemid=21\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><a name=\"\u00c5lad in international relations\" title=\"\u00c5lad in international relations\"><\/a>\u00c5land in International Relations<\/h2>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.norden.org\/en\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>\u00c5land in the Nordic Council<\/strong><\/a> <br \/>\u00c5land became a member of the Nordic Council in 1970, first as a part of the Finnish delegation and later on its own right similarly to the other two Nordic autonomous regions (the Faroe Islands and Greenland). The \u00c5land Parliament appoints two of the 87 members of the Council, and the \u00c5land Government participates in the work of the Nordic Council of Ministers.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.regeringen.ax\/kansli\/EU_enheten.pbs\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>\u00c5land in the European Union<\/strong><\/a> <br \/>\u00c5land acceded to the European Union in 1995, as an autonomous region of Finland. Its special status in the organization is regulated by Protocol No 2 annexed to the Finnish Act of accession. This document contains certain derogations from the application of EU law on \u00c5land, including concerning the limitations pertaining to the right to domicile and the right of trade.<\/p>\n<p>The derogations allowed the continuation of tax \u2013 free sales on ferry traffic to and from \u00c5land. Ferry traffic and tourism have a great importance for the Alandic economy.<\/p>\n<p>These derogations make the \u00c5land Islands a unique example among the EU members, as only a few territories have been granted permanent derogations from the EU primary law.<\/p>\n<p>Although foreign affairs fall within the scope of the state competence, the autonomy is entitled to take part in negotiations of international treaties concerning areas within the competence of \u00c5land. What is more, has the \u00c5land Parliament has to give its consent to the implementation of international treaties on Aland when the treaties fall within the competence of the autonomy. \u00c5land was an active participant in the negotiation regarding Finland\u2019s membership in the EU. In both referenda held in 1994 &#8211; a general one for Finland and the other for the \u00c5land Islands &#8211; \u00c5landers opted for the accession. On this basis, the \u00c5land Parliament gave its consent to the \u00c5land\u2019s membership in the EU.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\" class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"right\"><em>Klaudia Wiszniewska<\/em><\/p>\n<p align=\"right\">klaudia.wiszniewska@gmail.com<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Geography Autonomous regime Institutions of Autonomy Demilitarisation and Neutralisation Economy \u00c5land in International Relations Geography \u00c5land 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 \u00c5land 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 \u00c5landers were guaranteed the preservation of their language, culture and local customs. The Act on the Autonomy of \u00c5land has undergone two complete revisions, in 1951 and 1991. Since 1954 \u00c5land has its own flag, and in 1984 the \u00c5land 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 \u00c5landers 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 \u00c5land Parliament who decides upon the distribution of \u00c5land\u2019s budget. The income consist of \u00c5land\u2019s own revenues and the amount [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15552,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-okategoriserad"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/peace.ax\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17524","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/peace.ax\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/peace.ax\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peace.ax\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peace.ax\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17524"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/peace.ax\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17524\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peace.ax\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15552"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/peace.ax\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peace.ax\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peace.ax\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}