Greenland is one of three territories of the Danish Kingdom and has had autonomous government since 1979, with expanded autonomy under a 2009 law. The 2009 law recognised the Greenlandic people as a nation under international law and transferred control over most domestic matters, including business tax, mining rights, aviation, family law, immigration, border control, schools, elderly care and infrastructure. The law also grants Greenland the legal right to choose full independence, obliging Denmark to negotiate if the population desires it. Denmark retains authority over the judiciary, monetary policy, defence and foreign affairs; Greenland lacks its own currency, constitution, citizenship and supreme court. Danish colonisation began in the 18th century with Hans Egede, and Danish sovereignty was confirmed internationally by 1921.
Greenland's current autonomous status took effect in 2009, when Denmark passed a law expanding its independence from Copenhagen. The 2009 bill recognised the Greenlandic people as a nation under international law and gave them the right to autonomous rule. Greenland has control over the majority of domestic areas including business tax, mining rights, aviation, family law, immigration law and border control along with full administrative control over its schools, elderly care and infrastructure.
Under the law, Denmark would be obliged to negotiate independence with the Greenlandic government, provided the population of Greenland wanted this to happen. Greenland has been autonomous since 1979 and has its own flag, language and institutions, but the judiciary, monetary policy, defence and foreign affairs all remain under Danish control. The Arctic territory does not have its own currency, constitution, citizenship or supreme court.
The earliest Scandinavian presence on Greenland was the Vikings, but they left around the 1400s. The giant Arctic island was colonised by the Danes in the 18th century, beginning with the arrival of Danish-Norwegian priest Hans Egede in 1721. Egede's mission to convert the native Inuit population of Greenland to Christianity resulted in the establishment of a Danish colony at Godthab, which was later renamed to Nuuk.
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