*Included, though not fully independent, to show the value of more autonomy with Shetland & Orkney in mind – some kind of similar arrangement could be offered.
‘The islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century and today the Faroe Islands are a self-governing dependency of Denmark. The Home Rule Act of 1948 granted a high degree of self-government to the Faroese, who have autonomy over most internal affairs and external trade, while Denmark is responsible for justice, defence, and some foreign affairs. The Faroe Islands are not part of the European Union’. (CIA)
Natural resources
Fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
ECONOMY
‘The Faroe Islands are a high-income Danish territorial economy; party neither to the EU nor the Schengen Area; associate Nordic Council member; very low unemployment; unique foreign ownership allowance in fishing industry; known salmon exporter; growing IT industries’ (CIA)
CURRENCY: There are two currencies of equal value in the Faroe Islands: the Faroese króna and the Danish krone. While the Faroese government prints its own bank notes, only Danish coins are used. Danish notes are equally acceptable as Faroese notes throughout the country.
- Faroe Islands: Pop approx 52,889 in 2o21. Total land area of 1,400 km2 (540 sq mi)
- Shetland Islands: Approx 22,920 in 2019. Land area of 1,468 km2 (567 sq miles)
- Orkney Islands: Approx 22,500 people in 2023. Land area: 990 km2 (380 sq mi)
- The Hebrides: Approx 45,000 people (2020) on a land area of 7,285 km2 (2,813 sq mi)
The Faroese population is growing – recently the fastest growing in Europe.
Westminster belatedly visits our neighbours in the Faroe Islands to learn about linking islands
(From Steph Brawn The National) Angus MacNeil, Na h-Eileanan an Iar MP:
❝ “They’re doing this at quite incredible costs. For the price of phase one of HS2, the Faroese could build a tunnel from Torshavn to Cape Town in South Africa.
“The real purpose of going to see it is to highlight in Scotland what’s happening and make people start to think why we aren’t we doing the same. We’re hoping to see some of the local community as well and hear from them about what they feel about the tunnel.
“It’s either we get serious about tunnels or we continue moaning about ferries. For the cost of the two boats sitting on the Clyde at the moment, you could have built about 40km of tunnels in Scotland at Faroese prices. The way I see it is a ferry is a tunnel that opens only four times a day and goes between 9mph and 18mph. A tunnel is a ferry that’s open all the time and travels at 50mph.”❞
A PHANTOM POWER FILM ABOUT THE FAROES
“As we seek to define Scotland in the 21st century as a sustainable, environmentally friendly, ambitious and confident country, then we should look north to the Faroe Islands for the inspiration”. -Ronnie Cowan MP